If you have been injured in a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence, you may expect that their insurance company will pay for your medical bills and other damages. However, this is not always the case, even if you can prove fault and even if the insurance adjuster is cooperative.
There are several reasons why the at-fault driver’s insurance company may deny or delay your claim, such as:
South Carolina is an at-fault state, which means that the driver who caused the accident is responsible for paying for the damages of the other parties involved. However, not all drivers comply with the state’s mandatory insurance law, which requires them to carry minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage . If the driver who hit you did not have insurance, you may not be able to recover compensation from their insurer.
Another reason why the at-fault driver’s insurance company may refuse to pay your medical bills is that you did not give them proper notice of your claim. According to South Carolina law, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against the negligent driver. However, you should notify their insurance company as soon as possible after the accident, preferably within 24 hours. Please note that making an insurance claim is different than filing a lawsuit. Making a claim alone will not satisfy the statute of limitation. And, while you should initiate a claim, we would not recommend giving any statements to the insurance company without first consulting with an attorney.
Even if the at-fault driver had insurance and you gave proper notice of your claim, you may still face difficulties getting your medical bills paid if your expenses exceeded their policy limits. For example, if the driver had the minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person for bodily injury and your medical bills were $30,000, their insurance company would only pay up to $25,000 and you would be responsible for the remaining $5,000. In this case, you may need to file a lawsuit against the driver personally or seek compensation from your own underinsured motorist coverage (UIM), if you have it.
Finally, the at-fault driver’s insurance company may dispute your claim if they deem your medical expenses were unreasonable or unnecessary. This is a common tactic used by insurance companies to avoid paying fair value for claims. For instance, they may suggest that you sought treatment too late or too often, that you received excessive or experimental procedures, or that your injuries were pre-existing or unrelated to the accident. It is difficult to overcome these insurance company tactics without legal representation. You should also consult with an experienced car accident attorney who can help you prove the extent and cause of your injuries and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
If you have been injured in a car accident in South Carolina, you may be facing high medical bills and other expenses. You may wonder how you can afford to pay for your treatment and recovery. Fortunately, you don’t have to bear the burden alone. An injury lawyer can help you seek compensation from the party who caused the accident.
An injury lawyer can help you with medical expenses after a car accident by:
An injury lawyer also may be able to delay collection attempts and negative impact on your credit rating by writing letters to your medical providers offering to pay their balances following the settlement of your claim. Many medical providers will delay collection attempts if they receive a “letter of protection” from your attorney. Other providers may be willing to provide care without requiring up front payment from you if they receive an attorney letter of protection.
An injury lawyer can also advise you on how to protect your legal rights and avoid mistakes that could harm your claim. For example, an injury lawyer can advise you against accepting a lowball offer from the insurance company that undervalues your claim.
If you have been injured in a car accident in South Carolina, you should contact an injury lawyer as soon as possible. The sooner you hire an injury lawyer, the sooner they can start working on your case and building a strong claim for compensation. To learn more about how an injury lawyer can help you with medical expenses after a car accident, contact us today for a free consultation. We have the experience and skills to handle any type of car accident case and help you get the compensation you deserve.
If you suffered an injury from a serious auto accident, you may be facing significant medical bills. You may also be struggling to pay for your expenses because of an inability to work while you recover from your injuries. However, help is available to those who suffered injuries due to the negligence of others as well as for the families of fatal accident victims.
For years, our Columbia injury lawyers have worked on behalf of the people of South Carolina to gain them compensation for their motor vehicle accident injuries. We may be able to provide personal and effective legal support for you as well. Call the attorneys at Proffitt & Cox, LLP today at 803-834-7097 for a free consultation. You can also call the firm toll free at (877) 276-0533 or by filling out the contact form on our site.
We offer free initial consultations for all injury cases. We handle injury cases on a contingency fee basis which means that our fees are a percentage of what we recover for you. You will not owe us any attorney’s fees in such cases unless we are successful in obtaining compensation on your behalf.
Our South Carolina accident attorneys have recovered over $30 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients. These claims involved automobile accidents, trucking accidents, harmful prescription drugs, medical malpractice, product liability, slip and fall accidents and class action cases. Review our representative cases to see some of our past successes and review our client testimonials to see what some of our clients have to say about us.
Contingency fees are calculated based upon the gross amount recovered. Case costs paid by the firm are also reimbursed to the firm from the amount recovered. In most cases, the client will not be responsible for case costs if there is no recovery. Our agreement regarding fees and expenses applicable to your specific case will be provided in writing.
Any result our lawyers may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients. Each case must stand on its own merit based upon the facts and the law. Some cases referenced were handled by our attorneys while working at other firms, and in some cases, other lawyers participated in the representation of a client.
Over 50 Years of Combined Experience Serving The Midlands and The People of South Carolina. Get In Touch Today For a Free Consultation.
