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Should You Talk to an Insurance Adjuster After a Car Accident in South Carolina?

After a car accident in South Carolina, you may be eager to recover damages. Because of that, victims may choose to speak with an insurance adjuster. However, doing so without consulting with an attorney is not wise.

If you were injured in a car accident in South Carolina, do not speak with an insurance adjuster before consulting with an attorney. If you do, you may accept a settlement amount far lower than what you deserve. Even when filing an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim with your own insurance carrier, the same is true. Hiring a South Carolina car accident attorney protects your interests in settlement negotiations with an insurance adjuster and can help you file a lawsuit against a negligent driver if necessary.

Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers cares about getting you the compensation you deserve after a car accident in South Carolina. To discuss your potential case with the South Carolina car accident attorneys at Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers, call us today at (803) 451-4000.

Should You Talk to an Insurance Adjuster If You Are Injured in a Car Accident in South Carolina?

Car accidents in South Carolina can be damaging, both financially and physically. Because of that, victims may want to recover damages as quickly as possible by speaking with an insurance adjuster. However, doing so before you consult with a South Carolina car accident attorney isn’t ideal.

South Carolina is a fault state when it comes to car accidents. That means injured victims generally file a claim with the negligent driver’s insurance company after an accident. However, speaking with an insurance adjuster immediately after a collision isn’t wise. Insurance companies are notorious for offering inadequate settlement amounts to victims in South Carolina. Speaking with an insurance adjuster before consulting with a South Carolina car accident attorney can result in accepting an insufficient settlement amount.

While it is understandable to want fast access to compensatory funds after a car accident in South Carolina, negotiating with an insurance adjuster before speaking with an attorney is never a good idea. Once you accept a settlement offer from a responsible party’s insurance company, you may lose your right to file a lawsuit for compensation against a negligent driver. If you are injured during a car accident in South Carolina, never speak to an insurance adjuster before enlisting help from a skilled attorney.

If you were injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault and you didn’t sustain any injuries, you could speak with your own insurance company. There may be benefits available to you that prevent you from needing to file a claim for property damage against a negligent driver. If that’s not the case, you may have to pursue an insurance claim against the responsible party for compensation for property damage.

The date when the clock begins to run is when the cause of action “accrues.” Normally, this is when the actual harm occurs. However, in some cases, the patient may not realize that they have been the victim of medical malpractice for some time after the damage has been done. For this reason, South Carolina law dictates that the clock should only start once the malpractice reasonably ought to have been discovered. Still, the statute of limitations requires that all medical malpractice lawsuits be filed within six years of the actual occurrence, whether the patient is aware of it at the time or not.

Should You Talk to Your Insurance Adjuster If the Other Driver Is Uninsured?

Although drivers in South Carolina are required to carry adequate car insurance, some do not comply. Because of this, you may face a scenario in which a negligent driver is uninsured or underinsured. In that case, victims need to know if it’s wise to speak with an insurance adjuster and file an uninsured or underinsured motorist claim.

Some drivers in South Carolina choose to add uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage to their car insurance plan. Doing so can help cover the cost of injuries if a negligent driver is uninsured or their coverage plan doesn’t adequately compensate you for your injuries.

Victims would have to speak with an insurance adjuster from their own insurance company to file a claim. However, that doesn’t mean that the insurance adjuster will offer you the correct compensation amount. Because of that, it is crucial to speak with a South Carolina personal injury attorney before you file a UM/UIM claim with your own insurance if you were injured in a collision.

Should You Talk to an Insurance Adjuster Alone After a Car Accident in South Carolina?

While speaking to an insurance adjuster too quickly isn’t ideal, neither is doing so alone. Because insurance companies often try to underpay victims in South Carolina, injured victims should never speak with an insurance company without a South Carolina car accident attorney by their side.

When negotiating settlement amounts with an insurance adjuster, they will often ask leading questions to trick a victim into accepting some level of blame. If they accomplish that, they may reduce your settlement amount or deny your insurance claim altogether. While Columbia car accident victims may believe they can navigate discussions with an insurance adjuster by themselves, it is wise to enlist help from a skilled attorney.

A South Carolina car accident attorney can represent your interests in discussions with an insurance adjuster to ensure that you don’t accept a low-ball settlement amount. If discussions aren’t productive, your attorney may advise you to move forward with litigation against a negligent driver instead of bothering with futile insurance settlement negotiations.

Do You Need to Talk to an Insurance Adjuster or File a Lawsuit After a Car Accident in South Carolina?

After a car accident in South Carolina, you may face a crossroads. Should you speak with an insurance adjuster or file a lawsuit against a negligent driver? A South Carolina car accident attorney can help you make the right decision and recover sufficient damages.

Sometimes, it seems simpler to forgo a lengthy lawsuit and engage in settlement discussions with an insurance adjuster. If your attorney believes that discussions can be successful, they may advise you to go forward with an insurance claim. However, in cases where a South Carolina car accident attorney believes you can recover greater damages in a lawsuit, they may suggest pursuing litigation.

Choosing between filing an insurance claim and filing a lawsuit can be difficult without guidance from a skilled attorney. Without representation, you may not fully understand the damages you’re entitled to or a lawsuit’s viability. By hiring a Columbia personal injury attorney, victims can explore the best path to compensation, whether that be through filing an insurance claim or filing a lawsuit.

Call Our South Carolina Car Accident Attorneys Before Talking to an Insurance Adjuster

Before speaking with an insurance adjuster, you should consult our experienced Sumter car accident lawyers. Call the South Carolina car accident attorneys at Burriss Ridgeway Injury Lawyers today to discuss your potential case at (803) 451-4000.

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