Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyer

Car Accident Attorneys in Myrtle Beach, SC

Getting into a car accident can be extremely jarring. Even if your injuries are minor, dealing with a car accident claim can add stress to an already tense situation. What’s more, dealing with insurance companies and other drivers can create increased confusion and a lack of support.

Car accident cases are incredibly common. In the aftermath of a collision, it is important that you understand your rights and what you should do if you are hurt. In many cases, a personal injury lawyer can help you seek compensation after an accident. If you have been injured at the hands of another driver, it is time to contact our Myrtle Beach auto accident lawyers.

Experienced Auto Accident Lawyers in Myrtle Beach, SC

With over 100 years of combined experience, the Myrtle Beach auto accident lawyers at Axelrod & Associates are here for you if you have been hurt in a car wreck in SC.

We understand that an auto accident can turn your life upside down. You may find yourself dealing with the stress of insurance companies, lost time from your job, medical bills, and vehicle repairs while you are trying to recover from injuries caused by a careless driver.

Our lawyers are here to help you deal with the insurance companies and get paid the maximum compensation you are entitled to under SC law.

Our Myrtle Beach auto accident attorneys have experience handling all types of auto accident cases throughout South Carolina, including:

• Trucking Accidents/ Eighteen Wheelers
• Drunk Driving Accidents/ DUI Accidents
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Moped Accidents
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Purchasing vehicle insurance in South Carolina
• MedPay and PIP claims
• Common Types of Car Accident Injuries in South Carolina
• Dram Shop Law South Carolina
• Property Damage & Diminished Value Claims
• South Carolina Car Insurance Laws

How A Myrtle Beach Auto Accident Attorney Can Help You?

If you or a family member has been injured in a car accident in SC, your Myrtle Beach car accident attorneys on the Axelrod team will:

• Meet with you to answer your questions and learn about your case – we will come to you if you are hospitalized and cannot come to our office.
• Investigate your accident, retaining an accident reconstructionist when appropriate.
• Gather the evidence you need to prove your auto accident claim.
• Locate and interview witnesses.
• Identify all possible sources of recovery and insurance policies.
• Help you to get the medical treatment you need.
• Demand full and fair compensation from the at-fault party or their insurer.
• Negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf.
• File a personal injury lawsuit and litigate your claim.
• Try your case to a jury if the insurance companies do not agree to pay the full and fair value of your claim.

Do I Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident in South Carolina?

Legally, you do not need to hire an attorney after a car accident. However, if you want your medical bills, damages, and other expenses to be covered by insurance or a settlement, you should hire an attorney. Without the help of an attorney, insurance companies will likely give you less than you deserve, if they award you any settlement at all. Representing yourself greatly increases the chance that you will be financially responsible for the accident, even if it was not your fault.

Since few families can afford unexpected medical and car repair costs, it is important for your family’s finances and your overall health to hire a Myrtle Beach car accident attorney from Axelrod & Associates.

How Do I Choose a Myrtle Beach Car Crash Lawyer?

Choosing an attorney to represent you can be daunting. However, it is important to remember that attorneys are here to fight for you. You should always feel as though potential attorneys can offer you proper support during your difficult time.

The biggest factor in choosing a car accident attorney should be experience. Ask potential lawyers about their history in the industry as well as their success rate for cases like yours. If they have a track record of success in car accident cases, they should be able to handle your situation with ease.

You also need to be very open and honest with your attorney. They will ask you to recount what happened with brutal honesty and may need you to recall details that are painful or upsetting. It is important that you trust your attorney enough to be vulnerable with them when it comes to your experience. If you cannot speak openly with your lawyer, your case will suffer. Be sure to find someone you trust to help you through your case.

What To Do After A Car Accident in Myrtle Beach, SC

Millions of visitors come to Myrtle Beach every year. Unfortunately, some are injured in accidents involving motor vehicles.

Getting injured in an accident is always a difficult thing to deal with. Getting injured while on vacation is doubly so. Here are some tips on what you should do I you are injured in Myrtle Beach.

• Obtain medical care. Seek immediate medical attention, even if you do not feel seriously injured. Do not wait until you get home. The insurance company of the other driver will claim you were not seriously injured if you wait until you get home before seeking treatment.
• Don’t make a recorded statement. The other driver’s insurance company may ask you to make a recorded statement. Do not do so without legal advice. You could make statements that will damage your case.
• Don’t accept a settlement offer. The offer may be for far less that you will need to meet your future medical and other expenses.
• Contact a local attorney. Only an attorney who is licensed to practice law in South Carolina can represent you in a South Carolina court. If you have a family attorney back home, your attorney can work with a local attorney to protect your interests.

Our Myrtle Beach car accident lawyers offer a free initial consultation if you have been injured.

Car Accident Cases and Personal Injury

Personal injury law often plays a large role in car accident cases. It is important to understand these laws so that you can take action if you have a personal injury claim.

Personal injury claims can happen when one individual hurts or harms another individual through negligence. Medical malpractice, slip and fall cases, and dog bites are common examples of personal injury claims.

When it comes to car accidents, you may have a personal injury claim if the other driver caused the accident by neglecting their responsibilities as a driver. Examples of negligent driving behaviors include:

• Texting or talking on the phone
• Eating or drinking
• Turning around to engage with passengers or items in the back seat
• Driving while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other controlled substances
• Engaging in road rage or other reckless driving practices
• Speeding or driving too slowly without cause
• Failing to signal

Essentially, any time a driver fails to follow all laws, signs, and signals, they are acting negligently and are liable for damages if they hurt someone.

A personal injury case can help you hold the other driver accountable for the harm they caused you. The settlement from a personal injury claim can provide compensation for:

• Medical bills associated with the accident and resulting injuries
• Time you were forced to spend off work to recover from your injuries
• Any diminished earning capacity that resulted from the accident and injuries
• Pain and suffering, in some cases

Though insurance will cover some parts of your accident expenses, they will not fully compensate you for what happened. A personal injury settlement can help to bridge the gap.

Identifying the Responsible Parties

Your Myrtle Beach car accident lawyer on the Axelrod team will identify all possible sources of recovery, including the driver or drivers who are liable for the crash, any third parties that may have contributed to the crash, and all insurance policies that may provide coverage for the collision.

If you were partially at fault for the auto accident, you may still be entitled to some compensation. SC follows a modified comparative negligence rule that says you are entitled to recover damages if you were 50% at fault or less, although your recovery will be reduced by the percentage of fault found by the jury.

Proving Fault or Negligence After an Auto Accident in Myrtle Beach, SC

Your Myrtle Beach auto accident attorney will need to prove fault, negligence, or both for you to get the settlement that you deserve. This means that they will need to collect evidence to support your claim. Common types of evidence include:

• Photos and videos of the accident and accident site
• CCTV footage from the surrounding areas
• Photos of the injuries
• Medical records
• Eyewitness accounts
• Personal statements
• Photos of the damage and debris

If you get into an accident and can safely do so, you should begin to collect some of this information. Take photos of everything and obtain the contact information of any witnesses. Try to record all the information that you can, even if you believe that it is irrelevant. Even the smallest piece of information could significantly help your Myrtle Beach accident lawyer to prove negligence or fault in your case.

Damages

Your attorney will help you to get the medical attention that you need – it is important that you are thoroughly checked out, that you follow all doctor’s recommendations, and that you have either 1) finished all medical treatment or 2) have an accurate estimate of your future medical expenses before accepting any settlement offer from an insurance company.

Your auto accident lawyer at Axelrod & Associates will assist in gathering your medical records, retaining experts to establish the extent of your damages and future costs associated with your injuries, and presenting your claim to the insurance company or a jury.

Car Accident Claims and Insurance Companies

Many people mistakenly believe that insurance companies will help them after an accident. However, a good car accident attorney will tell you that the insurance companies’ top priority is always their profits. In fact, insurance companies will do everything in their power to avoid paying for your accident and injuries.

Because of this, it is important that you do not speak with the other driver’s insurance company alone. The representatives for these companies are experts at getting victims to give statements that make them appear at fault, even when they are not. If you speak with a representative without your attorney, you may give up your right to compensation and a personal injury case.

Instead of speaking with insurance companies directly, allow your attorney to speak with them on your behalf. We know the many tactics that the insurance companies use and can navigate them while preserving your case.

When Should I Sue After A Myrtle Beach Car Accident?

If you’ve been in a car wreck in Myrtle Beach, SC, you may be wondering whether you should file a lawsuit.

The answer is not as simple as you may think. In most cases, you will make a claim or send a demand letter before you decide to file a lawsuit. Although you are not required to retain an attorney before making a claim, it is a good idea.

So, the questions you may want to ask are:

1. When should I hire a lawyer to handle my auto accident claim?
2. When should I make a claim?
3. When should I file a lawsuit?

Let’s look at each of these questions one at a time…

1. When Should I Hire a Lawyer After an Auto Accident?

If there are no injuries and the only damage that was done was to the automobile, the insurance company may cover your property claim without the need for an attorney.

On the other hand, if there were any injuries or other damage that was done by the at-fault motorist, you will almost always benefit from hiring an auto accident lawyer to help you. A personal injury lawyer knows what kinds of damages you are entitled to and how to collect them. Your attorney will know how to investigate your claims and gather the evidence that you will need to present your claim to the insurance company.

You attorney will know how to make a demand for full compensation, when to make the demand, and when to skip a demand letter entirely and file a lawsuit. These can be difficult decisions that require practical experience in negotiating with insurance companies and trying personal injury cases in court.

2. When Should I Make a Claim and Who Do I Make the Claim To?

The answer depends on many things including the facts of your case, the severity of the injuries, the strength of your case, and which insurance company we are dealing with.

Ordinarily, a demand letter is sent to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. There may also be other insurance policies that are on the hook, however – there may be other drivers involved in the accident, there may be an umbrella policy that can be accessed, or your own insurance policy may provide coverage in some cases.

You should never send a demand letter or agree to settle your case until you have finished all necessary treatment or retained an expert to calculate the future costs that will be incurred because of the accident. Your auto accident attorney at Axelrod and Associates will help you to find the right experts who can provide testimony about future medical costs and other economic damages, and your attorney will advise you as to when your demand should be made.

3. When Should I Sue?

This also depends on the facts of your case including whether the insurance company is willing to pay full compensation for your injuries.

Although there are some cases where we file suit immediately instead of negotiating with an insurance company, in most cases a lawsuit is not filed until a demand has been made and the insurance company refuses to pay your claim.

If the insurance company does not settle your claim, the next step is to file suit against the at-fault driver and ask a jury to make them pay.

Experienced Auto Accident Lawyers in Myrtle Beach SC

The auto accident attorneys at Axelrod and Associates understand personal injury law and they understand SC insurance companies. Your attorney will investigate your claim, gather the evidence that you need, help you to retain the right experts for your case, negotiate with the insurance company to get you paid, and try your case to a jury if the insurance company does not pay what your case is worth.

If you have been hurt in an auto accident, schedule a free consultation with a Myrtle Beach auto accident lawyer on the Axelrod team. Call us at 843-353-3449 or fill out our contact form today.

FAQs About South Carolina Auto Accident Laws

If you have been involved in an auto accident, you may have questions.

Below, we provide some general information, but you should contact a Myrtle Beach car accident attorney immediately to discuss the specifics of your case and to find out what your options are.

What Types of Damages Am I Entitled to After a Car Wreck in SC?

When applicable, you are entitled to compensation for:

• All medical costs, including ER, EMS, and doctor’s bills
• Medications and medical equipment
• Future medical expenses, including long-term care when needed
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage
• Lost wages and future lost income
• Loss of consortium
• Disfigurement or scarring
• Other financial losses caused by the accident
• Punitive damages when the defendant’s conduct was grossly negligent or intentional

What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Myrtle Beach, SC?

Immediately after an auto accident, you should:

• Report the accident to law enforcement and wait for them to arrive
• If it is safe to do so, get contact information for any witnesses
• If it is safe to do so, take photographs of the accident scene, roadway, and damage to the vehicles
• Get medical treatment and follow up on any recommendations by EMS or emergency room doctors
• Decline to give a statement to the other driver’s insurance company
• Contact an auto accident lawyer in Myrtle Beach

Do I Need a Myrtle Beach Auto Accident Attorney?

If you were injured in an auto accident while on vacation in the Myrtle Beach area, you will want to meet with a local auto accident lawyer immediately – before you leave town.

Although your attorney back home can help you to research local attorneys to find the right attorney for you and your case, you will need an attorney who:

1. knows SC law on liability and damages,
2. is licensed to practice law in SC, and
3. is familiar with the local courts, defense attorneys, and procedures.

Is South Carolina a “No-Fault” State?

SC is not a no-fault state. In SC, the party whose negligence caused the accident is responsible for the damage they caused. You must prove 1) negligence, 2) proximate cause, and 3) damages before you can recover compensation for your auto accident.

What Should I Do When the Other Driver’s Insurance Company Calls Me?

The other driver’s insurance company will attempt to limit or deny your personal injury claim – one way they do this is by calling you soon after the accident and asking you for a recorded statement. They will ask you questions that are designed to prove that you were at fault or that you are not entitled to damages.

You may be able to settle your property damage claim quickly – insurance companies often assign a separate adjuster for property damage and personal injury claims. However, you should not give a statement to the insurance adjuster or answer questions about liability, how the accident happened, or your injuries.

Your attorney will know what to say to the insurance adjusters – you should let your auto accident attorney talk to the insurance adjusters on your behalf.

What If the At-Fault Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?

If the at-fault driver does not have insurance, or if they don’t have enough insurance to cover your claim, you may still be covered by:

• Your own insurance policy’s uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage
• Third parties who may have been liable for the accident, including other drivers, individuals, or companies
• In some cases, the defendant’s personal or corporate assets.

Contact Our Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyers Today

If you have been injured in an auto accident caused by another driver’s negligence, the Myrtle Beach auto accident attorneys at Axelrod & Associates may be able to help you to get maximum compensation for your injuries. Our team has a long and successful history in this industry, and we can help you get a fair settlement to heal properly and quickly.

Call 843-353-3449 or complete our contact form for a free initial consultation.