(864) 582-0416 Car crashes can happen in seconds, but this is enough to leave everyone involved with serious injuries and a long road to recovery. If you or a loved one suffered harm in a car wreck due to someone else’s carelessness, you may be able to seek compensation for your losses through a legal claim.
The compensation available to you depends on several factors unique to each claim. If you are wondering about the value of a Spartanburg car accident case, you should speak with a lawyer at Holland & Usry. An experienced car wreck attorney from our firm can review your situation for free and explain your options so that you understand the process.
The value of an auto crash claim in Spartanburg is usually measured in the expenses incurred as a result. These are further separated into two general categories, called economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are easy to calculate because they come with a dollar value. The most common examples are medical costs, such as:
Injured victims can also claim lost income if they are unable to work while receiving their necessary treatment. This category can include property damage, namely the cost of repairing or replacing the victim’s vehicle. Rental car costs may also be included if the victim needs their car to get to work or perform other essential duties. Most of the time, victims only need to collect and save their receipts to support a claim for economic damages.
Non-economic damages are more complicated because they refer to the intangible losses that are often difficult to value, but are still significant to the victim’s life. This category can include things such as:
These can be subjective, so it is vital to have an attorney to convince the judge and jury that the victim deserves this category of compensation.
It is called an accident because it does not happen on purpose. Car wrecks are more often the result of someone’s careless behavior. However, there are times when someone’s behavior goes beyond carelessness and puts other people in unnecessary danger. In these situations, victims can also claim punitive damages as additional compensation, increasing the value of their Spartanburg car wreck claim.
Unlike economic and non-economic damages, which seek to compensate the victim for their losses, the goal of punitive damages is to punish the offender and hopefully prevent that behavior from happening again. However, it is important to remember that these damages are rare. They can only be awarded according to the guidelines found in South Carolina Code § 15-32-510.
Under the law, you must present clear and convincing evidence that your injuries resulted from the person’s reckless behavior. Even if a jury awards these damages, the judge reviews the amount to ensure it is not excessive.
It is difficult to know the value of a Spartanburg car accident case without first examining the facts and circumstances. You can learn about yours at a free case review with a lawyer at Holland & Usry.
An attorney will help you understand what your case may be worth and provide support and guidance through the process. Call Holland & Usry to schedule your FREE case review.
