Protecting Your Rights After a South Carolina Personal Injury
Columbia is the bustling capital of South Carolina. Every day we have people coming in and out of the city to attend to governmental matters, cheer on the Gamecocks at the University of South Carolina, or simply enjoy shopping and eating in The Vista, on Main Street, or at Trenholm Plaza.
While there is so much to enjoy in our great town, congested interstates around Malfunction Junction, distracted and drunk drivers, and unsafe business practices can pose risks that may leave our residents or visitors with a life-changing injury that turns their lives upside down. That’s why we are here. At the Law Office of Kenneth Berger, our Columbia SC personal injury attorney and our legal team helps injured people tell their story and hold the responsible person or business legally and financially accountable for the harm they have caused.
After experiencing a catastrophic injury, you only have one chance to receive a fair outcome. Once you sign settlement paperwork, your case is over, and there are no more opportunities for you to seek additional compensation. Hiring a lawyer can help make sure no stone goes unturned, so that all possible sources of recovery – for current and future medical bills, lost wages, lost enjoyment of life, and punitive damages – are exhausted.
Hiring an attorney can help you feel confident that nothing was left on the table and that you will be taken care of now and into the future.
3 Ways a Columbia Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You![3 ways a personal injury lawyer can help you]()
1. Efficiently communicate with your insurance company.
Every day, victims of unfortunate accidents struggle to receive the compensation they deserve from insurance providers. It’s important to understand that insurance is a business first and foremost. And, in order to maximize profit, insurance providers attempt to limit the money they pay out for claims. This often leads insurance companies to offer low settlements that don’t cover all the costs associated with your wreck, like medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
Personal injury lawyers spend day after day communicating and negotiating with insurance companies to help their clients seek fair settlements. Their years of experience allow them to communicate more effectively with your insurance company, which can help take the burden off your shoulders, so you can focus on healing.
2. Prevent your medical bills from going into collections.
After an accident in South Carolina, an at-fault party’s insurance provider typically does not make an offer on your case until your medical bills and records are submitted. This means that you or your health insurance company are responsible for paying your medical expenses until your settlement or jury award is disbursed. If you don’t have health insurance and you don’t have the out-of-pocket funds to cover your medical fees, they will likely go into collections.
Columbia accident lawyers can work with your providers to set up a payment plan or can even ask them to hold the charges until after your case is over using a “letter of protection.” A letter of protection is sent from your lawyer to your doctor and assures the doctor’s payment in the event your case is settled.
3. Preserve evidence to help your case.
Evidence can make or break your case. Whether it’s finding witnesses who saw the car accident firsthand or it’s obtaining surveillance footage, securing evidence can help recreate your story to share with the insurance company and the jury, if it goes to trial. Therefore, it’s critical to begin identifying and preserving evidence as soon as possible after being injured. The longer you wait, the greater chance of evidence being lost or destroyed, which can negatively impact the outcome of your case.
A personal injury attorney can help you by sending letters to defendants and insurance companies to guarantee no evidence is destroyed. If the defendant fails to do so, your attorney can use this information in court to infer the destruction of evidence as an indication of their guilt.
What Locations Pose the Greatest Risk of Injury in Columbia?
Many car accidents in and around Columbia happen at 'Malfunction Junction' (where I-20, I-26, and I-126 meet) – which is the most heavily trafficked intersection. With rush hour traffic, more drivers crash in malfunction junction than any other highway system in the state. Also, due to a lot of semi-truck traffic, many interstates moving through Columbia, like I-20, I-26, I-77 and I-126 are common locations for car accident injuries.
Boating Accidents can commonly happen on Lake Murray and Broad River, while medical malpractice injuries are likely to happen at Prisma Health Richland, Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge, Prisma Health Baptist, Lexington Medical Center, or Providence Health.
Let a Columbia Personal Injury Lawyer Take the Burden Off Your Shoulders
Over the years, we have represented a number of Columbia residents and visitors. No matter where you live, when you are in South Carolina, our laws are meant to help keep you safe. If someone else – or a business – breaks the rules and causes you harm, hiring an experienced personal injury attorney can take the burden off your shoulders. Instead of dealing with insurance companies, chasing documents, responding to emails, or having to justify the value of your hardship, we want you to simply concentrate on getting well.
An accident attorney who understands South Carolina personal injury law, has experience negotiating with insurance companies, and appreciates the toll physical harm has upon a human being, can gather the facts and evidence needed to obtain full justice.
At the Law Office of Kenneth E. Berger, our personal injury legal team has helped clients from many parts of South Carolina and the rest of the country obtain a life-changing result after being involved in a life-changing accident. Contact us online today or call us at 803-790-2800. Our offices are conveniently located in Columbia and Myrtle Beach, and we have been proudly servicing clients throughout the surrounding areas. Contact us online today or call us at 803-790-2800 (Columbia, SC) / 843-427-2800 (Myrtle Beach, SC).
