What Kind of Damages Can I Get After My SC Auto Accident?

You’re driving to work, listening to the morning news and sipping a cup of coffee when an SUV slams into the back of your car…

A few weeks later, you need to get back to work. Your bills are piling up, you’re in pain from a back injury, and you’re not getting paid because you can’t do your job until the injuries heal. Medical bills are pouring in, and the insurance company says your car is totaled.

Now you’re faced with yet another daunting challenge – how do you collect damages from the other driver’s insurance company?

If the other driver is at fault, the law says they must compensate you. But how do you put a dollar amount on your losses and how do you collect?

WHAT TYPES OF DAMAGES ARE AVAILABLE AFTER A SC AUTO ACCIDENT?

It’s impossible to figure out exactly how much the accident cost you, but you don’t want to leave money on the table because you don’t know what you are entitled to.

When your SC auto accident lawyer puts a dollar figure on your case, these are the main factors they will consider:

• Medical expenses;
• Property damage;
• Pain and suffering;
• Missed wages; and
• Psychological trauma.

Depending on the severity of your injuries and the unique facts of your case, there may be other types of damages that are available to you – your personal injury lawyer will be able to help you ensure that you are not missing anything.

Economic Damages in SC Auto Accident Law

Property damage is usually the easiest to calculate, and often the insurance adjuster will pay for damage to your vehicle without the need for your attorney to get involved. The personal injury side of your case is where it gets more complicated, and the insurance company is gearing up for a fight to keep their money.

Putting a dollar amount on medical care is trickier because often injuries worsen over time and some may require long-term care. Your attorney can help you collect as much as possible to cover the cost of care you have already received as well as any potential future expenses.

When calculating lost income, your attorney is thinking about more than just the paychecks you haven’t received. What was the trajectory of your career before the accident? Have your injuries prevented you from getting a promotion you were on track for? Did they cause you to miss out on a big raise? In addition to missed paychecks, you need to be compensated for the money you would have earned in the future if you hadn’t been hurt in the accident.

Non-Economic Damages in SC Auto Accident Law

Calculating the costs of pain and suffering is even more difficult – how do you put a dollar amount on physical discomfort, emotional loss, a lower quality of life, and new limits on your daily activity?

These can be complex arguments, and you will be challenged at every turn by the insurance companies’ attorneys. An experienced personal injury lawyer knows how to make a convincing argument about how much you should be compensated for pain and suffering.

The psychological toll of an auto accident can be debilitating and long-lasting. Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, or a loss of sleep can lead to therapy visits, other medical treatments, a lower quality of life, and a slower road to recovery. If you are suffering psychological effects from your car crash, you are entitled to recover additional money to compensate you even for injuries that cannot be seen.

SC AUTO ACCIDENT LAWYERS IN MYRTLE BEACH

Your Myrtle Beach auto accident attorney at Axelrod and Associates will investigate your case, gather the evidence that you need, negotiate maximum compensation from the insurance company, and take them to trial when they do not pay what you are entitled to.

Schedule a free consultation with a Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyer on the Axelrod team today. Call us at 843-916-9300 or fill out our contact form to set up a free initial consultation about your case.