The aftermath of a car accident is overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time in an accident. Following a crash, you may be wondering whether or not you should hire a car accident attorney.

At Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC we put people first, not powerful insurance companies. We fight to get clients the best outcome possible for their case and future, while holding at-fault parties accountable. 

Understanding some common signs that you should at least call a car accident attorney after an accident is critical. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help.

10 Signs That You Should Call a Car Accident Attorney

1 Your Settlement Offer Seems Low

After a car accident, the insurance company may send you a settlement offer. When this happens, be careful.

The good news is that this usually means that you have a case and deserve compensation.

However, we’ve seen time and time again that the first offer is usually much less than the true value of your case. 

Insurance companies do this on purpose. Once you accept an insurance company’s offer, you cannot go back and ask for more, even if your symptoms worsen or if new symptoms appear over time. 

Before accepting an insurance company’s offer, it’s in your best interest to speak with an experienced car accident attorney. 

We’re happy to walk through the offer with you during a free case evaluation. To speak with an award-winning car accident attorney at Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC, call our office at 803-888-2200. We are available via phone 24/7.

2. You Have Medical Bills

If you have medical bills from an unexpected car crash, you should speak with a lawyer. This is true whether you have private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or do not have health insurance. An experienced attorney will seek compensation for all medical bills resulting from the accident, including past, current, and future bills.

3. You Were Hurt in the Accident

If you were hurt in an accident that you did not cause, it’s in your best interest to at least speak with a car wreck lawyer, especially if you’ve received a settlement offer. An experienced attorney will:

  • Aggressively negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
  • Fairly value your claim based on the specifics of your case and injuries.
  • Negotiate your medical bills.
  • Fight to get you the best outcome possible.
  • Protect you and your goals for the case.

4. The Insurance Company is Acting Improperly

After an accident, many people expect that the insurance company will fairly compensate them for resulting damages from a wreck. Sadly, this is not always the case. It’s not fair or right, but we see it happen all the time.

Insurance companies may try to:

  • Lowball you or otherwise limit your claim
  • Delay your claim by ignoring your outreach or losing documents
  • Pressure you into giving a recorded statement, accepting an offer, or admitting partial fault
  • Deny your claim altogether

Oftentimes in South Carolina an insurance company may ask you misleading questions or use other tactics to get you to admit partial fault, even in clear liability accidents. This is done in an effort to reduce your payout.

Having an attorney on your side protects you, your rights, and your goals for the case.

Remember, South Carolina has statutes of limitations that limit how long you can seek compensation after a car accident.

5. You’ve Missed Work Due to the Accident

If you’ve missed time from work due to a car accident, a lawyer can help make sure you are compensated for lost wages. If the accident and resulting injuries prevent you from returning to work in the same capacity, your attorney can seek compensation for this, known as reduced earning capacity.

6. There is Confusion Over Who Was At-Fault for the Accident

You should discuss your potential case with a lawyer if:

  • There is confusion over who was at fault;
  • It’s clear who was at fault but the insurance company is trying to place blame on you anyways; or
  • Multiple parties were involved

South Carolina runs on “modified comparative negligence” meaning that every driver involved in a collision is assigned a percentage that they are found to be at fault for the accident.

In order to qualify for any compensation, you must be found no more than 50% at fault for the accident. Notably, the percentage you are found at-fault directly determines how much compensation you can recover through a personal injury claim. 

A lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation into your accident to prove who was truly at fault, pursuant to state law.

7. There Are Question About Insurance Coverage or Status

An experienced attorney can help determine all forms of insurance coverage available to you to help compensate you for your physical, financial, and emotional damages. 

8. The Police Report Is Wrong

Sometimes, the police get things wrong. If your police report is unclear or inaccurate, you may still have options. This is not uncommon, and a lawyer can help gather evidence and request a change to the report in certain instances.

9. Multiple Parties Were Involved

When multiple parties are involved in a single accident, such as in a pileup accident, it can be very challenging to handle the claim on your own. A lawyer will work to identify and prove who was truly at-fault for the accident.

Oftentimes in these accidents, the insurance companies involved will try blaming every other driver except their client in an attempt to protect their bottom line. Having a lawyer on your side to help manage the communication with the parties involved and handle the investigation can help protect your rights.

10. You Were Driving For Work at the Time of the Crash

If you were driving for work at the time of the accident and were not at-fault for the accident, you may be able to seek compensation through both a personal injury claim and a South Carolina workers’ compensation claim.

On the other hand, if you were in a work-related car accident, you may be able to seek workers’ compensation benefits even if you were at-fault or partially at fault for the wreck.

Our team is here to help you understand your options under South Carolina law after a work-related car accident.

Speak to a South Carolina Car Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these signs, our team is here to protect your rights. Our South Carolina personal injury lawyers will fight to get you the best outcome possible for your case and future while holding the at-fault parties accountable. For a free case evaluation, reach out to our team today at (803) 888-2200, start a website chat, or complete our online case evaluation request form.

With offices in Columbia, Charleston, and Greenville, our attorneys travel to and represent clients throughout the state of South Carolina. If you are looking for an out-of-state referral, reach out to our team today. We’re happy to help.

Client Focused. Results Driven.

Disclaimer: This article is presented for informational purposes only and is not legal advice.

Author – William H. Yarborough, Jr

My name is Will Yarborough, and I am a partner and personal injury attorney at Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC. My practice primarily focuses on car and truck accident cases, and I represent injured people across the state of South Carolina.

I’m committed to ensuring that every single client gets the compensation and justice they deserve following serious and unexpected accidents.

You don’t have to go through the aftermath of an accident on your own. If you have any questions about the information in this article or are interested in becoming a client at Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC, give me a call today. I’d be honored to help.