Greenville Car Accident Lawyer
From fender-benders to high-speed interstate collisions, auto accidents can be incredibly stressful to experience and even more challenging to recover from physically and financially. Even if it seems clear who bears fault for an incident, proving liability and holding a reckless party accountable for your damages can be impossible to manage without legal counsel.
Fortunately, help is available from a Greenville car accident lawyer with years of experience working on behalf of people like you. Once retained, a seasoned personal injury attorney can begin collecting and preserving relevant evidence, valuing your compensable losses, and building a strong case that accounts for every possible legal and procedural roadblock.
Rules for Car Accident Litigation in Greenville
Unlike other states, South Carolina law does not restrict the right of people injured in car accidents to file suit immediately after sustaining harm. Anyone hurt in an auto accident in Greenville has three options:
- Filing a claim under their car insurance policy
- Filing a lawsuit against the insurance of the person at fault for the incident
- Pursuing civil litigation against an at-fault individual
Successful lawsuits and settlement demands for motor vehicle collisions are usually built around the legal concept of negligence, which essentially allows people to be held financially responsible for the harm they cause. For example, a person is “negligent” if they do something reckless or careless, which qualifies as a “breach” of the duty to act responsibly and safely that all motor vehicle operators have. The irresponsible act is the direct and primary cause of an accident resulting in physical injury that requires professional medical attention.
Through a successful claim, an injured individual can recover for damages like:
- Vehicle repair/replacement costs
- Personal property losses, like a damaged smartphone
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and working capacity
- Physical pain and emotional/psychological suffering
- Long-term effects of permanent disability/disfigurement
A court may elect to impose punitive damages against a defendant in addition to all applicable compensatory damages. However, there are strict rules about when such damages may be applied that a Greenville car accident attorney can explain in more detail.
Avoiding Obstacles to Comprehensive Recovery
Like other personal injury litigation cases, auto accident claims are subject to a three-year filing period in virtually every situation, generally beginning when the crash occurred. According to the South Carolina Code of Laws § 15-3-530, anyone who fails to comply with this deadline—codified in—will be time-barred from financial recovery based on that incident.
In addition, state courts have the discretion to assign a percentage of total fault for an accident to the injured plaintiff filing suit and reduce a claimant’s final damage award or—if the plaintiff is more at fault than all defendants combined—bar them from recovering anything. Support from a dedicated lawyer in Greenville can be vital to maximizing available compensation by contesting allegations of comparative fault.
Consider Working with a Greenville Car Accident Attorney
Adding a civil claim to your plate after a serious auto wreck might sound overwhelming at first, especially if you are dealing with severe injuries. However, with compassionate legal counsel helping you, you can protect your legal rights without putting too much additional stress on yourself in the short term.
Retaining a Greenville car accident lawyer should be a priority for anyone injured due to another driver’s irresponsible behavior. Call Price Benowitz today for a consultation.
