Car accidents are disorientating experiences. People who survive accidents are often confused about what to do or where to turn for answers. The choices an accident victim makes in the coming days will make a big difference as to whether they receive fair compensation or receive no money at all.
West Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers can help. You should reach out to our office to discuss your legal rights. In this article, we discuss when to hire a car accident lawyer for your case. Call us to speak with a Moncks Corner, SC car accident lawyer in a personalized consultation. Our goal is to maximize your take-home compensation.
When to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
You should hire a lawyer as soon as possible. Lawyers provide incredible value to anyone struggling from an accident:
- We can identify relevant evidence and preserve it. You have the burden of proving who is responsible for your car wreck.
- We can fill out all insurance forms and answer questions.
- We will make sure insurance adjusters don’t bother you with questions, which allows you to focus on your recovery.
- Our legal team can work with expert witnesses to reconstruct the accident. This reconstruction is often helpful when negotiating a claim.
You might be in the hospital recovering from surgery. That’s okay. You can still call us from your hospital bed. Or you can wait until you are discharged from the hospital and comfortably back home. We are eager to meet and can travel to you for a consultation.
Can You Handle Your Own Personal Injury Case?
We don’t recommend it. Of course, South Carolina does not require that you hire an attorney. You have the right to negotiate on your own behalf if you want.
However, anyone who proceeds without a lawyer will likely receive less compensation. Insurance companies will assume you don’t know the full value of your injuries—especially bodily pain and suffering. They will offer a low settlement but claim, “It’s all we can do.”
Insurers also don’t expect people to know how to file a lawsuit. That’s another reason they might lowball you with a settlement.
Of course, there are exceptions where you might handle your case. For example, you might not need a personal injury lawyer if all you suffered was car damage in the crash. It’s easy to calculate how much it costs to repair your vehicle. The damages are less subjective compared to cases involving bodily injuries and pain.
Unsure of whether you should hire an attorney? Contact us to talk with a Moncks Corner, SC car accident lawyer in a free consultation.
We can discuss whether you have a case which will benefit from an experienced lawyer’s assistance.
You Can Afford Us
A major consideration is expense. Accidents are expensive. You might immediately need to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket to receive medical care, even if you have health insurance. Other expenses include car repair and other damaged property.
At the same time, many accident victims cannot work because they are in so much pain. They might not even be able to leave this house. You can lose thousands of dollars a week or month in lost income or wages.
For all these reasons, many victims say they cannot pay a lawyer. They have no money to spare and are at the breaking point financially.
West Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers does not charge legal fees unless we win your case. You will not owe us a dime until we win a settlement or a court judgment on your behalf. At that point, we take a percentage of your settlement as payment for our legal services.
These contingency agreements might sound too good to be true, but we have used them with hundreds of personal injury clients. They allow badly injured car accident victims to obtain immediate legal help—at no upfront cost.
When Is It Too Late to Get a Lawyer?
It’s rarely too late. It’s only too late if you have already accepted a settlement. Once you sign on the dotted line, you can’t undo your settlement agreement, except in limited situations, such as if you were the victim of fraud.
Other than that, you can call an attorney at any time. West Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers can negotiate a settlement on your behalf with the defendant’s insurer. You might have struggled fruitlessly for months to handle your own negotiations. Call us. We can review the settlement negotiations to this point and take them over.
Our Berkeley County car accident lawyers have helped all clients of clients at various points in the claims process:
- Those who are still in the hospital recovering from their injuries;
- Accident victims who have called their insurer to report an accident but taken no other steps;
- Victims who have tried to negotiate with a defendant but are unhappy with the amount offered to them.
Unsure if you have waited too long? You can still contact us. We are eager to learn more about your accident.
What Deadlines Apply to South Carolina Car Accidents?
When considering when to get a lawyer after a car accident, you must pay attention to deadlines. South Carolina has a statute of limitations for all accidents, including car wrecks.
South Carolina Code § 15-3-530 states you have only three years to file a personal injury claim. You shouldn’t wait too long. Anyone who goes past the deadline loses the ability to sue for the accident.
And that means you will lose leverage in negotiations with an at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Different deadlines could apply in other cases. For example, you might sue the state or a municipality for causing the accident. A common situation is where a road defect is to blame. In that case, Section 15-78-80 of the South Carolina Code requires that you file a verified claim for damages within one year of the loss. That is a much shorter deadline, so contact our firm quickly.
When to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer after a Wrongful Death
Did a loved one die in a car accident? South Carolina sees hundreds of traffic fatalities each year.
Helpfully, surviving family members often have a right to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
The statute of limitations for wrongful death is still three years. Please reach out to West Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers to find out more about whether you have a strong wrongful death claim.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
Car accidents cause major injuries and financial loss. Our firm is prepared to help. Serving the Lowcountry since 1945, we have the experience you need to win.