Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC, Is Here to Help You Through Your Injury in Columbia, SC and Throughout South Carolina

The statute of limitations is an important part of finding out if you have a case to pursue through the civil courts. You must still be within the statute of limitations to bring a lawsuit against someone. If you are facing criminal charges, the incident must be within the statute of limitations to be prosecuted. The statute of limitation varies depending on the type of incident, but you can find all of them in the South Carolina Code of Laws. An attorney can also quickly let you know what the statute of limitations is for your case and what options you have.

The civil court system is for noncriminal matters. Any party can file suit against another party, and South Carolina civil laws govern the case. In some cases, local ordinances may also come into play. In criminal court, there is a defendant and a prosecutor who takes the place of the plaintiff in a civil matter. Both courts follow similar procedures when it comes to witnesses and evidence.

An attorney who practices personal injury law generally represents victims who have been injured through the fault of another party. Common types of personal injury cases include auto accidents, slip and fall cases, premises liability, and dog bites. Personal injury attorneys may also work on cases involving medical malpractice, drug injuries, workers’ compensation, defective products, and wrongful death. When you’re talking to an attorney about your case, ask them how many of those types of cases they have worked on before and how they handle typical cases to find out if the firm is a good fit.

Absolutely! Not only can you meet with an attorney before you hire them, but you absolutely should – and some firms require it. Before you hire an attorney, you want to make sure that they are a good fit for your case and that you can have a good working relationship with them. It’s important to meet with the lawyer to discuss the details of your case, get their perspective on how they can help and what they think the right course forward is, and ensure that it’s a good personality fit as well.

When it comes to hiring an attorney to represent them, the cost is one of the most common topics people have questions about. How much an attorney charges and what their terms are varies by firm. Still, in general, attorneys usually either work on retainer or take a percentage cut of your settlement if you win your case. The second option is common in personal injury cases. In this situation, you wouldn’t have to pay anything to the attorney upfront – and you usually don’t have to pay if you lose. If you win, the attorney takes a percentage of the settlement as their payment before the rest of the money passes on to you.

Having an attorney on your side is an important part of navigating the legal system, but you also want someone experienced in your type of case. To find a good attorney, you’ll need to do a bit of research. You can start by looking at law firms that practice in the area your case is in – such as personal injury or criminal defense – and reading reviews. You can also ask others you know who have used an attorney recently and were happy with their services. Even if that attorney doesn’t work in the specific practice area, they may be able to refer you to a colleague who does. When you meet with the attorney, ask questions about the kinds of cases they work on and their success rate to determine if you want to move forward.