843-479-2865
When you’ve sustained injuries due to another person’s negligence or intentional act, you may be entitled to recover money for medical bills, lost wages, and other harm. South Carolina gives most injury victims three years to file a lawsuit, so the steps you take soon after an accident can shape your entire case.
At Douglas Jennings Law Firm LLC, our personal injury lawyer in Chesterfield can help you understand how a personal injury claim puts you in a stronger position to protect your health and your finances.
What Kinds of Cases Do Personal Injury Lawyers Handle?
Personal injury law covers many situations where someone’s carelessness causes you harm. The cause can be a momentary mistake or a pattern of reckless behavior, but the result is an injury that was not your fault. Common claims we handle include:
- Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes
- Slip and fall accidents
- Premises liability incidents
- Defective or dangerous products
- Medical malpractice
- Wrongful death
These cases share a common thread: another party owed you a duty of care and failed to meet it. Pinpointing that failure and connecting it to your injuries forms the backbone of any claim you bring in Chesterfield, and it often decides whether you have a case at all.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Personal Injury Case?
Compensation covers the losses an injury forces on you, both the bills you can count and the toll you cannot. The amount depends on the severity of your injuries, how the accident has changed your daily life, and how long your recovery takes:
- Past and future medical and rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages and reduced earning ability
- Property damage from the accident
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover money as long as you are not more than 50% at fault, though your award drops by your share of the blame. That rule is one reason personal injury lawyers in Chesterfield work to document exactly how an accident happened.
How Do Injury Claims Move Through Chesterfield County Courts?
If your claim cannot settle, you would file suit in the Chesterfield County Court of Common Pleas, the civil trial court for South Carolina’s Fourth Judicial Circuit, which also serves Darlington, Dillon, and Marlboro counties. Local timing rules matter here: under the Chesterfield County court’s roster practice, a case must be at issue for 120 days before it is added to the non-jury roster and 365 days before it is added to the jury trial roster.
Reach Out to Our Reputable Chesterfield Personal Injury Lawyers
If an accident in the Chesterfield area has left you hurt, the Douglas Jennings Law Firm LLC is dedicated to seeking justice for all our clients and can review what happened and what your claim may be worth. Our firm has secured millions for injury clients across South Carolina, and we offer a free consultation so you can weigh your options with no upfront cost. Call (843) 479-2865 or contact us online to discuss your situation and the road ahead.