Were you recently injured in a car accident in North Augusta, SC? If someone else’s carelessness or wrongdoing caused the accident, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries.
Navigating the personal injury claim process in North Augusta, South Carolina, can be complex. Our dedicated North Augusta car accident lawyers at Hawk Law Group are here to help.
To schedule a free consultation with a North Augusta car accident attorney, contact our office online or call us at (706) 722-3500.
How Hawk Law Group Can Help After a Car Accident in North Augusta
Our experienced North Augusta car accident lawyers will guide you through the legal process for recovering compensation in your case. We have over 71 years of collective experience and have recovered tens of millions of dollars for our injured clients. We even achieved the highest personal injury verdict in the history of Jenkins County, SC.
We give personal attention to each and every case we handle.
When you hire one of our exceptional North Augusta personal injury attorneys, we’ll take the following steps in your case:
- Investigate the facts of your car accident
- Identify the at-fault parties
- Gather evidence to support your claims
- Assess the extent of your damages
- Hire and interview expert witnesses, if needed
- Contact the insurance provider on your behalf
- Negotiate a favorable settlement, if possible
- Take your case to court when necessary
Let us focus on seeking justice in your case while you focus on your recovery and the things that matter most. Reach out to our North Augusta office today to schedule your free consultation.
How Common Are Car Accidents in North Augusta, SC?
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, there was one traffic collision every 3.6 minutes in South Carolina in 2021. One accident causing injury occurred every 14.4 minutes, and a fatal accident occurred every 7.9 hours.
More specifically, there were 2,392 accidents in 2021 that caused serious injuries, over 110,000 total collisions, and 1,112 fatal collisions.
What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Car Accident Victims in North Augusta?
Car accident victims can seek compensation from the at-fault party in the form of damages. Compensatory damages are meant to compensate victims for the losses and make them “whole again.”
Compensatory damages can be divided into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages concern the monetary consequences associated with the accident or injury. They are sometimes called tangible damages or special damages. They include past and future medical costs, property damage, lost wages, diminished earning potential, transportation costs, and other out-of-pocket expenses.
Economic damages typically relate to specific transactions. Thus, they are fairly straightforward to calculate. However, some economic damages–such as future medical costs or diminished earning potential–can be more complicated.
Non-economic Damages
Non-economic damages concern the emotional or psychological impacts of the accident or injury. They may be called intangible or general damages. They include pain and suffering, loss of companionship, diminished quality of life, and emotional anguish.
Non-economic damages are subjective in nature and can be harder to calculate and prove. Your attorney may suggest hiring an expert witness to support your claims if you’ve incurred non-economic damages.
Our experienced North Augusta car accident lawyers will review your case and assess all of your damages.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in North Augusta?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may be dealing with medical costs, lost wages, and other unexpected expenses. Paying attorney’s fees is probably not high on your list of priorities.
Fortunately, most personal injury lawyers accept cases on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee is collected at the end of the case and only if you successfully recover compensation.
That means you don’t have to pay any attorney’s fees upfront, so you can hire a lawyer regardless of your financial circumstances. It also means that the attorney doesn’t get paid unless you do.
Our attorneys accept cases on a contingency fee basis. We also offer a free initial consultation. Contact our office to schedule yours today.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Car Accident in North Augusta?
If you’re being blamed for a car accident in South Carolina, it may impact the compensation you can recover for your injuries.
South Carolina has a modified comparative negligence law, which provides that an injured party can recover compensation as long as they are less than 50 % at fault for the accident. So, if you are found to be 49% at fault or less, you can still recover compensation. However, your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault.
For example, if you were injured in a car accident when another driver ran a red light, but you were distracted and looking at your phone, you may be found partially at fault. If you suffered $100,000 in damages and were found to be 20% at fault, you can still recover up to $80,000.
What Causes Most Car Accidents in North Augusta, SC?
In South Carolina and throughout the nation, the leading cause of car accidents is driver error.
The top causes of car accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Aggressive driving
- Driving under the influence
- Failing to obey traffic signals
- Improperly lane changes
- Speeding
Other common causes include extreme weather, road conditions, and vehicle defects or repair issues.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Car Accident in North Augusta, SC?
If your case does not settle and you file a lawsuit, you will have to prove that the defendant was negligent in causing the accident and your injuries. Essentially, to act negligently means failing to act reasonably under the circumstances.
To succeed in your North Augusta negligence claim, you must prove each of the following four elements:
Duty of Care
A duty of care is a legal obligation one has to act with a certain level of care and concern for the safety of others. Basically, one must act reasonably under the circumstances and not put others at an unreasonable risk of harm.
For example, one has a duty to drive the way a reasonable person would in the same situation. This includes obeying traffic signals.
Breach
You must show that the at-fault party breached or violated the duty of care. In most cases, this means showing that they acted unreasonably. If you prove that another driver ran a red light, that likely proves they breached their duty of care.
Causation
To succeed in your car accident claim, you will need to show that the at-fault party was both the actual and proximate cause of your injuries. The “actual cause” means that the accident or injury would not have occurred without the other party’s actions. The “proximate cause” means that your injuries were reasonably foreseeable results of the other party’s actions.
Damages
Finally, you must show that you suffered injuries or other harm or losses due to the defendant’s conduct.
You must prove each of these elements “by a preponderance of the evidence.” That means you must present enough evidence to convince the jury it is more likely than not that your claims against the defendant are true.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident in South Carolina?
After you’re injured in a car accident in South Carolina, you have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. This deadline for filing your case in court is called the statute of limitations. If your case isn’t filed within this time frame, then you won’t be able to bring your case in court.
Many personal injury cases are resolved through settlements before a case is ever filed. Nonetheless, it’s important that you are aware of the filing deadline in case the insurance company refuses to make a reasonable settlement offer.
Contact Our North Augusta Car Accident Lawyers Today to Schedule a Free Case Review
Our experienced North Augusta car accident lawyers at Hawk Law Group will manage your car accident claim from start to finish and fight for you to recover full compensation for your injuries. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in North Augusta, SC, contact our office today to schedule your free consultation.
