When you’re hurt because of someone else’s actions, you may be owed compensation. But getting that compensation is tough. The at-fault party may be unwilling or unable to hand over what they owe you.
That’s hard enough on its own. But what happens if they’re also trying to pin the blame for the accident on you?
First, even if you may be partly at fault for your injury, don’t accept the blame. That can reduce your compensation and leave you in an impossible financial situation. Second, a lawyer from The Louthian Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers has the tools you need to get the compensation you’re owed and recover from your injuries. Before you say anything to the at-fault party, call a personal injury lawyer.
Comparative Negligence in South Carolina Law
When someone harms you in a serious accident, you may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. The other involved party is responsible for your injuries, so they should have to pay for your suffering, right? Unfortunately, it may not be quite that simple.
If you were partially at fault for the accident, the compensation you’re owed could be reduced. Let’s say you were struck by a careless driver while on your bicycle. You didn’t cause the accident, but maybe you were on the phone while riding and didn’t see the car until it was too late. Because the your small mistake contributed at least a little bit to the accident, the value of your claim can decrease.
If you don’t fight back, the at-fault party may try to claim you were partly responsible to a greater extent than is actually true. The value of your claim will decrease by a percentage that corresponds with the amount of blame you’re found to hold If you’re found more than 50 percent at fault for the injury, you may be unable to recover any compensation.
How an Injury Lawyer Can Help
When you’re hurt because of another person’s actions, you may need help getting compensated fairly. That’s especially true if you don’t have the tools and resources to combat accusations of fault.
Luckily, your lawyer can help you take your first steps toward defending your claim. First, your lawyer can determine what exactly the liable party is accusing you of. Once they have this information, they can then examine the evidence to show what truly happened.
Even if you were partially at fault for your injury, you still deserve compensation if the other person was mostly at fault for what happened. Your lawyer can work to minimize the amount of blame placed on you to maximize your compensation.
How to Protect the Value of Your Claim
When you’re hurt in a serious accident, the at-fault party may try their best to avoid paying you. They may even try to blame you for your own injuries to reduce your compensation, so you may need to take steps to protect yourself from these accusations of fault.
That’s why you may need a lawyer at The Louthian Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers to guide your claim to success. Your personal injury lawyer has the tools you need to protect the compensation you’re owed. Start with a free consultation about your claim by calling 803-592-6231 or filling out the online contact form below.
