Rock Hill Car Accident Lawyer
Car accidents in Rock Hill, South Carolina can range from minor incidents to severe wrecks, often resulting in serious or fatal injuries. For victims and their families, car accidents can be life-altering events that come with physical, emotional, and financial consequences.
If someone else’s negligent actions led to your car accident injuries, the experienced Rock Hill car accident lawyers of Stewart Law Offices are here to help. Our attorneys represent accident victims throughout South Carolina, protecting their legal rights and assisting them in seeking the compensation they deserve.
Contact our Rock Hill auto accident attorneys today to learn more about how our team can put its experience to work for you.
How Our Rock Hill Car Accident Lawyers Can Help You
If you suffered serious injuries or your loved one was killed in a car accident in the Rock Hill area, you need to get help from a Rock Hill auto accident attorney at Stewart Law Offices quickly. It can be extremely complicated for a person to recover compensation on their own following a car crash, but our attorneys have the skills and resources to help build a strong case on your behalf.
At Stewart Law Offices, we have obtained considerable results for our clients, including $9.8 million in a car accident case. We’re confident that our results speak for themselves, and we’re more than happy to discuss how we’ve helped auto accident injury victims just like you.*
Some of the ways our car accident attorneys can assist you with your case include:
- Helping you seek the specialized medical care you need
- Investigating the cause of the accident and gathering supporting evidence
- Calculating the total cost of your losses and fighting for compensation that reflects your actual losses
- Protecting your rights when speaking to law enforcement, the insurance company, and opposing counsel
- Hiring expert witnesses to provide professional insight that supports your claim
- Providing legal advice throughout the claims process
- Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf
- Representing your case before a judge and jury at trial, when necessary
At Stewart Law Offices, we also know how important it is to have auto accident lawyers who treat you with the respect and compassion you deserve. That’s why we go above and beyond by:
- Answering your calls and returning messages promptly
- Being available 24/7
- Personally visiting you at home or in the hospital
- Sending a qualified attorney to discuss your case
- Communicating with you regularly as your claim progresses
- Fighting aggressively for the maximum compensation you need
- Charging no fees unless we win money for you
Common Questions You May Have After an Auto Injury
It is best to say as little as possible to an insurance adjuster. Remember that a claims adjuster is looking for ways to minimize liability for the insurance company. You can give an adjuster basic information about your accident, such as the date, time, and location, but you should not discuss how the accident occurred. Refuse to provide a recorded statement when asked. Let an experienced Rock Hill car accident lawyer handle interactions with insurance adjusters on your behalf.
Stewart Law Offices has an office in Rock Hill as well as other South Carolina locations. Call us or contact us online to schedule a free consultation to find out more about your best legal options.
Any settlement you agree to should be designed to cover all expenses and losses stemming from your auto accident. A victim could be awarded compensatory damages, which are usually a combination of economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages refer to objective costs a victim has incurred or will incur, such as medical bills, lost income, and property damage. On the other hand, non-economic damages are much more subjective and involve awards like pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and disfigurement.
When you have suffered injuries that keep you out of work, you could be compensated for your lost wages – even if you were able to take paid leave. Some car crash injuries can put people out of work for several weeks, months, or even years. The worst kinds of injuries leave victims permanently unable to maintain employment. In these cases, people can be entitled to compensation that covers an entire lifetime of lost earnings.
People with health insurance may use their own health insurance to cover all ongoing medical expenses until compensation can be obtained from the negligent party. The only complication to this approach is that a portion of your award may be used to repay your health insurance company. When a person does not have health insurance, an experienced attorney may be able to find a doctor who will be willing to provide services under an agreement that they will be paid when you receive compensation. Some providers may even be willing to reduce certain medical costs if it assists in settlement negotiations.
Dealing with the Insurance Company After a Car Wreck
Shortly after your accident, likely within a few days, you may receive a call from the other party’s insurance company. They’ll want to ask you some questions about the incident and will tell you they need your answers so they can process your claim.
In many cases, accident victims believe that the insurance claims adjuster is on their side because they sound helpful over the phone or in person. However, you must remember that the insurance company doesn’t work for you. They’re not in the business of paying out money to injury victims. They’re in the business of denying claims and reducing payouts to pad their profit margins.
It’s vital that you do not speak to the insurance claims adjuster until after you speak to a car accidents lawyer in Rock Hill, SC. Tell the insurance company you cannot provide details about the incident until after speaking to your attorney, even if you do not currently have one. Then, contact an attorney right away.
If it’s necessary, your attorney can coach you through what you should and shouldn’t say to the insurance claims adjuster to protect your right to full and fair compensation. Speaking to the insurance company before speaking to an attorney can put your claim at risk.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Rock Hill Car Accident?
Car accident victims can recover various types of compensation, called damages, in a claim. Covered losses range from medical expenses to loss of enjoyment of life. Some of the most common kinds of losses a car wreck accident lawyer in Rock Hill, SC can help you seek compensation for include:
- Medical Expenses — Surgeries, hospital stays, medical treatments, prescription medications, physical therapy, and medical devices all count toward your overall medical expenses.
- Lost Wages — If your injuries prevent you from returning to work in a full capacity or at all, you can seek compensation for your lost wages and loss of future earning capacity, including promotions and retirement account contributions you would have received if the accident had not occurred.
- Home and Vehicle Modifications — In some cases, your injuries may be so severe that you need to modify your home or vehicle to accommodate them, such as by installing ramps or lifts.
- Pain and Suffering — You can seek compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering you experience due to your injuries.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life — If your injuries prevent you from participating in the activities you once enjoyed, you can seek compensation for this loss.
- Scarring and Disfigurement — Injuries resulting in scarring and disfigurement can take an emotional toll that you can seek compensation for.
South Carolina is a modified comparative fault state, which means that a person can recover damages only when their negligence does not exceed that of the defendant. The damages awarded are then reduced in proportion to a victim’s negligence, which means that a person awarded $100,000 in a car accident case that is found to have been 45 percent at fault will have their damage reduced by $45,000 and ultimately receive $55,000.
Types of Car Accidents
Motor vehicles are involved in many different types of collisions. Most of these cases involve some form of driver negligence.
A few of the most common kinds of auto accidents in Rock Hill include:
- Rollover Accidents — When a vehicle rolls over, occupants are often thrown or crushed. SUVs and pickups are commonly associated with rollover crashes. Manufacturers may be liable for rollover accidents caused by defective designs that led to a rollover.
- Hit-and-Run Accidents — South Carolina state law requires any driver involved in a motor vehicle accident to stop and give their name, address, and vehicle registration number to the other parties involved in the crash. The driver should also show their driver’s license when requested. A driver who leaves the scene of the accident without providing this information commits a criminal offense. Contact the police and give them any identifying information on the car and the driver, but do not ever attempt to chase a hit-and-run driver on your own. Authorities may be able to locate the offender. Even if they don’t, you may be able to recover compensation from the uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your auto policy.
- Multiple Vehicle Collisions —Multiple vehicles can easily be involved in a single collision. Pileup accidents on interstates and highways are common examples of multi-vehicle crashes. One motorist’s negligence is usually to blame for all subsequent collisions, but every case is different. In a crash that involves more than two vehicles, a single insurer could be overwhelmed by multiple claims, and there may be complex disputes about liability.
- Intersection Accidents — Where traffic crosses paths, accidents often occur. Most intersections have traffic signals or signs, but inattentive drivers cause accidents when they fail to yield properly. Collisions that occur at high speeds often result in severe injuries.
- Side-Impact (T-Bone) Collisions — Intersections and business entrances are common locations for T-bone accidents, which occur when one driver crashes into the side of another vehicle. The point of impact often determines who suffers the worst injuries, as collisions on the driver’s side could injure the driver, while the front-seat passenger faces greater danger in a passenger-side collision.
- Rear-End Collisions — Typically, a driver strikes the vehicle in front of them because they are not paying attention or are following too closely. In some cases, a driver may have misjudged speed. Unless the vehicle that was struck illegally cut in front of the other automobile, the motorist who runs into the back of the other vehicle is presumed to be at fault.
- Head-On Collisions — If a motor vehicle crosses into oncoming traffic for any reason, usually in cases of improper passing or failure to maintain control, vehicles may collide front end to front end. Head-on crashes are often at full force, so the possibility of fatal injuries is much greater.
Negligence may be immediately evident in some crashes, but other causes can be more complicated and difficult to decipher. It may be challenging to obtain the necessary evidence to prove some kind of negligence.
Causes of Car Accidents
A few of the most frequent causes of car accidents in Rock Hill include:
- Failure to yield
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Driver fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Dangerous roadways
- Inclement weather
- Tailgating
- Unsafe lane change
- Improper turns
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Most drivers will not admit responsibility for a collision, but certainly, note if a person immediately apologizes or admits to having done anything to cause the crash. Do not admit to any kind of fault of your own.
Steps to Take After an Auto Accident in Rock Hill
Nothing is more important after a motor vehicle accident than getting medical attention. Even if you feel at first that you weren’t hurt, visit a hospital or other medical provider as a basic precaution for your health. Many serious medical conditions do not immediately show symptoms. The shock of a crash can also mask pain and other symptoms of a serious injury.
Prompt medical attention can allow the timely treatment of potentially dangerous conditions.
After the accident, it is important to get the names and phone numbers of all witnesses. If you can, take as many pictures of the crash scene as possible using your cellphone or a camera. Do not speak to any insurance company that contacts you until you have legal representation. Our auto injury lawyers are here for you!
What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Car Accident Lawsuit in South Carolina?
The statute of limitations for car accident lawsuits in South Carolina is a law that sets the period allowed for filing a lawsuit after an injury. You have three years from the date of the accident to file your lawsuit. Failure to file suit within this period may result in the courts barring you from recovering damages. For this reason, it’s crucial that you speak to a Rock Hill car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
High Accident Areas in Rock Hill
Certain roads are inherently more dangerous than others due to various factors, such as speed limits, visibility, and amount of traffic. Some of the roads where most accidents occur in Rock Hill, South Carolina include:
- Celanese Road
- Cherry Road
- Old York Road & Heckle Boulevard
- Dave Lyle Boulevard
- North Anderson Road
- South Sutton Road
- Interstate 77
- Fort Mill Parkway
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Serving Rock Hill for a Free Consultation
Did you suffer injuries in a Rock Hill car accident? Are you concerned about how you’ll be able to afford your medical bills? The experienced and compassionate Rock Hill car accident attorneys of Stewart Law Offices can help. You don’t need to go through the car accident claim process alone. Our attorneys can handle every aspect of your car accident case while you focus on your recovery and your family.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a qualified member of our legal team. We’ll evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and explain the car accident injury claim process.