If you have been injured and are seeking information about personal injury lawsuits, you may find the answers to the following frequently asked questions helpful. If you have other questions about your specific situation, please contact The Louthian Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers at 803-592-6231, or use our online contact form. We’ll put our 80 years of experience to work for you.
What is personal injury?
In the legal sense, personal injury describes an injury caused by the negligence or carelessness of another person or a business. The injury could be to one’s body, property, or reputation.
What types of injuries fall into this category?
Some of the most common causes of personal injury cases are car accidents, slips and falls, workplace accidents, dog bites, boating accidents, motorcycle wrecks, and unsafe products.
If I file a lawsuit, who will I sue?
In a personal injury action, the defendant is the person or company which was negligent. This could be another driver, your employer, a manufacturer, a neighbor, or your doctor. Negligence is the failure to exercise a reasonable standard of care for the safety of others. If a person fails to act as a reasonable person would, he or she may be liable for any resulting damages.
What types of damages are available to compensate me for my injuries?
You may be able to recover what you have paid for medical bills resulting from the injury and the anticipated cost of future care; loss of wages and loss of future earning capacity; compensation for pain and suffering and disfigurement; the cost of necessary household services; loss of consortium; and damage to property.
How much is my case worth?
There is no easy formula that can be applied to all cases. How much your personal injury claim is worth depends on the details of your specific situation, including the severity of your injuries. It also depends on whether you were partly at fault for the accident.
How long does a personal injury lawsuit take?
Again, each case is different. Often, a defendant will be interested in avoiding the protracted trial and will make an offer to settle the case, thus shortening the time you will have to wait to receive compensation. Whether in a conference room or a courtroom, the injury attorneys of The Louthian Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers will aggressively pursue your right to full and fair compensation for your injuries.
Is there a deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit?
Yes, it is known as the statute of limitations. If you have been injured by someone else’s negligence, you should speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible so that you don’t lose your right to seek compensation. In South Carolina, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim is three years from the date of the injury.
What if I can’t afford a lawyer?
At The Louthian Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers, your initial consultation is always free. And because we know how financially devastating serious accidents can be, we won’t charge a fee for handling your case until you receive compensation.
