Greer, SC Personal Injury Lawyer

Almost nobody gets through life unscathed, but that does not mean the people who hurt you should get away scot-free. If you became injured because of another person’s negligent behavior, our legal team can help you prepare a personal injury lawsuit. How we go about the case depends on numerous factors surrounding your accident, and no two cases are alike.

Personal injury claims may stem from a wide variety of accidents and incidents. Injuries do not have to be severe or life-altering to justify a personal injury lawsuit. Even if you fully recover, you still have the right to sue. Damages may be quite high, especially if your injuries are painful, serious, or complicated. It is best to speak to an attorney soon, as you have only a limited amount of time to submit a case to the courts. Not only that, but personal injury claims can take a long time to prepare and even longer to get through once they are filed. Your lawyer can help you through this difficult process.

Get a free, private case review to get started by calling our personal injury lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (803) 219-4906.

How Personal Injury Cases May Arise in Greer, SC

You have probably heard the phrase “personal injury” used to describe all sorts of civil cases. While personal injury law is broad, not all cases fall under this umbrella. To have a valid personal injury claim, you must have suffered some form of bodily injury because of another person’s actions or omissions. If you were not physically harmed, you might still be able to sue, but your case will likely not involve a personal injury claim.

Some examples of personal injury cases our legal team has experience with include, but are not limited to, auto accidents, injuries at amusement parks, defective goods, accidents at work, and wrongful death. While all these cases will differ significantly, they tend to fall under the legal umbrella of personal injury law. Our personal injury lawyers will help you determine the nature of your claim, where to find evidence, the extent of your damages, and what we need to do to prove the defendant’s liability.

While many personal injury cases are based on negligence, others are based on the intentional actions of defendants. Negligence is likely the basis of your claim if the defendant accidentally hurt you. If they hurt you on purpose, your case may involve intentional torts.

Can I File a Personal Injury Case in Greer, SC if Someone Hurt Me on Purpose?

If someone hurt you on purpose, you may still file a personal injury claim. However, this claim may be difficult to prove, as we must prove the defendant’s intent. Generally, to prove an intentional tort, we must show that the defendant committed an act with the intent to cause harm, that you actually suffered harm, that the defendant’s actions are the direct cause of your injuries, and the extent of your damages.

One common example of an intentional tort is assault and battery. If you were hurt because someone purposefully hit, knocked, punched, or otherwise struck you, you may sue them for assault and battery. This includes instances where the defendant might not have hit you directly but instead used a weapon or intentionally caused something else to hit you.

Intentional torts often overlap with criminal law to make things even more complex. When someone hurts another person on purpose, there is a good chance they will be criminally charged. If this happens, your civil case might be put on hold while criminal hearings are pending. Your lawyer can work with you during this time to build your civil case.

How Long Do Personal Injury Cases Take in Greer, SC?

The time it takes to complete a personal injury lawsuit can be hard to predict. Some cases drag on for years and years, while others are resolved in a few short months, weeks, or even sooner. Knowing what kind of timeframe you are working with might help you decide how to proceed with the case.

One factor to consider is the complexity of the facts of your case. Some cases are very straightforward, and the facts of how an accident happened are pretty clear from the start. Cases tend to be completed faster when the facts are clearly established and hard to refute. If the case goes to trial and very few facts can be disputed, the trial will likely finish quickly.

We must also consider the strength of the evidence. Strong evidence against the defendant might be used to persuade them to agree to a favorable settlement. Rather than waste time and money hashing things out in court, it might be better for everyone to reach a settlement and avoid a trial.

Even when you have clear facts and strong evidence, your case might still take a long time to complete if the defendant is unwilling to cooperate. If they absolutely refuse to do anything but drag things out in court, we might be in for a long ride.

How Long After a Personal Injury Should You Wait to Submit a Case in Greer, SC?

Your time to sue is not unlimited, and the clock is already ticking. According to the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in South Carolina, S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5), you have 3 years to prepare and file your case. The limitation period begins on the day you were hurt, so it is crucial that you meet with a lawyer sooner rather than later.

Under specific circumstances, you may have the statute tolled. When this happens, the clock counting down to your filing deadline is paused. How long we stop the clock depends on why we need to have the statute tolled.

Under § 15-3-40, a plaintiff may have the statute of limitations tolled if, at the time of their injuries, they were a minor or under a mental disability that prevents them from filing the case or understanding their rights. The statute of limitations may be tolled until the plaintiff turns 18 or their disability is lifted.

Call Our Personal Injury Attorneys in Greer, SC for Help Now

Get a free, private case review to get started by calling our personal injury lawyers at Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (803) 219-4906.