Personal Injury Lawyers in Greenville

As anyone who has been in an accident knows, the aftermath can be overwhelming. From managing medical appointments to dealing with insurance companies, there is a lot to keep track of. And if you are unable to work because of your injuries, the financial burden can be crippling. This is where a Morgan & Morgan personal injury lawyer in Greenville can help. Our lawyers will fight for your rights and make sure that you receive the compensation you deserve. We will also handle all the paperwork and negotiations so that you can focus on your recovery.

If you have been injured in an accident, don't try to handle it alone. Contact Morgan & Morgan today to schedule a free consultation.

Most Common Types of Personal Injury Claims

When most people think of personal injury, they sometimes assume that a car accident is the only type of personal injury case where victims seek compensation. While car accidents are probably the most common type of personal injury claim, they are far from the only type. Some of the most common include:

Car Accidents

By far, the most common type of personal injury claim we see is for car accident injuries. Whether it's a rear-end collision, a T-bone accident, or a head-on crash, car accidents can cause serious injuries that often require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. If you've been injured in a car accident that was caused by another driver's negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are another common type of personal injury claim. These accidents can occur anywhere—in a store, on a sidewalk outside a restaurant, at a friend's house—and happen when property owners fail to maintain their premises in a safe condition. If you've been injured in a slip and fall accident, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries if it can be shown that the property owner was negligent in their upkeep of the property.

Dog Bite Cases

Another very common type of personal injury claim includes dog bites. Under South Carolina law, dog owners are strictly liable for dog bite injuries that their dogs cause. This means that even if the dog has never bitten anyone before, the owner can be held responsible for your injuries. If you have been bitten by a dog, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible and then contact a personal injury lawyer.

Defective Products

If you have been injured by a defective product, you may have a product liability claim against the manufacturer or seller of the product. To succeed in a claim for a defective product, you'll need to show that the product was defective and that the defect caused your injury.

Medical Malpractice

If you've been injured due to the negligence of a doctor or other medical professional, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice claim. To succeed in such a claim, you'll need to show that the medical professional owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty of care through their actions (or inaction), and that as a result of their breach, you were injured.

Examples of medical malpractice claims include botched surgeries, misdiagnoses, and failure to obtain informed consent from patients before performing procedures.

The Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims in South Carolina

If you have been injured due to the negligence of another person, it is important to be aware of the statute of limitations that may apply to your case. The statute of limitations is the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit against the negligent party. In South Carolina, the statute of limitations for personal injury is three years from the date of the injury.

What This Means For You

If you have been injured in an accident, it is important to speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible so that they can begin working on your case. It can sometimes take months or even years to investigate and gather evidence in a personal injury case. If you wait too long to contact a lawyer, you may miss the deadline to file your lawsuit and will not be able to recover any compensation for your injuries.

You Can Still Recover Compensation if You Are Partially at Fault

Many people are under the impression that if they are even partially at fault for an accident, they will not be able to recover any compensation for their damages. However, this is not always the case. In South Carolina, as long as you are not more than 50% at fault for the accident, you may still be able to recover compensation through a process called modified comparative negligence.

What Is Modified Comparative Negligence?

Modified comparative negligence allows victims of accidents to recover reduced compensation even if they are partially at fault for the accident.

For example, let’s say you are involved in a car accident with another driver who ran a red light. The other driver is clearly at fault for the accident. However, you were speeding at the time of the accident. The police report from the accident notes these facts. Ultimately, the court assigns 20% of the blame for the accident to you and 80% of the blame to the other driver.

In South Carolina, you would still be able to file a personal injury claim against the other driver and recover compensation for your damages since you are less than 51% at fault for the accident. The amount of your compensation would be reduced by 20% to reflect your percentage of fault in causing the accident.

The Many Benefits of Working With a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been the victim of an accident or injury, you may be wondering if you should work with a personal injury lawyer. The answer is usually yes. There are many benefits to working with a personal injury lawyer, including:

Understanding the Law

One of the biggest benefits of working with a personal injury lawyer is that they understand the law. They know what your rights are and can fight to ensure that those rights are upheld. Furthermore, they know how to navigate the legal system and have experience dealing with insurance companies and other lawyers. This means that they can handle all the paperwork and legwork involved in your case so that you can focus on healing.

Calculating Damages

Another benefit of working with a personal injury lawyer is that they can help you calculate your damages. This includes calculating both your economic damages (e.g., lost wages, medical bills) and your noneconomic damages (e.g., pain and suffering, emotional distress). This calculation is important because it will determine how much money you are entitled to receive from the responsible party.

Negotiation Skills

In addition to understanding the law and calculating damages, personal injury lawyers also have superb negotiation skills. This comes in handy when dealing with insurance companies who will offer you far less than you deserve or deny your claim altogether. Having a skilled negotiator on your side can make all the difference in getting you the money you deserve.