Car crashes are never convenient, but if you are involved in an aggressive driving accident that causes serious injury, it can be devastating and life-altering, emotionally, physically and financially. Navigating this new, treacherous landscape is often difficult and scary. Obtaining the compensation you deserve isn’t a simple task, especially when trying to recover. Our car accident lawyers are here to help you.
How Dangerous Are South Carolina’s Roads?
The number of people killed in car accidents on South Carolina roads increased by 12% from 2020 to 2021. According to the S.C. Department of Public Safety, one person died in a traffic accident every 7.3 hours, and one person sustained injury every 9.8 minutes in 2021. Aggressive drivers contribute to numerous deaths and injuries every year.
In 2020, aggressive vehicle operation was the first harmful event in 1,334 accidents, with 32 fatal collisions and 477 accidents that led to injury. In 2021, those numbers jumped to 1,441 total accidents, 36 fatal crashes and 514 injury collisions.
Driver behavior is the primary contributing factor in fatal and non-fatal car accidents on S.C. roads, causing more than 80% of fatal collisions and more than 90% of non-fatal crashes. Though aggressive driving isn’t the behavior most responsible, if you are involved in a collision due to another driver’s emotional frame, those statistics are of little importance to your immediate and long-term needs. You need someone who can help you pursue your claim, giving you the opportunity to receive fair compensation.
Why Do You Need an Aggressive Car Accident Lawyer?
Car accident claims are often complex, and though drivers pay for protection, the insurance companies are never on the driver’s side. Whether dealing with your provider or the other driver’s insurer, the company has one goal: to keep as much money in the hands of the company as possible. They will do anything to delay, reduce or deny your claim.
Unfortunately, most car crash victims aren’t fully aware of how these insurers operate or believe they have no choice but to leave their financial fate in the hands of the providers. The insurance companies count on this fact. Claims adjusters recognize that they can often get away with offering a quick settlement or wear even the most persistent pursuant down, leading the person to accept less than they are entitled to.
When Do You Need To Hire an Aggressive Driving Accident Attorney?
The best time to hire a lawyer is immediately after your accident. If you accept any compensation from the insurance company, you are usually stuck with whatever financial amount the claims adjuster offers. However, you should at least speak to an attorney to find out if you have any options available to you.
At Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers, we understand your challenges and are happy to speak with you about your claim, no matter how serious your injuries or where you are in the claims process. You deserve to understand your rights and how car crash cases work. We will always be upfront with you, letting you know whether your case has merit and what — if anything — you can do to pursue compensation.
Filing an Insurance Claim
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to deal with the insurance company alone. Even if the accident was clearly the aggressive driver’s fault, you must prove it to the insurance company and stand your ground when the claims adjuster tries to wear you down. You also need to understand your rights, the compensation available and how much you can seek.
A significant component in determining the appropriate insurance payout is calculating how much your injuries will cost you in the future, in treatment and lost wages or earning capacity. If you base your idea of a fair settlement on the costs and losses you’ve already incurred, you will likely undercut yourself substantially.
A driving accident lawyer can help you with the insurance claim filing process, including gathering the necessary information to determine a fair insurance settlement. We will ensure your claim is thorough and an accurate representation of your damages and losses because of the other driver’s negligent actions.
Pursuing a Legal Claim
When the insurance company doesn’t listen to reason or facts, you might have no choice but to pursue your claim in the legal arena. However, you mustn’t accept any money from the provider. We know how difficult this can be, as bills pile up and if you lose significant income due to missed work. Furthermore, you can’t wait too long to pursue a legal claim, as South Carolina has a three-year deadline for filing a personal injury claim.
You have the right to represent yourself in a lawsuit. However, doing so presents numerous challenges. The laws and processes for personal injury lawsuits are complex. The insurance company will undoubtedly have a team of lawyers working to make sure you shoulder the blame for your injuries. Additionally, to even get the ball rolling, you need to demonstrate that your case qualifies for a legal claim when you file with the court.
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers car accident attorneys have the knowledge and experience to determine whether your cause meets the court’s criteria for a lawsuit. We also ensure the filing documents are complete, thorough and accurate, reducing the likelihood that the court will deny your case’s merit. Our attorneys will support you through the process and fight to protect your rights and obtain just compensation for your losses.
What Does a Driving Accident Lawyer Do?
At Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers, our primary goal is to ensure you have the best chance to receive a favorable outcome. We are here to support you throughout the insurance or legal claim process. We know the difficulties you face when the future is uncertain. Our team works efficiently and aggressively to resolve your case as quickly as possible without sacrificing the quality of our services.
The first step we take with every potential client is a free case evaluation. If we determine your case has merit and you decide to hire us, you can expect us to:
- Protect your rights: We will ensure you know your rights and that the insurance company and defense respect them.
- Gather the evidence: Our team knows what evidence to look for to prove the other driver’s liability, and we understand how to obtain it quickly.
- Calculate your losses: We understand how to determine current and future damages, including non-monetary damages such as pain and suffering.
- Communicate with the other side: We will handle all communications with the insurance company or defense legal team.
- Negotiate a settlement: Whether dealing with an insurance claim or a lawsuit, our attorneys are skilled at negotiations and won’t back down in the name of expediency.
- Communicate with you: You have the right to know where your case stands at each step in the process and to be a part of the decision-making.
Though few personal injury cases make it to trial, if pursuing a legal claim does not result in a fair settlement, we won’t hesitate to take it to court and represent you throughout the process.
How Do You Get Started With a Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer?
Getting started with us is as simple as scheduling your free case evaluation. If you decide to hire us, we won’t charge any fees unless we secure a settlement for you, and we won’t get paid until you do. Contact us today to speak with one of our aggressive driving accident lawyers about your case.
