If you or a loved one suffered injuries in an accident, it is important that you understand your legal rights and the time limit that you have to file a claim against the party responsible for the injuries. The Lexington personal injury lawyers with Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers can help you pursue justice and the fair compensation you deserve after an accident in Lexington, South Carolina. Contact our firm at (803) 373-1302 for a free case review.
With nearly 25,000 people, Lexington, SC, is the most populous city in Lexington County. With so many people, there are bound to be car accidents, slips and falls, and other accidents. If you are hurt in one of these accidents, it’s critical that you hold the at-fault party responsible for their carelessness in any type of accident you were injured in.
Our law firm was established in 1999. Since that time, we have had a singular focus: help South Carolina accident victims recover compensation after they were injured by the negligence of others.
Why Should I Hire Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers To Handle My Lexington Personal Injury Case?
If you were injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence in Lexington, SC, you need skilled legal representation. However, not all personal injury attorneys are the same.
Some of the reasons that you should consider hiring the Lexington personal injury lawyers with Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers are:
- We provide personalized attention – Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers is unlike any other personal injury firm. Here, we treat you like you are family. We look you in the eye, shake your hand, and guide you every step of the way. Our number one priority is doing what’s best for you. We will tell you the truth about your case and continue to provide open, honest communication every step of the way.
- We will be there with you every step of the way – Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers, we provide comprehensive legal representation. We conduct a thorough investigation to determine how the accident happened and who was at fault. We then build a solid case based on strong evidence. We account for all of your accident-related losses and negotiate for fair compensation.
- We have been recognized by various legal organizations – We have been recognized by Top 10 Nursing Home Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers, the American Association for Justice, and the South Carolina Association for Justice.
- We provide aggressive legal representation – Whether in settlement negotiations or at trial, we will provide aggressive legal representation. We have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for deserving clients just like you. You can count on us to aggressively pursue the maximum compensation you are entitled to and protect your rights to the full extent of the law.
Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, so there are no legal fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Call us today for your free case review with a Lexington personal injury attorney.
Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?
Many accident victims wonder, “Do I have a personal injury case?” Most personal injury cases are based on the legal concept of negligence.
You have a case for negligence if you can show all of the following legal elements:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care.
- The defendant breached the duty of care.
- The defendant’s breach of the duty of care caused the accident.
- As a result of the accident, you suffered damages for which the court can compensate you.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can evaluate the accident and explain if you have a personal injury case.
Why Should I Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
If you were hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be facing an uphill battle. The at-fault party might try to blame you for the accident. The insurance company could try to deny your claim or minimize its value. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help level the playing field and protect your rights at every stage.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help in various ways.
They can manage all aspects of your claim, including:
- Accident investigation
- Evidence gathering
- Assessment of damages
- Legal research
- Communication with insurance companies and other parties
- Negotiations
- Trial preparation
An experienced attorney can handle all these responsibilities so you can rest and focus on your recovery.
We Handle All Personal Injury Cases in Lexington
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers focuses on personal injury cases, including the following:
Car Accidents
Most car accidents are caused by driver error. If you were injured because of distracted driving, speeding, following too closely, or other errors, an experienced car accident attorney can help demand the compensation you deserve.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents are some of the most dangerous and deadly types of motor vehicle accidents.
These accidents can cause injuries such as:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Road rash
- Degloving injuries
- Amputations
- Broken bones
- Wrongful death
Let us help while you focus on your recovery.
Truck Accidents
Truck accidents can be complex cases because various parties can be responsible for the accident, such as:
- Truck drivers
- Trucking companies
- Cargo loading companies
- Maintenance companies
- Manufacturers
Our experienced legal team can investigate who is at fault for the accident and pursue compensation on your behalf.
Slip And Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents can occur when property owners and occupiers allow dangerous conditions to exist on their properties, such as:
- Spills and wet floors
- Broken or missing handrails
- Cracked tile
- Potholes
- Insufficient lighting
- Cluttered walkways
Call us to take the first step toward holding the at-fault party responsible for your injuries.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice occurs when a doctor deviates from the standard of care and harms a patient. Our skilled legal team can investigate to determine how your doctor breached the standard of care and what another doctor would have done under similar circumstances.
Nursing Home Abuse
We trust nursing homes to take care of our loved ones. When they abuse them instead, your family needs a strong legal advocate in your corner to demand the justice you deserve.
Wrongful Death
Surviving family members can seek financial compensation from the party or parties responsible for the loss of their loved one. Our compassionate attorneys can handle the legal claim while you focus on your grief.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. When we win, we receive a percentage of the compensation we recover for you.
Many accident victims were not expecting to be hurt and are in need of legal services. Some make the difficult decision not to hire a lawyer because they mistakenly think they can’t afford one.
At Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers, we never want a client to have to worry about this. That’s why we offer our services on a contingency fee basis.
With this fee arrangement, you get the immediate legal assistance you need, but you don’t have to pay for it until we recover compensation on your behalf. We can discuss our fees during your free consultation.
What Damages Are Available to Lexington Accident Victims?
Lexington accident victims can recover compensation for the economic and non-economic losses they sustain.
This could provide money for:
- Medical expenses – You can recover compensation for immediate medical expenses, such as emergency room visits, diagnostic tests, and ambulance rides. You can also recover compensation for ongoing medical expenses, such as hospital stays, medication, and doctor visits. Furthermore, you can recover compensation for anticipated medical expenses for the future.
- Lost income – Accident victims can also recover compensation for the time they miss from work while they are seeking medical treatment or recovering from their injuries.
- Reduced earning capacity – Some accidents cause permanent disabilities or other impairments that prevent you from returning to the same job. You can recover compensation for your reduced earning capacity.
- Property damage – You can also recover compensation for the costs of repairing or replacing your damaged personal property.
- Pain and suffering – You can also be compensated for the physical and emotional pain and suffering you endured because of the accident.
- Loss of enjoyment of life – If your quality of life decreases because of the accident, you can seek compensation for your loss of enjoyment of life.
These damages can result in significant compensation for accident victims.
How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
Every personal injury case is different. Its potential value is affected by factors such as:
- Type and severity of injury – More serious injuries tend to result in more valuable claims.
- Medical treatment – The type, duration, and invasiveness of your medical treatment can also affect the value of your claim. You may be able to recover compensation for the cost of your medical expenses. These expenses can also help determine pain and suffering and other damages.
- Insurance coverage available – The insurance coverage that applies to your case can impact your potential settlement value.
- Personal factors – Factors specific to your case, such as your age, health, and earning capacity, can affect its value.
- Effect of the accident on your life – Your claim’s value can change based on whether the accident resulted in permanent disabilities, the extent of your pain and suffering, whether your relationships changed because of the accident, and if you can’t enjoy favorite pastimes because of your injuries.
The only way to know the value of your claim is to talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer.
What If I’m Partially At Fault For the Accident?
Even if you are partially at fault for an accident, you may still be able to seek financial compensation for your losses. This is true as long as you are not 50% or more at fault for the accident under South Carolina’s modified comparative fault law. For example, if you are found 10% at fault for the accident, you can still file your claim.
However, this law reduces the amount of compensation you can recover based on your degree of fault. So, if you were 10% at fault and suffered $100,000 in damages, you could only pursue compensation for $90,000 because $10,000 of your damages are attributed to you.
Personal Injury FAQ:
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After an Accident in South Carolina?
Each state has its own statute of limitations, which establishes a time limit by which certain legal actions must be taken. In South Carolina, the statute of limitations is three years to file a personal injury lawsuit. This means that you must file your lawsuit within three years of the date of the accident in most cases. If this deadline passes and you have not filed your case, you can lose your right to take legal action.
There are times when the time limit may be longer or shorter. Speak to a knowledgeable Lexington personal injury lawyer to learn about the time limit that applies to your case and to protect your rights.
What Is Negligence and How Do I Prove It?
To prove negligence, you must be able to establish the following legal elements:
- Duty of care – You must show the defendant owed you a duty of care. For example, motorists owe the duty of following traffic laws, such as driving within the speed limit.
- Breach of duty of care – You must show the defendant breached the duty of care, such as speeding.
- Causation – You must also show the defendant’s breach of the duty of care caused the accident. For example, the defendant’s speeding must have directly caused the accident.
- Damages – Finally, you must show you suffered damages for which the court can compensate you, such as medical expenses or lost wages.
As the plaintiff in a personal injury case, you must prove each of these elements by the preponderance of the evidence. This means that the facts are more likely than not, as you allege.
South Carolina Personal Injury Laws (Brief Overview)
Some of the most important South Carolina personal injury laws to know are:
- Statute of limitations – The time limit to file a personal injury lawsuit in South Carolina is three years.
- Modified comparative negligence – You can still pursue compensation if you were partially at fault for an accident, as long as you were not 50% or more at fault for the accident. However, your damages are reduced by your degree of fault.
- Damage caps – Medical malpractice claims have a cap on how much compensation can be awarded for non-economic damages. This amount varies each year and is tied to inflation. There is an individual cap per defendant of approximately $545,000, as well as an overall cap for multiple defendants of approximately $1.637 million. There is also a cap for punitive damages.
- Collateral source rule – If your insurance covers some of your expenses, this does not reduce the damages the defendant owes you under South Carolina’s collateral source rule.
A Lexington personal injury attorney can help you navigate these complex laws.
Will My Personal Injury Case Go to Trial?
Some accident victims assume that their case will go to trial. They may have seen these cases on television and assume that their case will follow a similar process. However, the vast majority of personal injury cases do not go to trial.
Instead, most cases are resolved through a settlement with the insurance company. For example, in a car accident, your lawyer may be able to present a claim with the at-fault driver’s liability insurance provider.
The role of your personal injury lawyer is to fight for the best outcome for your case. Often, this is achieved through a settlement. However, it may be necessary to take some cases to trial, such as if the insurance company is denying liability or refusing to make a fair settlement offer. But even in cases where a lawsuit is filed, it is still possible to resolve your case before trial. When the insurance company sees your lawyer is willing to take the case all the way to get the recovery you deserve, they may be more willing to negotiate.
How Long Will My Injury Case Take?
Many accident victims are anxious about how long their case will take and when they can expect their settlement check. They want to get their life back on track, pay medical bills, and catch up on other bills that have piled up while they’ve been out of work. However, every personal injury case is different.
Various factors can affect how long your personal injury case takes to resolve, including:
- The type of accident
- The severity of your injury
- How many parties are involved
- The length of your medical treatment
- Whether liability is in dispute
- The insurance company and adjuster assigned to your case
- Whether you are represented by legal counsel
- The strength of your evidence
- Whether a lawsuit has to be filed in your case
Your lawyer will work diligently on your case while also ensuring that they do not leave money on the table.
What Should I Do After an Accident?
For any type of accident you are involved in, it is important that you take immediate steps to protect your health and legal claim.
Here are a few steps to take after an accident:
- Report the accident – If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident or you suspect your accident involved a crime, call 911. Otherwise, report the accident to the business or other party responsible for it.
- Gather information – Ask the other driver for their information, including their name, driver’s license number, insurance information, and contact information. If you were injured in a slip and fall or other type of accident, get the business owner’s information. Request information about the insurance company that covers liability claims. Ask witnesses for their information.
- Document the accident scene – Accident scenes are often quickly cleaned up, so valuable evidence can be lost if you don’t capture it immediately. Take pictures or videos of the accident scene and any factors that may have contributed to it.
- Seek immediate medical attention – Visit the emergency room or see a doctor right away so that your injuries are promptly and properly diagnosed and treated.
Finally, contact an experienced Lexington personal injury lawyer. A lawyer can advise you of your rights and guide you through the claim process.
Contact Our Experienced Lexington Personal Injury Lawyers For Legal Help
If you were injured in an accident caused by someone else’s carelessness in Lexington, SC, you should not have to pay for someone else’s mistake. The Lexington personal injury lawyers from Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers can investigate your case, identify all at-fault parties, and build your claim with solid evidence. We are committed to helping you secure maximum compensation for your claim.
Take advantage of your free, no-obligation consultation. Our contingency-fee arrangement guarantees you will pay no attorney fees unless and until we recover compensation for you. Call us today to get started.
Address: 5465 Sunset Blvd Suite B, Lexington, SC 29072
Phone: (803) 373-1302
Directions: Click here
Local Resources
- Archwood Counseling Services, LLC
- ReNu Physical Therapy and Wellness
- Jill Smith and Associates Counseling Lexington
- INSHAPE Physical Therapy and Wellness Center
- Pediatric Therapy Associates
*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.
