If you or a loved one has recently been in an auto accident, then you know it comes with a cost. Bills for medical care, follow up appointments, and car repair can really add up, to say nothing of the money lost by missing work or paying more for insurance. But according to South Carolina law, someone else may be legally obligated to pay these costs, especially if the car wreck was not your fault.
Steinberg Law Firm can determine whether you are legally owed compensation for your auto accident and help move your case forward. Our experienced car accident attorneys deal with insurance adjustors and accident paperwork on a regular basis, and we can keep unscrupulous insurance companies or dishonest motorists from taking advantage of you. For a free review of your case, call us at 843-720-2800.
Automobile accidents are a common cause of death and injury in the United States, and also a surprisingly complex legal area. While we all know the most basic laws of the road, they can apply to a car accident in surprising and non-intuitive ways, making a good auto accident lawyer all the more necessary. Fortunately, Steinberg Law Firm’s lawyers have a great deal of knowledge from all the cases we’ve represented over the years.
WHAT OUR ATTORNEYS CAN DO FOR YOU
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, we don’t advise that you try to handle the insurance companies yourself. They have an entire team of lawyers, adjustors, and investigators all working against you, to try and pay you as little as possible on your claim. With the Steinberg Law Firm, you have a team of attorneys on your side, fighting to get you everything you deserve. Our car accident lawyers can help you:
Our experienced lawyers know how to build your case to pursue the best possible outcome for you and your family. We have the resources and knowledge to investigate the circumstances of your accident, and to deal with intimidating and powerful insurance companies so you don’t have to. We are personally committed to offering each of our clients high-quality legal representation.
When you meet with our car accident attorney, we’ll take down the facts of the case and answer any questions you might have. Then, if we agree you have a case, we’ll make a plan for how to pursue it with the insurance companies, any other drivers, and the courts.
Learn even more about car accident law from our articles:
RECOVERING COMPENSATION AFTER AN ACCIDENT
Our lawyers know that the recovery process can be time consuming, stressful, and expensive. Our accident attorneys may be able to help you recover compensation for damages caused by the accident including:
In the aftermath of an injury-causing accident, these are among the numerous damages for which you may seek compensation. Our attorneys understand that these difficulties can prevent you from supporting you and your family, and fortunately, we have the legal knowledge and skill to help you pursue financial compensation from the person responsible for your unnecessary pain and suffering.
If you have been the victim of such an accident in or around Charleston, our attorneys are ready to help you understand the scope of your legal options.
INSURANCE AND YOUR CAR ACCIDENT
If you get into an auto accident with another driver in South Carolina, there are three ways to seek compensation for damages.
In practice this leads to lots of finger pointing. The other driver and both insurance companies will often try to deny liability and leave you holding the bill.
At Steinberg Law Firm, our auto accident lawyers have plenty of experience dealing with insurance companies and at-fault drivers who are reluctant to pay up. By hiring us to represent your interests, you will gain a tireless advocate who fights to get the compensation you deserve.
NEGOTIATING WITH INSURANCE ADJUSTERS
Ideally, a car accident victim will be compensated for the full medical, financial, and emotional costs of the accident. One way that insurance companies try to avoid paying this full amount is by offering you a smaller amount of money early on in the process, possibly even before you know what the full costs are going to be. This is just one of the ways adjusters try to underpay you.
Some rules to follow when speaking with insurance adjusters:
That last rule is the most important: the best way to avoid being pressured into a deal by unscrupulous adjusters is to have someone familiar with auto accident law represent you. Rather than trying to work through a system with which you are unfamiliar, leave negotiations to the legal expertise of our auto accident attorneys.
MAKING AN UNDER-INSURED OR UNINSURED DRIVER CLAIM
There is always the possibility that the other driver in an auto crash will not have insurance, or will have insufficient insurance to cover the accident. South Carolina law obligates all car owners to purchase uninsured motorist insurance for these situations, but if the motorist is merely underinsured, getting appropriate compensation could prove difficult.
It’s always a good idea to get underinsured motorist insurance included in your insurance package. However, if you don’t have it, our car accident attorneys will do our best to ensure that you receive enough to cover the costs of the accident.
REPRESENTING AUTO ACCIDENT VICTIMS
Steinberg Law Firm looks out for your best interests. With an award-winning legal team of tenacious and experienced attorneys, we’ve built our reputation on treating each client with the same high level of respect and professionalism, no matter the size of their case.
COMMON CAUSES OF CAR ACCIDENTS
There are many different ways a car accident can occur, and the specifics of each accident – the other drivers, the road conditions, the presence of defects in any of the automobiles involved – all have a major effect on who is held liable. No matter the circumstances behind your accident, Steinberg Law Firm works to provide the best outcome for you.
There are many ways an accident can be caused. Most of the time, accidents are preventable if only someone had not been careless. Some of the most common causes of auto accidents include:
Of course, there are other ways an accident can be caused. Sometimes, factors outside of your control, such as poor weather, can lead to a car wreck. But when someone’s negligence causes an accident, you do not deserve to deal with the consequences of your injury alone and without compensation.
DRIVER ERROR ACCIDENTS
We at the Steinberg Law Firm know that you prioritize the safety of your family and friends, and in the event that one of your loved ones is involved in an accident due to another driver’s mistakes, our Charleston car accident lawyers work to hold the responsible driver legally accountable for the various damages caused. Distracted or negligent drivers often commit errors that lead to traumatic injuries for others.
The following are some common causes of driver error accidents:
Being involved in a car accident due to driver error can be extremely frustrating for victims. At the Steinberg Law Firm, our legal team understands the financial complications that arise from expensive medical bills, property repairs, and lost wages, and if you have been involved in an accident caused by someone else, you should not be responsible for covering these costs. We can help you understand your legal options for recovery.
SPEEDING OR RECKLESS DRIVING
Despite numerous awareness campaigns and ever-improving technology that promotes driver and passenger safety, accidents caused by reckless driving continue to plague Charleston roadways, putting innocent people in harm’s way every day. The attorneys at the Steinberg Law Firm understand the threat that careless drivers pose to everyone on the road, and when accidents and injuries occur, we are dedicated to providing victims with the legal support that they need to regain physical and financial stability.
Our Charleston speeding attorneys aim to support you when you suffer in a car accident caused by someone else’s reckless behavior. Below are some negligent behaviors that commonly cause car accidents:
DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENTS
Though many organizations nationwide focus on raising awareness over the dangers of drunk driving, the unfortunate reality is that about 10,000 people die each year in an accident caused by a drunk driver. Those who have been injured in Charleston car accidents face extraordinary physical obstacles that can often prevent them from working for a significant period of time.
No one should suffer injuries or lose a loved one because a careless person got behind the wheel after drinking. We are dedicated to fighting for the justice that victims of drunk driving accidents deserve.
DISTRACTED DRIVING ACCIDENTS
With today’s technology, there are numerous sources of distraction all the time, even when you’re driving. Despite what certain laws allow and do not allow, distracted driving continues to be a cause of auto accidents.
Some of the most common sources of distracted driving are:
Distraction can be visual, manual, or cognitive. Anything that takes your eyes, hands, or mind away from the task of driving is a distraction. Driving past accidents on the roadway can even be so distracting that drivers cause another accident.
If you believe the car accident that injured you was caused by a distracted driver, then you may want to consider pursuing a lawsuit in addition to compensation from your insurance.
PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS
When a vehicle collides with an unprotected pedestrian, the balance of damage and injuries is far different than most types of auto accidents. Damage to the car tends to be minimized while the injuries to the pedestrian tend to be severe. It’s common for the court to find the driver at fault in such cases.
COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE UNDER SOUTH CAROLINA LAW
It is still possible for the person struck by the car to be partially at fault for the accident. In South Carolina this is reflected in its policy of comparative negligence for personal injury cases. If you jumped in front of a vehicle unexpectedly, were not in a crosswalk, or otherwise failed to exercise reasonable care, a court may find that you were partially at fault, and only compensate you for a percentage of the total medical costs.
Comparative negligence can also apply to other factors that may have contributed to the accident. If the crosswalk was placed near a blind corner or a streetlight was malfunctioning where you were struck, the municipality that maintains the roadways would likely be at least partially responsible for the accident.
WHAT TO DO AFTER AN ACCIDENT
The first thing you want to do after an accident is go to the hospital. Go even if the impact was minor and you don’t seem to be injured. It’s common after an accident for your body to go into shock, which can reduce your ability to feel serious injuries, and you may not notice them until much later.
A trip to the hospital also strengthens your legal case. Insurance companies may try to claim that your injuries are not serious if you don’t seek immediate medical attention.
This brings us to the most important rule: keep records of everything. Your best chance for a favorable ruling or settlement in any car accident case is to have comprehensive records of the accident and its aftermath.
Records you should collect for legal action:
Finally, be sure to seek legal advice from an auto accident lawyer early in the process, and don’t sign anything or make any statements without the approval of your lawyer.
CONTACT STEINBERG LAW FIRM TODAY
Our auto accident lawyers can take care of all the paperwork and legal issues related to the case while you take time to recover from your accident. You can rest and recover with the assurance that your legal affairs are in good hands.
If you or a loved one has recently been in an accident that led to mechanical or medical expenses, then contact the car accident lawyers at Steinberg Law Firm today!
You can reach us through this website or by calling 843-720-2800. We serve clients in Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville, and the surrounding areas.