South Carolina Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Lawyers

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Personal Injury

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Why Choose Bringardner Injury Law Firm?

We will do everything we can to win your case, maximize your settlement amount, and resolve your case as quickly as possible. You can leave everything to us. We will deal with the insurance companies and build your case while you focus on your health and recovery. When you’ve been injured in a car accident or other incident, it is important to hire a personal injury attorney who can protect your rights and guide you through the complex legal process. The decision to hire an experienced lawyer should not be taken lightly. The sooner you hire us after an accident, the better we will be able to prepare your case and protect you from the insurance company’s tactics, common mistakes, and costly pitfalls that can happen along the way.

When you choose us, you can be sure you’ll always understand the status of your case, and feel confident your case is in good hands.

About Our Firm

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Case Results

$17M

Settlement

for DUI Accident

$17M

Verdict

to the family members of a fatal crash victim

$5M

Settlement

Wrongful Death in a Truck Accident

$3.5M

Settlement

Pedestrian Accident

View All Results

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“An experienced legal team with the personalized attention and customized approach that you deserve.”

HELPING FAMILIES RECOVER

The Personal Injury Case Process:

If you have been injured because of the negligence of another person or a company, you may not be sure what to do next. However, the insurance company for the at-fault party will immediately begin working against you to pay you as little as possible, or nothing at all. After all, insurance companies do not make money by paying out claims. They want to keep all of the money for themselves to buy more TV commercials and invest for their own benefit. You may be asking yourself, “Do I need a lawyer or should I handle it myself? Often times injury victims think the insurance company will do the right thing and are later surprised to find out that is not the case.

The insurance adjuster may tell you that they will pay for your medical bills and lost income, but as the weeks and months pass, that does not always happen. The insurance adjuster may give you “the runaround,” or dispute that your medical bills are related to what they claim is a “pre-existing” condition, or challenge other aspects of your claim to minimize paying you what you are owed.

Having an experienced personal injury attorney in Charleston may be a good idea to protect your legal rights. The days after an accident can be very important to your case. In order to build the proper foundation for your case, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help conduct the proper investigation. Often times, injury victims seek to hire a personal injury attorney after trying to represent themselves. Studies show that injured people who hire attorneys receive significantly larger settlements, and net more money in their own pocket even after the attorneys’ fees are paid. You only get one case. Hiring an experienced personal injury in South Carolina immediately after an accident can be a smart financial decision.

Choosing the right attorney will ensure that you are able to focus on recovery, and know that your case is in good hands. Our legal team is prepared to do everything we can to reach a favorable outcome in your case.

How Much Does A Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

We take all of our injury cases on what is called a “Contingency Fee.” This means that our fee is contingent on the success of your case, so if you hire us to represent you, you won’t pay a dime for attorneys’ fees or expenses unless we obtain a recovery for you. The fee amount may vary depending on the nature of your case. The fee will be computed based on the gross recovery before expenses are deducted. If we do not obtain a recovery, you will not owe us a fee or be billed for case expenses.

Hiring a lawyer is a serious decision

While researching attorneys, you should consider the following:

Will this attorney maintain regular communication throughout my case, to ensure I understand what is happening at each phase?

Does this attorney have experience handling injury cases like mine?

What do this attorney’s former clients say about their experience hiring them?

Choosing a personal injury attorney is an important decision, and should not be taken lightly. That’s why we offer free case evaluations and provide in depth client testimonials so that you can determine if we are the right law firm for you. You can meet with us quickly and at your convenience so you can understand exactly how we will customize our approach to handle your personal injury case if you decide to hire us.

The Auto Accident Claims Process

You are Injured in An Accident

What should I do after an accident?

Immediately after an accident, if you are injured, you should call 911 and seek immediate medical attention. This may seem obvious if you have pain at the scene of the collision, but often times injury victims may not feel pain until the adrenaline wears off, hours or even days after an accident. Any delay in seeking medical attention and the appropriate diagnostic testing could lead to problems down the road. Next, before contacting any insurance company, it can be smart to consult an experienced South Carolina accident attorney to protect your rights.

You will likely want to make sure that your medical records, bills, lost income, and other issues are being handled and documented properly.

Does health insurance pay for your medical bills? Does the other person’s insurance company pay? What is Medpay? How do you submit a claim for lost income? Should you go to your primary care doctor or a specialist? What if you don’t have a doctor? Who fixes your vehicle? Where do you take your vehicle? These are questions an experienced South Carolina personal injury attorney can assist you with. It may also be a good idea to have your attorney conduct an investigation on your behalf as soon as possible so important evidence does not get lost.

How do I hire Bringardner Injury Lawyers?

First, you should call our office and speak with us directly about your case. Or, you can fill out our online form and we will call you as soon as possible to go over your claim and answer all of your questions. We are happy to meet with you in-person, through a virtual conference, or over the phone.

If you decide to hire us, we will send you the necessary paperwork so we can immediately begin working on your case.

So I've Hired A Lawyer. Now What?

When you hire us, we immediately go to work on your case. We will deal with the insurance company, the investigation, gathering of your medical bills, and building your case.

After getting your vehicle repaired or replaced, you only have 1 job to do after hiring us. Get better. We want you to focus on your recovery and follow all your doctors' orders. Doing this will hopefully put you on the path toward a full recovery.

Building Your Case

Immediately after you hire us, we will begin building your case. First, we will send a letter to the insurance company stating that you have retained representation, and that they are not allowed to contact you directly. They must go through us.

The Investigation

We quickly start investigating your accident by obtaining witness statements, obtaining evidence, gathering your medical records, calculating your wage losses and future medical bills, and any other damages you may have suffered as a result of your accident. Your only job is to go to the medical appointments and try to get better.

Settlement Negotiations

What's a Settlement?

A settlement is typically a sum of money paid by an insurance company. The vast majority of cases settle before going to court. However, we prepare all of our cases for a trial if that becomes necessary. We will fight to the fullest extent of the law to try and get you full and fair compensation.

How Long Will It Take?

Typically clients want to know two things: How much is my case worth and how long will it take? No lawyer knows the answers to those questions when you first hire them. The fact of the matter is that there are hundreds of factors that will determine the answers. Early in the case, you may not know the extent of any permanent injuries for which you may need compensation, and you may not know the total amount of your medical bills until a later date. Once your condition stabilizes and our investigation into the case is completed, your South Carolina accident attorney will be able to give you a more informed legal opinion. At that time a “demand” is typically sent to the insurance company to begin the potential settlement process.
Once a demand is sent to the insurance company, the insurance company usually responds after completing an evaluation of your case. At that point, your accident attorney will discuss the insurance company's response with you. If you are not satisfied with the insurance company's settlement offer or response, and no settlement is reached, then the next step is for your accident attorney to file a lawsuit. Most settlements are paid within 4 weeks of being accepted. However, if an acceptable settlement is not reached at this phase, the next step is for us to prepare and file a lawsuit.

Filing a Lawsuit

Filing The Complaint

Most of the time, auto accident cases are resolved in a settlement, but in some instances, they require a lawsuit to get resolved. In this instance, the first step is for your auto accident attorney to write a legal document called a complaint. The complaint is filed at the courthouse, and then the defendant (more likely his insurance company) will have an attorney file a formal response with the Court. Filing a lawsuit does not mean that you are going to trial. Again, the vast majority of lawsuits also settle before trial. People often think they are “going to court” if the file a lawsuit. In layman’s terms, the filing of a lawsuit simply takes the case out of the informal setting between your lawyer and the insurance company and formally puts it in into the court system so that a judge can assist with any legal disputes that arise.

Discovery

The discovery phase begins after a lawsuit is filed. This phase of the case allows both sides to ask questions and obtain additional documents that may not have been available without a subpoena. The purpose is to “discover” the other side's evidence, and learn more about the opposing party's case. This is done by many methods, including submitting requests for documents, and submitting interrogatories (questions in writing that the opposing party must answer) or depositions (in-person or videoconference interviews conducted by the attorneys.)

We will be by your side, every step of the way, to fight for a favorable outcome in your case.

Alternative Resolution Methods

At any point during the case, you can decide to settle your case. There are several ways to settle a case.

Negotiation

Sometimes cases settle on “the court house steps”. That means that the case settles right before trial. Often times, the threat of a jury trial is the only thing that encourages the insurance company to increase their settlement offer. That is because during your case, the settlement money is under their control. Once a trial begins, the insurance company loses some of that control and it is placed in the hands of the judge and/or jury – who may order a lot more money to be paid to you than what the insurance company wants to offer. Sometimes the most reasonable and fair settlement offers do not get made until right before a trial is scheduled to begin. Some cases even settle during or even after trial. While this is less common, it occurs from time to time.

Mediation

Mediation is a process where both parties meet in front of an agreed-upon mediator. Mediators are trained professionals who are skilled at moderating fair negotiations. The goal of mediation is a resolution, but if no resolution is reached, the case will continue on.
During The Course Of The Case, Both Parties May Also Engage In Direct Negotiations.

Trial

We prepare every case as if we are going to trial. We believe the best way to avoid trial and obtain the best settlement possible is to show the insurance company that we will accept nothing other than a fair settlement, and take it to a trial if it is necessary.

What Happens At Trial?

At trial, we will present your case in front of a jury or judge to let them decide the fair value of your case.

Resolution

At the end of trial, we typically receive a verdict, which can result in a judgement. Trial can take anywhere from a day to a week (or more) depending on the complexity of the case.

 

Experienced Charleston Personal Injury Lawyer

Why You Should Choose Bringardner Injury Law Firm

Mark Bringardner is an experienced wrongful death and personal injury lawyer serving the entire state of South Carolina. He fights for his clients to recover the full and fair compensation they need and deserve after an accident.He and his team handle all types of personal injury matters in South Carolina, including all traffic accident-related accidents:

Along with traffic accidents, other types of personal injury cases he handles include:

As experienced advocates for injury victims, we know that catastrophic accidents cause debilitating injuries, changing the course of your future and turning your life upside down. When an accident is caused by another party’s negligent or reckless actions, you will have one chance to pursue a claim for your injuries. In the immediate aftermath of an accident, hiring a personal injury lawyer can help you:

  • Make arrangements for immediate medical care, and communicate with insurance companies.
  • Meet with medical specialists to treat and document your injuries, as well as how they are affecting you.
  • Calculate your total medical expenses, lost earnings and pain and suffering
  • Pursue a claim or lawsuit for maximum compensation from the at-fault party or their insurance company.

Types of Personal Injuries We Handle

Mark Bringardner specializes in complex injuries and wrongful death cases. Some of the types of injuries our clients have suffered include:

  • Traumatic brain injuries / concussions
  • Blunt force injuries
  • Broken bones / fractures
  • Internal bleeding
  • Spinal cord injuries including paralysis
  • Pinched Nerves and Disc Herniations
  • Lacerations / cuts
  • Amputation injuries
  • Bruises / contusions
  • Soft tissue injuries
  • Surgeries
  • Coma
  • Fatal injury / wrongful death

If you have a serious injury due to another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions, you need to contact a South Carolina injury attorney right away. Do not give insurance companies the chance to take advantage of you, and do not fall victim to their common delay, deny, and defend tactics. You will increase your chances of winning your case if you have an experienced attorney on your side, fighting for you. We will guide you through every aspect of maximizing your injuries, from how to document your injuries and why you should not post on social media during your personal injury claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What Types of Compensation Are Available in a Personal Injury Claim?

A: Serious injuries, especially those resulting in permanent disability,  cause tremendous financial hardship. Damages may be broken down into actual damages (calculable economic damages), future damages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and shortened life expectancy, if applicable.Medical expenses will include everything related to your medical care, like ambulance transportation, emergency room care, hospitalization, doctor visits, prescription drugs, physical therapy, and surgeries. We work with life care planners to calculate expected future medical care.

The financial strain of medical expenses following an accident are quickly followed by loss of income from being unable to work. When calculating damages in a personal injury claim, your salary will be considered, along with your future earning capacity, which is your reduced ability to earn an income. If you are permanently disabled, this will be calculated to the end of your work life expectancy, and can be substantial.

Along with the actual and future economic damages, compensation for pain and suffering may be available. This includes physical pain, mental anguish, stress, anxiety, and PTSD. They are calculated based on your age and remaining life expectancy, the severity of your injuries.

A final consideration for a personal injury claim is the amount of insurance available. Each situation is different, and the amount of insurance available for your injury claim may depend on the specific facts of your case. Often times multiple insurance companies are responsible to pay. If you try to handle the case on your own, or hire an inexperienced lawyer, you may miss out on a lot of money that is available to pay for your medical bills, lost income, and damages.

Q. Do I Need to Report My Accident To My Insurance Company After An Accident?

A: Under the terms of most insurance policies, you are required to report your accident promptly. This is a contractual agreement you made when you purchased the policy. However, it is usually better if you hire an attorney to report the accident for you. Often times the insurance company, even your insurance company, will try to take your statement and then use it against you later. If you fail to report the accident to them, you could lose your right to file a claim for your injuries. After an accident, get medical attention right away. Then, hire an experienced personal injury lawyer to protect your rights. If you do call the insurance company, give facts only. Do not provide a recorded statement, do not address how serious your injuries are, or speculate on fault. Insurance claims adjusters are trained to be friendly and compassionate, but their job and even their compensation is centered upon one end-goal: paying as little as possible for insurance claims.

Q. How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

A: One of the most frequently asked questions for anyone looking to hire a personal injury lawyer is “How much will your services cost?” Our law firm handles claims on a contingency fee, or no win, no fee arrangement. We are only paid when the case is resolved and a settlement or verdict is reached. We do not get paid unless you get paid. We typically charge 1/3 of the recovery if the case is settled before a lawsuit is filed, and 40% if the case is resolved after a lawsuit is filed.  This arrangement allows you to put your energy into recovering and healing, while we fight for you and negotiate fair compensation. The last thing you should have to worry about during a difficult time is how to pay for a personal injury lawyer. We do not charge any fees up-front, and do not get paid until your case is resolved.

Q. What Is the Statute of Limitations for South Carolina Personal Injury Claims?

A: All states have a “statute of limitations” which is a strict time limit imposed on any civil lawsuit. In South Carolina, you typically have three years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. However, the statute of limitations may be shortened dramatically depending on the facts and circumstances of your case. For example, if a governmental entity or contractor causes your injury, you may only have 2 years to file a lawsuit. If your case has “jurisdiction” in another state, you may have even less time. Each case is different, and it is important to hire a personal injury attorney early so you do not miss important deadlines. Of course, we recommend that you hire an attorney as soon as possible. The most important part of many cases is the initial investigation that should occur immediately after an accident. If you wait too long to hire an attorney, important evidence and eyewitnesses may never be found. As soon as you contact us and retain our services, we will begin our investigation. We can handle communications with the insurance companies on your behalf and help ensure your rights are protected, especially in regards to preserving evidence. For example, if you are injured in a crash with a semi-truck, we can immediately send the trucking company a “evidence preservation letter”, to formally demand evidence relevant to the collision is preserved. Immediately after an accident, the trucking company may tow the truck hundreds of miles away to be repaired or destroyed. This evidence is important to your claim. In some cases, a settlement has come down to a single piece of evidence.

Q. Will My Personal Injury Case Go To Trial?

A. The vast majority of South Carolina personal injury claims will be resolved out of court. Settlements can be faster, less expensive, and provide certainty and closure. However, we prepare every case for trial, following legal procedures and letting the insurance company and defense attorney know we are serious about your case. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we will have no problem taking your case to trial.

Q: Why Should I Choose Mark Bringardner For My Personal Injury Claim?

A: Mark exclusively represents injury victims and families who have lost loved ones. Mark’s record-setting jury verdicts and settlements demonstrate his experience, work-ethic, and customized approach to each case that he handles. Because of his success, Mark is more selective about the cases he handles than most attorneys. He understands that no two cases are alike. He believes that you deserve a customized legal service and aggressive representation to protect your interests. Excellent customer service is the most important value of our firm. While past performance cannot guarantee future results, a good way to evaluate an attorney is to see what he has achieved for his past clients. If you ask around, Mark has a strong reputation among lawyers and insurance companies. He is known to get significant results quickly and efficiently. Because Mark is willing to try his cases to a jury if the insurance company is unfair or unreasonable, he often obtains larger settlements because the insurance companies know they are up against a serious lawyer. Unlike most lawyers seen on TV and billboards, Mark is a real personal injury lawyer with extensive courtroom and trial experience. Most lawyers on TV never step foot in a court room. They are just figureheads and advertisers. Mark has dedicated his career to practicing personal injury law and helping victims. He cares deeply for each of his clients. Although no one wants to need to hire a personal injury lawyer, clients enjoy working with Mark because he treats them like family. He has had tremendous success recovering maximum compensation for injury claims because he brings knowledge, experience and skill to every case, and insurance companies are familiar with his prior cases. He is passionate about every case he works on.

The attorney rating service Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, has honored Mark Bringardner as a “Rising Star” in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. He also has been listed in the National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100 and “Top 40 under 40” lawyers in South Carolina in 2019 and 2020. Mark has also been recognized by the 2021 edition of “Best Lawyers”, a peer-reviewed publication for legal professionals. Mark also serves as the chairman for the Torts & Negligence section of the South Carolina Association for Justice, South Carolina’s leading plaintiff attorney organization.

Why is having a personal injury lawyer important?

Having a South Carolina personal injury attorney on your side means your lawyer will file your claim on your behalf. You’ll have their legal knowledge and experience supporting your case, and their skills will help get you a fair settlement.

How much do lawyers take from a personal injury settlement?

Attorney fees are usually a percentage of an awarded settlement. This can range from 25 percent to 40 percent among South Carolina injury lawyers. You can expect 1/3rd of the recovered amount in a case will be paid to your attorney. Our case consultations are free.

How much can you get out of pain and suffering?

How pain and suffering is calculated in a personal injury case will usually depend on how much an injury has negatively affected your life. For example, these noneconomic damages may be assigned a number between 1 and 5 which is multiplied against your economic damages.

How long does it take for a personal injury claim to go through?

The time it takes for your personal injury case to settle can range from three months to over a year. Your case’s duration will vary by the severity of your injuries, the expert research that might be conducted about your accident’s circumstances, and whether a lawsuit is filed.

Who is at-fault for an accident?

Determining who is at-fault or “liability” is unique to each personal injury claim. It is not always obvious. Sometimes, multiple people, companies, governmental entities, or the person bringing the personal injury claim can be partially found at-fault. If you or a family member is a victim of negligence that resulted in an injury or death caused by another, you may have a personal injury claim. It is smart to hire a personal injury attorney soon after an accident to protect your rights and prevent the insurance company from taking advantage of you. Insurance companies begin working against you immediately after an accident. Their goal is to pay you nothing or very little for your claim.
These cases can be very different, with common themes of negligence. A skilled personal injury lawyer can help you determine if you have a claim, who may be responsible, and how to deal with the insurance companies. Some examples of personal injury scenarios that may occur – and the potentially liable parties are below:
  1. You are struck by a drunk driver while crossing the street. The drunk driver was drinking on his lunch break while driving a company owned vehicle. He had several prior DUIs and the company knew the history, yet continued to employ him. The employer of the drunk driver may be liable, in addition to the driver himself.
  2. You are riding your bicycle down the street and your tire becomes stuck in a crack in the road, causing you to fall off your bike and suffer a severe brain injury. You find out that crack has been there for years and several other bicycle accidents had occurred in the same spot, but the city did nothing about it fix it. The city responsible for maintaining the road may be liable for your injuries.
  3. You are working on a construction site. Another construction worker is operating an unstable backhoe which crushes your leg. An inspection reveals the backhoe had a manufacturing defect and was not capable of lifting the load it said it was rated for. The manufacturer of the backhoe may be liable for your injuries.
  4. Your mother is in a nursing home and is severely neglected by careless, overworked and/or underpaid nursing home employees. The nursing home may be liable for your mother’s injuries, suffering, and emotional distress.
  5. An inexperienced boater runs aground or crashes into a boat or object on the water and injures you. You may be able to hold the boat’s owner responsible for negligently entrusting the boat to an inexperienced and unqualified boater.
  6. A busy restaurant over-serves alcohol to its customers to make as much money as possible. One of those customers drives after getting drunk at the restaurant and crashes into you. The bar may be liable for Dram Shop liability for contributing to the cause of the DUI crash.
  7. A crowded bar does not have enough properly trained security guards and a fight breaks out that could have been prevented. You are injured as an innocent bystander. The bar may be responsible for negligent security and premises liability.
  8. Your neighbor invites you to come over and while you are there, their dog attacks you, causing you to break your arm. You are hospitalized when the wound becomes infected. The neighbor may be liable for your injuries and hospitalization (covered under their homeowner’s insurance policy).

If you have questions about whether you may have a claim for injuries, call us. We are happy to review your unique case and discuss potential liability. With all personal injury cases, we recommend reaching out to us as soon as possible.

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Get in touch with us today to get started on your free case review. After you submit your information, we will contact you as soon as possible before the end of the business day. We review all submissions as quickly as possible in the order in which they are received.