- June 22, 2022
One of the first things our clients ask us is how much their case is worth in damages. When they first come into the office, they aren’t as concerned with anything else. This is only natural. If you were hurt in a car accident, you’d want to know if you’ll be compensated. So do our personal injury clients. And, as much as our Greenville injury attorney would love to give you an exact figure, it wouldn’t be fair for them to do this.
Every car accident case is unique. While they may be similar to other cases we’ve handled before, the circumstances in your case are all your own. Until a car accident lawyer in Greenville, South Carolina has a chance to review your case and hear what the defendant’s lawyer has to say, they have no real idea of what your case is worth. If an attorney promises to get you a certain amount, they are doing you a disservice.
Here, we’ll discuss what kinds of damages you can expect to receive in your case. We’ll also explain how your Greenville injury attorney will prove your damages. If you still have questions after reading this article, you can always give us a call. Let someone in our office answer your questions and review your case. After all, you can enjoy a free, initial consultation.
You Won’t Receive Any Damages if You Can’t Prove Fault
Before we discuss the various kinds of damages you can receive, it’s important to discuss fault. You won’t receive anything if your car accident lawyer in Greenville, South Carolina can’t prove the other driver was at fault. In order to do this, they need to prove negligence.
What is negligence? It’s just another way of saying that the other driver didn’t behave the way a reasonable person would have in similar circumstances. In order to prove it, your car accident lawyer in Greenville, South Carolina will have to demonstrate the following:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care.
- They breached this duty somehow.
- You were injured.
- Your injuries were caused by the defendant’s breach.
It sounds like this would be easy to do. After all, you’re probably confident that the other driver was at fault. The problem is that you need to be able to prove this. It’s not difficult to prove that the defendant owed you a duty of care. All drivers owe a certain duty of care to other motorists.
It’s harder to prove that they breached this duty. There’s not always concrete proof of this. For example, if you were hit from behind, you’ll have to prove that the rear driver was responsible. They could easily argue that it was your fault. If your brake lights were out, you could be found partially at fault.
As far as proving that you were injured, your Greenville injury attorney will submit a copy of your medical records. These should have documentation by a doctor showing how serious your injuries were. As long as you go to the hospital immediately after your crash, it may not be difficult to prove causation. The defendant may try to say that something other than the crash caused your injuries. As long as there isn’t a large gap of time between the accident and your hospital visit, they’ll have a hard time proving this.
Your Greenville Injury Attorney Will Demand Certain Damages in Your Case
When you first meet with your Greenville injury attorney, they’re going to ask you a ton of questions. They need to know what kind of physical injuries you suffered in the crash.
They’ll also want to know if you suffered any sort of property damage. For example, your car is probably going to be damaged or destroyed in the crash. It’s a matter of how much it’ll cost to repair or replace it that matters.
Finally, they’ll look to see if they can prove pain and suffering. If your injuries were serious, they won’t have a hard time proving this.
When your attorney files your car accident lawsuit, they’ll make a demand for some or all of the following:
- Medical bills – You’ll be entitled to have all your medical bills covered by the defendant or their insurance company. You can also demand compensation for any future medical care you’ll need. Your doctor can testify to what sort of treatment you’re going to need. This includes surgery, physical therapy, and even prescription co-pays.
- Lost wages – If you miss more than a week or two from work, you can demand lost wages. Your Greenville injury attorney must submit proof from your employer showing how much time you missed.
- Lost future income – If you’re unable to return to the kind of work you did prior to the crash, you can demand compensation. This will be equal to the difference between what you would’ve earned and what you’ll actually earn.
- Property damage – You’ll obviously be entitled to reimbursement for any repairs you had to make to your vehicle. The same is true if your car is totaled. Your attorney can demand the fair market value to replace your vehicle.
- Pain and suffering – This is where you’ll receive the lion’s share of your damages. Most car accident lawyers in Greenville, South Carolina estimate that your pain and suffering damages will be approximately three times your medical bills. So, if your medical bills were $100,000, you would demand $300,000 in pain and suffering.
Not all of our clients receive every type of compensation listed above. Since each case is different, you have to expect that your case will be different as well. Just know that your lawyer will do whatever they can to get you as much money as possible.
Reach Out to a Seasoned Car Accident Lawyer in Greenville, South Carolina
If you’ve been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, you need someone by your side to handle the legal side of things. The best thing to do is call one of our car accident lawyers in Greenville, South Carolina immediately after your car wreck. This gives them plenty of time to review your case and gather the evidence needed to prove your claim.
You can call our office at any time and schedule your free, initial consultation. Sit down with a Greenville injury attorney who can answer all your questions and concerns. The consultation is free so you don’t have to worry about paying anything until your case settles.
