If you have been injured in a South Carolina car accident, your first priority should be your health and your family. 
Unfortunately, many people are contacted by insurance adjusters before they understand the full extent of their injuries, what medical care they may need, or how the crash may affect their ability to work.
Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers represents people injured in car accidents throughout South Carolina. Since 1991, our firm has helped crash victims and families navigate injury claims involving negligent drivers, drunk drivers, distracted drivers, uninsured motorists, rideshare vehicles, commercial vehicles, and serious roadway collisions.
If another person’s careless or reckless actions caused your injuries, you may have the right to pursue compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, permanent injuries, property damage, and other accident-related losses. Our South Carolina car accident lawyers can investigate what happened, deal with the insurance company, and help you understand your legal options.
South Carolina Car Accident Lawyers Helping Injured People Since 1991
A serious car accident can affect nearly every part of your life. You may be trying to recover physically while also dealing with hospital bills, physical therapy appointments, missed work, vehicle repairs, and repeated calls from insurance companies. If the crash caused a long-term injury, the financial and personal impact may continue for months or years.
Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers handles car accident claims across South Carolina, including Myrtle Beach, Conway, North Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Florence, Columbia, Greenville, and surrounding communities. Our team looks at the facts of each case individually because no two crashes, injuries, or recoveries are exactly the same.
For location-specific information, you can review our guides for Myrtle Beach car accident claims, Charleston car accident claims, North Charleston car accident claims, Greenville car accident claims, Florence car accident claims, and Murrells Inlet car accident claims.
When Should You Contact a Car Accident Lawyer?
You should consider speaking with a lawyer as soon as possible after a crash if you were injured, if the other driver or insurance company disputes fault, if your injuries may require ongoing treatment, or if you are being pressured to give a recorded statement or accept a settlement.
Some injuries are obvious immediately. Others may not become clear until hours or days after the collision. Our resource on delayed injury symptoms after a South Carolina car accident explains why it is important to pay attention to pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, numbness, and other symptoms after a wreck.
Insurance companies may ask questions that seem routine, but your answers can affect your claim. Before discussing fault, injuries, or settlement value with an adjuster, it may help to understand what car insurance companies may not explain after a South Carolina crash.
What Compensation May Be Available After a South Carolina Car Accident?
The value of a car accident claim depends on the facts of the crash, the available insurance coverage, the severity of the injuries, medical treatment, lost income, long-term limitations, and how the accident affects daily life. Depending on your situation, a claim may include compensation for:
- Emergency room care, hospitalization, surgery, and follow-up treatment
- Physical therapy, rehabilitation, medication, and future medical needs
- Lost wages and reduced future earning ability
- Pain, suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent injuries, scarring, disfigurement, or disability
- Vehicle repairs, replacement costs, and other property damage
- Wrongful death damages when a loved one dies because of the crash
If your car was damaged or totaled, our article on property damage after a South Carolina car accident explains issues that may come up with repair costs, replacement value, and insurance coverage. If your injuries may be long-term, review our guide to compensation for permanent car accident injuries.
Common Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle
Car accidents happen for many reasons. Our attorneys review the available evidence to determine how the crash occurred, who may be responsible, and which insurance policies may apply. We handle claims involving:
- Rear-end collisions
- T-bone and intersection crashes
- Head-on collisions
- Multi-vehicle crashes
- Drunk driving accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims
- Uber and Lyft rideshare accidents
- Crashes involving commercial vehicles
- Fatal crashes and wrongful death claims
For more information about specific crash scenarios, visit our resources on rear-end car crashes, T-bone accident injuries in South Carolina, South Carolina hit-and-run accidents, distracted driving, and Uber and Lyft accident claims in South Carolina.
Drunk Driving Accident and Dram Shop Claims
When a drunk driver causes a crash, the driver may not be the only party whose conduct should be investigated. In some cases, a bar, restaurant, nightclub, or other alcohol provider may have served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person before the collision. These claims can involve multiple parties, multiple insurance policies, and time-sensitive evidence.
Our firm investigates drunk driving crashes to determine whether additional claims may be available. Learn more in our guides to South Carolina dram shop and social host liability, car accidents caused by drunk drivers, and social host liability in South Carolina.
What To Do After a Car Accident in South Carolina
The steps you take after a crash can affect both your health and your claim. If you are physically able, you should:
- Call 911 and report the crash.
- Get medical attention as soon as possible.
- Take photos or videos of the vehicles, roadway, damage, injuries, traffic signs, and weather conditions.
- Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver.
- Get names and contact information for witnesses.
- Avoid admitting fault or guessing about what happened.
- Keep copies of medical records, bills, repair estimates, and insurance letters.
- Speak with a lawyer before accepting a settlement.
For additional guidance, read our article on mistakes to avoid after a South Carolina car accident. If law enforcement responded to the crash, our guide to car accident police reports explains why the report may matter.
How South Carolina Car Accident Claims Work
A car accident claim usually begins with an investigation. Evidence may include the collision report, photographs, witness statements, medical records, vehicle damage, insurance information, surveillance footage, cell phone records, accident reconstruction analysis, and testimony about how the crash affected your life.
Once your injuries, treatment, and damages are better understood, your attorney may submit a demand to the insurance company and negotiate for a resolution. If the insurance company disputes liability, minimizes the injuries, or refuses to make a reasonable offer, a lawsuit may be necessary.
South Carolina generally gives injured people three years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but some cases may involve shorter deadlines or special notice requirements. Waiting can also make it harder to preserve evidence and locate witnesses. Our article on the car accident settlement process explains how claims may move forward after a wreck.
What If You Were Partly at Fault?
You should not assume you have no claim just because an insurance company says you were partly responsible. South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule. In general, an injured person may still recover compensation if their share of fault is not greater than the fault of the other party or parties, but the recovery may be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to the injured person.
Because fault percentages can significantly affect a claim, insurance companies may try to shift blame to injured people. If fault is disputed, review our resources on comparative negligence in South Carolina and comparative negligence in a South Carolina car accident.
What If the At-Fault Driver Has No Insurance or Not Enough Insurance?
Some injured people learn after the crash that the at-fault driver has no insurance, too little insurance, or cannot be identified after a hit-and-run. In those situations, other sources of recovery may be available, including uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage, or other applicable policies.
Our team reviews all available insurance coverage, not just the policy held by the driver who caused the crash. For more information, read our guide to sources of compensation after a South Carolina car crash, our podcast resource on being damaged by an uninsured driver, and our discussion of being injured by an underinsured driver.
Serious Injuries After a South Carolina Car Accident
Even a crash that appears minor at first can cause injuries that require significant medical care. More serious collisions may lead to permanent limitations, reduced earning ability, and long-term changes in daily life. Common car accident injuries include:
- Neck, back, and soft tissue injuries
- Broken bones and orthopedic injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Shoulder, knee, and joint injuries
- Burns, lacerations, and scarring
- Emotional trauma after a serious crash
If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury, the long-term medical and financial issues should be carefully evaluated before settlement discussions. Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers also provides information about traumatic brain injuries, accident recoveries involving traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injury claims.
Car Accidents Involving Wrongful Death
When a person dies because of a car accident, surviving family members may face grief, financial pressure, unanswered questions, and difficult decisions. A wrongful death claim may help eligible family members pursue compensation for losses caused by another person’s negligence.
These cases require careful investigation and a clear understanding of South Carolina law. Learn more about personal injury and wrongful death car accident claims, or review our information for families looking for a Myrtle Beach wrongful death lawyer or a Charleston wrongful death lawyer.
Why Choose Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers?
Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers has served South Carolina injury victims since 1991. The firm has grown from its Conway roots into a statewide personal injury practice with multiple office locations across South Carolina. Our attorneys and staff focus on helping injured people understand their rights, communicate with insurance companies, document their damages, and pursue claims based on the facts of their cases.
Our goal is to provide clear guidance, careful preparation, and personal attention throughout the legal process. We do not treat every case the same way because every client’s injuries, needs, and recovery are different.
Frequently Asked Questions About South Carolina Car Accident Claims
How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in South Carolina?
South Carolina generally gives injured people three years to file a personal injury lawsuit after a car accident. However, some claims may involve shorter deadlines or special notice requirements, so it is important to get legal advice as soon as you can.
Should I talk to the insurance adjuster after a crash?
You should be cautious before giving a recorded statement or discussing fault, injuries, or settlement value with an insurance adjuster. The insurance company may use your words to challenge part of your claim. A lawyer can help you prepare for those communications or handle them for you.
What if I feel okay right after the accident?
You should still consider getting medical attention. Some injuries, including concussions, back injuries, neck injuries, and soft tissue injuries, may not be obvious immediately. Medical records can also help document the connection between the crash and your symptoms.
Can I recover compensation if I was not wearing a seat belt?
You may still have a claim, but the facts matter. The insurance company may try to use seat belt use as an argument to reduce the value of the claim. You can read more about car crash claims involving seat belt use in South Carolina.
What if the other driver left the scene?
If the other driver left the scene, you may still have options. A hit-and-run claim may involve uninsured motorist coverage, witness statements, police investigation, and other available evidence. Learn more about legal options after a hit-and-run accident.
What if my loved one died in a car accident?
Your family may have a wrongful death claim if another person’s negligence caused the fatal crash. A lawyer can explain who may bring the claim, what damages may be available, and what deadlines may apply.
