You may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit when someone else has harmed you through their negligence or intentional actions. Perhaps someone injured you in a car crash, neglected to clean a spill, or physically assaulted you. No matter what happened, you should speak with a Greenville personal injury attorney.
At the Shelly Leeke Law Firm, we specialize in evaluating these cases and helping our clients seek the compensation they deserve. If the person responsible committed a crime and is convicted, that does nothing to pay your bills as their victim. You need guidance in securing restitution for the pain, suffering, and damages you have experienced through a personal injury claim.
Common Types of Personal Injury Cases
Personal injury is a very broad area of law. You can file a personal injury case when you have been hurt while shopping, driving, engaging in your hobbies, or from a crime. In some instances, you may think there is nothing to be done.
However, you may find that someone is responsible for your injuries. Suppose you are walking to your car with your groceries, and there is a large pothole in the parking lot. You do not see it and step into it, falling to the ground and injuring your knee. It can likely be shown that the store owner failed to maintain the lot and contributed to your accident.
Other kinds of personal injury claims can include:
- Vehicle accidents (bus, car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, or scooter)
- Pedestrian accidents
- Defectively manufactured products
- Premises liability (stores, parking lots, or event venues)
- Dog bites or animal attacks
- Nursing home abuse
- Physical assault (domestic violence, robbery, carjacking)
- Driving negligence (drunk, distracted, road rage, fatigued, reckless)
- Construction accidents
- Hunting accidents
To understand more about whether your case is valid, you should speak with a personal injury attorney in Greenville.
For a free legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer serving Greenville, call 1-844-736-8342
Potential Value of a Personal Injury Claim
If you are wondering whether you should pursue a personal injury claim, you might reconsider after speaking with a legal professional. They will ask questions to understand what happened and to develop a list of potential damages. Damages are the costs, both tangible and intangible, that you suffer from your injuries.
By producing a record of your medical and other bills and keeping a journal of your pain and recovery process, you can support your request for compensation. There are many types of losses you can claim, including but not limited to:
Economic damages:
- Loss of income
- Loss of earning potential
- Hospital bills for the ER, ICU, and surgeries
- Prescription medications
- Medical or mobility devices
- Bills for In-home nursing care or a nursing facility
Non-economic damages:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium with your partner or spouse
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mood disorders such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD
Depending on the injury and how severely it affects your life, the potential value of a personal injury claim could reach millions of dollars. If you have been permanently disabled and can no longer work or care for yourself, your compensation must take this into account. At the Shelly Leeke Law Firm, you will work with a personal injury lawyer in Greenville who aggressively pursues the financial relief you will need to fully recover and live your life comfortably.
Greenville Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me 1-844-736-8342
Workers’ Compensation Claims vs. Personal Injury Claims
In South Carolina, any business with four or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance for when you are hurt or become sick from a work-related cause. In most cases, this insurance will pay enough to cover your medical expenses and your lost wages.
However, if someone hurts you nearly anywhere else, you must rely on individual insurance or a personal injury lawsuit. Regardless of which avenue you want to follow, you will benefit from the expertise of a Greenville personal injury lawyer from Shelly Leeke Law Firm.
Insurance will only compensate your economic damages, such as medical bills and property loss. A personal injury lawsuit can potentially provide compensation for the non-economic damages you suffer, such as emotional distress.
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What to Do After Suffering a Personal Injury
When you have been hurt, you can begin protecting your right to seek compensation immediately. Some useful recommendations are:
- Document your damages: Take photos of your injuries, property damage, accident scene, clothing, weather, road conditions, and anything else that may tell your story.
- Do not apologize: The moment you say “I’m sorry,” you are potentially admitting fault. A defendant’s lawyer or insurance company will use this to show you share the blame.
- Do not minimize your injuries: Accept medical help from first responders. Do not tell anyone, “I’m fine.” You must also follow up with your doctor and follow all their orders.
- Only share contact and insurance information: Avoid small talk after the accident. Be careful of discussing what happened with law enforcement to avoid seeming to admit guilt.
- Speak with a lawyer immediately: You need to understand your options and whether you share any responsibility for what happened.
- Do not speak with insurance representatives alone: Your lawyer will negotiate with them to protect your rights.
- Do not speak to anyone else about your accident: Avoid telling family members or friends details. Do not post anything on social media or speak with anyone who would. Everything you say can potentially be held against you.
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Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Greenville
When you have decided to file a claim, you must act quickly. Although the lawyers at our firm are knowledgeable and experienced, putting together a solid case takes time. The statute of limitations in South Carolina is only three years from the date of your injury.
If you wait too long, you could lose the chance to sue for the compensation you need. Your attorney will coordinate gathering evidence with many experts and rely on you to provide additional documentation. Some examples could include:
- Photos and video from the scene
- Police reports
- Medical records
- Accident investigation reports
- Driving records
- Store cleaning records
- Commercial truck inspection and maintenance records
- Cell phone records
- Employee histories
Collecting information like this will support your claims of negligence, liability, and damages. When a person is negligent, they have breached a duty of care they owed you. You suffered injuries as a direct result of their failure and incurred expenses.
Proving this is required to secure compensation for what you have suffered. In addition, you can use the evidence to include multiple parties in your lawsuit, including companies that handle maintenance, security, manufacturing, and cleaning. You can even sue government agencies if their actions contributed to your harm.
Speak to a Greenville Personal Injury Attorney Today
You do not have to go it alone when you have been hurt by someone else’s carelessness or malicious acts. The Shelly Leeke Law Firm stands ready to provide experienced, reputable assistance from a Greenville personal injury attorney. We work tirelessly to secure the justice and compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for a free consultation with no risk and no obligation.
Call or text 1-844-736-8342 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form