Just about everyone uses an automobile to get to work, run errands, and perform any number of daily tasks. In the blink of an eye, though, an otherwise routine drive could be interrupted by a serious accident followed by a stay in the hospital and then months, if not years, of recovery. A major car crash could leave you drowning in medical bills and make it hard for you to return to work and earn a living, among many other challenges.
You may want to contact a Lexington car accident lawyer if either you or a loved one has recently been injured in a motor vehicle collision. Without the aid of a personal injury attorney, obtaining compensation for all the losses and expenses stemming from the accident would almost certainly not be easy. An attorney could help you fight for and receive compensation for the likes of medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and more.
How Could a Victim Prove Fault in a Car Accident Case?
One of the most important steps following a vehicle collision in South Carolina is determining who is to blame for causing the accident. As South Carolina is a “fault” state for automobile insurance purposes, a car crash victim and their Lexington car accident lawyer need to establish the fault of another party as a prerequisite to being awarded compensation.
Investigating how an accident occurred and determining who caused it is not always easy, of course. One example in which it could be particularly difficult to establish fault is the case of an accident caused by the driver of a delivery truck. In such a scenario, not only the driver but also the driver’s employer could potentially be held responsible under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior.
Another example demonstrating how establishing fault could be difficult is a car accident involving just a single-vehicle. Here, a Lexington car accident attorney could possibly help determine if the accident was caused by a defective part, and if so, file a claim for damages against the manufacturer under a theory of product liability. Alternatively, a Lexington car accident lawyer could explore whether poor road maintenance is the culprit, followed by a claim for damages against the responsible government agency.
What Types of Compensation is Available for Car Accident Injuries?
A serious car accident could cause victims to incur a wide range of expenses – past and future medical bills arguably being chief among them. One of the most important tasks of a Lexington car accident lawyer is to calculate as accurately as possible the amount of financial compensation that is necessary to make their client “whole” again.
Typically, compensation in personal injury cases is broken down as follow:
Economic Damages
The term “economic damages” refers to the actual monetary losses or expenses one is being forced to endure because of an auto accident. Also called specific damages, economic damages are actual, measurable losses such as medical expenses, lost employment earnings, and the cost of either repairing or replacing a damaged automobile.
Non-economic Damages
“Non-economic damages,” by contrast, are less tangible types of harm that are generally more difficult to quantify monetarily. Though highly subjective and considerably different from case to case, non-economic damages are fully compensable under state law. In South Carolina, non-economic damages include pain and suffering, mental anguish, bodily disfigurement, loss of reputation, loss of consortium (spousal relations), and loss of enjoyment of life.
Contact a Lexington Car Accident Attorney Today
Being seriously hurt in a car accident could exact a physical, emotional, and financial toll that could be difficult to handle in the absence of legal assistance. Consider speaking with a Lexington car accident lawyer about your legal options in the wake of a crash. A lawyer could potentially evaluate your specific circumstances and begin to put together a claim for compensation.
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