Inman, SC Personal Injury Attorneys

You never know when tragedy will strike. It could be on the way to your child’s baseball game at Mabry Park, while you’re out walking your dog to Rail Tail Dog Park, or when you’re visiting one of your favorite stores in Westgate Mall. Injuries are expensive and inconvenient, but if someone else’s negligence caused your injury, you may be able to demand compensation. Working with a personal injury attorney in Inman, SC gives you the chance to hold the liable party accountable for their actions.

If you’ve been hurt because of someone else’s error, it’s time to find out if you’re entitled to compensation. Call Nowell Law Firm at 864-707-1785 to set up a meeting now.

What Type of Personal Injury Claim Do You Have?

Personal injury is a huge area of law that covers many types of cases, so it’s important to choose an attorney familiar with your type of accident. At Nowell Law Firm, we’ve built our firm’s reputation by fighting aggressively for fair compensation for our clients. We’ve done this both at the negotiating table and in the courtroom, proving that we aren’t afraid to force insurance companies to do what’s right. Some of the cases we handle as part of our personal injury practice include:

• Motor vehicle accidents: Crashes involving passenger vehicles, buses, trucks, and motorcycles are incredibly common in South Carolina. From mild concussions to fatalities and catastrophic injuries, accident outcomes vary widely. No matter what type of accident you’re involved in, an Inman personal injury attorney is your next step.
• Slips and falls: Property owners have a strict obligation to maintain their premises to minimize injuries. This is true for both residential and commercial property owners. This extends to salting the walkway after heavy snow, keeping staircases in working order, and moving obstacles out of walkways.
• Defective products: Products go through substantial testing and review before they hit the market, but a lot of unsafe products still reach the shelves. When consumers are injured because of a company’s failure to catch product flaws, it’s important to hold the company accountable for their mistakes.
• Dog bites: Owners are expected to maintain control over their animals to keep others safe from injury. If you’re bitten by a dog, you may be able to recoup your losses with a personal injury claim.

South Carolina’s Personal Injury Laws

Every state sets its own laws regarding personal injury claims. Spend some time getting familiar with these laws so you don’t miss an important deadline. In South Carolina, you generally have three years from the date of injury to file your case against the other party. There are exceptions, which is why it’s so important to talk to an attorney as quickly as you can after an accident.

Dog bites are one area where laws differ quite a bit between states. South Carolina does not allow owners to have “one bite free” before they have to pay compensation for their dog’s actions. Even if the owner had no reason to believe their dog was dangerous, they must still pay compensation to the victim.

What if you are partially at fault for the accident that caused your injuries? In a few states, victims cannot recover any compensation in court if they are found to have any liability in the crash. Luckily, South Carolina is not one of those states. If you are more than 50% responsible for the accident, you cannot recover compensation. If you are less than 50% responsible, your award will be reduced proportionately to your share of fault.

For example, consider a slip and fall accident where you were wearing worn-out shoes that had no grip on the bottom. Although the property owner should have salted the sidewalk, the court finds that you should have worn more appropriate shoes. You are found to be 25% liable. When the court awards you $10,000, your award is reduced to $7,500 to account for your liability.

Compensation for Your Injuries

Victims receive several types of compensation for their losses. You may receive money to cover:

• Medical bills and related expenses
• Lost wages and future income
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium

What to Expect During the Personal Injury Claim Process

When you meet with your personal injury lawyer, they’ll help you understand what to expect during the claim process. Most claims follow this process:

• Attorney consultation: You’ll meet with your lawyer, discuss what happened, and find out if you have a claim worth pursuing. At this appointment, bring any evidence you have and be ready to discuss the details of your accident and injuries.
• Investigation and evidence collection: Your attorney will look deeper into your accident, what caused it, and how it led to your injuries. They may or may not need additional information from you during this time. The information they get will be used to build your case.
• Negotiating with the insurance company: Once your attorney is confident in the case they’ve put together on your behalf, they will take it to the insurance company. They will send a demand letter requesting fair compensation for your injuries. This typically sets off one or more rounds of negotiation with the insurance company.
• Settling or going to court: Most of the time, this leads to a settlement. In a few situations, the insurance company is not willing to offer a fair settlement. If this happens, your attorney will move forward with a lawsuit.

Why You Should Choose Nowell Law Firm

At Nowell Law Firm, we know all too well how stressful a personal injury can be. While dealing with injuries and unexpected medical expenses, you may also have a sudden loss of income due to your accident. On top of that, you have to try to communicate with the other party’s insurance company to get the money you deserve.

Simply put, it’s impossible to juggle all of this. While you’re trying to communicate with the insurance company in good faith, they are doing the exact opposite. They are looking for anything they can use to diminish the value of your claim or avoid offering you anything.

An attorney can protect you from this manipulation and unethical treatment. We know what it takes to get insurance companies to take you seriously, and we’re committed to fighting for what is right.

Call Nowell Law Firm Today

Our team is here whenever you are ready to move forward with your personal injury claim. Let’s get started and give you the peace of mind you deserve. Call us at 864-707-1785 or fill out our contact form to talk to a team member.