There is no average settlement for a car accident injury. If you suffered whiplash or another kind of injury after an accident, you may be entitled to damages for both physical and financial losses. The amount you can collect in damages depends on:
- How badly you were injured
- Whether your injuries are temporary or permanent
- How much evidence you have to prove the liable party’s guilt
- What the insurance company is willing to offer
Getting Help After a Whiplash Injury
After suffering a painful injury in a car accident, you may not feel up to confronting the challenges associated with a lawsuit. That is where we come in. Our firm is driven to help car accident victims seek the justice and the compensation they require by:
- Offering free case reviews: We listen to the story of everyone who calls in. At no cost and no obligation, we tell them if and how our office can help.
- Gathering evidence: We may have to persuade the insurance company that the liable party owes you damages. Medical records, police reports, witness testimony, and other forms of evidence could be crucial.
- Calculating damages: To help each client pursue everything they need, we help create a list of their injuries and the monetary worth of each.
- Negotiating a settlement: You do not ever have to speak with the liable party or their insurance company. We represent our clients at all meetings and in all communications with the other side.
- Going to court: In some cases, it is not possible to get a fair settlement from the insurance company. That does not mean you have to give up; rather, we can take the liable party to court and seek a jury award.
- Providing compassionate service: To avoid stress and confusion, you can call us as often as you need answers or assistance. We can be there for you whenever you need us.
We want to make this difficult time a little easier for you and your family to bear. As one client put it, they were “more than pleased” with our patient, responsive service, and our ability to recover a “very quick settlement.”
Your Whiplash Could Entitle You to Damages
To maintain your right to seek damages, start your case within three years of the accident. This is the statute of limitations as codified in S.C. Ann § 15-3-530. If this deadline passes, you could miss out on securing damages.
Non-economic damages are for people who suffered an emotional or physical injury, such as whiplash. Examples include:
- Disability, if the injury temporarily or permanently prevents you from using the affected body part in any way
- Pain and suffering, if the injury has had a negative effect on your physical or psychological health
- Reduced quality of life, if you cannot live your life the way you want to or used to because of the injury
- Disfigurement, if the injury will leave or has left behind noticeable or painful scar tissue
Economic damages are for people who lost money because of the accident. Examples include:
- Loss of wages, if you had to take time off from work to recuperate but expect to be able to return to your regular job duties in the future
- Loss of earning capacity, if you can never work as many hours or earn as much money as you did before the injury occurred
- Medical expenses, if the whiplash or other injuries were serious enough to require professional medical intervention
- Other expenses, if the injury compelled you to hire a service that you do not normally use, such as a landscaper or a housekeeper
You could qualify for any or all of the above damages if you were injured in a car accident, or if your loved one was injured and subsequently passed away from their injuries. We can help you in either case. A lawyer from our firm can fight hard to ensure that you and your family receive appropriate compensation.
Uninsured vs. Underinsured Motorist Protection
If the liable driver is uninsured, you may still be able to collect compensation from your own insurance. In South Carolina, per the South Carolina Department of Insurance (SC DOI), uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is required for inclusion in all car insurance policies.
Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, on the other hand, is not automatically included. If you have not purchased such a policy, it may be challenging to get a settlement that covers your needs. Regardless of what insurance you do or do not have, we want to support you in your fight for fair compensation.
If you were involved in a collision with an uninsured motorist in South Carolina, a Spartanburg accident attorney from our team can help with your case. Regardless of what insurance you do or do not have, we want to support you in your fight for fair compensation.
Let Us Help You Today
At Hammack Law Firm, it is our mission to get compensation for every single client. This includes helping car accident victims get a settlement for a whiplash injury. Call us today at (864) 766-7108 and experience for yourself the professional yet empathetic service we provide to all clients.
With over 25 years of legal experience, Paul Hammack provides his clients with a level of trial expertise and strategic insight rarely found in personal injury litigation. Having spent the first eight years of his career working within major insurance defense firms across Georgia and South Carolina, Paul gained an intimate understanding of the “other side’s” playbook. This insurance industry background serves as a unique differentiator for his clients; he knows exactly how insurance carriers evaluate risk and what motivates them to pay top dollar for a claim.
In 2008, Paul founded Hammack Law Firm to move away from the “plaintiff mill” model and focus on building personal relationships with those he represents. As a seasoned litigator, he has tried dozens of first-chair cases to verdict, specializing in high-stakes litigation involving catastrophic injuries and complex truck accidents. His dual-state practice allows him to provide aggressive representation across both South Carolina and Georgia, ensuring victims of negligence receive the maximum financial compensation possible regardless of which side of the state line the accident occurred.
Paul’s commitment to excellence is reflected in his record of significant achievements, including a $10 million tractor-trailer wrongful death settlement and a $3.9 million moped-versus-truck recovery. His credentials and bar admissions in both South Carolina and Georgia underscore his deep roots in the regional legal community. Beyond the courtroom, Paul is a dedicated advocate for his local community, contributing his time and resources to organizations such as the United Way, Red Cross, and Hands On Greenville, all while working to make South Carolina a safer place for everyone.
