Personal Injury

What should you do after an injury?

Your health comes first. Follow the guidance of your medical providers and keep copies of discharge instructions, bills, appointment information, and records of symptoms. If you can do so safely, save photographs, names of witnesses, insurance information, and the report number for an incident or collision. These records can become harder to locate as time passes.

Be careful when describing the event to an insurer or posting about it online. A report is useful, but it may not contain every relevant fact. A consultation can help you understand what information to provide and what questions remain. If the incident also led to criminal allegations, our criminal defense page describes why those proceedings should be handled separately and carefully.

How is responsibility evaluated in an injury claim?

Responsibility is evaluated from the evidence, not from a label placed on an accident. The review may include photographs, scene conditions, statements, vehicle damage, medical records, maintenance information, and applicable safety rules. More than one person or entity can be involved, and insurance coverage may be separate from the question of fault.

South Carolina’s comparative-fault rule can affect recovery when an injured person is alleged to share responsibility. The application of that rule depends on the evidence and current law.

How do insurance communications fit into the process?

An insurer may request a recorded statement, medical authorization, or early settlement. Those requests should be considered in light of the stage of treatment and the information actually available. A quick offer may not account for the full course of care, while a claim also should not be left unattended. Clear records and steady communication are useful in either situation.

For an injury connected to a family transition, financial questions may overlap with a divorce case or a property division matter. The claims remain distinct, but timing and documentation can matter across both.

What deadlines might apply?

South Carolina’s general limitation provision includes a three-year period for many injury actions. That is a general rule, not a universal deadline. The date an injury occurred, when it was discovered, the type of claim, the parties involved, and other exceptions can change the analysis. It is wise to review a potential claim well before any possible deadline.

Claims involving governmental entities may follow different timing requirements and damages limits under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act. A city vehicle, public property, or government employee can raise questions that should be identified early. Waiting for medical treatment to conclude is not a substitute for checking the legal timeline.

What should you bring to a consultation?

Bring reports, photographs, insurance correspondence, medical bills, contact information for witnesses, and notes about missed work or other losses. A short timeline can be useful, especially when symptoms, treatment, or conversations with an insurer have changed over time. We can discuss the information available, what may still be needed, and the next appropriate step. A straightforward review can help you make decisions while you focus on recovery.