In South Carolina, it is against the law to live in the state and drive a car without insurance coverage. Regardless, uninsured motorists choose to ignore the state’s insurance requirements. If a driver who does not have insurance causes a crash that leaves you injured, get help from a Columbia uninsured motorist accident lawyer right away.
Shelly Leeke Law Firm offers legal representation and advocacy to those involved in auto accidents. With more than a decade of legal experience, we can help you collect damages from anyone responsible for your car crash. Consult with a Columbia car accident lawyer from our firm.
How to Get Damages as Part of a Lawsuit
You may have up to three years to sue an uninsured motorist for damages. In addition, the statute of limitations for a wrongful death in South Carolina is three years. Once the window in which you are allowed to file an injury or wrongful death lawsuit closes, you may be solely responsible for your accident-related losses.
With your Columbia personal injury lawyer’s help, you can request damages for your economic and non-economic losses. You may pursue economic damages for your medical costs, lost wages, and other losses that you can quantify. A judge or jury may award non-economic damages for your pain and suffering and other subjective losses.
To recover damages, you may need an abundance of evidence. Your Columbia uninsured motorist accident lawyer can help you gather accident scene videos and photos, witness statements, and other proof. If your evidence is compelling, it may be clear to a judge or jury why you should receive full damages.
Types of Legal Representation Available in Columbia Uninsured Motorist Accident Lawsuits
To achieve your desired case results, it helps to hire a Columbia uninsured motorist accident attorney who puts your best interests front and center. Our attorneys are available to assist uninsured motorist crash victims. These include:
- Columbia Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer: A motorist takes their eyes off the road, leading to an accident. Hire a distracted driving accident attorney who can help you hold this liable driver accountable for their actions.
- Columbia Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer: If a motorist chooses to drive while drunk and crashes their car into yours, they can be held responsible for your accident-related losses. Work with a drunk driving crash attorney who can take legal action against this motorist on your behalf.
- Columbia Head-On Collisions Lawyer: A head-on collision can result in serious injuries. If you have a head-on collisions attorney at your side, you can pursue damages for your medical bills and other accident-related losses.
- Columbia Left-Turn Accident Lawyer: If a driver makes an illegal left-turn and slams their vehicle into yours, you could recover damages from them. To do so, have a left-turn accident attorney file a lawsuit and put you in a great position to secure maximum compensation.
- Columbia Parking Lot Accident Lawyer: If a driver is traveling too fast in a parking lot, they may not have enough time to stop and prevent an accident. Following a parking lot crash that causes injuries, meet with an attorney to evaluate your legal options.
- Columbia Rear-End Collisions Lawyer: After a rear-end crash, consider who is to blame for the incident. A rear-end collisions attorney may help you recover damages from an uninsured motorist involved in your crash or any other at-fault parties.
- Columbia Reckless Driving Accident Lawyer: If a driver is reckless and is responsible for your accident, they could be ordered to pay you damages. A reckless driving accident attorney can help you request damages.
- Columbia Fatal Car Accident Lawyer: It can be emotionally devastating if a family member dies in an auto accident in which the other driver was operating their vehicle without insurance. A fatal car accident attorney could help you submit a wrongful death claim.
There are automobile insurance requirements for South Carolina drivers. If a motorist is operating a car without insurance and is responsible for your auto crash, seek legal help from the Shelly Leeke Law Firm.
What it Means to Be Uninsured or Underinsured
If a driver does not have any insurance coverage, they are considered uninsured. Alternatively, if a motorist does not have insurance that meets state mandates, they are underinsured. An uninsured motorist accident attorney in Columbia can explain the differences between being an uninsured or underinsured driver in detail.
A driver can be underinsured relative to your car accident. For example, you could incur significant losses in an accident in which the other driver was negligent. If the driver’s insurance cannot cover all of your losses, they may be underinsured.
When you partner with an attorney, you may be well-equipped to recover fair compensation for your crash-related losses. Your Columbia uninsured motorist accident lawyer can submit your lawsuit promptly. They can also provide insights into what are compensatory damages and help you show you deserve compensation for your losses.
How Modified Comparative Negligence Can Impact the Damages You Receive
Your attorney can provide a breakdown of negligence laws in South Carolina, including the “51% rule.” With this rule, modified comparative negligence applies to auto collisions. If you are in some way liable for your car accident, what you receive in damages can be reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, a judge or jury may find you to be 10% at fault for an auto crash. The uninsured motorist primarily responsible for your crash may be ordered to pay 90% of your damages. In a situation where you are mostly to blame for your car crash, you may be ineligible to recover damages.
Your lawyer understands the financial ramifications of an auto accident caused by an uninsured motorist. They will work diligently to prepare an argument designed to disprove the defendant’s case against you. If your attorney succeeds, a judge or jury may be inclined to award full damages.
Request Legal Help from a Columbia Uninsured Motorist Crash Lawyer Who Can Guide You Through Each Stage of Your Litigation
If you have no idea how to deal with the aftermath of an uninsured motorist accident, Shelly Leeke Law Firm is here to help. Our legal team understands the challenges you could face during your legal proceedings and can address such issues as they arise. Schedule a free case consultation with us today.
