Summerville, SC Personal Injury Lawyer
Getting hurt is never part of anyone’s plan. Even if you are doing a “dangerous” activity like extreme sports or working a physically demanding job, the prospect of injury may be in the back of your mind, but it is not ever something you really expect. Getting hurt can be even more surprising when it happens because someone was careless and didn’t do their job properly, which can add to the sting of knowing that you have a lengthy recovery ahead of you.
If you were hurt because someone else was negligent, we can help. Our lawyers have the skills, experience, and determination to see your case all the way through and get you the compensation you deserve.
The personal injury attorneys from Rice, Murtha & Psoras can be reached at (803) 219-4906 for free case reviews.
How Personal Injury Lawsuits Work in Summerville, SC
Most people are familiar with trials from movies, TV shows, and other media. However, there is so much more that goes into a lawsuit besides arguing a case before a jury. In fact, very few cases actually make it to trial because they get resolved in some other way beforehand. Our personal injury attorneys will be with you every step of the way, from your initial talks with us all the way to trial and beyond, if need be.
Initial Discussions and Filing of Your Claim
The first step in a personal injury case is to talk with our lawyers and file your claim. When you first talk to us, we can give you general advice. Once you retain us as counsel, we can really start working on your case specifically and getting ready to file it.
It is important to file your case in a timely fashion because the law limits how long you have to sue. Under S.C. Code Ann, § 15-3-530, you must file your personal injury lawsuit within three years of your accident, or you lose your right to sue. Be sure to retain counsel as soon as you can so that all the work that needs to be done before filing your claim can be accomplished.
Discovery
An important part of the legal process is the exchange of information between both sides of a case. This process is called “discovery” and is standard for legal actions. During discovery, both sides give the other pretty much any information they ask for, which they may not already know. It may seem odd to give your opponent information, but it is actually a very important part of the legal process, which ensures that both sides are operating on an equal playing field and that nobody can unfairly surprise their opponent. That being said, you do not have to tell the other side everything. Some information is privileged and can be withheld, even from discovery requests.
Depositions
Depositions are another important thing that needs to happen before trial. Depositions are formal, under-oath interviews where lawyers get to ask parties relevant to a claim questions about the case. It is virtually certain that you will get deposed in your personal injury case, as will any witnesses who will testify in court or anyone with expert knowledge important to the case. When you are getting asked questions, it is important that you answer as truthfully as you can, even if you think that the answer hurts your case. We can work with “bad facts,” but it is much harder to deal with lying in a deposition. If a question is unfair, we can object to it, and you will not have to answer it.
Pre-Trial Procedures
There are also times that you or our lawyers may need to go to court before trial. This could be for something mundane, like setting a date for a certain legal procedure or for trial, or it could be for something with considerably more impact on a case, like determining whether certain pieces of evidence are allowed in court or not. We can help you figure out whether you need to attend these hearings or not and can walk you through what you need to do before trial.
Settlement Offers
At any point before trial, parties can offer to settle a case. When parties settle, they agree to terms outside of court and drop the matter. In a settlement, nobody is found liable at trial, although many settlements include an admission of liability by one or both parties. There are some advantages to settling a case. It is often faster and more cost-effective to settle than go all the way to trail. Additionally, settlements have a guaranteed outcome, while the trial is always in the hands of the jury.
Just because a defendant offers to settle does not mean their case is weak. Many defendants with strong claims will offer to settle for various reasons. Instead of considering the relative strength of either side’s case, the important thing to think about is whether a settlement offer will get you what you want out of your claim. Of course, you always have the right to go to trial, and our lawyers can advise you of your options and will support you in whatever decision you make.
Trial
The trial is the final capstone of the legal process. By this point, both sides more or less know what the other is going to say. All that remains is to present all the facts, evidence, and testimony to the jury and have them decide the merits of the case using that information. If the jury determines that the defendant was liable for your injuries, you will be awarded damages.
However, if the jury does not find your defendant liable, that is not the end of the road. You can still appeal your claim if you think that there was an error during the trial, and we can help you through that process.
Get in Touch with Our Summerville, SC Personal Injury Attorneys Now
Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras’s personal injury attorneys at (803) 219-4906 and get a free case review.