Bishopville, SC Personal Injury Lawyers
You may not face any caps on damages in your personal injury lawsuit, but that does not promise a fair recovery. Before filing your case, we will calculate damages and get proof of them. Hospital bills, tax returns, and testimony help us prove damages, and we will keep these records organized for your case.
Good evidence typically can help an injury case move faster and result in higher compensation. This is particularly true when we have eyewitness statements and videos proving fault. If your case ends in a settlement, you may get structured payments over time. If it ends in a jury award, you may get structured payments or a one lump sum payment. Regardless, we can work to ensure your recovery encompasses all damages from a personal injury in Bishopville.
Get help with your case by calling the personal injury lawyers of Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers at (803) 451-4000.
Is Compensation Capped in a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
South Carolina does not cap compensatory damages in regular personal injury lawsuits. That includes economic and non-economic damages. The lack of limits benefits victims, especially those with especially painful, disfiguring, or distressing injuries.
There are caps on non-economic damages in medical malpractice claims, which we can explain if they apply.
Say you file a lawsuit, go to trial, and the jury finds the defendant liable. In that case, the jury will award compensation rather than our lawyers and the defense agreeing on a settlement. The jury will base the award on the damages requests we put forth in your complaint and the evidence we present during the trial.
You may get punitive damages if the defendant injured you through willful, wanton, or reckless conduct. According to S.C. Code Ann. § 15-32-530(A), punitive damages cannot exceed $500,000 or three times the amount of compensatory damages awarded, whichever amount is greater. There are exceptions to this that let juries give larger punitive damages awards, and we can see if any apply to your case.
Do Personal Injury Lawsuits Take a Long Time in Bishopville?
Some personal injury lawsuits take longer than others. Each case is unique, with different parties involved. Some defendants might be more willing to settle, others less so.
After our personal injury lawyers file a lawsuit, it moves into the “discovery” phase. At this point, we will learn more about the other side’s case, evidence, and likely defense. If we have stronger evidence, we may get a settlement fast. If there are conflicting witness statements, we may need to involve experts to clarify matters.
Settling a case is not always quicker than going to trial, and vice versa. We will keep you updated on the progress of settlement negotiations and tell you if we think going to court will get you more compensation sooner
What to Do Before Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Bishopville
Let our attorneys ensure you have a strong claim before filing, which includes knowing your injuries and damages.
Confirm Your Injuries
Before filing an injury lawsuit, you should know the extent of an injury. Some injuries are harder to diagnose, like traumatic brain injuries. It may take doctors weeks or months to confirm your injuries.
When you file, you still might not know an injury’s full impact on your life. For example, recovery from a spinal cord injury might not be linear, and you may need more medical treatments in the future. We can anticipate that with your physicians, who can testify during a trial.
Medical experts can testify about your injuries, upcoming treatments, and limitations you experience because of your injuries.
Know Your Damages
You should also know your damages before filing a lawsuit. When you sue, you make requests for relief. The goal of the lawsuit is to make you “whole” again, but if you leave damages out of relief requests, they will not be covered.
Let us add up all medical damages, lost wages, and non-economic damages. Plaintiffs might underestimate their non-economic damages, not realizing pain and suffering are just as worthy of compensation.
If you know your total damages, you can avoid agreeing to a bad settlement.
Contact Our Attorneys
Even if you are unsure about filing a personal injury lawsuit, discuss your accident for free with our lawyers. We can determine if someone else’s negligent conduct harmed you, making them liable for your damages.
We can also gather evidence you need to prove liability. You need good evidence to win a personal injury lawsuit or compel a good out-of-court settlement, and we can get eyewitness statements, photos, and videos for your claim.
Plaintiffs in South Carolina have three years to sue for injury, according to § 15-3-530. Three years is less time than it seems, and complex cases may take close to that amount of time to prepare. Getting a lawyer right away can improve your chances of success, so do not wait.
How Will I Get Paid After a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Bishopville?
How you get paid after a personal injury lawsuit depends on how your case ends. If it ends with a settlement, our lawyers can negotiate favorable payment terms. If it ends with a jury award, the jury decides how you get paid.
Structured settlements are very common in personal injury cases. Plaintiffs get paid in installments, which may span months or years. You still get the full amount agreed to, just over time. The structured settlement must still let you cover ongoing medical bills and other expenses due to your inability to work. We can ensure this before you sign the agreement.
There are also lump sum payments, which give plaintiffs the full amount at once. This is less common, especially in settlements.
Our Bishopville Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help
Call our personal injury lawyers at (803) 451-4000 for a free case assessment from Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers.
