Hurt in an Accident in Columbia? Contact Us Today for a Free Case Review

At Hart Law, our Columbia personal injury lawyer is a skilled, experienced, and justice-first advocate for injured victims. As leaders in the law, we fight tirelessly to help our clients get accountability and the maximum financial compensation. Our team handles the full range of personal injury cases. We dig into the details, compile evidence to fortify your case, and do all we can to hold negligent parties accountable for their harmful actions.

From negotiation to trial, we confidently stand by you. Let us navigate the legal landscape so that you can focus on recovery.​ If you or your loved one was hurt in a serious accident, we are here to help. Contact us today for a free consultation with a top-tier Columbia personal injury lawyer. Call us today at (803) 771-7701.

We Handle All Types of Personal Injury Claims in Columbia, SC

Our founding attorney, Chris Hart, understands the intricate world of personal injury cases, covering various cases in Columbia. Whether it’s a car accident, truck accident, uber accident, or another type of case, we’re here to shoulder the legal weight so you can focus on healing. Our approach goes beyond aiming for just a settlement; we care about every one of our clients and ensure them that their case is in safe hands. 

Hart Law is a boutique firm devoted to providing the highest level of personalized advocacy to injured victims and their families. We handle all types of accidents—and our mission is to win your case so that you can secure justice, accountability, and the maximum financial compensation. Our legal team is a resource, no matter the cause of your accident or the severity of your injury. We will invest time and resources into providing you with top-tier legal representation. Along with other types of cases, our Columbia personal injury lawyer has experience with: 

Car Accidents

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of accidental injuries in our region. They involve collisions between cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other types of vehicles. Insurance companies can make the claims process difficult. Our Columbia personal injury lawyer has extensive experience handling car accident claims.

Car accident cases can range from minor fender benders to serious collisions. Head on collisions often result in the most serious injuries and require immediate legal attention. Our law firm works with accident victims to build strong cases against at-fault drivers, whether the collision was caused by distracted driving, speeding, or other forms of reckless behavior.

Ridesharing Accidents

Ridesharing accidents are concerned with incidents involving drivers from companies like Uber and Lyft. These cases can be especially complex since multiple parties are involved and our state has ridesharing-specific insurance regulations. Hurt in a ridesharing crash? Contact our Columbia personal injury lawyer today.

Semi-Truck Accidents

Due to their size and weight, semi-trucks are disproportionately likely to be involved in bad crashes. Our Columbia personal injury attorney has the experience needed to take on big truck companies. We are prepared to investigate your crash, review state/federal safety regulations, and take action to get justice.

Truck accidents involving commercial vehicles often cause severe injuries because of the weight difference between a large truck and a passenger vehicle. Our personal injury attorney works with experts to review driver logs, maintenance records, and company policies to hold all responsible parties involved accountable.

Motorcycle Crashes

Motorcyclists are vulnerable. When accidents happen, they are far more likely to be hurt. Our Columbia personal injury lawyer fights for justice and the maximum compensation for injured motorcyclists in South Carolina.

Motorcycle accidents frequently result in serious injuries because riders lack the protection of a vehicle frame. Our team handles cases involving soft tissue injuries, road rash, broken bones, and more. We understand the unique challenges motorcycle accidents present and fight for full compensation.

Pedestrian Collisions

Hurt in a pedestrian accident? If your crash was caused by a negligent driver—such as one that ran a stop sign, was speeding, or was distracted while behind the wheel—you can hold them liable for your injuries. Our Columbia personal injury lawyer fights tirelessly to protect the rights of injured pedestrians.

Pedestrian accidents can happen at crosswalks, in parking lots, or on sidewalks. Injured people in these cases often face medical bills, lost wages, and physical pain from severe injuries. Our law office works to hold negligent drivers responsible.

Slips, Trips, and Falls

Slips, trips, and falls are incidents where individuals fall on another’s property due to unsafe conditions like wet floors, uneven surfaces, or poor lighting. These claims fall under premises liability law in South Carolina. If you were hurt in a slip and fall, our Columbia personal injury will help you with your personal liability claim.

Premises liability cases require proving that a property owner knew or should have known about dangerous conditions. Our team gathers as much evidence as possible, including surveillance footage, maintenance records, and witness testimony, to build a strong case for our clients.

Workplace Accidents

Workplace accidents involve injuries or illnesses that occur in the work environment due to unsafe working conditions, equipment malfunctions, or lack of proper safety measures. Our firm handles both workers’ compensation cases and third-party liability claims. Contact our Columbia personal injury lawyer today for a free case review.

Workplace accidents can involve construction sites, manufacturing facilities, offices, and more. Injured workers may be eligible for a workers’ compensation claim as well as a third-party personal injury lawsuit if someone else’s negligence caused the harm. Our law firm handles both types of cases.

Catastrophic Injury Claims

Catastrophic injury claims deal with injuries that permanently prevent victims from resuming their pre-accident lifestyle. Some examples include spinal cord injuries, severe burns, or severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Our Columbia personal injury lawyer has the skills and experience to take on all types of catastrophic injury claims.

Catastrophic injuries such as spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries require immediate and ongoing medical treatment. These cases often involve partial or total paralysis, requiring compensation for future medical costs and lifetime care needs. Our Columbia personal injury attorney fights for injured people facing these life-changing circumstances.

The Role of Insurance Companies in Personal Injury Cases

Insurance company representatives often contact injury victims shortly after an accident. While they may seem helpful, their goal is to minimize payouts and protect their bottom line. The insurance adjuster may offer a quick settlement that doesn’t fully cover your damages.

Our personal injury attorney handles all communications with the insurance company to protect your legal rights. We know the tactics insurers use to undervalue claims and push back against lowball offers. Whether dealing with your own insurer or the at-fault party’s insurance company, we fight for fair recovery.

Insurance company policies can be complex, with coverage limits and exclusions that affect your claim. Our law office reviews all applicable policies to identify every potential source of compensation. We work to maximize recovery from all available insurance company resources.

Protecting Your Legal Rights After a Personal Injury Accident

Personal injury victims have specific legal rights under South Carolina law. You have the right to seek compensation for damages caused by another person’s negligence. You also have the right to legal representation and to refuse to give recorded statements to insurance companies without an attorney present.

Understanding your legal rights helps you avoid mistakes that could harm your claim. Our personal injury attorney provides guidance on what to say, what documents to preserve, and how to document your injuries and losses. We protect injured people from tactics designed to weaken their legal claims.

Your legal rights include the right to a free consultation with an attorney before deciding how to proceed. Our law firm offers a free case evaluation to review the details of your situation and explain your options. This no-obligation meeting helps you understand the strength of your claim.

What to Expect During the Personal Injury Claims Process

The personal injury claims process typically begins with the injured party seeking medical attention. Next comes filing a claim—usually with an insurance company. As the victim, you can rely on your personal injury lawyer to gather evidence to prove liability and establish your damages. Negotiations with the insurance company come next.

In many cases, a demand letter will be sent by your lawyer to move the settlement process forward. The goal is to get full and fair compensation through a settlement. However, if the insurance company’s offer doesn’t adequately cover the losses, the claim may escalate to a lawsuit. The lawsuit involves more in-depth evidence gathering, possibly mediation, and pre-trial motions. Trial is the step of the process. Most cases do not reach litigation.

Our law office guides clients through each stage of personal injury cases, from initial investigation to final resolution. We handle the paperwork, deadlines, and legal process requirements so you can focus on recovery. Our team keeps you informed about developments in your case.

Compensation Available in South Carolina Personal Injury Cases

South Carolina personal injury law allows victims to pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include measurable financial losses, while non-economic damages cover subjective harm like pain and suffering. Understanding the full value of your claim helps ensure you don’t accept an inadequate settlement.

Personal injury victims can seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and more. Our Columbia personal injury attorney works with medical providers, economists, and other experts to calculate the true cost of your injuries, including future medical costs and reduced earning capacity.

South Carolina personal injury cases also allow recovery for physical pain, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, and loss of quality of life. Our law firm fights to ensure injury victims receive financial relief for all aspects of their harm, not just the obvious financial losses.

Know the Deadline: Personal Statute of Limitations

Personal injury claims are time-sensitive legal cases. Under South Carolina law (S.C. Code § 15-3-20), there is a three-year statute of limitations. Only very narrow exceptions apply. If you do not file a personal injury lawsuit within three years of your accident, you may be denied the opportunity to recover any compensation at all.

Do not fall behind in the personal injury claims process. Defendants and insurers waste no time. Be proactive: Speak to an experienced Columbia, SC personal injury lawyer right away after a serious accident. 

Recovering the Maximum Compensation for Injured Victims

In South Carolina, injured victims have the right to pursue compensation for the full value of their damages, including for any non-economic losses. How much can you expect to get through a personal injury claim? The answer depends, in large part, on the specific facts of your case—including the extent of your damages. Unfortunately, insurance companies often try to undervalue personal injury claims.

They want to pressure people into settling for less. Our Columbia personal injury lawyer can help. You may be entitled to recover monetary damages for: 

  • Property loss, such as automobile repairs; 
  • Ambulance costs and emergency room care; 
  • Hospital bills and other types of medical expenses; 
  • Physical therapy and other rehabilitative care; 
  • Loss of wages and loss of earning potential; 
  • Pain and suffering & mental distress; 
  • Disability, disfigurement, and impairment; 
  • Loss of quality of life; and
  • Wrongful death of a family member.

The personal injury claims process typically begins with the injured party seeking medical attention. Next comes filing a claim—usually with an insurance company. As the victim, you can rely on your personal injury lawyer to gather evidence to prove liability and establish your damages.  Negotiations with the insurance company come next.

In many cases, a demand letter will be sent by your lawyer to move the settlement process forward. The goal is to get full and fair compensation through a settlement. However, if the insurance company’s offer doesn’t adequately cover the losses, the claim may escalate to a lawsuit. The lawsuit involves more in-depth evidence gathering, possibly mediation, and pre-trial motions. Trial is the step of the process. Most cases do not reach litigation.

Why Trust Our Columbia Personal Injury Lawyer

Navigating the aftermath of a serious accident is not easy. It can put a lot of pressure and strain on the victim and their families. Unfortunately, insurance companies can make an already difficult process all the more challenging. Christopher R. Hart is a top Columbia personal injury lawyer.

He is focused on winning cases for victims. With demonstrated leadership in law and a history of client testimonials, you can rely on our firm for proactive, personalized legal guidance and support. Along with other things, our Columbia personal injury lawyer is prepared to:

  • Conduct a free, detail-focused evaluation of your legal case; 
  • Answer questions and explain the personal injury process; 
  • Carefully investigate your accident—gathering the evidence to prove fault; 
  • Represent you in any settlement negotiations with the insurance company; and
  • Take aggressive legal action to help you secure the maximum financial recovery.

Understanding Wrongful Death Claims in Columbia, SC

Wrongful death occurs when someone dies due to another party’s negligence or intentional actions. Wrongful death claims allow surviving family members to seek compensation for their loss. These cases can arise from car accident fatalities, medical malpractice, workplace accidents, and other tragic incidents.

Wrongful death cases in South Carolina can include compensation for funeral expenses, medical expenses incurred before death, lost financial support, and loss of companionship. Our personal injury attorney handles these sensitive cases with compassion while fighting aggressively for fair recovery. We understand the emotional toll these cases take on families.

Wrongful death litigation requires proving that negligence caused the death and calculating the full value of the loss. Our law firm works with economists and other experts to demonstrate the financial impact on surviving family members. We handle wrongful death claims with the care and attention they deserve.

How Contingency Fees Make Legal Services Accessible

Our law office works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no upfront costs for legal services. We only collect attorney fees if we successfully recover compensation for you. This arrangement makes quality legal representatives accessible to injured people regardless of their financial situation.

Contingency fees allow personal injury victims to hire experienced attorneys without worrying about hourly rates or retainer fees. You won’t receive bills while your case is pending. Our fee comes as a percentage of your final settlement or verdict, so we’re motivated to maximize your recovery.

The contingency fee basis model aligns our interests with yours. We invest our time and resources into your case because we believe in its merit. This arrangement also means the insurance company can’t outlast you financially in negotiations or litigation.

Common Injuries in Personal Injury Accidents

Personal injury accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, from minor soft tissue injuries to life-threatening harm. Traumatic brain injuries occur when the head experiences sudden impact or penetration, potentially causing cognitive impairment, memory loss, and personality changes. These injuries often require extensive medical treatment and long-term care.

Spinal cord injuries can result in partial or total paralysis, affecting mobility and body function below the injury site. Spinal cord damage often requires surgery, rehabilitation, and assistive devices. The cost of treating spinal cord injuries over a lifetime can reach millions of dollars.

Soft tissue injuries include sprains, strains, and contusions that affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments. While less serious than catastrophic injuries, they still cause physical pain and may require months of medical treatment. Our law firm handles cases involving all types of injuries.

The Importance of Immediate Medical Attention

Seeking immediate medical treatment after a personal injury accident protects both your health and your claim. Some injuries don’t show symptoms right away, and delayed treatment can allow conditions to worsen. Medical expenses documentation also forms the foundation of your personal injury claims.

Medical bills and records provide proof of your injuries and the treatment required. The insurance company will scrutinize these documents when evaluating your claim. Our personal injury attorney works with medical providers to ensure all treatment is properly documented and billed.

Gaps in medical treatment can give the insurance adjuster grounds to argue that your injuries aren’t serious. Consistent care demonstrates the ongoing impact of your injuries. Our law office advises clients on maintaining proper medical documentation throughout their recovery.

How Our Law Office Builds Strong Personal Injury Cases

Our law firm takes a comprehensive approach to building personal injury cases. We start with a thorough investigation of the accident scene, collecting as much evidence as possible. This includes photographs, police reports, surveillance footage, and witness testimony from people who saw what happened.

Our legal representatives work with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and economists to build compelling cases. We review all medical expenses, calculate lost wages and future medical costs, and document the full impact of your injuries. This detailed preparation strengthens negotiations with the insurance company.

We also preserve evidence that might disappear over time, such as vehicle damage, scene conditions, and electronic data from vehicles. Our law office sends preservation letters to potential defendants and their insurers to prevent destruction of important evidence. This proactive approach protects your legal rights.

Personal Injury Law in Columbia, SC and Throughout South Carolina

Personal injury law in South Carolina is based on the principle that people should be held accountable for harm they cause others through negligence. Columbia, SC sees thousands of personal injury accidents each year, from motor vehicle accidents to workplace accidents to premises liability incidents.

Our law firm serves clients throughout Columbia, SC, Richland County, Lexington County, and surrounding areas. We understand local court procedures, judges, and legal culture. This knowledge benefits our clients by allowing us to handle personal injury cases efficiently and effectively.

South Carolina personal injury law continues to develop through court decisions and legislative changes. Our personal injury attorney stays current on legal developments to provide the most effective representation. We apply our knowledge of personal injury law to each client’s unique situation.

Personal Injury Claims in Columbia, SC: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do I Need to See a Doctor After an Accident?

Yes. Your health is the top priority. You should see a licensed physician right away to ensure that you get the proper medical care. It is not uncommon for people to be far more seriously injured than they initially recognize. Beyond that, you need medical records to be eligible to bring a personal injury claim in South Carolina. If you do not see a doctor, you will be denied compensation.

When Should I Speak to a Columbia Personal Injury Lawyer?

Right away. You should consult with a Columbia personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. Every moment that passes is a moment that the negligent defendant and/or their insurance company is building a defense. An experienced South Carolina personal attorney can provide valuable guidance on how to proceed with your claim. Your lawyer will protect your rights.

Does it Make Sense to Settle My Claim?

It might. Personal injury trials are relatively uncommon in South Carolina. Many claims are resolved through a settlement agreement. Settling your claim can be advantageous— it often provides a quicker resolution and avoids the uncertainty of a trial. However, you must ensure the settlement is fair. It must cover all your expenses, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A settlement should be negotiated by a personal injury lawyer.

How Does Comparative Negligence Work in South Carolina?

South Carolina has a modified comparative negligence rule for personal injury claims. It could have big implications for your case. The law allows injured victims to still recover damages if they are partially at fault for their accident. Recovery is still possible as long as your responsibility is not greater than 50 percent. In cases of partial fault, your financial compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found to be 30 percent at fault for a car accident in Columbia and the total damages are $100,000, you would receive $70,000.

How Long Do I Have To File A Personal Injury Claim in Columbia, SC?

In Columbia, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is typically three years from the date of the injury. It’s crucial to initiate the legal process promptly to ensure compliance with the time limit. Contacting a local attorney early on can help ensure that your case is filed within the required timeframe.

What Compensation Can I Seek For My Injury in Columbia, SC?

You may be eligible for compensation covering medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and the impact on personal relationships. The exact amount depends on the circumstances of your case. An experienced personal injury attorney can help assess the potential value of your claim.

Can I Still File a Personal Injury Claim in Columbia, SC If I’m Partially Responsible For The Accident?

Yes, you can. South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence system. As long as you are less than 51% responsible for the accident, you can pursue a personal injury claim. However, the compensation you receive will be reduced based on your percentage of fault. Consulting with a local attorney can provide clarity on how this might apply to your specific case.

Contact Our Columbia Personal Injury Lawyer Today​

At Hart Law, our Columbia personal injury lawyer is prepared to invest time, resources, and attention to detail into every case that we take on. If you or your loved one was hurt in a serious accident, please do not hesitate to contact us today for a free, no-commitment consultation. We handle personal injury claims in Columbia, Richland County, Lexington County, and beyond. Call our law firm today at (803) 771-7701.