Car Accident Lawyer in Mount Pleasant, SC

With a car accident happening approximately every four minutes in South Carolina, it is likely that you will experience at least one wreck in your life. If you are injured, and the car crash was not your fault, you may have a valid claim for the damages you suffer, and an experienced car accident lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve.

However, compensation for your injuries is never automatic. In fact, insurance companies regularly fight with injury victims over compensation.

At Lowcountry Law, LLC, we help car accident injury victims get the funds they need to address the damage done to their lives. With our founder and Citadel graduate Matthew Breen at the helm, we have successfully recovered multiple millions of dollars for our car accident clients over the years. We may be able to do the same for you. 

If you have been injured in a car accident, you need time to heal, but you also need to pursue compensation for your injuries. With a car accident lawyer on your side, you get the time you need to recuperate and the peace of mind that comes with knowing your case is in good hands. 

Trust Lowcountry Law, LLC, to fight to get you compensation. Many others have, and so can you. Call our office in Mount Pleasant today for a free consultation.

Other Drivers Owe You a Duty of Care

Drivers on the road owe everyone else a duty of care. This means they are required to operate their vehicle in a safe and reasonable manner. When a driver violates this duty, their actions may be considered negligent. And if they cause an injury while behaving negligently, they may be responsible to pay for any losses they cause.

Damages Owed by Negligent Drivers

Negligent drivers create chaos and destroy lives. The forces under their control are powerful enough to easily injure and kill. Fortunately, the law gives injury victims and their families the power to hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions.
When a negligent driver harms someone, the injuries may lead to all manner of financial damages, including:

• Expenses for medical treatment
• Loss of income and the ability to work
• Costs incurred to hire help around the home

If the injury is particularly serious and leads to long-term debilitation, the damages listed above will be substantial. Years of medical care and time off work will cripple most people financially, which is why hiring a car accident lawyer in Mount Pleasant, SC, is important. Your lawyer will fight to ensure that your future needs are addressed.

Financial damages are not the only recoverable losses that car accident victims and their families face. South Carolina law recognizes non-economic damages in addition to economic ones. 

Non-economic damages are those negative consequences that affect your emotional and psychological well-being. Although there are no objective price tags on non-economic damages as there are for economic damages (i.e. a medical bill), drivers responsible for causing them can be held to pay.

Non-economic losses recognized in South Carolina include:

• Pain
• Suffering
• Inconvenience
• Mental anguish
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium

Although lacking a verifiable price tag, each of these damages can be assigned a dollar amount that reflects an injury victim’s situation and injuries. Unlike some states, South Carolina does not place a cap on non-economic damages.

In rare cases, punitive damages may be available to an injury victim. Punitive damages address particularly bad behavior by a defendant and are for the express purpose of punishing the defendant and not for compensating the victim. 

In order to receive an award for punitive damages, the claimant must prove that the defendant acted in a way that was willful, reckless, or wanton when they caused harm.

Careless Driving

There are many examples of negligent driving, all of which are preventable by making the right choices. Unfortunately, many drivers make the wrong choices and put others at risk by engaging in one or more of the following types of behaviors behind the wheel:

• Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol 
• Distracted driving, such as texting while driving or rubbernecking
• Excessive speeding
• Failing to yield
• Failing to obey stop signs and traffic signals
• Driving while tired
• Driving while eating or drinking

Additionally, driving a poorly maintained vehicle may also be a form of negligence. Whatever the cause of your injuries, you can trust Lowcountry Law, LLC, to represent you vigorously. Our car accident lawyer has been named a SuperLawyer for the past three years and is ready to review your case.

Car Accident Victims Face Serious Injuries

The forces generated in a car accident are sufficient enough to cause serious injuries and death. Depending on the extent of the injuries, a car accident victim could be laid up for an extended period of time trying to recuperate. In extreme cases, the injury and debilitation are permanent.

Common serious car accident injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI), which can lead to lifelong debilitation
• Spinal cord damage, which usually leads to partial or complete paralysis
• Broken and fractured bones
• Abrasions and lacerations
• Burns and disfigurement
• Internal injuries

Typically, psychological and emotional injuries accompany the physical ones. This is why the state allows victims to seek non-economic damages. Non-physical injuries and their damages are just as real as their physical counterpart. They include:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Depression 
• Anxiety

Each of these coupled with a physical injury can sideline a person and their family for long periods of time and lead to significant negative changes and consequences.

What to Do After a Car Accident

What you do after a car accident will have a significant impact on your injuries and your claim for compensation. As such, it is important to follow a few guidelines if you ever experience a car wreck. Doing so can help keep you safe and protect your interests. 

Get to Safety and Seek Medical Treatment

After the accident, you should move yourself and your vehicle to a place of safety. You will not be able to do this if you have suffered a significant injury or are unconscious. However, if you are lucid and physically able, get out of traffic.

You will then want to seek medical treatment. If you are dealing with an emergency situation, call 911 and make sure they take you to a hospital. You need a comprehensive medical record of your injuries from a qualified professional beyond a first responder.

File a Police Report

In South Carolina, motorists are required to file an accident report with law enforcement when there is an injury or death. So you should also file a police report soon after the accident occurs. In addition to fulfilling your civic duty, filing a police report will provide a valuable record for your car accident lawyer when they are pursuing your claim. 

Snap Photos of the Scene

If you can, pull out your phone or a camera and start taking snapshots of the crash scene. Get shots of the damage to the cars and various angles of the scene, and don’t forget to take photos of any injuries that came about. Later, your car accident lawyer will likely find the photos useful while working on your case.

Contact an Experienced South Carolina Car Accident Lawyer Today

Schedule a free consultation with the award-winning car accident lawyer from Lowcountry Law, LLC, as soon as you can. Various time constraints govern car accident claims, making it important to take quick action when seeking compensation. Failing to do so could invalidate your claim.

Don’t go through the claims process alone. While you take the time you need to heal, a seasoned car accident attorney will maximize your claim’s potential and help you get a payout that is truly worthy of your injuries. Contact Lowcountry Law, LLC, today.