Reckless drivers are a menace to everyone on the roads. Their actions can threaten pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers alike. When a motorist fails to exercise due care and caution, you can pay the price in the form of injuries and property damage. A Beaufort car accident lawyer can help you identify the culprit and make them pay for your damages.
You should not face bills caused by someone else’s recklessness. Contact the Shelley Leeke Law Firm for assistance if you or a loved one have been hurt by someone driving recklessly. Our Beaufort personal injury lawyers will assess your case with a free initial consultation and get to work holding the driver accountable for their careless actions.
Protecting Your Claim After a Reckless Driving Accident
South Carolina law dictates how reckless drivers must be punished with criminal charges. However, a criminal conviction will do nothing to help you pay your bills if you are injured in an accident they cause. To recover financially, you need the help of a reckless driving accident attorney in Beaufort.
You can begin protecting your claim immediately after your crash by taking steps such as:
- Take photos and video at the scene of your injuries, your property damage, the road, the weather, and the reckless driver’s vehicle, if possible.
- Ask witnesses for their contact information.
- If the driver is present, exchange contact and insurance details.
- Call 911 for police and medical assistance.
- Get treated for your injuries.
- Ask for a copy of the police report.
- Contact a qualified Beaufort reckless driving accident lawyer.
Even if the driver cannot be found immediately, the Shelley Leeke Law Firm team has experience gathering witness statements and video footage from traffic cameras. This information can enhance our investigation and help us build your case.
If the driver is found and charged by police, we will coordinate with the prosecuting attorney to obtain relevant evidence for your insurance claim or civil suit.
Seeking Compensation in a Reckless Driving Accident
The first step for finding a way to reimburse your damages is to file an insurance claim against the reckless driver’s insurance policy. South Carolina requires all drivers to carry coverage that pays for injuries and property damage they cause in an accident. If the driver’s policy does not provide enough coverage for your expenses, we can help you file a personal injury lawsuit.
Both insurance companies and defense lawyers will try to reduce or minimize the liability of their clients. They will try to say that you caused or contributed to the wreck. You need a reckless driving accident lawyer in Beaufort who will aggressively push back and defend your claim.
Our attorneys are highly skilled in negotiating settlements, increasing the chance that you will not need to face the stress and expense of a trial. Our lawyers work to demonstrate negligence on the part of the reckless driver, showing how their dangerous actions led directly to your injuries and vehicle damage. We help you put together a solid case to secure the compensation you deserve.
Potential Damages from a Beaufort Reckless Driving Accident
Each automobile collision case is unique; still, there are many common damages you can request as part of your settlement after a reckless driving accident. You can ask for economic damages, which include anything with a fixed price. You can also request non-economic damages, which address the way the accident has affected your life.
Your case may be worth tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the severity of your injuries and the impact they have on your emotions and life. A skilled attorney will take the time to listen to your story and collect the evidence necessary to support your claim for losses. Some common damages in reckless driving accident claims include:
- All doctor and hospital bills
- Lost income and benefits while you cannot work
- Repair or replacement for your personal property
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Physical and mental therapy costs
- Disability
- Loss of consortium with your spouse or partner
In rare cases where the victim passes away as a result of the accident, our attorneys can assist the survivors in filing a wrongful death lawsuit. This will allow them to recover all the medical and other expenses suffered by the deceased as well as the cost of funeral and burial. The family can even seek compensation for their own suffering and grief in addition to the loss of income to support them.
Insurance Representative Will Try to Reduce Your Claim
When an insurance company is forced to pay a claim for one of its clients, they lose money. Since they are in business to make as much as possible, they naturally do not like meeting the demands of an injured victim. They will delay, deny, and minimize your claim in an attempt to wait you out.
Insurance adjusters know that you need money fast to pay medical bills that are piling up. They will make an insultingly low initial offer, trying to get you to accept it and close the claim. They know that if you take the settlement but have more expenses later, they are off the hook, and you are left paying.
To avoid this, you need a legal advocate who can push back against their sneaky tricks and force them to pay you what you deserve. At the Shelley Leeke Law Firm, we help you get a full medical assessment and prognosis for your treatment needs. We will not let insurance companies get away with taking advantage of you in your time of need.
Trust in a Reckless Driving Accident Attorney in Beaufort from Shelley Leeke
Our team is dedicated to providing top-tier legal representation for our clients in South Carolina. When you hire a Beaufort reckless driving accident attorney from our firm, you can trust our commitment to seeing your case through to the best outcome possible. We know you need to focus on recovering, so we handle all the legal complexities for you.
To learn more about your options for seeking justice from a reckless driver, speak with our team today. Use our convenient online form to schedule your free consultation today.
