For families who have lost loved ones in a car crash, there is no financial recovery possible to ease the pain you feel. The Shelly Leeke Law Firm wants to provide you with any level of justice possible to help your family through this difficult time. Our Myrtle Beach fatal car accident lawyer has years of experience helping families with their wrongful death claims.
Our firm has recovered more than $6 million for our clients. Schedule a free and confidential consultation with our Myrtle Beach car accident lawyer today. Our compassionate team is here for you.
How Our Car Accident Law Firm Can Help You
Victims in a fatal car accident deserve comprehensive and exemplary legal representation even after their loss of life. Victims of car accidents like this benefit from the guidance of an experienced lawyer who knows how to fight for them. Our fatal car accident lawyer in Myrtle Beach at Shelly Leeke Law Firm provides very specific guidance and support for victims and families, including:
- Knowledge of the local court systems and strategies used by insurance companies to reduce compensation for losses.
- Experience holding large insurance companies accountable, including those representing trucking companies, government offices, or other high-profile incidents
- A reputation of providing our clients with the resources they need to build a strong case after an accident
- Proven experience recovering damages for our clients, having recovered millions of dollars in losses over the years
- Compassionate support for families going through one of the most challenging times of their lives.
There is no simple way forward in creating a strong case after a fatal car accident because there is so much on the line. Having an attorney with more than a decade of experience fighting for victims can make an incredible difference in your situation.
We strongly encourage you to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyer to find out if you have a case and what steps may be necessary to move it forward.
Types of Damages Possible to Recover in a Wrongful Death Case in South Carolina
The objective of any wrongful death case is to hold those who hurt your family accountable, but you must demonstrate what that loss is in financial terms using evidence to substantiate any claims you have.
The damages may include losses suffered by the person who died that they would have recovered if they survived. It may also account for additional losses dependents may suffer, with examples including the following from our fatal car accident attorney in Myrtle Beach:
- End-of-life medical care for the individual from the time of the car accident through the loss of life
- Funeral and burial-related expenses
- Pain and suffering prior to death
- Loss of wages prior to death
- Lost financial support and benefits to families
- Loss of the deceased person’s knowledge, judgment, and experience
- Pain and suffering from family members
- Loss of a person’s care, companionship, and protection
- Emotional trauma and turmoil related to the accident and loss
There are some situations in which the court may rule that the losses were due to reckless or intentional behavior, warranting the issuing of punitive damages as well. These damages are a type of punishment to the at-fault party but are paid to the estate. It is critical that you seek legal action from a Myrtle Beach wrongful death lawyer that demonstrates the losses in all situations.
Fatal Car Accidents Are Far Too Common in South Carolina
Take a look at the South Carolina Department of Public Safety website to quickly see just how devastating car accidents in the state can be. Consider an average weekend spanning January 31 to February 2, 2025. During those short three days, a total of 8 people died on roadways across the state, four of them occurring in Horry County, according to the report SCDPS Reports Eight Killed On South Carolina Roadways January 31 To February 2, 2025.
When you consider your loss, it does not matter how many other people lost their lives. Your future will never be the same. If you are a close family member of someone who lost their life to the actions of another person on the roads in our state, it is time to seek justice. Our attorneys can help you in several ways:
- We prove who is at fault, including all parties that could be held responsible for what happened to your loved one.
- We calculate your family member’s losses as well as how this accident will impact you for years to come.
- Our legal team pursues legal action against the party who did this, including filing a wrongful death claim in a court of law.
Determine if You Can File a Wrongful Death Claim in South Carolina
Victims of car accidents who lost their lives need an advocate who can speak and fight for them and the recovery of their losses. Under S.C. Code § 15-51-10, the executor or administrator of a deceased person’s estate has the right to file a wrongful death claim if there is an estate plan in place that names this person.
In situations where there is no named person to hold this position, the court will appoint someone to hold it. In addition, if the named executor of the will does not want or cannot serve in such a capacity, the court will assign another party to do so. Not just anyone can file a claim against the at-fault party.
The executor of the estate can decide whether or not to pursue wrongful death charges in a fatal car accident. If they choose to do so, the recovery of damages goes to the estate, which ultimately pays the deceased credit obligations and then is dispersed to the named heirs. If there are no named heirs, the spouse and children of the deceased party recover the damages, or if they do not exist, the parents of the deceased.
Let Our Myrtle Beach Fatal Car Accident Attorney Guide You
Pursue legal action against those who caused injury and loss to your family by contacting the Shelly Leeke Law Firm. Allow our experienced and dedicated attorneys to provide you with transparent insight into what you can expect from your case.
When you hire our Myrtle Beach fatal car accident lawyer, you gain an advocate who will fight tirelessly for you without charging you anything until we win your case.
