Anderson Car Accident Lawyers

Helping Injury Victims in Need

People who have suffered injuries due to a car accident tend to underestimate the massive impact the accident will have on their lives, not just immediately after the accident but well into the future. Many people think personal injury lawyers only collect compensation to cover medical bills and property damage. Personal injury lawyers actually examine your injuries and the damage you’ve suffered and investigate how your future will be affected by your car accident.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed after a car accident. At first, you may be focused only on the immediate pain or the need to fix your vehicle, but over time, the impact can grow in ways you never expected. You might start to feel the weight of missed workdays, ongoing medical appointments, or the emotional toll of no longer being able to live life the way you did before.

At Hammack Law Firm, we understand how deeply an accident can affect every part of your life—not just physically, but emotionally and financially too. That’s why we take the time to truly listen and support you while building a legal strategy designed to ease the burdens you’re carrying. You don’t have to go through this process alone.

In addition to required medical care, the at-fault driver might also be responsible for paying for your damaged or destroyed property, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A car accident lawyer in Anderson, South Carolina, who handles car accident cases, might be able to help you negotiate an insurance settlement or file a personal injury lawsuit. Call 864-766-7108 to schedule a free consultation with Hammack Law Firm.

What Should You Do After a Car Accident?

We understand that car accidents are loud, violent, emotional, and scary. Being prepared for the worst and taking the right steps after an accident can be integral to a successful car accident claim. You may think your claim doesn’t start until you speak with a personal injury lawyer. In reality, your claim starts at the moment of impact. After you are involved in a car accident, you should follow these important steps.

Stay Calm and Find Safety

You will likely be disoriented after a car accident, especially if you have suffered injuries. Catch your breath and stay calm. Appraise the situation: Are you or one of your passengers injured? Have your airbags deployed? Are you safe? If anyone in your vehicle is injured, call 911 immediately and ask for a paramedic to be sent to your location. If you can safely exit your vehicle and get out of the path of traffic, do so.

Call for a Police Officer

In South Carolina, you are legally required to call the police after a car accident if any person involved has been injured or died. When it is safe to do so, call the non-emergency phone number or 911 and ask the dispatcher to send an officer to your location. Answer their questions honestly, but do not offer them more information than they ask for.

Exchange Information

If you are able, you should exchange information with the other drivers involved in the accident. Be sure to get the following:

Full name
Insurance information
Phone number
A picture of their driver’s license
A picture of their license plate
A picture of the make and model of their vehicle

If anyone involved in the accident refuses to give you this information, avoid getting confrontational. Simply exit the conversation and start the next step.

IMPORTANT: Do not accept ANY blame for the accident, even if you believe you are partially or completely responsible for it. It is not your job to determine who is liable, and anything you say now can have a major impact on your personal injury case later.

Collect Evidence

While waiting for the police, you can start collecting information that will help your car accident lawyer build the narrative of your case. Using your cell phone camera, be sure to capture:

Photos/videos of damage caused to your vehicle and other vehicles involved
Photos/video of any injuries you sustained
Photos/video of the accident scene, including skid marks, broken glass, car debris, traffic signs, traffic lights, weather conditions, and the area surrounding the accident scene.
Photos/video of the stores or businesses surrounding the scene of the accident

Ask anyone who witnessed the accident if they would be willing to offer a statement to the officer. Ask if they would be comfortable giving you their contact information.

Speak With the Police

Once the police arrive, give a recounting of the accident and what led up to it. Give them the information they ask for, usually your driver’s license and proof of insurance. Ask their questions as truthfully and concisely as you can. Do not give them information they do not ask for, and do not defend yourself if you feel they are blaming you. Ask them for a case number so you can call and request a police report.

Seek Medical Treatment

It is important to either immediately visit the emergency room or schedule an appointment with your personal physician. You should seek medical attention even when you don’t think you are injured, as many car crash injuries, like traumatic brain injuries, can fail to show symptoms. If left untreated, injuries can cause even more damage. This also gives you a paper trail, which is important for any future car accident claims.

Seek Legal Representation

Call 864-766-7108 to schedule a free consultation with Hammack Law Firm as soon as you can after your accident. Legal representation makes your life easier in many ways and is the best way to increase your odds of getting fair compensation. We will also help you deal with insurance companies and guide you through the legal process.

Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company

Dealing with insurance companies can quit possibly rival the stress of the car accident itself. File an insurance claim. Give your insurance company the information they request. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, tell them you would like to speak to your lawyer before you continue.

IMPORTANT: The insurance companies of the other parties may reach out to you. Do NOT agree to give them or your OWN insurance company a recorded statement without first speaking with a personal injury lawyer.

Insurance companies attempt to settle for as little as possible. They may offer an immediate settlement offer that seems like more than enough to pay your bills and leave a little bit to pocket. This settlement will not account for future treatment or medical issues. They want you to accept as little as possible so they can close the case. Once you accept their settlement offer, in most cases, you forfeit the ability to ever sue for additional damages.

Document Everything

When we say everything, we mean everything! There is no such thing as “too much evidence.” Keep track of all medical bills, repair bills, and out-of-pocket expenses. Also, track any correspondence or attempted correspondence by insurance companies, law enforcement, and the other parties involved in the accident.

Keep a personal journal documenting your injuries, pain, and recovery. This can include photos of your injuries immediately after they happen, as well as progress updates.

Are you feeling lost after your car accident? This complex legal process can be overwhelming but you don’t have to go through this alone. Speaking with an experienced car accident lawyer can make all the difference in securing fair compensation.

How Is Fault Determined in South Carolina?

South Carolina uses a “modified comparative negligence” rule. This means that even if you are partially responsible for your accident, you can still recover damages as long as you are less than 51% at fault. Your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of your fault. This is why it is very important not to offer more information than is necessary when speaking with insurance companies, the police, and the other parties involved. Saying the wrong thing can severely limit your ability or even make it impossible to pursue compensation.

Fault is generally determined by a collection of factors and information.

Police report findings: Officers sometimes include their opinions on who caused the crash, cite one or more drivers, or even include diagrams of the accident scene.
Witness statements: The witnesses you spoke with after your accident can offer a neutral third-party perspective to support your version of events.
Physical evidence: Do you remember all of the photos and videos you took after your accident? This evidence can help determine what caused the accident and who is at fault.
Traffic law violations: The driver who violates a traffic law, such as speeding or failing to stop at a stop sign, usually is at fault.
Video footage: The photos and videos you took of the businesses surrounding the scene of your accident can give your attorney leads on possible security camera footage that shows exactly how the accident happened.

If you followed the steps you should take immediately after your car accident, you will have an abundance of evidence your car accident lawyer can use to prove fault and, minimize the percentage you are at fault, and receive maximum compensation.

What Damages Can Be Recovered After a Car Accident?

A car accident can cause a wide range of short- and long-term expenses and losses. You should not have to bear the financial burden of an accident you did not cause. Car accident damages are split into two main types: economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

This type of damage is easier to prove than non-economic damage because it is objective. This type of damage often comes with proof in the form of invoices, bills, and receipts. Economic damages typically involve:

Medical expenses: Emergency room visits, surgeries, regular checkups, prescriptions, physical therapy, future medical bills, and long-term care.
Lost wages: Income you lose out on because of necessary time away from work for recovery.
Loss of future earning capabilities: Some injuries may leave you unable to work long-term or permanently.
Property damage: Costs to repair or replace your vehicle as well as other damaged property.
Out-of-pocket expenses: Money spent to rent a car, pay towing and storage fees, and cover travel costs.
In-home expenses: Expenses to hire home healthcare, install medical equipment, or otherwise modify your home.

Non-Economic Damages

Unlike economic damages, this type of damages is subjective. They don’t come with a price tag that you can turn into the court. That doesn’t mean they aren’t as significant as economic damages. Many times, non-economic damages have a ripple effect that will affect your life in an unpredictable way in the future. They typically include:

Pain and suffering: Physical pain resulting from the accident and ongoing discomfort or limitations.
Emotional distress: Anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other psychological effects caused by the crash or resulting injuries.
Loss of enjoyment of life: Inability to participate in hobbies, activities, or daily routines you used to enjoy before your accident.
Loss of companionship: Car accident injuries can have a severe negative impact on your relationship with a spouse or close family member.
Disfigurement or scarring: Permanent changes to appearance that affect your self-esteem or quality of life.
Inconvenience: Ongoing disruptions in your life as a result of car accident injuries.

Accumulating proof of the accident’s costs and valuing intangible portions of your claim can be difficult on your own. A car accident attorney in Anderson, South Carolina, familiar with these cases, may be able to collect evidence of your damages and their value when we represent you. We can make sure the full value of your accident is understood before we begin negotiating with the responsible party’s insurance company.

How Long Do You Have to Take Legal Action?

If you were hurt in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you could be entitled to a monetary award to cover the costs of the accident. Your potential right to financial recovery has a time limit, though. You are generally limited to three years when filing a personal injury lawsuit in South Carolina, according to the S.C. Ann §15-3-530.

Running out of time to file your lawsuit could mean that you do not receive compensation for your damages. A Hammack Law Firm hit-and-run accident lawyer in Anderson can discuss what specific deadlines apply to your case in a free consultation.

What If the Person Who Hit You Didn’t Have Insurance Coverage?

According to the South Carolina Department of Insurance (DOI), a minimum amount of liability coverage and Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is mandatory for all drivers in South Carolina. If the driver who caused your accident was breaking the law by not carrying car insurance, you may be able to recover compensation by filing a claim with your own UM policy.

Another form of car insurance available in South Carolina is Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage. UIM is optional, but if you have it, it may help you in a case where your damages exceed the responsible party’s liability coverage limits. You may also have the option of filing a personal injury lawsuit against the driver who caused your accident but does not have sufficient insurance coverage for your damages.

Our team at Hammack Law Firm can help you navigate the insurance process in your case when we represent you. We treat our clients like family and work hard to defend their rights. We believe that holding negligent drivers responsible for their actions makes South Carolina a safer place for everyone.

If you had an accident in a taxi – contact our Uber and Lyft accident lawyer for free consultation.

When you trust your personal injury case to our legal team, you get a small firm feel with big firm experience. See why Google reviewers call us a “great team” and say we are “always willing to go the extra mile” for our clients.

What are the Leading Causes of Accidents in South Carolina?

If another driver’s negligence was the cause of your accident, they may be liable for your damages. Negligent actions that may cause a car wreck can include:

Disregarded traffic signs and signals
Driver distraction or inattention
Speeding or tailgating
Failure to yield the right of way
Improper lane usage or turn
Driving under the influence
Aggressive driving
Other forms of traffic law violations

Even if the driver who hit you is not guilty of the above, as long as they are more than 51% liable, you have the right to pursue compensation. If the cause of the accident is inconclusive or there is an issue determining who is at fault, a car accident lawyer can help investigate the case and seek compensation.

Car accident victims can suffer a broad range of injuries that can affect them for the rest of their lives. Soft-tissue injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, fractures, whatever your injury is, you will need compensation to ensure you can get your life back to, or as close to normal as possible.

Our Anderson, South Carolina, car accident lawyers can investigate your case and identify the at-fault driver’s negligence when we represent you. Car accidents are interesting because sometimes the at-fault party isn’t even a driver involved in the accident. If we discover that a non-driver party caused your accident, such as a negligent mechanic or municipality, we can build a case against them, too.

Should You Call the Cops After a Car Accident?

Under certain circumstances, a car accident in Anderson might generate a crash report called a TR-310. According to the S.C. Ann §56-5-1260, you are required to immediately report an accident that leads to injuries or death.

If the police did not respond to your accident and create a crash report, you should call them as soon as possible.

Your accident report contains a wealth of objective information about your wreck and the parties involved. Obtain a copy of your crash report as soon as it becomes available. Our team can glean important information from the crash report that may help build your case.

When Should You Call a South Carolina Car Accident Lawyer?

If you or someone you love was hurt in a car accident, you might be entitled to compensation from the responsible party. A car accident attorney in Anderson may be able to handle all of the legal work in your case when we represent you.

Hammack Law Firm has a track record of helping clients seek maximum compensation from negligent drivers, commercial truck drivers, and at-fault non-driver parties, such as shady mechanics and manufacturers. Do you need other personal injury legal services? We can help you seek compensation for any personal injury case. All you have to do is call.

For a free case review with a member of our team, call Hammack Law Firm today at. If you qualify, we may be able to provide you with representation on a contingency fee basis, which means we do not collect attorney fees unless and until you recover compensation via a settlement offer or court award. That means you don’t have anything to lose. Call 864-766-7108 to schedule your consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer.

We put the personal back in “personal injury.”