South Carolina Injury Lawyers - Shelly Leeke Law Firm, LLC
Whether your injury was caused by a motor vehicle accident or a dog bite attack, accident victims often have one thing in common: they are not sure what to do next. The time period immediately following an accident or diagnosis often leaves victims feeling frightened, confused and overwhelmed. Fortunately, you do not have to navigate this difficult time period alone. The experienced attorneys at Shelly Leeke Law Firm are here to answer your questions and protect your legal rights in the compassionate and dedicated manner that you deserve. Call us today and learn how we can help you.
For more than a decade, the attorneys at the Shelly Leeke Law Firm have provided injury victims with the support and guidance that is so crucial to their financial and emotional well-being.
Contact us today for your free consultation: 1-888-690-0211
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Our Practice Areas
When you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, you may not know how best to protect yourself.
Children & Minors face a heightened risk of becoming injured in accidents.
A wrongful death claim in South Carolina allows the family to receive financial compensation for their loss.
Consult with a workers’ compensation attorney to maximize the compensation that you deserve.
Victims who have been exposed to asbestos may be entitled to compensation for their medical bills and lost wages.
Fortunately for victims and their families, dog owners can be liable if their dog attacks or bites someone.
If a loved one is abused or neglected in a nursing home setting, the results can be traumatic for everyone involved.
Claimants who use a lawyer are more likely to win their claims than those who do not.
Why Choose Shelly
Finding the right law firm to represent you after an accident or injury requires not just a track record for success, but also a personal rapport so that you feel comfortable throughout this process. Our knowledgeable and dedicated team members provide detailed biographies to help you learn more about their backgrounds. We also hope that you will learn more about our overall approach to practicing law.
ABOUT SHELLY LEEKE
What Our Clients Are Saying
Don’t just take our word for it—hear what actual Shelly Leeke Law Firm clients have to say about our services.
I am very satisfied with Shelly Leeke Law Firm. The staff is very professional and nice.
Thank you for your help in this matter.
I am completely satisfied with my settlement. I didn’t think you would be able to get anything more out of the liability carrier. While no insurance company has stellar reputations, theirs is particularly bad – probably the worst I’ve seen reviewing the Internet. That says a lot about your negotiating skills.
Thank you for your efforts on my behalf.
Successful Case Results
$1,011,747 Recovered for Auto Accident Victim
$750,000 Recovered for Rear End Accident Victim
$500,000 Recovered in Wrongful Death Auto Accident
$305,000 Recovered for Dog Bite Victim
$250,000 Recovered in Workers' Comp Case
Frequently Asked Questions
After an accident occurs or an injury is suffered, you may feel lost and confused. Few people who have suffered an accident or incurred an injury have an extensive background in this area. Without this knowledge, they are left wondering how best to proceed in order to protect their legal rights. Fortunately, we are here to provide you with the answers that you are looking for. Check out our many frequently asked questions and their accompanying answers for more information.
How Much Does It Cost to Sue Someone?
This process of suing someone in the state of South Carolina can be quite confusing and overwhelming and it often leaves victims left wondering how much does it actually cost to sue someone? The answer varies depending on what state you live in and what your case entails, but down below are some answers to your most frequently asked questions so that you can gain a better understanding of how much it is going to cost you to sue someone and whether or not it is actually worth it.
What Are Contingency Fee Agreements?
With contingency fee agreements, the client(s) agree that the attorney’s fee will be a certain percentage of any recoverable compensation from the court case, rather than paying the attorney a traditional hourly rate or flat fee basis (what we call a retainer). This specific percentage that the lawyer will receive will be different depending on the details and outcome of the case. These contingency fee agreements are of great value to those who wouldn’t normally be able to afford to hire an attorney upfront yet still want to have the same opportunity for their legal constitutional rights to be protected and defended by a lawyer.What Is an Example of a Contingency Fee Agreement?
If you were looking to hire an attorney to help you file for divorce, then you would need to go down the traditional path of having to pay a retainer upfront and then pay your lawyer throughout the legal process for covering their fees and other related costs (so, not a contingency fee pay structure). This can become quite expensive for the average person. On the other hand, if you were looking to hire an attorney to sue someone who violated your rights and freedoms, then you could pay the lawyer through the contingency fee agreement, meaning that they will receive a certain percentage of the recovery in your case. This makes it more affordable for people to hire legal services and to have their rights properly upheld in a court of law.How Much Does a Consultation Cost?
When you are bordering on the prospect of suing an individual or organization, you may want to know more about the legal process altogether, the chances you have at winning, and whether or not it is a good and smart idea to go down this path. Almost all law firms and legal organizations offer consultations with prospective clients in order to learn more about their cases but also provide victims answers to these aforementioned questions. Fortunately, these consultations and case evaluations are completely free, so there would be no need to worry about the affordability of just sitting down and speaking with a lawyer about your case.What Occurs During a Consultation?
When you sit down with a lawyer from Shelly Leeke and discuss your case, some of the things will you chat about will include:- Your legal rights based on the details of your case
- Your legal pathways to obtain financial compensation
- Potential issues with your case
- The timeline of your case
- Whether or not the statute of limitations in South Carolina applies to your case
- Our firm’s fee structure/payment plan and the percentage of your recovery that we take
- Out-of-pocket costs in case we don’t win the legal battle
What Are the Filing Fees?
A filing fee is something that you would have to pay in order to officially file a legal claim and begin your case. According to the South Carolina Justice Department, the cost of a filing fee for a new case is $150.00. And any additional written motions have a filing fee of $25.00 If you are unable to afford the filing fee of $150.00, that is okay. There is still an option to file a claim and fight for your legal rights even tho you don’t have the money. You can file a motion called the “Motion and Affidavit to Proceed in Forma Pauperis.” This is essentially just asking the judge to waive the filing fees, which they may or may not choose to do. By filing this motion under Rule 3(b) of the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, you are swearing under oath that there is no way possible for you to be able to afford the payment of the initial filing fee.What if Someone Is Suing You?
If you or someone you know has had a small claims court complaint filed against you in the state of South Carolina, then you have a total of only 30 days to answer the complaint. If the complaint has a value of $25 or less, then you only have 5 days to answer it, under South Carolina state law. Answering the complaint can come in the form of either a written statement or showing up to the courthouse and answering it orally in person. If you do not answer the complaint on time, then the small claims court will enter default judgment which means that you lose the case and are required to pay up. If you are being sued in a small claims court, then you should not only answer the complaint, so you can avoid losing by default, but you should hire a lawyer to help build your case and fight for your legal rights. The best way for you and your legal team to present your case would be to prepare all documents and exhibits, subpoena witnesses, not interrupt the judge or witnesses, and watch out for hearsay from the prosecution team. Who is entitled to bring a wrongful death claim in South Carolina?
A wrongful death case may be brought by the spouse or child(ren) of the deceased victim or if there is no surviving spouse or child, then the parents or next of kin of the accident victim.
Who will pay for my medical bills if I am a pedestrian who was struck by an automobile?
The at fault driver’s insurance company is responsible for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages caused by the negligence of that driver in causing the collision with a pedestrian. If you carry your own insurance policy, your policy may also pay for your medical bills and even pain and suffering in excess of the amount of coverage available from the at fault driver’s policy, depending on the coverage you carry through your own policy. Contact us for Free Case Evaluation today.
Who is responsible for my slip and fall accident?
Depending on the details of your accident, more than one person could be held responsible for your injuries. The owner, tenant, management, or a combination of parties may be held liable for the slip and fall. An attorney can help you to determine who will be held responsible and take the necessary actions to build your case against them.
Who is in charge of regulating large commercial trucks and truck companies?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is in charge of regulating large commercial trucks and truck companies. Its mission is to ensure that commercial motor vehicles follow safety regulations to make the roads safer in South Carolina and around the country. The role of the FMCSA is to:
- enforce safety regulations;
- target high-risk drivers and carriers;
- improve information systems and technologies;
- strengthen operating standards; and
- increase safety awareness.
- Data and Analysis - collect and disseminate data concerning carrier safety and resources to improve safety;
- Research and Technology - coordinate research and technological developments to improve safety;
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses - develop standards for testing and licensing of truck drivers;
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement - operate safety program to improve performance and eliminate high risk carriers from the nation's roads; and
- Safety Assistance -financially helps states with roadside inspection and other types of safety programs.
Who is responsible if my child is involved in a school bus accident?
If the school bus caused the accident, the liability insurance covering the school bus will be responsible for the medical bills, pain and suffering, and any other damages incurred by the school bus children or others injured by the school bus driver's negligence. If another vehicle caused the accident with the school bus, the other driver or the other driver's liability insurance will be responsible for paying damages caused by the driver's negligence in causing the school bus wreck.
Who is considered an employee?
Under the Worker's Compensation Act, an employee is any person who is under employment, contract for hire, or an apprenticeship, whether express or implied. This also includes foreign workers and minors who are lawfully or unlawfully employed as well as both full-time and part-time employees. Subcontractors may also be covered under workers' compensation. If a subcontractor does not carry workers' compensation insurance, the owner or developer above them in the chain of employment may be held liable for workers' compensation to the injured employee, as if they were the direct employer.
Who is at risk for developing an asbestos-related disease?
Asbestos exposure related disease affect all walks of life. Family members of workers once exposed to asbestos are also at risk of developing an asbestos related disease. Workers with a high rate of asbestos exposure include insulators, boiler makers, railroad workers, pipefitters, industrial maintentance mechanics, painters, construction workers, welders, laborers and electricians. The higher the level of asbestos exposure and the longer the duration of exposure, increases the risk of a worker developing a related disease.
