Florence Personal Injury Lawyer

Florence Personal Injury Attorney

The term “personal injury” defines any situation in which one party’s actions result in harm to another party. Most personal injuries reported in South Carolina arise from negligence, or failure to exercise reasonable care in certain situations. Personal injuries can also happen from intentional and illegal misconduct. If you are recovering from any injury that another party inflicted in Florence, a personal injury attorney can help hold them accountable and assist you in recovering your losses with a personal injury claim.

Experienced Personal Injury Counsel in Florence, SC

The attorneys at Axelrod & Associates, P.A., have years of professional experience handling a wide range of personal injury claims for our clients, and we know the various legal challenges you are likely to encounter as you seek compensation for the losses you recently suffered. While it is technically possible to pursue a personal injury claim without legal counsel, this is inadvisable for several reasons. You are not only more likely to succeed with your case when you have a Florence personal injury attorney representing you, but you can also rest and recover with peace of mind as your proceedings unfold, secure in the knowledge that your case is in capable hands.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Florence

Many types of civil claims unfold under personal injury law. Whenever one party is responsible for harming another party, this can form the basis of a personal injury claim. When you are searching for a Florence personal injury attorney to represent your case, it is vital to choose one who has proven experience handling cases similar to yours. At Axelrod & Associates, P.A., we are fully prepared to provide the legal counsel you need for a variety of personal injury cases, including:

• Motor vehicle accident claims. Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents happen every day in the Florence area. The recovery process from a motor vehicle accident typically begins with a claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance, followed by a personal injury suit when their insurance alone cannot compensate for the victim’s losses. Our firm can guide you through all your recovery efforts and assist you in securing maximum compensation for the losses you suffered.
• Slip and fall accident claims. If you or a loved one suffered a slip and fall on someone else’s property, the property owner may be liable for your damages under the state’s premises liability laws. Property owners are required to ensure their properties are safe for lawful guests and visitors, and failure to do so can lead to liability for resulting damages.
• Medical malpractice. This is a unique area of personal injury law pertaining to harm done by medical professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and surgeons. If you intend to file a personal injury claim against any medical professional in Florence, this type of case is subject to special rules and you must have legal counsel you can trust on your side. A good attorney can help recover compensation for all the economic losses you sustained, but state law will limit your pain and suffering compensation.

• Catastrophic injury claims. Most personal injury victims will eventually recover from their injuries, but some are not so fortunate and will face long-term or permanent complications. Traumatic brain injuries, severe burns, and spinal cord injuries are a few common examples of catastrophic injuries that have the potential to cause permanent disabilities. These cases are particularly challenging and sensitive, and it is vital to work with an experienced Florence personal injury attorney if you intend to maximize your compensation for a life-changing personal injury.

Whatever type of personal injury you experienced, the team at Axelrod & Associates, P.A., is prepared to provide the comprehensive legal support you need to approach your recovery process with confidence and peace of mind. We have years of successful personal injury cases behind us because we take time to develop individualized case strategies for every client we represent. When you choose our firm to handle your case, you are investing in a dedicated legal advocate who can guide you to a positive conclusion in an efficient manner.

Proving Liability for Your Personal Injury in Florence

The first legal challenge you face in any personal injury claim is proving fault for the injury. You need to identify the party or parties responsible for causing the damages you suffered and then prove your damages could not have happened from any other cause. When a personal injury happens from an act of negligence, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant held some duty of care that they breached in some way and consequently caused the plaintiff’s claimed damages. The plaintiff must show the full extent of the damages they suffered and establish causation between the defendant’s negligence and those damages.

If your personal injury happened from an illegal act of any kind, the defendant who injured you is likely to face criminal prosecution along with their liability for your civil damages. Your Florence personal injury attorney can advise you as to how the defendant’s illegal actions may influence your recovery.

Proving fault in a personal injury case typically requires a combination of evidence and witness testimony. Your attorney may seek to secure physical evidence from the scene of the incident as well as testimony from witnesses who saw the accident happen firsthand. In some cases, attorneys will call on expert witnesses who can provide specific professional insights into the most complex details of the case. For example, your attorney may consult an accident reconstruction expert who can explain exactly how a vehicle crash unfolded, helping you prove fault for the accident.

Claimable Damages in Your Personal Injury Case

The main objective of any personal injury case is to identify the party responsible for causing the damages and then proving the extent of the damages they caused. The right attorney can not only make proving fault for your personal injury much easier, but they can also assist you in proving the full extent of the harm the defendant caused with their negligence or misconduct, enhancing your case award as much as state law allows.

Most personal injury claims pertain to economic damages, which may include:

• Property losses. If a defendant damaged or destroyed any of your personal property, they are liable for all associated repair or replacement costs. Your attorney may be able to help recover some of your property losses through insurance, but any outstanding damages you cannot recover through insurance must be claimed as economic damages in your personal injury case.
• Medical expenses. When a defendant has physically injured you, you have the right to seek compensation for all medical treatment costs you incur because of their actions. This includes immediate healthcare expenses, such as your hospital bills and ambulance fees, as well as long-term costs for ongoing rehabilitative care. Your Florence personal injury attorney can work with your medical care team to ensure the defendant faces full accountability for the entire extent of medical expenses you face because of their actions.
• Lost income. If you are unable to work following a personal injury, the defendant who injured you is liable for the income you are unable to earn during this time. You can also claim the value of vacation time or paid time off you were forced to use immediately following the accident.
• Lost future earning capacity. Unfortunately, some personal injuries cause lasting harm that can prevent a victim from working in the future. If this applies to your case, a good attorney can help hold the defendant accountable for the future income you are no longer able to earn.

Once you have a reliable Florence personal injury attorney working on your case, you may be surprised to learn that you can claim much more for your economic damages than you may have initially expected. However, you also have the right to claim pain and suffering compensation from the defendant.

South Carolina’s personal injury laws only restrict pain and suffering compensation in medical malpractice cases. As long as your case falls outside the extent of medical malpractice, there is no limit to how much you can claim. Your Florence personal injury attorney can help determine a reasonable amount that reflects the severity of the harm you suffered and the extent of long-term complications you are likely to face because of it. Your attorney might seek pain and suffering compensation that reflects the time it will take for you to fully recover from your injury, or they may seek a large lump sum if you were permanently injured by the defendant.

Ultimately, any personal injury case can present numerous challenges to the plaintiff, and a seasoned Florence personal injury attorney is an ideal asset to have on your side, no matter what your case entails. Axelrod & Associates, P.A., can provide compassionate and responsive legal guidance through all stages of your case. The sooner you consult our team, the sooner we can start building your personal injury claim in Florence.

Personal Injury Lawyer FAQs

Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Claims?

A: If you intend to file any kind of personal injury claim, you must do so within the statute of limitations. This time limit starts on the date a personal injury occurs and extends for three years. This may sound like plenty of time in which to file your case, but the sooner you file, the more likely you are to succeed. Finding a Florence personal injury attorney to help as soon as possible after your accident helps preserve the reliability of the evidence you will need to make your case. There will be little risk of missing procedural deadlines that could interfere with your proceedings.

Q: How Much Compensation Can I Claim in a Personal Injury Case?

A: South Carolina’s personal injury laws enable a plaintiff to recover full repayment of all economic damages they sustained because of a defendant’s actions. These economic damages are likely to include medical expenses, lost income, lost future earnings, and property damage. The plaintiff also has the right to seek pain and suffering compensation, and there is no limit to how much the plaintiff may seek in most personal injury cases. Your Florence personal injury attorney can provide an estimate of your claim’s total potential value.

Q: How Long Does It Take to Settle a Personal Injury Case?

A: Most of the personal injury claims are resolved through private settlement negotiations. This process enables all parties involved in a case to avoid the stress and expense of litigation as long as they are willing to compromise on a solution to the claim. However, if settlement is not an option or if settlement negotiations fail, the case will need to be resolved in court. Litigation can take several months to more than a year, depending on the details of the case.

Q: Why Should I Hire a Florence Personal Injury Attorney?

A: It is technically possible to file a personal injury claim without an attorney, but this would be very difficult and risky for several reasons. Even seemingly slight mistakes can lead to major problems in your case, and handling all your procedural obligations and your medical needs at the same time on your own would be incredibly challenging. When you have an experienced Florence personal injury attorney representing you, you can approach your case with peace of mind and will be more likely to maximize your final case award.

Q: What Are Attorneys’ Fees for a Florence Personal Injury Attorney?

A: Many people believe that hiring legal counsel is prohibitively expensive, especially when they are struggling with the financial impact of a serious personal injury. However, the team at Axelrod & Associates, P.A., can provide the legal representation you need without adding to your financial concerns with our contingency fee billing policy. With a contingency fee agreement, a plaintiff only pays their attorney a percentage of their final case award as their fee, and they owe nothing if their attorney is unable to secure compensation on their behalf.

The right legal advocate on your side can help you approach your personal injury case proceedings with confidence. Axelrod & Associates, P.A., will work closely with you through every stage of your case until you reach the outcome you hope to see. You have a limited time in which to pursue your recovery, and the sooner you connect with a Florence personal injury attorney you can trust, the more time your attorney will have to work on your case. Contact Axelrod & Associates, P.A., today to schedule your consultation with our team and learn how we can empower your recovery efforts.