Summerville Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been injured because of another person’s negligence, South Carolina law recognizes your right to recover compensation from the responsible party to pay for the harm they have caused you. Unfortunately, insurance companies routinely offer to pay only a fraction of the actual value of a claim, and if pressed will try to avoid making any payout at all. Even though you are the victim, the burden is on you to prove that the other party caused your injuries, and to prove the full extent of your legal damages. Shelbourne Law can help you with that. Attorney Brandt Shelbourne has decades of experience mediating disputes and litigating in South Carolina courts in Charleston and neighboring counties. Our Summerville personal injury lawyers can help you recover the full amount of your damages in a settlement with the insurance company, or at trial if an appropriate settlement cannot be reached.
Believe it or not, the U.S. is becoming a more accident-prone, dangerous place. According to the National Safety Council, unintentional injuries are now the third leading cause of death for the first time in American history. While a few million people are killed each year in unintentional injuries, many more suffer serious, life-changing injuries. A personal injury claim or lawsuit is often the only source of justice that victims can pursue following the careless or reckless actions of negligent parties. A personal injury claim is also the only source of financial relief that injured parties receive as well, and can mean the difference between being able to pay the bills and even putting away money for your children’s college fund, and bankruptcy. Do not let the irresponsible actions of another person cause you financial ruin on top of the serious injuries they have caused. Call the Summerville personal injury lawyers with Shelbourne Law today for assistance.
Common Types of Personal Injury Lawsuits
- Car collisions;
- Truck collisions;
- Motorcycle collisions;
- Bike collisions;
- Pedestrian collisions;
- Medical malpractice;
- Product liability;
- Premises accidents including slip and fall, pool accidents, and more;
- Dog bites;
- Work related incidents;
- Sexual abuse cases in churches, schools, etc.; and
- Much more.
The Value of Your Claim and Personal Injury Damages
Most victims want to know what their claim is worth and how much they can expect to be compensated for. This is a tough question to properly answer, as there are many elements that determine eventual compensation. The median traffic collision injury claim is $50,000, whereas the median premises liability claim, such as a slip and fall, is three times that at $150,000, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Your personal injury claim is valued on the severity of your injuries and other damages. For serious incidents, it takes many months to determine the full extent of your future medical expenses, potential disability, lost wages, and other damages. The value of your claim is based on all of the following damages:
- Medical expenses;
- Future medical expenses;
- Pain and suffering;
- Emotional distress;
- Lost earning capacity;
- Lost wages;
- Permanent scarring and/or disfigurement; and
- More.
However, despite the value of your claim likely being high, the amount you can expect to recover depends on the following factors:
- The insurance policies of all relevant liable parties;
- The assets of the negligent party; and
- The experience and dedication of your legal team.
Uninsured motorists, for example, generally do not have any real assets, and because they have no insurance or personal assets to pursue, the victims of traffic collisions that these individuals cause are potentially out of luck unless the victim themself has underinsured or uninsured motorist (UM) coverage.
Why You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer, and how Shelbourne Law can Help
If you are not represented by an attorney after an accident, it is a given that any settlement offered by the insurance company will be less than the full value of your claim. Insurance companies handle accident claims every day. They know how much you are likely to accept to settle your claim, and they are trained in convincing you to accept their offer. At Shelbourne Law, our attorneys know how much your claim is worth and can keeping you from accepting less than you are owed. Also, when you have an experienced personal injury lawyer representing you, the insurance company is more likely to deal fairly with you in the first place to avoid having to face a jury trial.
Another common tactic of insurance companies is to defend their insured by claiming that your own negligence caused the accident, or at least contributed to it. Insurers do this to lessen the amount they have to pay, and if they can convince a jury that you are more than 50% to blame, then you can be kept from any recovery at all. At Shelbourne Law, we know South Carolina negligence law and won’t let you get saddled for any portion of the blame that does not belong to you. We fight to get you the full amount of compensation applicable to your case, including damages for present and future medical care; compensation for lost income for the time you missed work or if you are disabled from working; damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress and loss of quality of life; and even punitive damages in appropriate cases. We provide comprehensive assistance to get you the most compensation available, including helping you get workers’ compensation benefits if the accident is work-related.
A Summerville Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You Receive Substantial Compensation
Whether you were injured in a car crash and suffered whiplash and a broken nose, or you were the victim of a slip and fall and fractured your spine, you deserve to be heavily compensated for your injuries. Do not talk to an insurance company before discussing your case with an experienced Summerville personal injury lawyer at the law offices of Shelbourne Law. Call us today at 843-871-2210 for a free consultation.
