How to Find an Accident Lawyer in the Columbia, SC Area – Morgan & Morgan

Most personal injury lawyers do not charge their clients upfront retainers or hourly fees. Instead, accident lawyers typically work with a so-called contingency arrangement. According to the American Bar Association (ABA), with a contingency arrangement, the client does not have to pay their lawyer if they lose the case. Therefore, the attorney and not the client is taking the financial risk. If you win the case, the attorney’s fee will come out of the amount paid by the defendant to settle. 

However, make sure that your potential lawyer works on a “no-win-no-fee” basis, as some accident attorneys charge upfront fees that you may not be able to recover if you lose the case.

You might wonder why you would need an attorney, especially if your case could settle out of court. Firstly, it is impossible to predict whether your case will go to trial. Secondly, an accident lawyer can help you with all aspects of recovering your due, including:

• Arbitration
• Mediation
• Negotiating with insurance companies

Your attorney can also gather comprehensive evidence and build a thorough case against the defendant. A clear-cut case is less likely to go all the way to trial compared to a highly contested claim.

One of the most important tasks of an accident attorney is to protect your legal rights and fight for your best interests, including the compensation you deserve. Victims that negotiate with an insurance company or at-fault party on their own risk being taken advantage of and leaving money on the table.

Medical expenses can quickly spiral out of control, especially with catastrophic and permanently disabling injuries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), car accidents alone caused healthcare and productivity losses exceeding $75 billion in 2017. 

Unfortunately, getting your medical bills taken care of after an accident can be anything but straightforward. Moreover, healthcare costs are first and foremost your own responsibility, at least until you can recover compensation from the at-fault party. Receiving compensation could take months or even years, especially if your case goes all the way to trial. 

In the meantime, your private health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid could pay for medical bills, depending on your particular circumstances. You could also ask medical providers to postpone payments of your medical bills until you recover a settlement.

Once victims have recovered a settlement for their medical costs and other expenses, they generally have to reimburse their health insurance with a process called subrogation. An accident lawyer could potentially help victims maximize the amount they get to keep after reimbursing their health insurance.

The experienced accident attorneys at Morgan & Morgan can guide you through getting your medical bills paid and help you get the most out of subrogation.

Compensation available will depend on the type and extent of your injuries as well as the circumstances and facts of your accident. Generally, accident victims could seek the following damages:

• Medical costs
• Income loss
• Property damage
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Scarring and disfigurement

Depending on your case, you could also be entitled to additional types of compensation. If the defendant acted particularly recklessly in causing your accident and injuries, the court may award punitive damages, which you could receive in addition to compensation.

Strictly speaking, no, you do not need an attorney to file a lawsuit against the negligent party in your accident. However, you will be subjected to the same standards as if an attorney handles your case, which can feel intimidating and overwhelming. If you make a minor technical mistake, such as filing documents too late, you risk having your suit thrown out even though you could have a good case against the defendant.

According to the American Bar Association (ABA), self-represented litigants are typically at a disadvantage. Moreover, individuals tend to underestimate the legal knowledge, time, and effort required to pursue damages successfully. In addition, the other side will most likely have the legal protection and representation of an attorney who will fight your claim vigorously. 

If you suffered significant injuries and there is a lot at stake with your claim, consider working with one of our experienced and dedicated accident lawyers in Columbia, SC, rather than going it alone.

Estimating the length of a case can be tricky. Generally, if your case is resolved in an out-of-court settlement, you could recover compensation much quicker than when it goes to trial. However, a quick settlement does not always work in a victim’s favor, especially if they suffered life-changing injuries. 

If you are in the middle of recovery, your attorney will most likely advise you to wait with filing suit until you have fully or partially recovered. Reaching maximum medical recovery can be crucially important for estimating your future damages correctly. Settling too soon without knowing your future medical costs can work to your disadvantage.

Victims can have some influence on the length of their case as it is up to them to reject or accept a settlement offer. While we understand that individuals are anxious to see their bills and expenses paid and get a lawsuit behind them, patience can go some way to help you get what you deserve. Generally, the more complex, serious, and valuable your case, the longer it could take.

If you got hurt through no fault of your own, an accident lawyer can be your best advocate, protect your rights, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Among handling other aspects of your case, an accident attorney can help with:

• Ensuring you receive adequate medical care
• Negotiating with the defendant and insurance company on your behalf
• Assessing your current and future damages relating to an accident
• Gathering evidence to prove and build your case
• Representing you strongly at trial

If you or a loved one got hurt, do not wait to seek legal advice, as timing can be of the essence. We can help you get adequate medical care and gather the potentially time-sensitive evidence required to prove and build your case against the negligent party in your accident.

Morgan & Morgan cares about those injured in a car accident, at work, or elsewhere. Our dedicated attorneys are here for you every step of the way, ready to fight for your rights and the compensation you deserve. We have helped victims recover comprehensive settlements for over 30 years, and could help you too. 

Get started today and contact our South Carolina office to determine whether you have a case.