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Columbia Car Accident Attorneys

Car accidents in Columbia, South Carolina are quite common. Devastatingly, car wrecks can lead to serious injuries and sometimes even loss of life. If this is the case for you or a loved one, we are so sorry, and we are here for you. Every day, our team dedicates our time and resources to helping victims of car accidents and their families recover physically, financially, and emotionally, ensuring they get the best support possible.

Throughout our 60+ years of combined experience in personal injury law, we have seen time and time again that insurance companies do not make the recovery process an easy or comfortable one for car accident victims in South Carolina. With Cavanaugh & Thickens, you can rest assured knowing that we fight to get our clients everything they’re entitled to under South Carolina law. We won’t settle for anything less.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Columbia, SC, and aren’t sure where to start, or you have tried to deal with the insurance company on your own and aren’t where you want to be, let us help. Cavanaugh & Thickens has the skills, experience, and resources needed to get you the entirety of what you’re owed under South Carolina law. Call our award-winning Columbia car accident lawyers today at (803) 888-2200 or fill out our secure online request form for a free case evaluation.  

Table of Contents

What Compensation Can I Recover After a Car Accident in Columbia, SC?

After a car accident, you may feel scared to drive again and have various bills from hospitals, EMS, physical therapists, car repair costs, and much more. If you or a loved one has suffered catastrophic injuries, you likely have orthopedic and neurological bills in addition to other expenses. Our team is dedicated to getting justice for those injured in car accidents. One of the ways we do this is by making sure you get compensated for the expenses and damages resulting from the accident. This can include, but is not limited to:

  • Doctor and Hospital Bills
  • Physical Therapy, Chiropractor, and Rehabilitation Bills
  • Orthopedists, Neurologists, and other Medical Specialists Bills
  • Past and Future Time Missed From Work
  • Lost Wages/Reduced Earning Capacity
  • Car/Property Damage
  • Permanent Disability
  • Pain and Suffering
  • Emotional Distress
  • Lost Quality of Life/Lost Enjoyment of Life
  • Wrongful Death
  • Funeral Costs, and more.

While this list can give you a good starting point for identifying what you may be entitled to, you may be entitled to more depending on the specifics of your case. To learn what you may qualify for under South Carolina, give our team a call at (803) 888-2200 for more information. We’re available for you 24/7.

Aggressively Defending Car Accident Victims in Columbia, South Carolina

When it comes to choosing a car accident lawyer after an accident, who you hire matters. Whether you or a loved one was recently involved in an accident or you’ve been fighting the insurance company on your own and aren’t getting where you want to be, having an experienced lawyer on your side can make the legal process much easier for you, allowing you to focus your time and attention into healing.

With Cavanaugh & Thickens, you can rest assured that you and your case are in great hands. Our team has a history of obtaining solid results for our clients, and we have experience representing clients across the state in a wide variety of car accident types, including but not limited to:

No matter the specifics of your case, our goal is to help you recover as best as possible physically, financially, and emotionally. We understand the aftermath of a car accident can leave you feeling overwhelmed and scared to drive again, and we are here to help ease this burden. We will walk you through your options and keep you updated every step of the way.

Common Injuries After Car Accidents

If you or someone you know has been injured due to a car accident, our local Columbia, SC car accident attorneys are here to help. While we’ve seen injuries vary greatly depending on the specifics of the accident, they commonly include:

  • Fractures
  • Soft-Tissue Injuries
  • Broken Bones
  • Whiplash
  • Knee Injuries
  • Foot/Ankle Injuries
  • Shoulder Injuries
  • Wrist/Hand Injuries
  • Scars/Disfigurement

In our experience, we’ve also seen serious accidents lead to catastrophic injuries, such as:

While some of these injuries show up immediately, others can be delayed and show up days or weeks following the accident. Delayed injuries are one of the many reasons why it’s critical to see a doctor immediately following an accident, even if you think you’re fine at first.

If you or a loved one is currently recovering from any of these injuries after a car accident, it is in your best interest to discuss the accident with a reliable personal injury lawyer. Call our team today at (803) 888-2200 to see how we can help you.

Common Causes of Columbia Car Accidents

Studies frequently show that a majority of car accidents are caused by human error and negligence. Some of the common causes of car accidents that we see include:

  • Speeding
  • Distracted Driving
  • Driving Under The Influence
  • Running Red Lights or Stop Signs
  • Unsafe Lane Changes
  • Wrong-Way Driving

If you or a loved one was hit by a driver who was speeding, distracted, driving under the influence, or caused an accident due to another factor, you may be eligible to receive significant compensation under South Carolina law. Call our Columbia car accident attorneys at (803) 888-2200 now for more information, see what you might be entitled to, and learn how we can help.

What Should I Do After I’ve Been Involved in a Car Accident?

It’s normal to be shaken, scared, and even a little confused after a car accident. Crashes can happen in a split second, and the adrenaline rush your body sends out can make it more difficult for you to think clearly or remember exactly what happened. That’s why it’s important to know what to do after a car accident so that you can react appropriately.

1. Attend to Any Injuries

The first thing you should do after being involved in a car accident doesn’t have anything to do with legal matters. Before anything else, it’s important to attend to any injuries that either party may have. Car accident injuries can include very serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries, broken limbs, and punctured lungs. In general, it’s advised not to move people involved in an accident unless the car is on fire or they are in a very dangerous place. Try to keep those at the scene alert and talking until the EMTs arrive to take over.

When you are getting your injuries treated, try not to think about the medical bills that may be coming afterward. The most important thing is to ensure that you get the care you need to be able to recover, and expenses can be dealt with later — possibly through a personal injury claim or lawsuit.

2. Do Not Admit Fault

It’s normal to apologize immediately or take partial blame after a car accident, but admitting fault, even casually, can be an issue later on if you file a car accident claim. Car accidents can be complex situations, and you may not be fully aware of all of the factors that went into the wreck.

For example, you may think you pulled out in front of someone, but they may have been speeding or didn’t have their lights on during poor weather conditions.

This is why car accidents have to be investigated by professionals to really understand who the negligent driver was. The police will ask you to make a statement for the police report immediately after the accident, but be careful to stick to the facts and avoid admitting fault.

3. Alert Your Insurance Company

Once your immediate medical needs have been taken care of, you will need to let your insurance company know that you’ve been involved in an accident so they can get started on your car accident claim. They will likely send an adjuster out to look at your car to determine the amount of damage, and they will start getting in contact with the other party’s insurance company.

The insurance companies make their own internal determination about who is at fault for the accident. In cases where they decide that both parties had some responsibility for the accident, they will assign a percentage of fault, such as saying one party was 70 percent responsible and the other was 30 percent responsible. The important thing to remember is that these numbers have no effect on the legal process and may be completely opposite from what a jury decides.

4. Talk to an Experienced Car Accidents Lawyer

While your first priority is to recover and take care of your health, as soon as you feel up to it, it’s in your best interest to reach out to an experienced car accident lawyer to discuss your case and options. The sooner you have legal representation involved, the better. A car accident lawyer can talk to insurance companies and provide counsel throughout the process to protect your rights and interests.

When Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?

Many people wonder why they need to work with a car accident lawyer and why they can’t pursue the case on their own. Particularly, if the insurance company has determined that the other driver was 100% at fault, it can seem like an open-and-shut case that doesn’t require legal expertise to pursue. However, it’s important to remember that the other party’s insurance company will have a full legal team dedicated to preserving their clients’ interests. It can be difficult and intimidating to go up against an experienced legal team alone.

After a car accident, it’s important to talk to an experienced injury attorney as soon as possible about your rights and options. Having legal representation as you navigate the court system and when filing a personal injury lawsuit can make the process less stressful and ensure you have someone on your side to explain things every step of the way. Our law firm offers clients a free consultation so we can learn more about your case and how we can help. Please call us today at 803-888-2200.

Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC: Award-Winning Columbia, SC Car Accident Law Firm

Our Columbia, SC office is located at 1717 Marion Street in downtown Columbia, South Carolina. We have a dedicated parking lot with handicap spots available, as well as an accessible entry and bathrooms. We offer walk-in meetings where you can sit down with an experienced car accident lawyer for a complimentary case evaluation. For your convenience, you may also choose to have your case evaluation over the phone. You may also call our office, available 24/7, at (803) 888-2200 or email info@ctlawsc.com to learn more. In addition, we have an office located in Mt Pleasant, SC.

Additional Frequently Asked Questions After Columbia, SC Car Accidents:

What If I Was Partially at Fault?

If you were injured in an accident in Columbia or anywhere in the state of South Carolina, you may qualify to receive compensation as long as you were found to be less than 51% at fault. This is known as “modified comparative negligence,” and it’s one of the many reasons why it’s critical for you to hire an experienced car accident lawyer. It is your attorney’s job to prove who was at fault for the accident.

In addition, the percentage you are found to be at fault determines the amount of compensation you may receive. For instance, if you were found to be 40% at fault for the accident, you would be able to receive 60% of what a jury would find your damages to be.

If you were found partially at fault for a Columbia car accident or have further questions, please give our team a call today at (803) 888-2200. We’re here to help.

How Much Will Hiring a Columbia Car Accident Lawyer Cost Me?

Many of our clients come to us with expensive medical bills and damaged vehicles, and they’re out of work due to their injuries. Reasonably, they fear hiring our team will be another expense they must pay for out of pocket. This is not true.

With Cavanaugh & Thickens, you owe us nothing upfront, and talking to our team is entirely free. When you hire our experienced legal team, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means that our team receives a percentage of the total compensation earned on your behalf at the end of your case.

If no compensation is earned for your case, then you don’t owe our team anything.

To schedule your free case evaluation, call our Columbia personal injury law firm today at (803) 888-2200 or email info@ctlawsc.com, and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.

Should I Talk to the Insurance Company?

It’s best to let an attorney handle the insurance company and all communication for you. Why? Insurance companies will use many different tactics to limit your claim. We know exactly how to communicate with them to make sure you get the maximum of what you’re owed. We do not recommend speaking to the insurance company, answering any questions, or signing any paperwork without first discussing this with a lawyer. If you do, you may lose out on the full compensation that you would be able to obtain with an attorney on your side.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim?

Columbia, and the state of South Carolina, has a statute of limitations of three years against private entities. This means that you generally have three years from the date of your accident to file a car accident claim. However, this timeline can be drastically shortened if your accident involves certain entities such as government workers and others. It is in your best interest to contact a personal injury lawyer sooner rather than later to avoid missing any critical deadlines, obtain and preserve important evidence, and fully optimize your claim.

Who Pays My Compensation After a Car Accident?

Following a car accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance company is primarily responsible for paying you for your losses and damages related to the accident.

How Long Will My Car Accident Case Take?

It can take weeks to years to reach a fair resolution for your car accident case. We understand that this is probably not the answer you’re looking for. Unfortunately, without knowing the details of your accident, it is impossible to give you an accurate estimate of how long it will take to reach a resolution for your car accident case. We can tell you that there are a few things that play into the timeframe of your car accident claim:

  • The extent of your injuries and damages
  • The length of your medical treatment
  • How willing the insurance company is to pay you what you deserve
  • Whether or not your case goes to trial
  • How willing you are to wait to get the entirety of what you’re owed
  • The complexity of your case
  • How many parties are involved
  • And more

For a better estimate based on the specifics of your case, simply give our office a call to speak with an experienced injury lawyer.

How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth?

To be honest, it’s nearly impossible to give you an accurate estimate of your case value without first understanding the specifics of your accident and conducting a certain level of research and investigation into your accident. If an attorney is giving you a certain amount right off the bat, you should be hesitant to work with them, as any experienced car accident lawyer understands that there are a lot of things at play when it comes to valuing your case.

Here are some things our team will investigate to give you a fair estimate:

    • The extent of your injuries, economic damages, and non-economic damages
    • Your expenses for all past, present, and future medical and care needs
    • Lost income and reduced earning capacity status
  • Lost quality of life
  • Emotional distress
  • Potential punitive damages
  • The percentage you were found at fault for the accident (if applicable)
  • And more.

Additional Helpful Resources

Every day, we work with people who have been hurt in accidents that they did not cause. We’ve seen firsthand the impact accidents have on those involved and their loved ones. While we play a great role and are proud to help people recover and get the justice they deserve, we are also dedicated to educating drivers across the state. Check out some of our recent works: