The laws in South Carolina indicate that you should be “made whole” after an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. This means accident-related costs can get included in your compensation. In general, car accident victims expect to recover money for the losses and expenses incurred because of the crash, including their intangible losses. The lawyer handling the claim can determine the recoverable damages, their value, the overall fair settlement range, and how much to demand initially. They use their experience and knowledge of similar cases to do this. Your attorney should speak openly with you and answer your questions about these values as the case moves forward. You could recover compensation for: Car injury medical costs - Every dollar of your medical bills should get paid, with no co-pays or expenses. The payout should completely cover any legitimate medical treatments arising from the accident. This includes hospital bills, surgeries, medications, diagnostic procedures, visits to specialists, or any other treatments. It also includes rehabilitation, therapies, and other care to return you to your previous activities and abilities or as close as medically possible. Future care costs - In many cases, car accident injuries are permanent or last long after your settlement resolves or the trial ends. If you need ongoing pain management, physical therapy, surgeries, or any other future medical treatment, your compensation should include these costs. Attorneys often work with medical experts and economists to estimate these future care expenses. Adaptive medical devices - If your injury caused you to suffer an impairment or disability, you may need adaptive devices. From special vehicle accommodations to an electric wheelchair or a ventilator, you may require several medical devices throughout your recovery or even for the rest of your life. Your settlement should cover the cost of these devices. In some cases, regular upgrades could prove necessary. Attorneys handling these cases should work with experts to ensure your settlement includes all relevant expenses. Pain management costs - If you have ongoing pain from your injury, you may need pain medication, chiropractic care, or other treatment to help you cope with and minimize the discomfort. The liable party should pay these costly expenses. The effects of taking prescription painkillers also must come into consideration. For example, victims on some types of painkillers cannot drive or operate heavy machinery, keeping them from returning to work. Rehabilitative care - If you need physical rehabilitation, either in-patient or outpatient, your compensation should include these costs. For catastrophic injuries such as a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or spinal cord injury (SCI), rehabilitation can prove expensive and ongoing for a year or more. This is in addition to other medical care expenses you require during this time. Personal care assistance - In some cases, someone who suffers an accident needs ongoing nursing care or will need to go into a nursing home. In other instances, you could remain in your home but need help with basic tasks. These crash-related care costs should get covered. Lost income - If you have to miss any work because of your accident-related injuries, you should get compensated for the missed time you would have worked. That holds even if you used sick leave or vacation time. Lost income includes any type of earnings you missed. If you earn a living through a salary, hourly pay, commission, tips, gig work, or piecework, proof of your previous income and documentation of your missed work will allow your attorney to fight for these income losses. Reduced earning capacity - Sometimes, a car accident injures someone in such a way that they can no longer work at all. In other cases, your injuries will prevent you from earning what you did before the accident. You should receive compensation if you lose the ability to earn a living or if your income is reduced due to your injuries. Loss of services - In some cases, it may prove possible to recover compensation for services an accident victim previously managed for your family but can no longer handle because of their long-term or permanent injuries. This might occur with a stay-at-home mom, for example. The cost of the nanny hired to care for the children might be recoverable. Damage to your property - If your car or other property suffered damage in the accident, your compensation should include the cost of repairs or replacements. This also includes costly personal items to replace, such as a smartphone, eyeglasses, or laptop. Permanent injury/disfigurement - If you faced disfigurement or a permanent injury, the effects of this lasting harm and its impact on your quality of life get considered when deciding your compensation. Pain and suffering - Calculating pain and suffering damages is very difficult because it is hard to put a dollar amount on how much your pain is worth. However, the law says that victims can seek compensation for the physical pain the injuries caused. Emotional distress - If you suffer emotional problems due to the crash or injuries, you could be entitled to compensation. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and insomnia are common examples of emotional distress. Many accident victims endure all the expenses and losses included on this list, but many only face a few of them. Your attorney can work diligently to help you identify and understand the value of your damages, including those beyond this list. This is imperative to getting a fair and appropriate settlement in your case. Understanding your case’s damages and their value can prove very difficult for most accident victims to manage on their own. Wrongful Death Car Accident Settlements in South Carolina Those who lost a close relative in a car accident could also seek justice and compensation. Under South Carolina law, the personal representative of a crash victim can file a wrongful death action following their passing. This legal action allows the immediate family members-spouse, children, or parents-to receive compensation based on the family’s losses. The following include wrongful death damages: Medical expenses Funeral costs Loss of companionship Lost financial support Other expenses and losses incurred because of the accident South Carolina law states that a personal representative should manage the claim, and the victim’s heirs receive the proceeds. In many cases, the personal representative is also one of the parties who benefit from the outcome of a wrongful death case. However, a non-family member could also serve in this role. A personal representative is usually the executor of the will, administrator of the estate, or the party named by the probate court to handle the probate process. If you are unsure, your attorney can identify the personal representative in your loved one’s case. Like other personal injury cases, wrongful death cases often settle outside of court. However, going to a jury trial and fighting for a favorable verdict and court-awarded compensation can prove crucial to resolving the case.