South Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer

When someone else is careless, you may have been the one who suffered for it. Your injuries may be making life difficult, leaving you to struggle to overcome the suffering you experienced. Worse, personal injury law covers many types of injuries, and you may be unsure how to take your first steps in a legal claim and get results. 

That’s what the good people at Louthian Law Firm, P.A. are here for—it’s our job! If you or someone in your family has been hurt by a careless person, you may have grounds to seek compensation for your expenses with help from a South Carolina personal injury lawyer. 

Types of SC Personal Injury Claims We Handle

First, what counts as a personal injury? This typically includes any types of injuries you suffered because another person was careless with your safety. Below are just a few types of negligence cases your South Carolina injury lawyer can help you and your loved one file a claim for: 

• Motor vehicle accidents, including car, truck, and motorcycle accidents 
• Dog bites and attacks
• Medical malpractice by a negligent doctor
• Boating accidents 
• Slip-and-fall accidents and other premises liability claims
• Workers injured by defective equipment
• Wrongful death 

Compensation for South Carolina Personal Injury Victims

When you’ve suffered a personal injury, you need to know what your compensation is worth. Unfortunately, that can be difficult when you’re dealing with serious brain injuries, whiplash, broken bones, or a variety of other painful issues. You may need to speak with your personal injury lawyer about your economic and non-economic damages, or the financial and non-financial impacts of your injuries. 

Your economic damages cover the financial suffering and fees you are experiencing. For example, you may have medical bills or lost wages because you’re unable to work. These should be added to your claim. 

Your non-economic damages can be just as painful, but they’re often more difficult to calculate. These damages are intangible, which makes it more challenging to tally up these damages. The best attorneys have the right tools to calculate your damages correctly and negotiate with the insurance companies. 

Economic Damages 

Your economic damages cover the financial suffering you are experiencing. For example, you may have medical bills or lost wages because you’re unable to work. Your economic loss will be taken into account and their impact separated into short-term and long-term. These hardships should be accounted for when figuring the compensation you’ll pursue. 

It’s important that you’re open and honest with your lawyer throughout this process in order for them to gather as much information as possible to use in your claim. Though it can be uncomfortable discussing financial matters, especially if you’re really struggling as a result of your accident. Your South Carolina personal injury lawyer will be able to use any economic strain sustained to pursue a more generous sum of compensation to mitigate your suffering.

Non-Economic Damages 

Intangible suffering, while more difficult to quantify, is equally significant when addressing the suffering another person caused you. Non-economic damages can vary greatly, including factors such as:

• Physical Injury
• Prolonged or Chronic Pain
• Emotional Trauma
• Loss of Companionship
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life
• Disfigurement

Your lawyer will work closely with you to quantify these subjective forms of loss and present them in such a manner as to illustrate the impact they’ve had on your life following your incident. Though these might be difficult to discuss, they are equally important as the economic loss suffered to the eventual outcome of your case.

Punitive Damages

South Carolina allows punitive damages in cases that demonstrate unreasonably dangerous behavior, motivated by greed or other self-serving factors. There are certain limits on the sum that may be awarded, however, alongside exemptions for Charities and Government. 

There’s no guarantee your case is eligible for punitive damages, but it’s certainly worth discussing with your lawyer. They’re best positioned to assess the individual factors of your case and determine whether punitive damages could be included in your compensation.

South Carolina Laws Impacting Your Case

Before you file a South Carolina personal injury lawsuit, you need the correct information on what state laws may impact your claim. If you’re not careful, they can easily impact the compensation you receive. 

For example, make sure you file your claim against the responsible individuals on time. In South Carolina, you only have three years to file a claim. If you don’t, you may lose your rights to compensation through legal settlements. 

Otherwise, you may lose part or all of your compensation if you accept partial fault for the accident. SC state laws say that anyone who was at fault in any way for the accident is responsible for the costs and damages of that accident. For you, that means you could lose part or all of your compensation without a lawyer’s services to defend your claim. And you can count on the insurance company to do everything possible to minimize the value of your injury case.

South Carolina Personal Injury FAQ 

How do I know who’s liable for my injuries? 

Your lawyer will discuss the events leading up to your accident with you and acquire as much evidence as possible to determine liability. CCTV and witness statements may both prove useful in establishing that you were not at fault and proving to the court the other party was responsible for your suffering.

Can I sue on behalf of a loved one? 

You’re able to file a suit on behalf of a loved one in specific circumstances, most prominently in the event of a wrongful death occurring. Whether the death occurred due to personal injury, a vehicular accident, or medical malpractice, a wrongful death claim can be made to seek justice for your loved one.

What if I can’t afford a lawyer? 

Here at Louthian Law Firm, P.A., we work on a contingency fee basis. This means we don’t require payment from victims unless we’re able to successfully recover compensation for you. If we lose and no compensation is recovered, you owe nothing. In addition, we offer free consultations to review the details of your case.

How long will my personal injury claim take? 

Every case is unique so it’s difficult to estimate how long your claim may take. Time frames heavily depend on how willing the other party is to settle. If their willing to negotiate then your lawyer may be able to reach a settlement with the opposing party fairly quickly. If an agreement is not met, a court hearing is required to resolve the dispute.

Do I have to go to court? 

Whether your case is heard in court or not is largely up to you and the other parties involved. The majority of civil cases are settled out of court. Your South Carolina personal injury lawyer can help you negotiate with the opposing party and reach a settlement that reflects the caliber of your injury, loss, and hardship.

Get Representation from a South Carolina Personal Injury Attorney 

When you’re hurt in a serious accident, the at-fault party may not be so willing to compensate you for your injuries. Worse, they may even try to pin the blame on you to avoid responsibility for their actions and get away without paying for everything. 

Here’s the good news—the lawyers at Louthian Law Firm, P.A. are ready to act on behalf of their clients to avoid this. As a client, your South Carolina personal injury lawyers can help you seek money for your injuries and loss when you’re hurt and suffering. Whether you’re in Charleston, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, or anywhere else in the state, we’re here to help. Start with a free consultation with our legal team by calling our office at 803-592-6231 or by completing the online contact form below.