Fatal accidents are often preventable and yet continue to occur every day on the roads of Columbia, South Carolina. This carelessness can lead to horrific consequences when it costs another driver their life. If you are a family member of a loved one who was killed in such an accident, you have the right to hire a Columbia fatal car accident lawyer and seek compensation and justice for your loved one.
At Shelly Leeke Law Firm, we are dedicated to providing you with compassionate and loyal service as you navigate the uncertainties that come with losing a loved one in a fatal car accident. With extensive experience, a Columbia car accident lawyer can support you when you need to hire legal representation. This is not a burden you should shoulder alone.
A Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You Pursue a Legal Claim
Bracing yourself for a legal battle while grieving your loved one may sound intimidating and exhausting. A fatal car accident attorney in Columbia understands this may be the last thing that you want to do, but pursuing a claim can be the best course of action in the long run. Not only are you able to receive compensation for your losses more quickly with a Columbia personal injury lawyer’s help, but a lawsuit also holds the driver responsible for your loved one’s death accountable for their actions.
When you hire a lawyer, you get dedicated and skilled legal counsel and an advocate for your needs. You can talk with your lawyer about your situation, and they will be able to help you develop a strategy to get you through this difficult time and combat obstacles that arise during the legal process. They will also conduct a thorough investigation of the events and all relevant evidence to support your claim and build a solid case.
Additionally, a lawyer can also help ensure your claim is filed with the state’s statute of limitations as set forth in South Carolina Code §15-3-530(6). A wrongful death claim must be filed within three years of the fatal accident that caused the individual’s death. Failing to file before this time expires may result in having to forfeit your rights to a claim and compensation.
Car Accident Fatalities Are the Result of Negligence
More often than not, car accident fatalities are the result of someone else’s negligent actions. The deceased’s death could have been avoided if the negligent party had taken precautions and driven more carefully. Instead, their actions led to a tragic loss of life for another individual.
If your loved one was the victim of a fatal car accident, an SC accident lawyer explains vehicular manslaughter & assault to help you better understand how it might affect your legal claim. When a driver kills another motorist due to gross negligence, speeding, or drunk or reckless driving, they are responsible for vehicular manslaughter, and you may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. On the other hand, vehicular assault is similar, except the victim sustains injuries and lives, and you would then have the right to file a personal injury claim instead.
With the help of a fatal car accident lawyer in Columbia, they can establish the standard of negligence and fault in your case — as outlined in Title 15 Chapter 38 — to help you get the compensation you need to cover your losses and be able to face the future. Additionally, they will review your case, discuss your options, and help you file a wrongful death lawsuit if your situation aligns with state requirements after a look at the South Carolina Wrongful Death Act. As such, if you are an eligible family member and your loved one’s death was the result of negligence, then you may be entitled to claim compensation for the death of your loved one.
How to Pay for a Lawyer When You Need to File a Claim
At Shelly Leeke Law Firm, we use a contingency fee model of billing for our personal injury clients. With this structure, our clients do not have to pay us attorney fees unless we win their case, and if we do not win, they do not pay us anything at all. It is important to us that our clients have access to legal services even during the toughest of times.
Damages Can Provide Financial Relief After a Fatal Car Accident
The loss of your loved one has likely created some financial stress for you and your family. To alleviate that pressure, you may be wondering what kinds of damages you can demand in a wrongful death case to recover some of your losses. You may be entitled to more than one type of compensation, which could include one or more of the following:
- Economic damages are designed to compensate you for losses that have a monetary value to them, such as medical, funeral, and burial expenses, as well as lost income or benefits related to the decedent’s death.
- Non-economic damages compensate you for intangible losses that are more emotional in nature, such as pain, suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship and guidance.
- Punitive damages are less commonly applied but, when used, can both punish the negligent party and provide you with additional compensation to cover the magnitude of your losses.
Your lawyer will provide guidance on the compensatory options you may have available to you based on your situation. You should also work with your lawyer to calculate the value of your losses to determine how much you may need to cover your expenses. Your lawyer will then avidly negotiate for you to ensure you receive a fair settlement.
A Columbia Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You Recover
Shelly Leeke Law Firm knows that the road to recovery after a loved one’s fatal car accident can be tumultuous. Our team is committed to providing the swiftest resolution possible, so you have the resources you need. A Columbia fatal car accident attorney is ready to meet with you when you schedule a free consultation with our team today.
