The shock of an auto accident takes some people years to recover from. That’s before you consider the physical injuries they may have sustained, the costs associated with a totaled or damaged car, and lost income. Regardless of how it happened, a car accident is traumatizing for everyone involved.
Unfortunately, when an accident is caused by someone else’s negligence, it’s not always easy to get the compensation you deserve. Insurance companies spend a lot of time and money figuring out how to keep their payouts low and protect their bottom line.
This means that you need a strong, aggressive attorney when you want the full and fair compensation you deserve. We can help. Set up a consultation with Peake & Fowler now by calling us at 803-788-4370.
Common Causes of Injuries from Florence, SC Auto Accidents
The majority of car accidents are caused by human error. However, some accidents are the result of faulty maintenance or defective auto parts. Some of the most common causes of car crashes include:
- Impaired drivers
- Distracted drivers
- Failure to yield
- Unsafe lane changes
- Driving too fast for conditions
- Driving while fatigued
- Failing to follow traffic signals and lights
Injuries vary widely in auto accidents, which is why it’s so important to seek medical attention after a crash. Without a thorough checkup, it is impossible to know just how many injuries you’ve sustained and what your path forward is. Common injuries associated with collisions include:
- Broken bones
- Abrasions and road rash
- Cuts
- Whiplash
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal bleeding
Figuring Out Liability for a Car Accident in SC
Getting the compensation you deserve comes down to proving liability. Liability refers to who caused the accident and is responsible for paying the costs associated with it. To prove that a party is liable for an accident, you must be able to show that:
- They owed you a duty of care—this standard is met in car accidents, as all drivers on the road have an obligation to others to drive safely)
- They failed to fulfill that duty—for example, they ran a red light, didn’t check their blind spot before merging lanes, or drove while under the influence
- Their failure led to an accident—this is proven through investigation and evidence
- The accident caused your injuries—a comprehensive medical checkup right after the accident can link your injuries to the accident, giving you a stronger case
Clearly, it’s important to take the right steps after an accident. Failing to preserve evidence or get screened by a medical professional can leave gaps in your claim, giving the insurance company an opening to dispute it or offer an embarrassingly low settlement.
Types of Compensation Available for SC Auto Accidents
The types and amount of compensation you receive depend largely on the severity of the accident, your injuries, and how strong of a case your attorney presents. Some common types of compensation for a car accident include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses if your injuries are severe enough to require lifelong or long-term care
- Lost wages
- Lost future income if your injury will permanently impact your ability to work or move up in your career path
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Disability
- Disfigurement
Why You Need an Experienced Florence, SC Auto Accident Attorney
Things move quickly after a car accident, so you may not be prepared when your phone rings in the days after an accident. When the other party’s insurance company reaches out to you shortly after an accident, it’s a good sign that they know their driver is liable for the crash.
Their goal is to get to you before you know how strong your claim is and how much you deserve. By reaching you early, they hope to offer a smaller settlement and have you accept it in exchange for a waiver of liability.
Unfortunately, this is where it ends for many people. They think the offer sounds good, so they sign the waiver and accept the payment. For some, it works out fine. For others, they realize their injuries are more extensive than they first thought.
The medical bills start adding up, they miss more and more work, and they can’t afford to repair their car. By the time their settlement runs out, they still have lots to pay and no way to make ends meet. Unfortunately, since they signed a waiver of liability, they cannot pursue any additional compensation.
It is crucial to avoid this trap and fight for your right to receive full and fair compensation. With a Florence, SC personal injury attorney, you can get detailed information about how much your claim is worth, what types of evidence you need, and what the rest of the process looks like.
Your attorney will investigate the accident to establish clear liability. They will also connect with witnesses and others who have valuable input. And, perhaps most importantly, they handle all communication with the other party’s insurance company. This protects you from the stress of talking to insurance professionals who do not have your best interests in mind, and it helps you focus more on your recovery.
After getting a clear understanding of your accident and what caused it, your attorney will build a case to take to the insurance company. Using a variety of evidence, they’ll show that the other driver caused the accident and that the accident led to your injuries. From there, they’ll ask for a fair compensation amount.
It is rare for the insurance company to pay up on the first request. Instead, this request is simply meant to begin the negotiation process. Through multiple rounds of negotiation, your attorney will likely reach a place where you get fair compensation and do not have to go to court. In the event that the insurance company does not want to negotiate in good faith, your attorney will be prepared to take the case to trial.
Start Your Personal Injury Claim with Peake & Fowler
An auto accident can throw your life into an upheaval, but you do not have to face this alone. With the team at Peake & Fowler, you can focus on your recovery while trusting us to handle your legal needs. Take the first step now and set up a consultation so we can talk about your accident, how it’s affected you, and how we can help. Get started by calling us at 803-788-4370 or contacting us online.
