Who Has the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in Charleston?

When you’re injured through a negligent party’s actions, it’s normal to have questions. You may have physical injuries that make you wonder what recovery will look like. A loved one may have been abused in a nursing home or childcare setting. You may wonder how a civil trial will impact their future. Or you may have been the victim of hiring discrimination and are wondering how to make the employer compensate you for unlawful behavior. 

You’re wondering if you need a personal injury lawyer to accomplish your goals. The answer to that question is almost always yes. Getting one quickly after being injured dramatically increases your chances of success. We can sweep in and get to work collecting evidence and investigating your claim right away. 

Severe physical injuries can leave a victim with staggering medical bills, long-term treatments, lost wages, or in many cases, no way to pay bills because they can no longer work. Having an attorney represent your legal issues greatly increases your chances of gaining a desirable financial outcome. We handle the claims process and, with our expertise, frequently achieve a significant award.

Suppose you’ve already spoken with an insurance company rep. In that case, that conversation may have demonstrated to you that you need a lawyer representing your interests. Here are some examples of when you should get a personal injury lawyer.

1. The insurance company denies your legitimate claim - When you hear the insurance company denies your legitimate claim, that’s devastating and scary news. How are you going to pay your bills? But it doesn’t have to be that way. Our attorneys can dispute the denial and reopen the negotiation process. Often when an insurance company flat out denies your claim, it’s because they don’t believe they are liable to pay. They may not have enough evidence or don’t believe that their policyholder is the responsible party. 

For example, in an auto accident, to fight this, our attorneys can work to discover footage of the accident from nearby CCTV’s, interview witnesses, develop high-tech accident reconstruction, and even bring in expert witnesses to testify on your behalf. In some instances, we may be able to subpoena evidence that would not be ordinarily available to you, such as a commercial driver’s logbook. They may have been driving beyond the legally specified hours. 

Another thing our attorneys can do for you in a car accident is review public records. Suppose a particular roadway has a history of similar accidents at an intersection. In that case, it could be that the highway was poorly designed. Our lawyers can also look into vehicle maintenance. For example, suppose the driver was driving on bald tires or neglected to have their brakes serviced when required. In that case, it may be possible to establish their liability because of that kind of neglect.

When we start to investigate accidents, we often uncover evidence that other parties may be to blame. For example, a commercial truck driver may not be the only one at fault. The truck may have had faulty parts, or it could have been overloaded, making it more dangerous to drive. In that case, we could look to the truck part manufacturer or the company that loaded the truck.

Insurance companies often investigate personal history to decide if you’re a believable person. They may look to see if you’ve had personal injury claims in the past. Our lawyers will be able to instruct you on what type of information to provide the insurance company to help you get your claim approved. Perhaps most importantly, we can show you ways to increase the value of your claim because we can set you up to bargain more efficiently. 

2. The insurance is using delaying tactics or acting in bad faith

Maybe you’ve already initiated negotiations with the other party’s insurance company, but now they won’t return your calls and emails. The medical bills are piling up, and you don’t know what to do. When it comes to medical treatment, time is of the essence. Say your doctor has recommended a necessary surgery. Now, much time has passed, and you still have no response from the insurance company. They may be acting in bad faith.

Insurance companies may be acting in bad faith if they deny a valid claim and give no reason. There always has to be a reason. When you ask for reasonable documentation that outlines the reason for their decision, they won’t comply. If this is happening to you, now is the time to contact one of our attorneys. Another bad faith tactic is not to conduct a proper investigation. Suppose you’re in a car accident and you saw the other driver texting just before they hit you. Yet, the insurance adjuster doesn’t request the phone records of their policyholder and decides you were the one at fault. Under circumstances like these, you’ll need someone who will fight for your interests.

Another way an insurance company could be acting in bad faith is if they threaten you or misrepresent the law or policy language. For example, they state that you could be guilty of insurance fraud for making a valid claim or threatening to call the police.  

3. Lowball settlement offers

You should know that you don’t have to accept the first offer an insurance company issues. Rather than taking into account the true costs of future therapy and the pain and suffering you’ve endured, they offer a settlement that won’t begin to cover your expenses. Many insurance companies minimize the true value of claims because they are in the business of making money. They only offer what they think they can get away with. Since you’re often between a rock and a hard place when it comes to finances after an accident, they rely on the hope you’ll just be happy with anything. 

Don’t accept their settlement. It’s crucial to understand that when you accept a lowball settlement, it’s a legally binding contract that releases the at-fault party of any future liability. Talk to one of our personal injury lawyers before accepting a settlement that doesn’t seem adequate. 

4. The insurance company refuses to negotiate

Suppose you reviewed a settlement offer and decided that it won’t cover your expenses. You contact the insurance company and suggest a counteroffer. Still, they continue to come back with lowball offers instead of acknowledging your expenses. In circumstances like this, it’s likely that only through legal representation will you get the compensation you deserve. 

Our personal injury lawyers start working hard as soon as we accept your case. Here are some of the things your Charleston personal injury lawyer will do for you.

• Come up with legal strategies to aid you in your claim
• Conduct an investigation
• Prepare and file legal documents
• Communicate with the insurance company and other third parties
• Collect and examine evidence to support your case
• Stay in close communication with you or family members
• Prepare you for depositions
• Identify and interview witnesses
• Reconstruct the accident if necessary
• Contract expert witnesses when required
• Represent you in court

In a personal injury case, it’s possible to get compensation for two general types of damages. Economic and non-economic, which can include the following depending on the type of personal injury claim:

Economic damages

• Doctors visits
• Surgery
• Ambulance service
• Medications
• Assistive medical devices
• Physical therapy
• Travel expenses for medical care
• Home modifications
• Lost wages included sick and vacation time, bonuses, commissions, promotions, and employee benefits
• Property loss
• Funeral and burial expenses

Non-economic damages 

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Disfigurement
• Disability
• Loss of consortium
• Reputational damage
• Humiliation
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Inconvenience

In South Carolina, there are caps on non-economic damages for medical malpractice, and it is capped at $350,000 per defendant. When it comes to punitive damages (damages meant to punish the defendant for gross negligence), South Carolina limits the amount to the greater of three times the actual damages or $500,000. Actual damages are things like loss of income and medical expenses.

We understand that people are inundated with personal injury lawyer ads that all say they are different. Still, when it comes to their track record, they fall short. At Morgan & Morgan, we have a strong track record of success and positive client experiences. Just check out our results page. You’ll see actual case outcomes, and we’ve got thousands and thousands of them. With more than 1,000 trial-ready lawyers and an immense support team, our law firm is among the most successful in the country. 

That’s because we never settle for less than what our clients claim is worth. Insurance companies that don’t play fair with us get to see the inside of a courtroom, and we often win more than twenty times the amount that was offered pre-trial. When it comes to your future, don’t gamble on lesser-known lawyers who are all talk but can’t walk the walk. Our personal injury lawyers are waiting to discuss your case today. Just call or fill out our free case evaluation form, and remember our fee is free unless we win for you.