A car accident can turn your life upside down in seconds. You could be facing injuries, medical bills, missed work, and the stress of figuring out what comes next. If someone else’s negligence caused your accident, you shouldn’t have to pay the price for their mistake.
South Carolina law allows injured individuals to recover several types of damages, and knowing what’s available can help you understand the potential value of your case. Our Greenville car accident lawyers at Jordan Law Center offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay us unless we win.
There are various types of compensation you may be entitled to recover.
Medical expenses
Medical bills can add up fast after a car accident. Emergency room visits, surgeries, hospital stays, physical therapy, prescription medications, and follow-up appointments can cost tens of thousands of dollars or more.
You can seek compensation for a car accident to cover all reasonable medical expenses related to your injuries. This includes bills you’ve already paid and treatment you’re currently receiving. Keep every bill, receipt, and treatment record. These documents form the foundation of your claim.
Future medical costs
Some injuries don’t heal quickly. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and severe fractures can require months or years of ongoing treatment. You may need future surgeries, long-term physical therapy, or assistive medical devices.
Compensation for future medical costs accounts for treatment you’ll need down the road. Calculating these damages often requires input from medical professionals who can project the full scope of your recovery. This is one reason having experienced attorneys on your side matters. Our team at Jordan Law Center works with medical professionals to build a clear picture of what your future care will cost.
Lost wages and lost earning capacity
When injuries keep you out of work, the financial pressure can build quickly. Compensation for lost wages covers the income you’ve already missed because of your accident.
But what if your injuries are so severe that you cannot return to your previous job or work at all? That’s where lost earning capacity comes in. This type of compensation accounts for the difference between what you could have earned and what you’re now able to earn. For someone with a career ahead of them, this can represent a significant portion of a claim’s total value.
If your accident has affected your ability to work, call 864-808-1810 for a free consultation. Our attorneys can help you understand the value of your lost income claim.
Pain and suffering
Not all damages come with a receipt. Pain and suffering compensation covers the physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and mental anguish caused by your accident and injuries.
These damages are harder to quantify than medical bills or lost wages, but they’re often a substantial part of a car accident claim. Insurance companies frequently seek to minimize pain and suffering payouts. Having attorneys who are confident in litigation and ready to push back makes a real difference.
Property damage
Your vehicle and personal property damaged in the accident are also recoverable. This includes the cost to repair or replace your car, as well as any personal items inside the vehicle damaged or destroyed.
If your car was totaled, you’re entitled to the fair market value of the vehicle at the time of the accident. Don’t accept the insurance company’s first offer without knowing whether it’s fair.
Loss of enjoyment of life
A serious car accident can take away the activities and experiences that make life meaningful. If your injuries prevent you from exercising, playing with your kids, pursuing hobbies, or enjoying daily life the way you did before the accident, you may be entitled to compensation for loss of enjoyment of life.
This is separate from pain and suffering and specifically addresses how your injuries have diminished your quality of life and your ability to participate in activities you once valued.
How compensation for a car accident is calculated
There’s no single formula that applies to every case. The value of your claim depends on several factors, including:
– The severity of your injuries
– The total cost of medical treatment (past and future)
– How much income you’ve lost and your future earning capacity
– The degree of pain and suffering you’ve experienced
– The impact of the accident on your daily life
– The strength of the evidence supporting your claim
Insurance companies use their own methods to calculate what they think your case is worth, and those numbers are often far lower than what you actually deserve. Our attorneys at Jordan Law Center know how to build strong cases that reflect the full value of your damages.
South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence rule
South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule with a 50% bar. Here’s what it means for your claim: if you’re found to be 50% or less at fault for the accident, you can still recover compensation. However, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, if your total damages are $100,000 and you’re found 20% at fault, you’d recover $80,000. But if you’re found 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing.
Insurance companies know this rule and will try to shift as much blame onto you as possible. It’s critical to have attorneys who know how to defend against fault arguments and protect your right to full compensation.
Talk to our attorneys at Jordan Law Center.
You shouldn’t have to figure this out alone, especially while you’re recovering from injuries. Knowing what you can claim compensation for after a car accident is important, but having the right legal team to fight for compensation is what makes the difference.
Jordan Law Center doesn’t just pursue justice—we obtain it through dedicated advocacy and proven results. Our personal injury attorneys are eager, hands-on, and ready to hold the responsible parties accountable. We serve clients in Greenville and throughout South Carolina from our office at 622 Wade Hampton Boulevard.
Your consultation is completely free, and you don’t pay us unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us at 864-808-1810 today to discuss your case. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can start fighting for the justice you deserve.
“There is not enough GREAT THINGS I could say about Jordan Law Center.”