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When a person is hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence or if they’re hurt while on the job, dealing with the resulting injuries, lost wages, and associated expenses can be a challenging and confusing process. Far too many of those who are severely injured are forced to struggle both physically and financially in the aftermath of an unexpected accident. The experienced personal injury and workers’ compensation attorneys at Joye Law Firm provide legal representation for those who have been hurt due to the negligent actions or inactions of others. We also help injured employees get the workers’ comp benefits they need and deserve.

Workers’ compensation provides benefits to workers injured on the job in South Carolina. All employers with four or more employees are required to maintain workers’ compensation insurance. When an employer does not have workers’ compensation or a person is injured in another kind of accident caused by another party’s negligence, the victim may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages.

If you were hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence in the Florence area, you could be owed compensation from the person or party responsible. Our injury attorneys can help you understand your rights and advise you of all of your legal options when you reach out to us.

Joye Law Firm has been helping injured individuals all over South Carolina since 1968. We can provide a complete evaluation of your case when you call (877) 941-1019 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

How Can a Personal Injury or Work Injury Lawyer Help Me?

The first thing that an attorney is going to be able to do for you is conducting an independent investigation into your accident, which will allow them to determine the specific cause of the accident. Your lawyer will also preserve all of the evidence relevant to your case.

Another benefit of an investigation is that an attorney will also determine if there are other negligent parties that could be held liable. Once their investigation is complete, your legal team will seek compensation from any party whose negligence contributed to your accident.

If you are filing for workers’ compensation, an attorney will be able to help you avoid committing some of the most common mistakes that lead to a denial of benefits. If your claim is denied for any reason, the lawyer will know how to exercise your appeal options and fight to help you obtain the benefits you need and deserve.

Common Causes of Serious or Catastrophic Injuries

Negligence on the part of an individual, company, or government entity can lead to accidents that cause people to suffer severe injuries. Some of the most common causes of serious and catastrophic injuries include:

If you or a loved one were involved in an accident that caused you to suffer serious injuries, reach out to an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as you can. If your injuries were the result of negligence, you may be entitled to compensation from the responsible parties. A skilled attorney can help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Can I File a Lawsuit for Personal Injury in Florence, SC?

If you are injured in an accident on the job, state law prohibits you from filing a lawsuit against an employer who maintains workers’ compensation insurance. The same immunity is not afforded to other parties, however. If negligence on the part of a contractor, property owner, motorist, equipment manufacturer, property owner, or another third party causes you harm, you could be eligible to collect additional compensation on top of your workers’ comp benefits. This compensation could be secured through a third-party accident claim.

For accidents outside the workplace, an experienced injury lawyer could help you seek compensation from the responsible party through a personal injury claim. Your lawyer will typically negotiate with the insurance company for the person or party responsible for your accident, and during these negotiations, they’ll seek a settlement that will provide enough compensation to help you pay your medical bills, recoup a portion of lost wages, and help you rebuild your life.

When an insurance company refuses to provide an adequate settlement offer, a victim may file a lawsuit to try to get a court to award damages. In a personal injury lawsuit, the victim will be required to prove the defendant’s negligence by a preponderance of the evidence, which usually translates to more than half of the evidence.

While South Carolina Code § 15-3-530 gives a person three years to commence a personal injury action, you should not delay in taking action. You will want to get an experienced South Carolina personal injury lawyer involved right away so they can preserve evidence before it disappears.

Do I Have Legal Rights to Personal Injury Compensation in South Carolina?

South Carolina uses a modified comparative fault system for negligence claims, which means that you can only recover damages when your negligence is not more than the defendant’s. In other words, you will be prohibited from filing suit if you are found to have been 51% or more at fault.

A successful lawsuit can result in a victim being awarded compensatory damages, which usually involve both economic damages and noneconomic damages.

Economic damages are tangible costs such as:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost income
  • Property damage

Noneconomic damages refer to awards for harm that cannot be quantified, including:

  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Pain and suffering
  • Disfigurement

While they are rare, punitive damages can also be awarded in certain personal injury cases in South Carolina in which the at-fault party engaged in “willful, wanton, or reckless conduct.”

Our Car Accident Law Firm in Florence, SC

Joye Law Firm has four office locations in South Carolina that include Columbia, North Charleston, Clinton, and Myrtle Beach. We regularly give back to our community through various scholarship programs, fundraisers, sponsorships, and donations.

In addition to the Joye Law Firm Annual Scholarship Program, our firm also created “Joye in the Community”, which is a program supporting local education and aiding organizations committed to improving the well-being of others. We have participated in fundraising efforts for Habitat for Humanity, the American Cancer Society, and the Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center.

Joye Law Firm sponsored the See Spot Run 5K Run/Walk, animal cruelty training for law enforcement, and the 8th Annual Brain Injury Association of South Carolina (BIASC) Oyster Roast. In 2017, we partnered with the Carolina Youth Development Center to provide housing, care, educational support, and mentoring to child victims of physical and sexual abuse, neglect, and abandonment.

Emergency Medical Care

Whenever you are involved in an accident, medical attention needs to be your top priority. You should go to a hospital even if you do not think that you were hurt.

If your accident was work-related, you may have to see the doctor chosen by your employer or their insurance company to have your medical treatment covered by workers’ compensation. Hospitals in Florence include:

Law Enforcement Serving Florence, SC

Florence is served by a number of different law enforcement agencies. The city of Florence has its own police department, but the county is served by a sheriff and the state also has a South Carolina Highway Patrol troop location in Florence.

Courts in Florence, SC

The court that you are filing a legal action in will depend on certain factors relating to your case. Circuit courts are the courts of general jurisdiction while municipal and magistrate courts have far more limited jurisdiction.

The amount involved in a personal injury case usually determines the court that an action must be filed in. Courts in Florence include:

Contact a Workers’ Compensation and Personal Injury Attorney in Florence, SC

Did you suffer severe injuries or was your loved one killed in an accident in Florence? You are going to want to turn to Joye Law Firm for help navigating the complicated injury claim process.

Our firm provides legal representation on a contingency fee basis, so you will never have to pay anything until you obtain a monetary award. Call (877) 941-1019 or fill out an online contact form to receive a confidential consultation.