After a car accident, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to get in touch with a qualified and experienced Spartanburg car accident lawyer. Your lawyer can help you file your claim, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in the courtroom should your case get there. Don’t let the other party or insurance companies push you around after you’ve already suffered so much. Get legal representation today from a team of lawyers that will fight for you.
Who Is at Fault in a Car Accident in Spartanburg?
Each state has a different set of rules regarding who is at fault in a car accident. South Carolina is considered a fault state, which means that the person or party responsible for your injuries is required to pay you compensation. No-fault states require the injured person’s insurance company to pay for their injuries, regardless of fault.
In South Carolina, establishing who was at fault for the accident is critical in getting compensation from the responsible parties to cover the costs of your injuries, both physical and psychological. In some car accident cases, establishing fault is relatively easy. A person who caused an accident because they were driving under the influence is nearly always found to be at fault. In other car accident cases, proving fault isn’t so clear. South Carolina, in addition to being a fault state, also allows comparative negligence.
Comparative Negligence
Comparative negligence means that you and the other party could both be found at fault for the accident. If you are assigned a certain percentage of the blame, the amount of compensation that you can collect may be impacted. As long as you are found to be less than 51% responsible for causing the accident, you should be able to collect at least some compensation from the party assigned the majority of the blame.
Driving responsibly at all times can prevent many accidents, but it can also help ensure that you receive the maximum compensation possible in the event that you are involved in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence.
Types of Compensation You Can Collect in Spartanburg
If you and your lawyer are able to prove that the other party was at fault for the accident you were involved in, there are a few different types of compensation you may be able to collect.
Medical Bills
People involved in car accidents rarely come away without injuries, and it’s important to get checked out by a doctor after an accident even if you feel and look fine. Some types of injuries don’t show themselves until later, or they may not be seen or felt easily. In either case, you may be able to collect compensation for your medical bills that are related to injuries from the accident.
Be sure to keep detailed records of the appointments you go to, the medical bills you pay, and the prescriptions and other treatments required for your recovery. This helps your lawyer fight for maximum compensation and ensure that you don’t pay for any of your own medical expenses out of pocket.
Lost Wages
If your injuries have made it impossible to work the same way you could before the accident in the short or long term, you may be eligible to receive lost wages damages. Lost wages compensate you for the money you would have earned had you not been injured in the accident. It is often calculated by taking your normal hourly earnings multiplied by the number of working hours you have missed out on due to your injuries.
Even if you have a variable income because you are a small business owner or freelance, you can still be eligible to receive lost wages damages to help you and your family make ends meet.
Pain and Suffering
Being involved in a car accident is a traumatic experience, especially if it resulted in severe injuries or the death of a loved one. Pain and suffering damages attempt to compensate you for the physical pain and mental anguish the accident has put you and your family through. It’s difficult to assign a dollar amount to pain and suffering, but your lawyer will fight to get you the most compensation possible to help you move on from the accident.
Wrongful Death
In the event that you lose a loved one in a car accident, your Spartanburg car accident attorney will work to get you wrongful death compensation. No dollar amount can erase the pain of losing them, but wrongful death damages can help you cover funeral costs and provide you with the funds they would have earned had they still been able to work. If you lose a loved one in a car accident, you should be able to focus on taking care of yourself and your family instead of the financial worries that typically come with a loss.
Get Representation From a Skilled Spartanburg Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s irresponsible actions, it’s best to seek legal representation right away. At King Law, we’ll make sure you don’t have to face the challenges that lie ahead alone, and we will do everything in our power to get you the compensation that you need to recover and move on from the accident.
To arrange a consultation, please call us at (888)-748-5464 (KING) or fill out our contact form.