North Charleston and Mount Pleasant Car Crash Lawyers
In an instant, a serious car wreck can transform your daily commute into a life-altering event. During a typical year, about 800 people perish on South Carolina’s roads in motor vehicle accidents, and thousands more suffer serious injuries. Many of those deaths and injuries occur on the busy roads in and around Charleston and Mount Pleasant.
Although the number of auto accidents has been decreasing recently in South Carolina, too many drivers still must deal with the serious repercussions of a crash.
The Charleston auto accident attorneys at Joye Law Firm understand how overwhelming and confusing it can be for victims after a car crash. During the time when you’re trying to recover from your auto accident injuries, you also have to deal with insurance companies, police reports and the other people involved in the accident — and that’s on top of your usual priorities such as your family and work. All of this while the bills pile up.
Joye Law Firm’s Charleston Auto Accident Lawyers Can Help
Joye Law Firm has a team of experienced and knowledgeable car crash lawyers who are ready to work with you to ease the stress that accompanies a serious car accident in Charleston, Mount Pleasant or North Charleston. When you are our client, you will be treated with the respect, compassion and care that you deserve. We have over four decades of experience helping injured people like you recover not just the compensation they deserve, but also their lives.
We can help you, too. Just Call Joye. You can reach us at (888) 324-3100 or fill out an online form for a free case review.
Joye Law Firm’s auto accident attorneys serve clients in Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Goose Creek, Moncks Corner and Summerville. We are also ready to take on your case anywhere in South Carolina.
Our Experience Sets Us Apart
Joye Law Firm’s proven personal injury lawyers are committed to our clients, and it shows. With more than 110 years of collective litigation experience, several of the Charleston auto accident attorneys at Joye Law Firm have received an AV rating from the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell, and several have been recognized as Super Lawyers.
Our auto accident attorneys are proud of their record of securing positive outcomes for our clients, including a $5.9 million settlement for a client who suffered brain injuries in an auto accident, a $1.15 million settlement for the family of a man killed in a car crash and a $500,000 verdict for a man whose back was injured in a wreck.
All cases are different, and past results are in no way intended to guarantee that a similar result can be obtained in a future matter. However, previous results obtained by a law firm do show the extent of the firm’s experience when it comes to serious injury and wrongful death cases. Please click on the Results tab on our home page for more details about the results obtained for previous Joye Law Firm clients.
About Charleston Auto Accidents
The Charleston motor vehicle crash lawyers at Joye Law Firm have handled enough cases to identify some common issues. We also understand that all auto accident cases are unique — including yours. That’s why it’s important to talk to us directly.
Auto accidents frequently involve the following issues:
- Reckless driving — It is extremely unusual for an accident to “just happen.” Instead, most car wrecks have one or several causes. In many situations, another driver’s carelessness or recklessness causes an accident. This sort of negligence can take many forms, including speeding, disobeying signs or signals, texting while driving, tailgating and “road rage.”
- Impaired driving — A Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) study shows that South Carolina has one of the worst records when it comes to DUI-related accidents. The state ranked near the bottom, at 49th. Impaired driving is not just about alcohol; prescription, illegal and over-the-counter drugs can also affect driving ability.
- Partial fault — In many auto accidents, two or more drivers share the blame for the incident. In those situations, South Carolina law allows you to recover a portion of your damages from another at-fault party, as long as you were less than 51 percent to blame.
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage — Although liability coverage is mandatory in South Carolina, many drivers break the law and drive without any insurance. Many others carry only the minimum mandatory limits. When an at-fault driver has no insurance or their coverage is insufficient to compensate you for all of your damages, you can collect benefits under your own UM/UIM policy.
- Distracted driving — Distracted driving is increasingly becoming a leading factor in car crashes, especially since there are more and more gadgets in vehicles, from cell phones to DVD players and iPods. Although South Carolina doesn’t outlaw texting or talking on the phone while driving, distractions can play a role in determining fault for a wreck. And it’s not just technology that can cause distracted driving. Other factors such as personal grooming, eating, drinking, attending to children and adjusting the air conditioning can take a driver’s mind off of the most important task — driving safely.
Do You Receive Medicare? Protect Your Coverage After An Auto Accident
If you receive Medicare benefits or are likely to become a Medicare recipient within 30 months and are injured in an auto accident, new regulations could have a serious impact on your benefits. Under these rules, any money from a personal injury settlement or judgment must be reported to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) if Medicare has made payments for injuries related to the personal injury claim, or could make payments in the future.
Failure to report such a personal injury settlement could result in fines of up to $1,000 per day, plus CMS could put a lien on the settlement or judgment proceeds. Perhaps more importantly, failure to follow the regulations could void the Medicare coverage you rely on. The report is required even if you don’t have a lawyer representing you.
Initially, the new regulations mandate that you notify CMS of any award of $100,000 or more. Although that is a relatively high threshold, the dollar amounts are scheduled to decrease rapidly. For example, as of July 1, 2012, the reporting threshold drops to $50,000, then to $25,000 on Oct. 1, 2012, and so on.
In a nutshell, the new Medicare regulations are another reason why it is important to hire an auto accident attorney to help you with your claim and avoid having your Medicare cut off. You could lose your future Medicare benefits if you don’t get good legal advice about your car crash claim. Whether you choose Joye Law Firm or another attorney, it is critical that you protect your Medicare coverage with the help of a lawyer.
Key Things To Remember After A Mount Pleasant Car Crash
Getting medical treatment for any injuries should be your first priority after a wreck. It is a good idea to get a medical examination and tell your doctor about your accident even if you don’t initially feel injured. Some types of serious injuries do not become evident until hours, days or even weeks later.
In order to avoid a rejected claim or other complications, you should report the accident to your insurance company as soon as you are able to. However, do not give a recorded or written statement about the accident to the insurance company until you have consulted with a qualified Charleston personal injury attorney.
Because details are easy to forget, it’s smart to make daily notes about your recovery and how your injuries have affected your life. You also need to hold onto all receipts and documents related to the accident and your treatment.
If an insurance adjuster approaches to settle your claim, refrain from signing any agreements without first talking to an experienced Charleston auto accident attorney like the ones at Joye Law Firm. If you sign a bad settlement agreement, you could relinquish your rights to the full compensation you deserve.
Just Call Joye! Let the proven Charleston car wreck attorneys at Joye Law Firm handle the insurance adjusters for you. Call us at (888) 324-3100 or fill out an online consultation form.
Contact Our North Charleston Auto Accident Lawyers Today
You can rely on our seasoned attorneys to get you the money and benefits you are entitled to if you’ve been seriously injured in a Charleston auto accident.
Just Call Joye at (888) 324-3100 or fill out our free online case evaluation form.
