People should not be allowed to hurt you and get away with it. Even if the other person’s actions do not constitute a criminal offense, you may still hold them accountable in civil court. A personal injury case can help you get justice for the harm you have suffered and fair compensation for the things you have lost. Speak to an attorney to get started.
People often resist hiring lawyers because they are afraid that they will be hit with huge legal fees. While legal fees are something you may need to deal with, an attorney’s help might mean the difference between getting fair compensation and walking away with nothing. You have a limited amount of time to prepare. The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in South Carolina is only 3 years, and you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer can advise you of all your legal options, including taking the case to court, accepting a settlement, or other options that might exist in your case.
Get a private, free assessment of your claims by calling our Greenville, SC personal injury attorneys in Easley at Rice Law at (803) 219-4906.
Why You Need a Lawyer to Help You with Your Personal Injury Case in Easley
Some people try to pursue court cases on their own, but this is often not a good idea. Lawsuits and other forms of legal action are notoriously complex. Even experienced attorneys get confused and make mistakes from time to time. Having a lawyer on your side can make navigating the legal process much easier.
Assessing Your Damages
First, you need an attorney to help you assess your damages. You might have an idea of what your damages are worth, but your lawyer should have the experience and skills to determine the true extent of your damages. There might be things you have not accounted for, or you might be undervaluing your damages.
Economic damages consist of the things that cost you money. You might know that you can claim the cost of your medical bills and the cost of damaged property, but that is far from all. If you had to take time off work because of your injuries, you may claim the income you lost. If you had to travel for medical treatment, your travel costs should be included in your damages. Even minor costs you might overlook can add up.
Non-economic damages are a bit harder to ascertain because they are inherently subjective. Some people refer to these kinds of damages as “pain and suffering,” but they may encompass much more. You may claim physical pain, psychological trauma, emotional distress, reductions in your quality of life, humiliation, and other painful personal experiences.
Gathering Evidence
Evidence is unique in each case. What one plaintiff needs to prove your claims might differ completely from what you need, even if your accidents are similar. You need evidence that can help you meet your burden of proof. In many civil claims, the burden of proof is a preponderance of the evidence. To satisfy this burden, our personal injury attorneys in Easley must prove that it is more likely than not that the defendant is liable.
Evidence to meet the burden of proof might involve witnesses, photos, videos, records, physical objects, and more. Getting evidence and figuring out if it is available is often challenging. Evidence has a habit of disappearing if it is not collected fast enough. Your lawyer can help you find what you need and build a case around it.
Paperwork and Documentation
A lawsuit involves a lot of paperwork. Anything you submit to the court likely needs to be in writing, and we might need multiple copies for the judge, court staff, defendant, and others. If paperwork and documentation are not filed correctly or do not contain the right information, your case might suffer.
The first and perhaps most important bit of paperwork is the complaint. This formal document contains extensive information about your accident, injuries, damages, and overall claim. It sets the tone for the rest of your case. Preparing the complaint will take time, and we need to make sure that all the necessary information is included and clearly explained.
Pretrial motions may also play a big role in your case and must be submitted to the courts in writing. Pretrial motions may be used to exclude bad evidence from court, and they may shape how the trial proceeds. Your attorney can handle pretrial motions, so you do not have to.
How Much Time You Have to Prepare Your Easley Personal Injury Case
You do not have an unlimited amount of time to prepare your case. You must file your case within the limitation period set by the statute of limitations to avoid losing the right to sue. According to S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5), the statute of limitations is only 3 years and begins on the day of your accident. This means the clock might already be ticking, and time is of the essence.
If time is running short or you got a late start, your lawyer might be able to help you have the statute of limitations tolled. Tolling pauses the clock counting down on your claim and effectively buys you more time to prepare. According to § 15-3-40, tolling might be possible for plaintiffs who were minors or had legal disabilities when their cause of action arose. If you were under 18, the limitation period would not begin until you turn 18. If you have a legal disability, which might include mental conditions that prevent you from filing your case or understanding your rights, your time begins when the disability is removed.
Speak to Our Personal Injury Attorneys in Easley for Help
Get a private, free assessment of your claims by calling our personal injury attorneys in Easley at Rice Law at (803) 219-4906.