Summerville Personal Injury Lawyer

Many people will experience a major injury at some point in their lives. If you are hurt due to someone else’s negligence, you need an experienced attorney, no matter what type of injury you sustain.

When you work with Trey Harrell, Auto Accident and Personal Injury Attorney, you get a Summerville personal injury lawyer who provides guidance and support to help you receive the compensation you deserve after an accident. Our team is ready to answer any questions so you can fully understand the options available to you in your personal injury case.

What Qualifies as a Personal Injury in Summerville

In the legal context, personal injury refers to any harm inflicted on a person due to the negligent or intentional actions of another. Physical, mental, and emotional damage are all equally viable grounds for filing a personal injury claim. Pursuing compensation is particularly important if you sustain damage that results in significant financial loss.

The field of personal injury law is expansive. Common examples of injuries that warrant a personal injury claim include:

• Broken bones
• Head or brain injuries
• Bruises, cuts, or lacerations
• Mental or emotional trauma
• Surgical injuries
• Any other costly harm caused by another party’s negligence

Negligence is a crucial component when pursuing legal action for an injury. Your Summerville personal injury lawyer can help you determine how to establish negligence after a harmful accident.

Our Personal Injury Practice Areas

Trey Harrell, Auto Accident and Personal Injury Attorney, has varied experience with a wide range of personal injury claims. These include the following:

• Car accidents
• Premises liability
• Medical malpractice
• Construction accidents
• Catastrophic injuries
• Wrongful death

Beyond standard auto accidents, Trey Harrell is a personal injury lawyer in Summerville who also represents clients in the aftermath of hit-and-runs, truck accidents, DUI accidents, pedestrian accidents, and Uber and Lyft accidents.

No matter what type of injury you are facing, we want to help you secure the outcome you deserve.

Common Causes of Personal Injuries in Summerville

Summerville residents face various situations that can lead to serious injuries requiring legal intervention. Motor vehicle crashes remain one of the most frequent causes of personal injury claims in our community. The busy intersections along Highway 78 and Dorchester Road see numerous accidents each year. These collisions often result from distracted driving, speeding, or failure to yield the right of way.

Slip and fall incidents also occur regularly throughout Summerville businesses and properties. Wet floors in grocery stores, uneven sidewalks downtown, and poorly maintained parking lots create hazardous conditions. Property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain safe environments for visitors. When they fail in this duty, injured parties may have grounds for compensation.

Workplace injuries affect many Summerville workers across different industries. Construction sites, manufacturing facilities, and retail establishments all present unique risks. Employers must provide proper safety equipment and training to protect their workforce. Accidents resulting from inadequate safety measures can lead to significant personal injury claims.

Medical errors at local healthcare facilities unfortunately contribute to personal injury cases as well. Misdiagnosis, surgical mistakes, and medication errors can cause lasting harm to patients. These situations require careful legal analysis to determine if medical professionals violated accepted standards of care.

The Personal Injury Claims Process in South Carolina

Filing a personal injury claim involves several important steps that must be completed correctly and within specific timeframes. The process begins immediately after an accident occurs. Seeking prompt medical attention creates crucial documentation linking your injuries to the incident. Medical records serve as primary evidence in personal injury cases.

Insurance companies typically become involved early in the claims process. They assign adjusters to investigate accidents and evaluate damages. However, insurance companies prioritize their profits over fair compensation for injured parties. Initial settlement offers often fall far below actual damages. Having legal representation helps level the playing field during negotiations.

Evidence collection plays a vital role in building strong personal injury cases. Photos of accident scenes, damaged vehicles, and visible injuries provide powerful visual proof. Witness statements add credibility to your version of events. Police reports contain official documentation of accidents and any citations issued.

Medical documentation must clearly establish the connection between accidents and resulting injuries. Treatment records, diagnostic tests, and physician opinions all contribute to proving damages. Future medical needs may also factor into settlement calculations for serious injuries requiring ongoing care.

Financial Impact of Personal Injuries on Summerville Families

Personal injuries can devastate family finances in ways many people never anticipate. Medical bills begin accumulating immediately after accidents occur. Emergency room visits, ambulance rides, and diagnostic tests create substantial expenses within hours of an injury. These costs continue mounting as treatment progresses.

Lost income compounds the financial stress injured parties face. Workers may miss days, weeks, or even months of employment while recovering from injuries. Some people never return to their previous earning capacity due to permanent disabilities. Families struggle to maintain their standard of living without their regular paychecks.

Hidden costs often surprise injured parties and their families. Transportation to medical appointments, prescription medications, and medical equipment all require additional spending. Home modifications may become necessary for individuals with mobility limitations. Childcare expenses increase when injured parents cannot care for their children normally.

The following expenses commonly arise after serious personal injuries:

• Emergency medical treatment and hospitalization costs
• Ongoing rehabilitation and physical therapy sessions
• Lost wages and reduced earning potential
• Home healthcare services and assistance
• Vehicle repairs or replacement after auto accidents

Insurance coverage rarely provides complete protection against these financial hardships. Most health insurance plans include deductibles, co-payments, and coverage limitations. Auto insurance policies may have inadequate limits for serious injury cases. Personal injury settlements help bridge these gaps and restore financial stability.

How Personal Injury Settlements Work

Personal injury settlements represent agreements between injured parties and responsible parties or their insurance companies. These agreements provide monetary compensation in exchange for releasing claims related to accidents. Most personal injury cases resolve through settlements rather than jury trials.

Settlement negotiations require careful strategy and patience. Insurance companies employ experienced adjusters and attorneys to minimize payouts. They may dispute liability, question injury severity, or argue that pre-existing conditions caused problems. Effective legal representation helps counter these tactics and secure fair compensation.

Several factors influence settlement amounts in personal injury cases. The severity and permanence of injuries typically correlate with higher settlements. Clear evidence of negligence strengthens negotiating positions. The at-fault party’s insurance coverage limits also affect potential settlement ranges.

Settlement timing varies significantly between cases. Simple injury cases with clear liability may resolve within months, while complex cases involving serious injuries or disputed faults can take years to conclude. Patience often leads to better outcomes, as rushing into settlements may result in inadequate compensation.

Special Considerations for Summerville Personal Injury Cases

Summerville’s unique characteristics create specific considerations for personal injury cases in our area. The town’s rapid growth has led to increased construction activity throughout the region. Construction zones create additional hazards for drivers and pedestrians. Temporary traffic patterns and equipment placement can contribute to accidents.

Tourist activity in historic downtown Summerville brings additional foot traffic and unfamiliar drivers to our streets. Visitors may not know local traffic patterns or road conditions. This situation increases the likelihood of accidents involving both residents and tourists.

Weather conditions in the Lowcountry also play a role in personal injury cases. Sudden thunderstorms create slippery road conditions. Hurricane seasons bring unique hazards including flooding, debris, and power outages. These weather events can complicate liability determinations in accident cases.

When to Contact a Personal Injury Attorney

Timing matters significantly when considering legal representation for personal injury cases. Contacting an attorney immediately after serious accidents provides several advantages. Early legal involvement helps preserve evidence that might otherwise disappear. Summerville personal injury attorneys can guide clients through the claims process from the beginning.

Certain warning signs indicate the need for immediate legal consultation. These include:

• Serious injuries requiring hospitalization or surgery
• Accidents involving commercial vehicles or government entities
• Disputes about who caused the accident
• Insurance companies are denying claims or offering inadequate settlements
• Multiple parties sharing responsibility for accidents

Delaying legal consultation can harm personal injury cases in various ways. Evidence may disappear or become contaminated over time. Witness memories fade, making their testimony less reliable. Insurance companies may interpret delays as signs that injuries are not serious or that accidents were minor.

Personal Injury Damages You Can Receive

A devastating injury has the potential to change your life. Your Summerville personal injury lawyer can help you evaluate damages and help you know what to expect from a settlement. You are likely to incur economic damages after an accident that may put a severe strain on your finances. You might also experience certain non-economic damages that affect your personal well-being for years to come.

Common examples of recoverable damages in a personal injury claim include:

• Current and future medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Property damage
• Disabilities and disfigurement
• Emotional pain and suffering

In some cases, the at-fault party’s insurance company might extend a settlement offer for less than what you deserve.

It is important to fully understand the extent of your damages before accepting a settlement.

Determining Fault in a Personal Injury Case

Securing compensation in a personal injury case requires you to establish that the other party’s negligence directly caused your accident and that the accident was the direct cause of your injuries. Your Summerville personal injury attorney will play a key role in collecting and presenting evidence that determines fault for your accident.

Negligence stems from the act of one person violating their duty of care to another. In the case of a car accident, disobeying traffic laws or driving recklessly are negligent actions that point to the guilty party’s fault. Similarly, a healthcare professional making a misdiagnosis or causing additional injury due to carelessness can be indicators of fault in a medical malpractice case.

In any type of personal injury case, your Summerville personal injury lawyer can use a combination of photographic evidence, witness statements, and medical records to determine who is at fault and liable for your damages.

Time Limits for Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Summerville

Personal injury cases have a statute of limitations that serves as a strict time limit for claiming compensation from the at-fault party. Even if you have decisive evidence proving that another party caused your injuries through negligence, you will be unable to receive a settlement once the time limit passes. In South Carolina, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is three years from the date of the injury. It is important to take quick legal action to ensure you achieve the outcome you deserve.

Involving our Summerville personal injury lawyer in your case early on will help ensure you meet the time limit for filing a claim. Our legal team leverages professional expertise to build a timeline, making sure every aspect of your case remains on track to help secure a favorable settlement before the statute of limitations runs out.

Choosing Trey Harrell, Auto Accident and Personal Injury Attorney, for Your Case

When you are dealing with the aftermath of a major accident, you already have enough to worry about without adding a complex legal case to your worries. Choosing our firm for your case ensures that you have a supportive Summerville personal injury lawyer to carry your legal burden while you focus on rest and recovery.

Our team can help your personal injury case by:

• Handling your initial personal injury claim and other paperwork
• Collecting evidence to determine who is at fault for your injuries
• Evaluating your damages so you know what to expect from an insurance settlement
• Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf
• Representing you in court if you decide to sue

When you choose Trey Harrell, Auto Accident and Personal Injury Attorney, you get a caring and supportive lawyer who brings his experience as a federal prosecutor, criminal defense lawyer, and estate planning attorney to the table.

Working with our team gives you access to comprehensive knowledge and support for every aspect of your personal injury case.

Contact Our Summerville Personal Injury Lawyer Today

If you suffered a personal injury in the Summerville or Charleston, SC areas, reach out to our Summerville personal injury lawyer right away. Trey Harrell, Auto Accident and Personal Injury Attorney, is ready to answer your call.

Contact us today to learn how we can help you seek a favorable outcome – Remember, Trey Helps!