Greenville Car Accident Lawyer

Recovering Compensation for Injured Car Crash Victims

More than 140,000 vehicle collisions occur in South Carolina every year. Of those accidents, nearly 60,000 result in injuries or fatalities, meaning an injury-causing collision occurs every 13.8 minutes in this state. So, if you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident in South Carolina, you’re not alone. If you’re worried about how you’ll pay for any medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, or funeral costs, it’s time to talk to an experienced car accident attorney who will explore your options for obtaining fair compensation as you heal.

At Morris Law, we understand that sustaining injuries or losing a loved one in a car crash can cause extreme physical, emotional, and financial stress. This is why we work hard to recover the maximum compensation for individuals and families in Greenville, Anderson, Pickens, Laurens, and Spartanburg, South Carolina. When you contact us for guidance with your personal injury case, we’ll help you explore your options and lead you through the process of seeking compensation for your injuries or the loss of your loved ones. The caring legal team at Morris Law proudly provides experienced and compassionate legal representation for those who wish to hold a negligent driver responsible for their actions, so call our Greenville, South Carolina law firm today to discuss your legal options.

How Does Liability Work in South Carolina?

South Carolina is an at-fault state for car accidents and auto insurance coverage. This means the negligent driver is responsible for all losses caused by a car crash, including property damage, personal injury, and wrongful death. If you were in a car accident and have any questions about proving who was at fault or determining what losses you can be compensated for, you should contact a car accident lawyer for legal guidance.

In some cases, you can file a claim with your insurance company to cover your losses after a car crash. For example, if you have medical payment benefits or underinsured or uninsured driver coverage that can pay for your losses, you can seek compensation from your auto insurance provider.

However, if another driver caused the car accident that injured you or a family member, you can file a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance liability coverage to seek a settlement for your claim. This should allow you to be compensated for medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any other losses you suffered due to the car accident. If you are unable to settle your car accident claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, you have the option to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver to seek compensation.

Car accident cases can be quite complex, especially when they involve a large sum of money or have any complicating factors, so it’s best to hire an experienced car accident lawyer to handle your insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. If you’re ready to talk to skilled car accident lawyers, Greenville, SC, is the home of Morris Law, and our compassionate attorneys are here to help. Call our law firm today to schedule a consultation with a trusted car accident lawyer.

What Are South Carolina’s Car Insurance Requirements?

Before you get on the road, it’s helpful to know what kind of car insurance you and other drivers are expected to have in place. South Carolina drivers are required to carry liability insurance coverage with at least:

$25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person and $50,000 per accident
$25,000 for property damage per incident

These are the minimum amounts required by state law, so if your property damage and medical bills are at or below these amounts after an accident, your car accident lawyer can help you collect what you’re owed as an accident victim. However, some drivers have policies with higher coverage amounts so they don’t have to worry about paying out of pocket if they cause severe or fatal injuries. This means you may be able to file an insurance claim for more than minimum coverage if necessary, depending on your expenses and the at-fault driver’s coverage.

Furthermore, auto insurers in South Carolina are required to include uninsured motorist coverage equal to your bodily injury liability coverage. This way, if you’re struck by a driver who is uninsured or whose insurance policy cannot cover your expenses, you can file a claim against your own policy to get the compensation you need. A skilled Greenville car accident lawyer can review the car insurance policies of those involved in your car crash to determine who to file a claim against, so call our law firm today to discuss your car accident case.

What Are the State Laws That Address Car Accident Claims in South Carolina?

There is a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims in South Carolina. This means you must settle your claim with the negligent party’s insurance company or file a lawsuit within three years of the date of injury or death. Of course, you should file a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto liability insurance policy and any applicable coverage on your own policy within days of the crash. The longer you wait to take legal action, the more difficult it will be to collect and analyze evidence that will prove liability and ensure you get the compensation you deserve, so call a Greenville car accident lawyer to discuss your case as soon as possible.

Another critical fact to know about personal injury cases in South Carolina is that this is a modified comparative negligence state, meaning each driver involved is assigned a percentage of fault. If you are found to be more than 50% at fault, you cannot file a claim against the other driver.

The percentage of fault assigned to you reduces the settlement sum you receive at the end of your case. For example, if you are found to be 10% at fault for a crash and the other driver is 90% at fault, your recovery sum will be reduced by 10%. If a jury awards you the other driver’s bodily injury liability limits of $25,000, you will receive $22,500.

A skilled Greenville car accident lawyer can review the details of your car accident case to determine whether the other driver is fully at fault or if you will share fault for the crash. If the latter is true, they can help calculate your share of the fault and tell you how this will affect your financial compensation. If you’re ready to get an idea of the settlement you’re owed after a serious South Carolina car accident, contact our law firm for a consultation today.

What Are Some Common Causes of Car Accidents?

Determining who and what caused your car accident will be an essential detail of your case. Fortunately, you won’t have to deal with this step on your own when you hire a car accident lawyer, as your legal team will complete a thorough investigation before pursuing compensation from the at-fault party on your behalf.

In most cases, one of the following leading causes of car accidents is to blame:

Distracted driving, which could involve eating, drinking, texting, adjusting the stereo, or talking to passengers instead of focusing on driving safely
Speeding, since driving above the posted speed limit can cause drivers to have insufficient time to stop or slow down when necessary
Drowsy driving, as tired drivers are slow to react to other drivers or hazards on the road, and some even fall asleep behind the wheel and cause severe accidents
Reckless driving, which could include tailgating, making unsafe lane changes, and running red lights and stop signs
Failure to yield the right of way, such as at intersections that have stop signs or traffic signals
Drunk driving, since alcohol can significantly affect a driver’s judgment and reaction time on the road
Poor vehicle maintenance, since it can be hard to stop or stay in control of a car with faulty brakes and bald tires
Extreme weather, such as fog, ice, rain, or snow on the road

Whether you have evidence that your auto accident was caused by one of these common causes or are unsure what led to it, it’s important to contact a Greenville car accident lawyer to discuss the details. A skilled car accident attorney knows what evidence to collect – such as photos of the accident scene, police reports, and video footage – to prove the underlying cause of the crash.

When you hire Morris Law for your case, our team will carefully review the circumstances of the car wreck to identify the party responsible for your losses. Call our Greenville, South Carolina law firm today for a no-obligation case review with a caring personal injury attorney ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

What Should You Do After a Car Accident?

Being in a car accident can be shocking and traumatic, especially if you or your passengers are severely injured. When this occurs, it’s essential to remain as calm as you can and focus on protecting your health and safety. Consider the steps you should take immediately after a car accident:

Check for injuries you or your passengers might have suffered
Call 911 to report the car accident and ask them to send an ambulance for any severe injuries sustained by you or others involved in the crash
Move to a safe location, such as the side of the road or a nearby parking lot, if you’re obstructing traffic or are in danger of being struck again
Exchange information with the other driver, making sure to get details that include their name, phone number, driver’s license number, insurance provider, license plate number, and vehicle make and model
Document the scene of the accident by taking pictures of the vehicle damage, injuries to those involved, road conditions, traffic signs, and weather conditions
Ask witnesses for their contact information so your auto accident lawyer can reach out to them to discuss what they saw
Fill out an accident report once the police arrive at the scene
Schedule a doctor’s appointment to make sure you don’t have any hidden injuries from the crash that you didn’t notice right away
Call a Greenville car accident lawyer to learn what legal options you have as the victim of a motor vehicle accident

It’s best to complete these steps immediately after a car accident so you get the medical and legal care you need right away. However, many car accident victims are too confused and in pain to think about these recommended steps. If you’re the victim of a crash that occurred weeks or months ago and you’re unsure how to proceed, please reach out to our law firm for help today. Our caring personal injury lawyers can help gather photos, videos, police reports, witness statements, and other evidence necessary for your car accident claim. Call today to discuss your legal options with a Greenville car accident attorney.

What Are the Most Common Car Accident Injuries?

Car crashes can cause a wide range of injuries, from minor wounds to life-changing disabilities. Regardless of the injuries you suffered, you should not have to worry about how to afford your medical expenses while you’re in emotional and physical pain. That’s the point of hiring a Greenville auto accident lawyer to pursue financial compensation from the at-fault driver and their insurance company.

Some of the most common car accident injuries include:

Whiplash
Burns
Internal injuries, including organ damage and internal bleeding
Spinal cord injuries that could lead to paralysis
Traumatic brain injuries
Chest injuries that could affect the ribs, lungs, and heart
Cuts and lacerations that could result in scars and infections
Broken bones, especially in the arms, wrists, legs, and ribs
Soft tissue injuries, including sprains, strains, and bruises
Psychological effects, such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD

Such injuries can lead to expensive medical bills and the inability to work for a while. If you can’t afford to take time off work and pay for the extra bills you now have due to a car wreck you didn’t cause, you should contact a Greenville personal injury lawyer to help you seek compensation.

Getting a fair settlement from the at-fault party’s insurance company can ensure you don’t have to worry about your finances as you recover, but it can be hard to get the money you deserve on your own. At our law firm in Greenville, SC, we’re happy to take on all the legal details for our clients, including talking to insurance adjusters, gathering evidence, and negotiating fair settlements for personal injury victims. Call today to get started on the path to getting the appropriate compensation after a car wreck.

What Financial Compensation Can You Seek After a South Carolina Car Accident?

If you’re unsure if you should pursue compensation through a personal injury claim, it helps to know what kind of damages most car accident victims usually get. In general, your compensation will be made up of economic and non-economic damages. The economic damages you can expect will include:

Medical expenses, such as your hospital stay, ambulance ride, surgery, and pain medication
Future medical costs, including physical therapy and assistive medical devices you might need months or years after the car wreck
Property damage, allowing you to pay for your car repairs or buy a new car if necessary
Lost wages to make up for the income you missed out on while healing

Non-economic damages can vary depending on the circumstances of the car accident, but they often include:

Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Mental anguish
Humiliation
Disfigurement
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of consortium

A skilled car wreck lawyer can let you know what economic and non-economic damages you can expect from your injury claim against the responsible party’s insurance company. They can also ease your mind if you’re worried about being considered partly at fault for the crash. Even if it turns out your actions on the road may have contributed to the accident, you can likely still collect compensation due to the modified comparative negligence rule this state uses for car accident claims.

As long as you’re 50% or less at fault for the crash, the modified comparative negligence rule should allow you to be fairly compensated as you heal from the accident. If you have questions about this rule or are interested in recovering compensation to pay for the economic and non-economic losses you’ve suffered in a crash, call our Greenville, South Carolina, firm today to speak with a compassionate attorney who is committed to getting you the settlement you deserve.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim After a Fatal Auto Accident?

The wrongful act, neglect, or default of another resulting in death constitutes wrongful death in South Carolina. If the deceased individual would have been eligible to file a personal injury claim against the other party had they lived, the decedent’s estate may file a wrongful death claim so the surviving family members can benefit monetarily.

The claim must be filed by the executor or administrator of the decedent’s estate. In the event no such person was named by the decedent in a will, the court can appoint one. The executor can pursue the claim for the benefit of the heirs of the decedent, including a surviving spouse, children, parents, or other legal heirs.

If you’re unsure if you should file a wrongful death claim after losing a loved one in a car accident, you should know that the compensation you get from such a claim can pay for any expenses related to your loss. This can include funeral and burial costs and unpaid hospital bills. This type of claim can also compensate you for the loss of companionship, consortium, guidance, and support of your deceased family member.

Additionally, if you’re struggling financially due to the sudden loss of your loved one’s income, health insurance coverage, pension, or government benefits, you can request compensation through a wrongful death claim. Our South Carolina car accident lawyers will review the details of your case to determine your economic and non-economic losses before requesting fair compensation from the insurance company. Call our law office today to get started on your wrongful death claim so you don’t have to worry about unexpected bills as you grieve.

What Can a Greenville Car Accident Attorney Do for You?

In general, it’s important to remember that insurance companies representing negligent drivers want to avoid compensating you for your injuries and other damages. This means they will attempt to prove negligence on your part and discount the severity of your injuries. When you file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver, it is their insurance company’s attorneys who defend the case. This is why you need an aggressive, experienced car accident attorney who is willing to stand up to insurance attorneys and fight for your rightful compensation as the victim of a devastating car accident.

At Morris Law, we work with clients in Greenville, Anderson, Pickens, Laurens, and Spartanburg, South Carolina, in the aftermath of car accidents. We provide one-on-one representation with compassion for our clients. If you have been injured in an auto accident or have a loved one who has been incapacitated or killed, don’t hesitate to call Morris Law today to get the help you need.

Over the years, our lawyers have assisted numerous accident victims in getting their rightful compensation. Whether you were injured due to another person’s reckless driving or lost a family member in a drunk driving accident, we’ll handle all the steps required in recovering compensation for you. This often includes collecting evidence, communicating with insurance adjusters, adding up economic and non-economic losses, and negotiating a fair settlement.

If you’re ready to pursue the compensation you need, call our law office at 864-865-0068. We offer consultations to new clients and work on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases, so you won’t owe any legal fees upfront. Contact us today to learn more about how our experienced, caring lawyers can assist you and your family.