- May 15, 2020
- Car Accidents
Car crashes are one of the most common causes of personal injury across the United States. In 2017 alone, there were 141,874 traffic collisions in South Carolina. These resulted in 989 deaths as well as 60,566 injuries. These numbers reflect how frequent car crashes and the related injuries are in South Carolina.
If you have been in a car crash, you likely have to face an injury to yourself or a loved one. You may also suffer damage to your property, physical and mental anguish as well as other forms of losses. To make matters worse, medical bills from your injury treatments may rack up fairly quickly. All of this can be quite daunting, especially when you are reeling from the aftermath of an accident.
The silver lining in all of this is that you may be entitled to compensatory damages after a crash. These damages are meant to reimburse you for the losses you have suffered in an accident. They are mandated by the South Carolina law and if the other driver’s negligence is proved, you get fair compensation.
Here is a look at some of the types of damages you can seek as compensation for your car accident losses.
Bodily Injury
This type of damages refers to the losses you suffer due to the physical injuries from a car crash. These typically cover the medical expenses incurred from the injury. You can seek damages to cover travel to and from the doctor’s, the doctor’s fees, the cost of prescription medicine as well as any further medical costs you expect to face due to the injury. These damages help you cope with the fallout from an injury by enabling you to cover your medical costs.
Property
South Carolina law allows you to seek compensation for any property damage you may have suffered in a crash. This includes damage to your vehicle as well as the loss of a cell phone or any other item. As per the state laws, you can seek property loss damages to the tune of $3,000. You can separately seek diminution in value damages if your property, such as a car, has lost market value due to the accident.
Lost Wages
This is one of the most important and pertinent types of damages you can seek following a crash-related injury. These damages also depend on the nature of the injury. Some injuries may leave you bed-ridden for a few days, others for a few weeks. If you can’t resume work for long enough, it can lead to lost wages. As you will not be actively earning, you may face financial stress.
It is only logical that you seek compensation from the negligent party for such a loss. If an injury results in temporary or long-term loss of earning ability, you can seek damages for lost wages. Typically, you are entitled to two-thirds of your average weekly wages as long as your injury prevents you from resuming work.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering cover the non-economic kind of loss you suffer in a crash. Pain is the physical sensation of anguish you may feel in the wake of an injury. Suffering refers to mental anguish, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or any other emotional fallout from an accident. You can recover compensation for both when filing for damages in a car accident.
Long-Term Medical Damages
Full recovery from a car accident injury can take some time. During this recovery period, you may need to undergo therapy sessions. You may also require the use of specialized equipment such as a wheelchair or crutches. On your own, you will be hard-pressed to pay for these services and equipment. You can avoid the costs by seeking damages for this type of medical expense. If you can show in court, with medical documentation, that you need such medical assistance, in the long run, you can get compensation from the negligent party.
Hiring a Reliable Personal Injury Attorney in Greenwood, SC
If you have suffered a personal injury in a car crash in Greenwood, SC, you can seek compensation with legal help. A good personal injury attorney in Greenwood, SC will help you file for a fair amount of compensation.
Here at ASB Law firm, we have worked with countless car accident victims over the years. Our aim is to help accident victims seek full and fair compensation for all their losses, both short-term and long-term. If you have been injured in a crash, we can help you. Contact us today to book a FREE consultation with our attorneys.
