According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, there were 1,499 motor vehicle collisions in Kershaw County in 2021. Those crashes injured 517 people and produced 24 fatalities.
People injured in car accidents and the families of those who lose their lives deserve compensation, but insurance companies often balk at paying reasonable settlements. When you hire a car accident lawyer in Camden from Savage, Royall & Sheheen, LLP, we will fight to obtain maximum compensation for you.
Why Choose Our Car Accident Lawyers in Camden?
No law requires you to use an attorney to file your car accident claim. However, hiring an experienced lawyer has multiple benefits.
Advice and legal options
Most people don’t know the laws surrounding South Carolina car accident claims or how insurance companies operate. Navigating the claims process successfully is difficult when you are recovering from injuries. Your legal team can:
- Provide information
- Advise you of your legal rights, options and obligations
- Explain potential challenges you may face with your claim and possible solutions
We will always work in your best interests, and that includes keeping you informed.
Administrative tasks
There is a lot of required paperwork in the days, weeks and months after a car accident. Your attorney can submit it for you before the associated deadlines.
Communications
You might be surprised at the number of phone calls, visits, emails and other written correspondence you get after an accident. You can save yourself lots of stress by allowing your car accident lawyer in Camden, SC, to field these for you.
Accident investigation
Many car accidents require an investigation to determine how and why they happened. The findings typically place a percentage of blame on each driver involved in the crash.
South Carolina’s comparative negligence law uses a 51% bar. You can seek damages as long as your contribution to causing your accident was under 51%. However, your assigned percentage reduces the amount of compensation you might receive.
Your car accident lawyers in Camden, SC, will look for evidence that proves the other party’s guilt and minimizes or eliminates yours.
Settlement negotiations
Did you know that people with legal representation typically receive significantly higher payouts than those who don’t hire an attorney? Many people don’t realize that insurance companies routinely offer payouts they know are extremely low. They might also try to minimize or deny the amounts you seek for conditions like pain and suffering. You don’t have to accept these initial offers, and you have the right to ask for reasonable compensation for your injuries.
If liable insurance companies won’t cooperate, you may need to file a civil lawsuit and take them to court. Insurance companies have teams of lawyers on their side. You should have competent legal representation, too.
What Causes Car Accidents in Camden, SC?
Many individual factors can combine to cause car accidents. These were the top five contributing factors in Kershaw County during 2021. The numbers after each cause indicate the total number of times law enforcement officials listed the problem as a contributing factor in official accident reports.:
- Driving too fast for conditions: 553
- Running off the road: 373
- Failing to yield the right of way: 296
- Animal in the road: 174
- Distracted driving: 123
Some form of driver error causes most car collisions, and driver error is negligent behavior.
What Is Negligence?
Negligence is the basis for most personal injury claims. Legally, negligence is failing to behave with the same level of care as a reasonable person would in the same situation.
Drivers have a duty of care to drive safely to avoid harming themselves and others. To prove negligence in an accident claim, your Savage, Royall & Sheheen, LLP, attorney will show that:
- Someone owed you a duty of care.
- That person failed to provide the duty of care.
- The failure caused injuries.
- You suffered damages as a direct result.
When we can prove negligence, you have valid grounds to seek compensation through a personal injury claim.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident?
Most people experience confusion immediately after a car crash, but doing several things helps protect your health and rights. If your injuries permit:
- Try to assist others injured in the collision. At the least, note the types of injuries and their severity.
- Dial 911. Report the accident and describe injuries. The dispatcher uses this information to send the correct first responders to the scene.
Gather evidence by taking photos and videos of pertinent details, such as:
- Injuries
- Vehicle damage
- Witnesses (try to record their statements)
- Skid marks
- Road and weather conditions
- Accept or seek medical treatment. This protects your health, and the official medical reports serve as evidence in your personal injury claim.
- Contact Savage, Royall & Sheheen, LLP. We can assess your accident, provide advice and help you with your claim.
When you speak to police officers, others at the scene, insurance company representatives, or anyone other than your car accident lawyer, do not admit to any degree of fault for causing the collision. Don’t even say, “I’m sorry,” because that statement implies guilt.
Why Choose Savage, Royall & Sheheen, LLP, as Your Camden, SC, Car Accident Lawyers?
Savage, Royall & Sheheen, LLP, has served our region for almost a century. Since our founding in 1926, we have helped people with personal injury claims in Camden and other legal needs. We have the resources, knowledge and experience needed to advocate for your rights, but we give every client personal attention.
If you need a car accident lawyer in Camden, SC, contact Savage, Royall & Sheheen, LLP, today to request a consultation. Call us at 803-432-4391 or use our online contact form, and someone will reach out to you promptly.
Car Accident Case FAQs
When should you hire a car accident lawyer?
Hiring an attorney right after your accident lets us begin working on your case immediately. Investigating your collision is easier while witness memories are fresh and crucial evidence is simpler to obtain.
Will you have to go to court?
Most car accident injury claims are settled without the need for a trial.
How much is your case worth?
The amount of compensation varies on a case-to-case basis. It depends on factors like how serious your injuries are, how much medical treatments cost, how long you’re away from work and what are the long-term consequences of your injuries.