Your family might be entitled to compensation if a family member has recently died in an accident in Edgefield County, SC. Don’t try to navigate these difficult days alone. The experienced Edgefield County wrongful death lawyers at Hawk Law Group can help you fight for the accountability you deserve.
Hawk Law Group is a leader in personal injury litigation in South Carolina and Georgia, fighting for victims of tragic accidents and their families. When you choose our law firm, you’ll benefit from a team with 71+ years of legal experience that’s won tens of millions in life-changing financial awards.
Contact our law office to discover why our team is the one you’ll want on your side as you take on insurance companies and at-fault parties. Give us a call or reach out to us online to arrange your free consultation now.
How Hawk Law Group Can Help You After a Fatal Accident in Edgefield County, SC
While money will not bring your family member back to you, it can make a huge difference as you grieve and move forward with your life. However, insurance companies won’t be sympathetic to your situation – at least not genuinely. They’ll work hard to limit how much money you can get – or if you can get compensation at all.
The best way to increase the odds of a win and give yourself the time you need to grieve is by calling our Edgefield County personal injury lawyers for help.
We have decades of experience handling the toughest personal injury cases in South Carolina. We’re top-rated litigators with a demonstrated ability to win big for our clients.
When you trust us to handle your wrongful death case, we will:
- Investigate the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s fatal accident
- Gather and analyze evidence to build and strengthen your claim for damages
- Defend your family member against allegations that they share blame for the accident that caused their death
- Seek damages from all liable parties
- Work closely with leading experts and specialists whenever appropriate
- Negotiate to get the best possible terms in a settlement agreement on your behalf
- Have a respected trial attorney bring your case to a jury in Edgefield County if insurance companies refuse to negotiate fairly
Our law office works on contingency, so there’s never an upfront cost to ask for our help. You only pay for our legal representation if we win your case. No win, no fee. Guaranteed.
Get in touch with us by calling our team or reaching out to us online. We offer a free consultation, so contact us to get started now in Edgefield County, South Carolina.
How Do I Know If I Have a Wrongful Death Case?
Wrongful death, defined by S.C. Code Ann. § 15-51-10, refers to a death that is “caused by the wrongful act, neglect or default of another.”
Simply put, the death would not have happened if the defendant had exercised reasonable care.
As a surviving close family member, you may have the right to file a wrongful death action if, had your loved one survived, they would have had the right to file a lawsuit for damages themselves.
In South Carolina, wrongful death cases can arise after any type of traumatic accident or event, such as:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Boating accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Accidents involving defective products
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Occupational illness and disease
- Nursing home abuse
- Medical malpractice
- Aviation accidents
Here’s the takeaway: any death that could have been avoided, but happened because of someone else’s intentionally harmful or negligent conduct, may give rise to a wrongful death action.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Edgefield County, SC?
In South Carolina, a wrongful death lawsuit can only be filed by the victim’s personal representative or executor. This will be the person named in their will or appointed by a judge if there is no will.
The lawsuit, however, is filed on behalf of surviving family members.
Only certain family members can benefit from a wrongful death case. Primary beneficiaries are the victim’s spouse and/or child(ren).
If the victim has no surviving spouse or child, damages in a wrongful death matter will go to the victim’s parents.
If there are no surviving spouses, children, or parents, damages will be awarded to other heirs.
What Is My Wrongful Death Case Worth After a Fatal Accident in Edgefield County?
The value of a wrongful death case will depend on a number of different factors, such as:
- The victim’s age at the time of the fatal accident
- The victim’s life expectancy
- The victim’s income and the financial support they provided for their family
- Whether the victim’s own negligence contributed to the accident
- How the victim’s death impacts surviving family members
- Out-of-pocket costs for medical bills, a funeral, and other related expenses
While every case is different, personal injury cases involving a fatality are often worth quite a bit of money. According to the National Safety Council, the average comprehensive cost of a fatal car accident is roughly $11.4 Million.
Of course, every situation is incredibly different. Not everyone will recover seven figures when a family member dies. All of these factors (and more) must be taken into consideration. It’s best to discuss your specific situation with an experienced Edgefield County personal injury attorney. Call Hawk Law Group to get started with a free case assessment today.
What Damages Are Available to Beneficiaries in a South Carolina Wrongful Death Case?
You can expect to recover compensation for your financial losses (economic damages) and pain and suffering (non-economic damages) when you file a wrongful death lawsuit in Edgefield County, SC.
This can include money for:
- Medical bills paid prior to death
- Funeral and burial/cremation expenses
- Property damage
- Loss of financial support, including wages, benefits, and other income
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of care and companionship
- Loss of experience, judgment, and guidance
If your family member was killed because of another person’s “willful, wanton, or reckless conduct,” punitive damages might be available. This might apply in situations involving drunk driving, hit and run car accidents, or product liability matters where a company intentionally concealed potential risks.
How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Edgefield County, South Carolina?
The statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits in South Carolina is three years. This gives you three years from the date of a loved one’s death to file a wrongful death claim with an Edgefield County court.
Don’t let too much time go by without taking action. You will lose the right to file a claim and recover compensation if you let the statute of limitations expire.
What Happens If the Victim is Blamed in a South Carolina Wrongful Death Case?
Your loved one isn’t around, and insurance companies and those responsible for their death might try to take advantage of that. How? By pointing fingers and trying to blame them for their fatal accident.
Under South Carolina law, anyone who contributes to an accident can share responsibility for the consequences. When a victim contributes, their financial award is adjusted based on their role. Once liability is at or exceeds 51 percent, the right to damages goes away.
This means that you may lose the right to recover compensation in a wrongful death action if your family member was at least 51 percent at fault for their fatal accident.
Many times, these allegations aren’t based on facts or supported by evidence. Our law firm will be ready for these tactics and prepared to stand up and give your deceased family member a voice. We’ll work hard to discount the claims and limit how much fault they’re assigned if they do share some blame.
The less liability they share, the more money you can potentially get when your wrongful death case is resolved.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With an Edgefield County Wrongful Death Lawyer
Have you recently lost a spouse, child, or parent in a fatal accident in Edgefield County, South Carolina? If so, you may be entitled to compensation for resulting financial costs and your emotional distress. The experienced Edgefield County wrongful death lawyers at Hawk Law Group can help you fight to maximize your financial recovery.
Contact our law office to discover more about our legal representation and why you’ll want our award-winning attorneys in Edgefield County on your side. We’re ready to put decades of experience and a demonstrated ability to win behind your case. Call to schedule your free consultation now – our team is standing by.
