Do I Need a Lawyer for My Slip and Fall Claim?

After suffering injuries in an accident on someone else’s property, you will want to know if you need a lawyer for my slip and fall claim. Cases that involve potentially large settlement amounts may receive a greater level of pushback from the insurer, making it smart to consider hiring a lawyer.

Nothing in South Carolina state law requires someone to hire an attorney to make a personal injury claim after a slip and fall accident. However, you may find that the insurance company for the property owner will not treat you fairly unless you have representation.

Advantages to Hiring a Lawyer in a Slip and Fall Case

Personal injury attorneys can help you with quite a few aspects of trying to win a settlement in your personal injury case.

Negotiating with the Insurer

The majority of slip and fall claims will settle outside of a courtroom. Instead, the insurance company representing the property owner and the victim will come to a settlement through negotiations before the trial begins or during the trial.

You certainly have the right to negotiate with the insurance company on your own. In fact, many insurers will contact you quickly after the accident, hoping to reach a settlement before you choose to hire representation. This may work well for you if your settlement amount is smaller than average.

However, because our team at Hammack Law Firm regularly deals with large settlements in these cases, we rely on our negotiating skills. We believe this gives us an edge when trying to reach a settlement for our clients. Hopefully, you only have to go through this once, meaning you will not have the same experience level as our team.

Proving what Happened in the Accident

Sometimes, an insurance company will not accept blame on behalf of its client. The insurer may allege that your own actions actually caused your injuries, meaning they do not owe you anything.

If this is the case, our legal team can study the facts in the case to counteract the insurance company’s allegations. We can speak with witnesses, study video or photos of the accident scene, and speak with police officers who investigated to seek facts that show the property owner’s negligence led to your injuries.

Determining the Extent of Your Injuries

Even when an insurance company admits fault on the part of its client, it may dispute the severity of your injuries. For example, the insurer may say that you can return to work faster than you and your doctors believe you can.

This can be a very frustrating situation. Trust that we will present your side of the case and show why your injuries are serious. We do not back down when insurance companies are accusing our clients of lying. We redouble our efforts to show why you need the settlement we are requesting.

The circumstances matter in a slip and fall accident. For example, according to Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC Health) research, an older individual who falls has a greater chance of severe injuries. A broken arm or hip for an older person can create a far greater reduction in quality of life versus a younger person. Your settlement amount should fully reflect your quality of life going forward.

Standing By Your Side in Court

Should the insurance company refuse to negotiate fairly, we are ready to take your case to court. Some personal injury attorneys prefer to settle all of their cases as fast as possible, allowing them to take on more clients. They avoid trial at all costs.

Our team, on the other hand, prefers to work toward helping you seek the maximum settlement under the law. We are willing to go to trial when we believe this is in your interest and when you want to follow this path. We appreciate the opportunity to tell your side of the story in front of a judge or jury, showing why you need the settlement we are requesting.

Keeping Your Case on Track

In the state of South Carolina, personal injury victims have up to three years from the date of the injury to begin the process of filing a claim, according to S.C. Ann. § 15-3-530. You can count on our team to keep your case on track.

We will ensure you meet all deadlines required in South Carolina state statutes. We will not allow your case to come to an end because of a technicality that we can prevent.

Trust That Hammack Law Firm will Treat You with Compassion

When you are facing a serious injury after falling on someone else’s property, you may have some fear about what will happen next. You may be uncertain about mounting medical bills and about your ability to work and earn a living in the future.

Our team will work tirelessly to help you win a judgment for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering related to your slip and fall accident. Contact us today for a free consultation at (864) 326-3333(864) 326-3333.