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Experienced South Carolina car crash lawyer dedicates practice to helping accident victims – including passengers – recover fully on their losses.
Being injured in a car accident is challenging on a variety of different levels, but if you’re a passenger in the car, it can add additional emotional challenges. The fact that you played absolutely no part in the accident yet were injured and are likely facing significant physical, financial, and emotional damages can leave you feeling helpless and at a real loss. You don’t, however, have to face the difficult path forward alone. An experienced South Carolina car accident attorney can help you move forward with the confidence that comes from knowing you have professional legal counsel in your corner.
Your Situation
If you’ve been injured in a car accident as a passenger, your car accident claim will proceed in exactly the same way that any other claim would. You will file your claim with the car insurance company of the at-fault party (whether that is the driver of the car you were in or of another motorist). Making a determination regarding fault can be complicated, but this is one of the jobs your dedicated car accident attorney in South Carolina will ably handle.
Car Accident Claims
Car accident claims are often quite complicated, and yours will be unique to the circumstances involved, but understanding the basics about how these claims work can help. Consider the following:
- Car accidents fall in the category of personal injury law, which is based on negligence in relation to a duty of care owed.
- Every motorist owes everyone else on the road a duty of care to drive safely.
- When this duty of care is neglected (or breached), car accidents like the one that left you injured are not uncommon.
- Those injured as a result of driver negligence file their car accident claims with the at-fault party’s car insurance provider and, from there, negotiate for just compensation that covers the damages they’ve suffered.
- If negotiations break down and fair terms aren’t established, claimants have the right to file lawsuits against the insurance companies involved.
The Insurance Company
While the negligent party is responsible for covering your losses, it’s rarely quite that simple. The insurance company is in business to maximize profits, and it manages to do this by keeping its settlements as low as possible. In other words, you’re not going to receive the compensation to which you are entitled without bringing your strongest claim and standing strong against all of the tactics the insurance company chooses to throw your way.
Claim Denial
The insurance company may deny your claim from the beginning in the hope that you will take them on their word and give up. Many claimants mistakenly believe that car insurance companies have the final say and that if their claims are denied, it must be the end of the matter. If your knowledgeable South Carolina car crash lawyer believes you have a viable claim, you shouldn’t be discouraged by this tactic. Ultimately, the court will make the final decision (if it comes to that) and not the insurance company.
Early Settlement Offer
Another trick the insurance company might attempt is offering you an early settlement – when you are desperate to cover your mounting medical bills and offset your waning earnings but before you’re completely aware of the full extent of your damages. Signing a settlement out of desperation leaves you with no further recourse regarding compensation – consult with your attorney before signing on the dotted line.
Prolonged Claims Process
Another approach the insurance company may adopt is artificially prolonging and/or complicating a process that is lengthy and complicated enough to begin with. You’re going through plenty and don’t need the additional stress of the insurance company’s antics. There are laws against such practices, and having a savvy car crash lawyer on your side can help remind the insurance company of these legal constraints.
Your Damages
The insurance company may attempt to cast doubt on the actual damages you’ve suffered in a bid to keep your total compensation as low as possible. The best ways to help ensure that your complete range of damages is well represented – in their entirety – is by seeking immediate medical attention, following your doctor’s instructions carefully, laying low on social media (the insurance company is skilled at twisting their meaning), and building your strongest claim by working closely with your car accident lawyer.
FAQ
You’ve been injured as a passenger in a car accident, and you naturally have questions. Fortunately, the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions can help.
How much compensation will I receive?
Because your claim is unique, there is no way to put a general value on it sight unseen. There are, however, general guidelines that apply. With solid legal representation on your side, you should be compensated for your complete medical costs, for your lost wages (and any lost earning potential), and for your physical and emotional pain and suffering.
I’m obviously not at fault – do I really need an attorney?
The truth is that, while you are under no obligation to have an attorney, the best way to ensure that you receive just compensation is with a dedicated car accident lawyer in South Carolina on your side.
What damages are covered?
The damages covered in car accident claims like yours include all the following that apply:
- Lost earnings
- Medical costs
- Pain and suffering
Ensuring that your complete array of damages is well represented is essential to obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled.
Consult with an Experienced South Carolina Car Accident Attorney Today
If a car accident in which you were a passenger leaves you injured, the accomplished car crash lawyers at David Aylor Law Offices in South Carolina recognize the challenges you face and have the skills, drive, and legal insight to help. To learn more by scheduling your free case evaluation, please contact or call us at 843-548-1574 today.