01 / What happened
Build the sequence from the available evidence.
A rear-end impact, intersection collision, lane change, or chain reaction can raise different questions. What could each driver see? How did the vehicles move? What do photographs, witnesses, recordings, and damage patterns help establish? A collision report is a starting point for examining those details.
If the drivers disagree, the investigation should address the disagreement directly. The aim is a supported account of the event, including facts that may complicate the claim. Questions about another person’s conduct and any alleged fault on your part need a legal assessment of the actual circumstances.
02 / Which insurance
One collision can involve several kinds of coverage.
The other driver’s liability policy, your own automobile coverage, and other applicable insurance can serve different purposes. Policy documents matter more than a description such as “full coverage.”
Liability coverage
This addresses covered claims against an insured who is legally responsible. Responsibility, the extent of the loss, and available policy limits remain separate questions.
Uninsured-motorist coverage
South Carolina law generally requires automobile liability policies to include uninsured-motorist coverage. Eligibility and coverage depend on the policy and circumstances; claims involving an unidentified driver have additional requirements.
Underinsured-motorist coverage
Insurers must offer this coverage in South Carolina, but policyholders may decline it. Whether it responds when the at-fault driver’s insurance is insufficient depends on the coverage and circumstances.
03 / Treatment and work
Connect the injury to its practical effects.
The assessment should address the treatment history, symptoms, restrictions, and changes in function. An accurate account includes relevant earlier conditions and treatment. The evidence needs to show what the collision caused or changed, without overlooking the history or assuming every later problem has the same cause.
Medical bills show expenses; they do not describe every consequence. Employment records can document time away and changes in earnings. Treatment recommendations and a clear account of daily limitations can explain why work, childcare, driving, or ordinary activities have become difficult. Future losses require support, not a standard multiplier applied to the bills.
04 / Offers and releases
Know what a payment would resolve.
Vehicle damage and bodily injury are different losses. A repair payment may address a different part of the claim from an injury settlement, but the documents determine the scope. A release deserves careful attention: what claims and people does it cover, and what rights would be given up?
The same care applies when treatment is ongoing or several insurers are involved. Evaluating an offer includes the supported losses, remaining uncertainty, coverage issues, and settlement terms. The amount printed on a check is only one part of that decision.
05 / The case process
Prepare the claim so the decisions are informed.
We develop the collision evidence, medical record, and explanation of loss with trial in view. That preparation gives the insurer a substantiated claim to assess and gives you a basis for considering an offer. Preparing for trial does not mean that every case must be tried.
If suit is needed, discovery allows both sides to request records and question witnesses. South Carolina circuit-court civil cases generally proceed through court-ordered mediation, subject to exceptions and permitted alternatives. Mediation is an opportunity to negotiate; unresolved issues may still require a trial. Treatment, evidence, disputed responsibility, and the court’s schedule can all affect timing.
Questions clients ask
Questions after a car accident.
Does accepting a vehicle-damage payment settle my injury claim?
It depends on what you agree to. The payment and release must be reviewed for their scope. Do not assume that every insurer’s document is limited to the vehicle just because the first discussion concerned repairs.
What if the insurer accepts fault but disputes my injuries?
The injury and loss still need to be established. Treatment records, an accurate medical history, work information, and evidence of daily limitations help address what the collision caused and how it affected you.
Should I wait until treatment ends to call?
No. We can begin discussing the incident, available evidence, and insurance while treatment continues. You do not need to predict your recovery or arrive with every record before seeking a review.
What does the initial review cost?
Call 843-481-4000 or email team@allenlegal.net with a general description and your contact information. The firm will explain any proposed representation separately.
This is general information. Applicable law, deadlines, and available claims depend on the facts. An initial inquiry alone does not establish representation.