If you’ve suffered injuries after being involved in a car accident caused by a negligent driver in Laurens, you might be wondering where you’ll turn to for help. Fortunately, as a resident of South Carolina, you have laws that protect your rights to seek compensation for injuries and damages sustained. However, to successfully pursue a claim, you will need the help of an experienced Laurens car accident lawyer.
The personal injury lawyers at Ayers, Smithdeal, and Bettis PC are skilled professionals with experience in handling car accident claims. With over 25 years of representing personal injury victims in South Carolina, we always do our best to ensure that we impact the lives of all our clients. We are ready to help you pursue compensation for your injuries and will fight hard to ensure your needs are met.
To retain the services of our Laurens car accident attorneys, all you need to do is get in touch with Ayers, Smithdeal, and Bettis PC and schedule a no-obligation consultation. Call 855-213-4405 now and have your case reviewed for free.
Table of Contents
South Carolina Car Accident Statistics
While SCDPS statistics show that 1,006 people died on South Carolina’s roadways in 2019, there was a decrease in the number of fatalities compared to 1,036 in 2018. However, this number has been on the increase over the last two years, with the number of fatalities in 2021 year-to-date currently standing at 393 compared to 342 at a similar time in 2020 and 390 in 2019.
Pedestrian fatalities between 2018 and 2019 reduced by 3 (168 in 2018 versus 165 in 2019) while cyclist fatalities increased by 5 (22 in 2018 compared to 27 in 2019.) However, the number of pedestrian fatalities increased in 2020 increased by 18 fatalities as 186 pedestrians lost their lives on South Carolina roadways.
Motorcyclist fatalities have been falling year to year – there were 141 fatalities in 2018, 123 in 2019, and 116 in 2020.
How Much Will It Cost to Hire a Laurens Car Accident Lawyer?
At Ayers, Smithdeal, and Bettis, we offer personal injury legal services on a contingency fee basis. That means that you don’t have to worry about paying upfront fees or any legal fees when seeking counsel and representation of our attorneys. Under the contingency fee structure, we only get paid once we’ve managed to get our clients compensated for their injuries, suffering, and losses. As such, if we fail to get you compensation, you get to walk away free of charge.
What Should I Do After an Accident?
Immediately take the following steps after a car crash or collision in South Carolina as these measures could help improve your chances of securing the compensation you deserve.
Call the Police
Call the police as soon as you can and inform them of the incident. Neither you nor those involved should leave the scene of the accident before the police arrive.
Check on Others
If you were not seriously hurt and are able to help, check on the others and offer first aid before EMTs arrive on the scene to provide medical assistance.
Talk With Witnesses
Talk with witnesses and ask them to provide you with their contact information. Witness testimony is vital as it helps investigators understand what happened.
Take Photos of the Scene
Take photos of the scene, damages sustained, and injuries suffered. When taking photos/videos, pay close attention to elements that could help prove liability and make sure they are clear.
Don’t Admit Fault
Be mindful of what you say immediately after the accident. Though tempers might be flaring, try your best to tame your words to avoid admitting fault.
Get Medical Treatment
Visit an emergency room or hospital as soon as you can even if you think your injuries are minor. You should let a physician assess your condition since some serious injuries can go unnoticed. The good thing about receiving treatment is that doctors compile what’s known as a diagnosis report, which is often used by lawyers to support your claim.
Contact an Attorney
Get in touch with a reputable car accident attorney with experience handling accident-related personal injuries and have them fight for your interests and rights.
What’s the Average Settlement for Car Accidents in South Carolina?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all settlement amount when it comes to car accidents since each case is unique. When Ayers, Smithdeal, and Bettis take on your car accident case, we start by finding out what caused the accident. We then evaluate your damages and injuries to determine what the best settlement amount is depending on the severity of your injuries, damages, and loss.
Determining what settlement amount is adequate for you is more important to us than just getting you an “average” amount. We do our best to ensure that the compensation you receive is sufficient to cover both your injuries and damages.
When Should I Get an Attorney for My Car Accident?
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, considering hiring the services of a Laurens car accident lawyer if:
- You’ve sustained injuries and damage to property (your car)
- The at-fault’s insurer denies your claim or offers you an unrealistic settlement amount
- Liability for the accident is evident and the other party can’t refute their actions caused the accident
- The incident resulted in the death of someone you loved
- The accident involves a state or governmental agency
Why Do I Need a Lawyer?
While you could pursue a compensation claim without the help of an attorney, it’s not advised that you do so since insurance companies tend to play rough and love to pull different tricks to reduce or reject a settlement. Having an experienced and reputable personal injury attorney to handle your case has its benefits. These include:
Case Preparation and Filing of Your Lawsuit
An attorney will provide you with the counsel you need to circumnavigate the complex world of law. Apart from that, he or she will handle everything related to your claim from preparing your case to filing a lawsuit. They’ll also do their best to build a rock-solid case by conducting thorough investigations and gathering evidence.
Settlement Negotiation
Since car accident attorneys understand the tricks insurance providers use to discredit or deny claims, they improve your chances of receiving maximum compensation for your injuries as they know how to the cards against insurance adjusters and defense attorneys. With an attorney by your side, there’s a need for you to stress about dealing with unscrupulous insurance companies.
Trial Preparation and Representation
Your attorney will be ready to escalate things to court should negotiations with the insurance company fail to produce favorable results. Car accident attorneys evaluate all factors when preparing for trial to ensure that the case they build is rock-solid and will have positive results.
How Much Can I Expect to Receive for Injuries and Damages?
As mentioned earlier, we’ll investigate your claim to determine if it’s worth pursuing – and if it is, how much you could receive for damages. However, the attorneys at Ayers, Smithdeal, and Bettis have helped dozens of clients in Laurens, South Carolina over the years have won settlements worth millions of dollars.
What Damages are Recoverable in South Carolina?
Some of the damages that are recoverable in South Carolina include:
Economic Damages
These cover tangible losses that the victim incurred as a result of the accident. They include property damage, medical bills, and lost wages.
Non-Economic Damages
these damages are subjective and are related to harm or losses with no objective documentation or determinant that can be used to determine their value (monetary) but impact the life of the victim in a major way. They include disfigurement or disability, emotional distress, loss of consortium, etc.
Punitive Damages
These damages are often awarded as a way to punish the at-fault for their actions. Punitive damages are generally only awarded in cases where the defendant’s actions were especially serious.
How’s Fault Determined in South Carolina?
South Carolina is a fault state especially when it comes to cases involving car accidents. That means that the driver who’s determined to be responsible for the accident takes all responsibility for the damages caused by the crash, which includes personal injuries and property damages.
To prove fault in South Carolina, there are four things you need to prove. These four things are:
Duty of Care
You need to prove that the other party had a duty/responsibility to behave according to a standard of care.
Breach
The other party violated their duty of care to you.
Causation
All the damages (and injuries) you are seeking compensation for were sustained as a result of the other party’s negligence
Damages
The other party’s breach of duty lead to damages.
How Long Do Car Accident Victims Have to File a Claim in South Carolina?
The statute of limitations for car accidents in South Carolina is three years, and the clock starts ticking from the day the accident happened. If you do not file your claim within this time, your claim will end up being dismissed.
How Can a Laurens Car Accident Lawyer Help Me File my Insurance Claim?
Insurance providers follow specific operating procedures when handling car accident claims. And since most of these procedures are vital to the claims process, victims must understand and know them if they are to file a claim successfully. But since they are complicated, the chances for an untrained person to make clerical errors are quite high; which is why you aren’t advised to file an insurance claim by yourself.
The attorneys at Ayers, Smithdeal, and Bettis understand the laws and processes that govern the filing of an insurance claim and follow due process to ensure that any claim we handle sails through without a hitch. Our car accident attorneys will file your claim on time following the set operating procedures to ensure your claim doesn’t get discredited or rejected.
What Do I Do If Insurance Denied My Claim?
At Ayers, Smithdeal, and Bettis, we make sure that we see through every case we handle and do everything in our power to ensure our clients receive the compensation they deserve. As such, there’s no need to worry even if your claim has been denied. Our attorneys are here to fight for your rights and interests and are ready and willing to file a car accident lawsuit on your behalf and argue out your case before a jury or judge.
Do I Have a Case?
To determine if you have a case, the attorney assigned to your case will investigate the accident to determine if it’s worth pursuing. You shall be informed of the best course of action to take to secure your interests and rights as we continue preparing your claim. Get in touch with Ayers, Smithdeal, and Bettis today and book a free case review now.
What If the Other Driver Does Not Have Insurance?
In situations where the at-fault party doesn’t have insurance, we generally push the victim’s insurer to cover their damages and medical bills. We are aware that insurance providers can be stubborn at times, which is why we don’t mind helping our clients keep their policy providers in check as they seek compensation.
How Can I Obtain an Accident Report in Laurens?
To get a copy of your accident report in South Carolina, simply request one from the DMV by completing the FR-50 form. Please note that you will be required to pay a $6.00 fee to receive the report. You can also receive the report from the police officer who compiled the report by visiting their precinct or station.
Common Car Crash Injuries
Some of the most common injuries car accident victims suffer in South Carolina, and across the U.S. include:
- Back Injuries
- Facial Disfigurement
- Brain Injuries
- Death
- Head Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Neck Injuries
- Leg and Knee Injuries
- Internal Injuries
Types of Car Accident Claims We Handle at Ayers, Smithdeal, and Bettis
We handle all kinds of car accident cases, including:
- Uninsured Motorist
- Speeding Accidents
- Rear-End Accidents
- Driving Under the Influence Accidents
- Distracted Driving Accidents
- Rideshare Accidents
- Rollover Accidents
- Head-on Collisions
- Reckless Driving
- Hit and Run Accidents
Get the Best Legal Representation
If you are searching for the best car accident attorneys in Laurens, then you’ve come to the right firm. The legal team at Ayers, Smithdeal, and Bettis is made up of dependable, experienced, and reputable law professionals with the skills need to help you successfully pursue a car accident claim.
Our mission is to help victims like you reclaim some normalcy in their life after going through a difficult and traumatizing experience. Call 855-213-4405 now to speak to a Laurens car accident lawyer to learn more about how we can help you and schedule a free case review.
