Colleton Car Accident Lawyer

No matter how safely you drive, sometimes you cannot avoid another person’s negligence. When this happens, our attorneys can help you file a lawsuit to get damages for your injuries.

For most accident victims, damages are the most important aspect of their case. You should not be made to pay for expenses you were not responsible for causing. With our team’s help, your damages will be accurately assessed. We will make sure your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses are accounted for. Our lawyers will also examine how the accident has impacted your life to make a claim for your pain and suffering. If your accident was caused by truly heinous or reckless conduct, we can also make a case for why you should be awarded punitive damages.

Call Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers at (803) 451-4000 for a free case analysis with our car accident lawyers.

Compensation You Can Pursue for a Car Accident in Colleton, SC

After a car accident, you will naturally want coverage for all the damages someone else’s negligence caused. Many victims, though, are unaware of the damages they can claim as compensation. Our car accident lawyers are here to help you assess the full range of compensation you can pursue. You are likely aware that you can claim your economic losses, but you might not know you can also be compensated for your non-economic damages. The following will help you understand what you could be entitled to after your car accident in Colleton:

Economic Losses

The first step in calculating your damages is to assess the financial losses you have suffered as a result of the accident and treat your injuries. Typically, this process starts by adding up your current medical expenses. Even minor car accidents can result in extensive costs, especially if you need tests and X-rays in the emergency room. If your injuries were serious, your expenses will likely be steep. Fortunately, we can add the cost of future medical expenses you might need to complete treatment, such as additional surgeries and physical therapy.

Lost wages will also be another major part of your economic losses if your injuries keep you out of work. We will calculate this, adding up your daily pay and the number of days you missed. We can also claim lost earning potential if you cannot work because of your injuries or if you need to find a new position with lower pay.

Lastly, we will review your out-of-pocket expenses, including property damage to your vehicle. Be sure to keep receipts for travel expenses to your doctors or childcare costs. We will also help negotiate rental costs or full market value if your car was totaled.

Non-Economic Losses

The other compensation you can pursue but might not know much about is your “pain and suffering” damages. By analyzing your injuries and economic losses, we can help determine the subjective impact the accident has had on you. Pain and suffering damages account for the changes you have had to live with since your accident. For instance, you might live with back pain every day from your accident despite completing treatment.

These damages also include your emotional distress. It is common to have emotional trouble following a car accident, including feelings of depression, anxiety, and humiliation. You can be compensated for these damages and your loss of enjoyment in life.

Punitive Damages

Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you might receive “punitive” damages. The court will usually award these damages as punishment, but it is rare. The damages above can be traced back to the defendant’s negligence, as they would not have occurred otherwise. Punitive damages, on the other hand, punish defendants for reckless and wanton conduct and are intended as a deterrent to others from acting the same way, as per S.C. Code Ann. § 15-32-520(D).

Punitive damages are rarely awarded because they are reserved for cases that go beyond the regular negligence that causes most car accidents. A drunk driving accident is a common example of when punitive damages would likely be awarded. Road rage incidents would be another typical instance.

If the facts in your case show that the defendant acted more than carelessly, we can argue to the court why these damages should be ordered. S.C. Code Ann. § 15-32-520(E) instructs the court on how to assess for punitive damages. This includes assessing the extent of your injuries, whether you contributed to the accident, and whether the defendant behaved similarly in the past, among others. If the factors are in your favor, it will increase the compensation you recover.

Types of Car Crashes our Attorneys Commonly File Claims for in Colleton, SC

No matter the type of car accident you were injured in, our team can help you prove your case. How your accident occurred will inform how we approach your claim and why the other driver is liable. The following are common types of car accidents we file claims for in Colleton:

Rear-End Accidents

Rear-end accidents are a typical consequence of tailgating. If you were hit from behind, we can help file your lawsuit. These cases are often straightforward since there is a presumption that the driver in the back is liable.

However, that is not always the case. Sometimes, the driver in front is responsible, like if they did not use a turn signal before braking in front of you. While they will likely point the finger for tailgating, we can help prove that their negligence led to your injuries.

T-Bone Collisions

T-bone accidents are some of the most serious cases our lawyers handle. These accidents can cause not only lacerations from the side window but also are more catastrophic than other types of accidents because of the lack of protection from the side.

Head-On Accidents

Head-on accidents are another common yet catastrophic type of accident for which we help clients file lawsuits in Colleton. They often happen when a driver is speeding and loses control, causing them to swerve into the other lane. With the availability of dash cams, we might be able to get a clear video of your accident if one of the vehicles was installed with one.

Crashes Caused by Manufacturing or Design Defects

While it happens rarely, you might have been injured in your car without being hit by another driver. This occurs when a car part like the steering or some other mechanism in the car is defective. If your car is flawed and caused your injuries, we can help file a claim against the vehicle’s manufacturer or designer of the part.

Call Our Colleton Car Accident Lawyers for Help Today

For your free case review, contact our car accident attorneys at Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers by calling (803) 451-4000.

$6 Million

The Plaintiff was injured as a result of a failing component of a commercial motor vehicle that fell from the vehicle into the roadway. The Plaintiff brought claims against the owner and operator of the tractor trailer as well as the manufacturer of the vehicle.

$4.1 Million

The Plaintiff was insured as a result of a refrigeration system that malfunctioned, spraying ammonia gas into the Plaintiff's face. As a result of this event, the Plaintiff sustained significant vision loss. The Plaintiff brought claims against his employer and the manufacturer of this system.

$2 Million

The Plaintiff was injured while riding his motorcycle when he collided with another vehicle. This event occurred in the city of Columbia and the Plaintiff sustained significant bodily injury resulting in extensive medical expenses and permanent injury.

$1.8 Million

The Plaintiff was injured when he was rear-ended by a tractor trailer on Interstate 20. The Plaintiff brought claims against the owner and driver of the tractor trailer for his injuries relate to his lower back.

$1.5 Million

The Plaintiff sustained significant injury when she was attacked by a dog while performing repairs on a rental property. The Plaintiff was at the rental property as part of her employment with a rental management agency. She was attacked by the animal and sustained permanent nerve damage in her legs.

$1.3 Million

The Plaintiff was killed as a result of a collision with a logging truck that had been improperly loaded by a timber harvester. The proceeds of the settlement were funded by both the timber harvester and the owner of the logging truck.

$1.5 Million

The Plaintiff underwent surgery to her neck as a result of injuries sustained when she was struck on the head by a piece of loading equipment at her job. The Plaintiff was employed by a national retailer and was engaged in stocking shelves when the piece of equipment failed. After settling her workers' compensation claim, the Plaintiff brought a claim against the manufacturer of this equipment.

$1.1 Million

The Plaintiff brought a claim against a local medical facility for a false positive HIV reading. As a result of this false positive, the Plaintiff lived for 4½ years believing that she had the virus which leads to what she feared was an eventual AIDS diagnosis.