Derrick Law Office
11 East Avenue, Greenville, SC 29601
(864) 778-3130
Greenville is located in the northwest corner of South Carolina. It is one of the most prominent cities in the upstate area: In addition to hosting more than 250 international firms from 26 countries, Greenville has the highest level of foreign capital investment per capita in the nation. It also has an award-winning downtown area, a major performing arts center, and several nationally recognized museum collections.
Although an excellent place to live and work, car accidents are a regular risk around Greenville as well as across the state. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, there were 1,047 fatal crashes on state roads and highways in 2021, killing 1,130 people. In Greenville County, 78 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2020 while the city of Greenville experienced four fatal accidents in 2019.
When a negligent or reckless driver causes your car accident, a personal injury attorney in Greenville can fight to hold the responsible party accountable and obtain compensation for your damages. The Derrick Law Firm has obtained substantial settlements and large verdicts for clients throughout South Carolina and can take over the difficult side of the injury claim process while you recover.
Why Do Most Greenville Car Accidents Happen?
While some factors that lead to major car accidents, such as inclement weather, are impossible to control, others can be blamed on driver carelessness or negligence. These factors include but are not limited to:
- Speeding: Speeding is a leading cause of car crashes in Greenville, throughout South Carolina, and across the nation. In the same way, a wreck can also result from driving too slowly when other drivers are expecting a vehicle to complete a maneuver within a certain timeframe.
- Disobeying Traffic Laws: Apart from speeding, drivers commonly violate other traffic laws that are in place to protect us. When drivers disregard traffic signals, ignore signs, or otherwise violate traffic laws, they may set the stage for a collision.
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI): According to the CDC, 3,299 people were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver in South Carolina from 2009 to 2018. Drunk driving is a leading cause of traffic fatalities across the United States, accounting for more than 10,000 deaths every year.
- Distracted Driving: Distracted driving includes all activities that take a driver’s eyes off the road, from texting and looking at a smartphone to eating food or picking up an object that falls inside the vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that nearly 3,200 individuals died in distraction-related accidents in 2019.
Other factors that can lead to a crash include driver inexperience, driver age, weather conditions, road and highway conditions, objects like road debris or obscured signs, and vehicle problems. An experienced personal injury lawyer can consider various factors that may have contributed to your accident and how they may affect the settlement process.
Greenville Car Accident Settlements
No two car accident settlements are exactly the same. The amount you receive will depend largely on the severity of your injuries, the amount of any property damage, whether you lost wages or earning ability, and similar losses resulting from the accident. In general, you can expect to receive a higher settlement for a traumatic brain injury than a broken bone.
Below are some of the economic and non-economic damages you may be able to claim after a car accident in Greenville:
- Current and ongoing medical treatment expenses
- Rehabilitative therapies
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning ability
- Property damage
- Disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of consortium (for an injured spouse)
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The Derrick Law Firm will fight for the maximum compensation for your case and won’t settle for anything less. If the insurance company responsible for paying your damages refuses or makes lowball settlement offers, we will take your case to trial for the results you need. This determination and client advocacy resulted in an $800,000 accident settlement for one client.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Greenville?
In the moments immediately following a car accident, there can be a whirlwind of pain, disbelief, and emotions. Your first priority should be to ensure that the vehicle is in a safe area and that you and anyone else in the vehicle receive the medical attention they need immediately.
Call 911 right away to report the accident. As you wait for the police to arrive, exchange contact information and insurance information with the driver who hit you. Be civil, but avoid discussing fault or blame: this is a time when anything you say may be used to deny or minimize your compensation later on.
If your camera is undamaged, take photos of the damaged cars, the accident scene, and any other relevant details. Ask a bystander for assistance if you are injured and unable to do so safely.
As soon as the police arrive, they will create a report that you can use as evidence in your personal injury claim. You should then seek medical attention since some injuries do not present symptoms right away. Go to the ER or see your doctor as soon as possible. Once your injuries are confirmed, contact an experienced Greenville car accident attorney who can help you get your claim started.
When Should I Hire an Attorney for a Car Accident?
After the insurance company learns of the accident, a claims adjuster will reach out to ask you about the crash and your injuries. It can be easy to forget that the friendly person on the line is more interested in protecting their company’s profits than paying you the compensation you are entitled to. If you say the wrong thing, your claim could be minimized or even rejected.
When you work with The Derrick Law Firm, Attorney Brooks Derrick will calculate the full value of your claim and handle all negotiations with the insurance company. Having a legal team by your side will make filing a car accident claim far less stressful: you will be able to spend more time healing as your attorney handles the paperwork and deals with the adjuster.
How Much Does a Greenville Car Accident Lawyer Cost?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you’re likely dealing with the dual stress of high medical bills and no income. These financial pressures may leave you wondering whether you can afford to hire a personal injury attorney for your accident claim.
The good news is that you can. At The Derrick Law Firm, we offer free initial consultations to all new clients and take personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning that we recover our fees from your settlement or award. If we fail to make a financial recovery for you, you owe us nothing at all. Call us today to learn more.
What if I Contributed to the Accident?
South Carolina observes the modified comparative fault rule in personal injury claims. This rule states that the amount of damages a plaintiff can recover is reduced by the percentage of their fault. For example, if you are found to be 30% to blame for an accident and receive $100,000 at trial, you will receive $70,000 instead.
Additionally, if the plaintiff is more than 50% at fault for their accident, they may not seek damages from the other party or parties at all. For this reason, auto insurers often look for any opportunity to prove that your fault exceeds the threshold. Your Greenville car accident lawyer will take steps to prevent the insurance company from unfairly reducing or even denying your compensation.
Contact Our Greenville Car Accident Attorney Today
At The Derrick Law Firm, we take pride in helping as many injured clients as possible achieve healing and peace of mind. We have assisted many individuals and families with their car accident claims over the years and are prepared to put our skills, experience, and vast resources to work for you as well. To learn more or schedule a free initial consultation, please contact us.
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