Accidents can happen suddenly, catching even the most prepared person off guard. One minute, you may be strolling to a restaurant after a long day at work, and the next minute, someone else's carelessness can change your life forever. Personal injury victims not only endure negligence but also experience pain and worry about their families and ability to work. Often, these victims cannot afford to focus on work and family when they're injured or even clinging to life in an ER. Without a personal injury attorney in Lancaster, SC, to fight for their rights, these same victims provide official statements by mistake to insurance companies. They accept embarrassingly low settlement offers without realizing that they deserve much more.
If you've been hurt in an accident recently, ask yourself these questions:
With 30.21 personal injury cases for every 100,000 residents in South Carolina - 217% higher than the national average - it's not surprising that men and women like you are asking the questions above. At the Max Sparwasser Law Firm, LLC, our hearts hurt for victims who are suffering needlessly.
Because, at the end of the day, they're not just hurting physically. They're struggling to make ends meet due to the cost of car repairs, medical bills, doctor's appointments, and loss of income. Fortunately, personal injury laws in South Carolina state that the parties found responsible for your suffering and pain must account for your expenses. With a personal injury lawyer by your side, you have a real shot at getting the compensation you deserve.
If you've been injured in an accident in South Carolina, you have the right to file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. If the insurance company doesn't offer a fair settlement, consider speaking with our Lancaster personal injury lawyer.
At the Max Sparwasser Law Firm, LLC, our goal is to help accident victims in South Carolina recover the maximum amount for their losses, including damages for pain and suffering. Unlike some personal injury law firms, our expert attorneys know that no two cases are ever exactly the same. That's why we take a personalized approach to each case that comes across our desk.
You can rest easy knowing that your personal injury case starts with a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. During this initial meeting, we'll review your accident, determine liability, and recommend the best legal course of action for you. Max Sparwasser and his team focus on a range of personal injury categories, including the following:
Injured victims choose Max Sparwasser Law Firm, LLC because we put our clients' needs first.
Max dedicates focused attention to your claim and is confident that once you've met and talked to him, you will feel comfortable entrusting him with your personal injury case.
Your case is going to be handled personally by Max, properly and professionally. NO FEES are collected unless you are paid benefits.
Now that you know a little bit more about our personal injury law firm and how we take care of our clients, let's take a look at two of the most common types of personal injury cases we take: Car accidents and workers' compensation.
As an experienced personal injury attorney, Max has the right training and legal tools to assist with your compensation claims and your personal injury case as a whole.
If you've ever been in a minor fender bender, you know how frustrating and scary it can be when police are called and insurance companies get involved. Dinging a car is one thing, but a full-on car wreck is a completely different story. A car accident in Lancaster can result in significant expenses such as vehicle damage and medical costs.
If a distracted driver kills your loved one, the impact on your family can be profound and long-lasting. Survivors of car accidents often experience emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other challenges that alter their quality of life. In the face of these life-changing events, aggressive representation from a personal injury attorney in Lancaster, SC, can maximize your chances of winning your case.
Here's an uncomfortable truth to digest: Insurance companies often aim to pay out as little as possible. Fortunately, you can protect yourself from their tactics by getting the right legal support for your personal injury claim.
When you report a crash to an insurer, they'll assign an adjuster to your case. However, these adjusters deal with many cases and may not fully understand yours. If an insurance claims adjuster contacts you, be cautious. They aren't looking out for your best interests. It's common for adjusters to push for settlements that undervalue your claim.
Stick to the facts if you talk to an adjuster and refuse to provide a recorded statement or agree to any settlement. Instead, wait until you've consulted with a personal injury attorney. At the Max Sparwasser Law Firm, LLC, our team of car accident lawyers will assess the true worth of your claim and protect you from being taken advantage of by insurance companies.
When you hire a personal injury attorney in Lancaster, SC, from Max Sparwasser Law Firm, you don't have to know all our state's car crash and insurance laws. We have the expertise, knowledge, and resources to handle any case related to a car accident in the Lowcountry. Our long-time car accident attorneys can handle the legal proceedings for you and provide you with peace of mind during negotiations. With that said, we understand that the more you know about South Carolina's car wreck laws, the better you can safeguard your rights after an accident.
As such, here are three car wreck laws in South Carolina you should understand:
It's important to keep in mind that there's a time limit, known as the statute of limitations, for filing a car accident claim in South Carolina. Typically, you need to pursue your claim against the at-fault driver or another party within three years of the car accident. However, there are certain cases that require action within two years. If you fail to file your personal injury claim within the specified deadline, you may forfeit your right to make a claim permanently.
Like many other states, South Carolina operates under a "fault" insurance system. This system holds the driver responsible for covering the damages of the injured party if they are at fault for the accident.
If you are in a car accident and it leads to a personal injury claim due to negligence, the court needs to determine that you (the plaintiff) are 50% or less at fault for the accident. If you are found to be more than 50% responsible, you will lose your right to seek compensation. However, if you are 50% or less at fault, you will receive at least some compensation. Your award will be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you.
When drivers take the wheel, they bear the responsibility of being careful and attentive to their surroundings. This means watching out for other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and all road users. However, if a driver chooses to text, eat, or talk on the phone while driving, they are failing to do so and are behaving negligently.
Negligence involves acting carelessly, resulting in harm or damage. Other examples of negligence include:
If you've been in a car accident and need help understanding our local laws or the role of negligence in your case, schedule your free claim assessment with the Max Sparwasser Law Firm, LLC, today. The sooner you know your rights and file a claim, the sooner our lawyers can advocate on your behalf. Our accident lawyers will uphold your best interests despite pushback from insurance companies and the complex legal system in South Carolina.
While South Carolina's workplace incidence rate was lower than the national average in 2020, tens of thousands of workers were reportedly injured on the job. In fact, private employers in South Carolina reported 29,100 nonfatal injuries and illnesses, resulting in an incident rate of 2.1 cases per 100 full-time equivalent workers. In 2021, the private sector reported 30,300 such injuries and illnesses, leading to an incidence rate of 2.2 cases per 100 workers, many of whom hired.
Public sector employers reported 8,100 injury and illness cases in 2021, with 72 percent occurring among local government workers. Occupational illness trends in South Carolina mirrored those seen nationwide. In 2020, the private sector accounted for 4,200 of the total reported cases, and 3,100 in 2021, showing a 26 percent decline.
Respiratory illnesses made up 79 percent of the total occupational illnesses reported in South Carolina in 2020. In 2021, 89.8 percent of private industry recorded incidents were injuries.
Personal injury attorneys in Lancaster, SC, fought some of the state's biggest employers in court, including brands such as:
While there is no single federal law governing workers' compensation, every state in the U.S. has its own workers' compensation system. This program provides financial benefits to employees who experience job-related injuries or illnesses. Typically, an injured worker can receive workers' compensation benefits without needing to prove their employer's negligence. In exchange, the employee forfeits the right to file a personal injury claim against the employer.
Under the state workers' comp system, an injured employee will be reimbursed for all necessary medical treatment following a workplace accident. If the injury or illness leads to more than seven days of missed work, the employee will receive 66.66% of their average weekly wage, up to a maximum amount. Workers may also receive compensation for permanent disabilities or disfigurement. The maximum award for death or total disability is 500 weeks of compensation.
Lifetime benefits are available in cases of paraplegia, quadriplegia, and brain injury. It should be noted that trying to
In South Carolina, most employees are eligible for workers' compensation benefits if they suffer an injury or illness while working. Employees don't need to prove fault; they just need to prove that the injury or illness happened at work or during a work-related activity. Unfortunately, there are exceptions under the SC State Workers' Compensation Act, meaning some employers never qualify for workers' compensation.
Those restrictions apply to:
Employers who fall under the SC State Workers' Compensation Act must maintain the required minimum amounts of workers' comp insurance. If you're trying to pick up the pieces after being injured at work, contact the Max Sparwasser Law Firm, LLC today. Our personal injury attorneys will work tirelessly to get you the help you need to rebuild your life.
Many injured workers assume they can save money by foregoing a personal injury attorney to oversee their workers' comp claim. In reality, many plaintiffs lose money - or don't get the proper amount they're owed - when they choose not to hire a lawyer. If you were recently injured at work and are on the fence about retaining counsel for your case, keep these facts in mind.
To safeguard your rights and ensure you receive fair compensation, injured individuals must file a workers' compensation claim. Unfortunately, many people come up with reasons why they shouldn't file a claim before determining whether their claim is valid.
Some of the most common reasons for doing so include:
You should know that making the decisions above doesn't necessarily disqualify you from making a workers' comp claim. That's why it's so important to work with an experienced workers' compensation lawyer. Great workers' comp attorneys - like those at the Max Sparwasser Law Firm, LLC - thoroughly assess your case and help determine whether you have a valid claim for workers' compensation benefits.
Here's a safely kept secret in the insurance industry: Skilled workers' compensation lawyers create risk. Insurance companies hate risk because it exposes them and causes them to lose money. An experienced workers' compensation lawyer takes on risk by developing the best strategy to maximize your benefits and gathering evidence that will be admissible in a hearing.
Do you truly understand the benefits you're entitled to? Do you know what you need to prove in order to win? Do you know how to effectively present that evidence? This can be quite complex, even for attorneys, which is why an injured employee alone doesn't pose much of a threat to the insurance company. That's why professional help from a qualified attorney is essential in workers' comp cases.
It's important to keep in mind that there's a time limit, known as the statute of limitations, for filing a car accident claim in South Carolina. Typically, you need to pursue your claim against the at-fault driver or another party within three years of the car accident. However, there are certain cases that require action within two years. If you fail to file your personal injury claim within the specified deadline, you may forfeit your right to make a claim permanently.
It's important to keep in mind that there's a time limit, known as the statute of limitations, for filing a car accident claim in South Carolina. Typically, you need to pursue your claim against the at-fault driver or another party within three years of the car accident. However, there are certain cases that require action within two years. If you fail to file your personal injury claim within the specified deadline, you may forfeit your right to make a claim permanently.
Whether you have been injured in a car accident, hurt at work, or are struggling with another type of personal injury situation, know that our team is here to help. Our personal injury attorneys in Lancaster, SC are insurance claims experts and know how to negotiation and achieve maximum financial compensation. The best part? We take all cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don't pay us unless we win. That's the Max Sparwasser Law Firm difference. Contact our office today to learn more about personal injury cases in South Carolina and whether or not you have a valid claim.
Latest results and news about the 2024 national elections, and key North Carolina and South Carolina elections.Voters in several counties across the Charlotte region were asked to approve nearly $1 billion worth of bond referendums, mostly for schools and largely in the nearby counties of South Carolina. The largest of those bond votes, a $588 million bond package in Lancaster County, failed, according to ...
Latest results and news about the 2024 national elections, and key North Carolina and South Carolina elections.
Voters in several counties across the Charlotte region were asked to approve nearly $1 billion worth of bond referendums, mostly for schools and largely in the nearby counties of South Carolina. The largest of those bond votes, a $588 million bond package in Lancaster County, failed, according to unofficial results. A $227 million bond package in Chester County also failed.
When a government or school district issues bonds, it’s a bit like spending on a credit card or taking out a mortgage: The government borrows the money by selling bonds, pays for projects and then pays the bondholders back (with interest) over coming years using tax revenue.
York School District No. 1 bond
The York School District's $90 million bond package passed by a 64-to-36 margin, allowing the district to fund a new middle school, acquire property and renovate school facilities.
Lancaster County school bonds
Lancaster County voters rejected a $588 million school bonds package with a 60% to 40% margin. This would have funded the construction of several new schools in the district, as well as renovations at existing schools and the addition of security cameras with facial recognition to all schools.
Chester County school bonds
In Chester County, voters rejected a $227 million bond package that would have funded new and expanded high schools, as well as renovations at existing schools.
Union County, N.C. school bonds
Taxpayers in the Union County Public Schools District approved a $39 million bond package that school officials say will address some of the district’s aging facilities.
South Carolina voters also have two major transportation bonds on the ballot:
York County transportation sales tax
Voters in York County approved a one-cent sales tax increase to last for seven years, the latest in the county's "Pennies for Progress" program. The revenue would finance major road projects throughout the county, including widening U.S. Highway 21 and improving dozens of intersections. The total cost of the projects would be about $411 million.
Lancaster County transportation sales tax
In Lancaster County, voters opposed raising the sales tax by one cent for 15 years, in order to fund $405 million worth of transportation improvements. The big-ticket items of that package included widening Highway 521, widening Harrisburg Road, and widening Henry Harris Road, as well as dozens of intersection makeovers, road resurfacing and new roundabouts. Separately, voters opposed up to $250 million worth of bond spending for additional transportation projects, in order to borrow money upfront and start spending quickly on projects like the 521 widening.
U.S. President | North Carolina Statewide Races | NC and SC Measures...
U.S. President | North Carolina Statewide Races | NC and SC Measures
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CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Queen City News is your local election headquarters on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, and the days that follow.
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Voters in three of South Carolina’s Charlotte metro counties will decide the fate of nearly $1 billion in school bond referendums this election. School districts in Lancaster, Chester, and York counties are looking to expand capacity and enhance security features in campus buildings.Meanwhile voters in Chesterfield County are being asked to renew the county school district’s penny sales tax to help fund upgrades to athletic facilities, general renovations, and expanded classroom and cafeteria spaces.Lancaster...
Voters in three of South Carolina’s Charlotte metro counties will decide the fate of nearly $1 billion in school bond referendums this election. School districts in Lancaster, Chester, and York counties are looking to expand capacity and enhance security features in campus buildings.
Meanwhile voters in Chesterfield County are being asked to renew the county school district’s penny sales tax to help fund upgrades to athletic facilities, general renovations, and expanded classroom and cafeteria spaces.
Lancaster
The largest of the referendums on the ballot is in Lancaster, where the county school district is seeking $588.15 million, mostly for the construction of four new school buildings. The district serves almost 16,000 students in 22 schools; it is looking to add an elementary school and a high school to fast-growing Indian Land (which would use $315.6 million of the bond funds); a new elementary school in Lancaster ($113.45 million); and a new elementary school in Kershaw ($95 million).
An additional $37.6 million is earmarked for districtwide facilities upgrades, while $26.5 million would pay for security, safety, and facilities upgrades in the Buford community.
The tax impact on voters, should the referendum pass, would be about $65 per year for every $100,000 of assessed property value of an owner-occupied home, and per every $10,000 of assessed vehicle value. That tax would bump to $92 per year $100,000 of assessed value of non-owner-occupied residential properties.
Chester
In Chester, voters will decide on $227 million that would fund a pair of new high schools and upgrades to another.
The new high schools would replace the current buildings in Chester and Lewisville. The upgrades would be made at Great Falls High School.
The money raised by the referendum would cover most of the costs of the projects. According to information published by the district, the referendum would pay $99.1 million towards the new high school in Chester and $100.15 million towards the new high school in Lewisville. The remaining $16.8 million to complete both projects would be paid for by the district’s capital funds – which would pay for a theater and a gym at each location.
The tax impact, according to the district, would be $230 annually per $100,000 of assessed home value, plus $34.50 for every $10,000 of assessed vehicle value. The owner of a home valued at $100,000 and a vehicle valued at $10,000, therefore, would pay an additional $264.50 per year in taxes, if the bond referendum passes.
That is a big if, however. Chester voters have denied three successive bond referendums, in 2018, 2020, and 2022.
District spokesman Chris Christoff said that following the 2022 referendum, voters stated that they had felt the district was trying “to do a little too much at one time.” In response, the district launched a series of listening sessions this past spring.
“We asked, if we were to pursue a fourth referendum, what would you want to see,” Christoff said.
A follow-up survey asked whether voters understood the capacity, security, and facilities conditions issues in the district. According to the district, about 80% of the roughly 1,000 respondents said they better understood what they would be voting on, which is a scaled-down slate of projects that no longer include athletics expansions or work to the district career center.
If the referendum fails this round, Christoff said, the district will spent about $20 million of its own capital funds to replace the roofs at Great Falls and Chester high schools, plus other funds to buy additional modular classrooms in Lewisville – the fastest-growing area of the school district, he said.
Chester County School District serves about 5,500 students, which is up from about 5,100 students in 2018-19.
York
The smallest referendum on the ballot for Pee Dee voters this election is a $90 million bond that would pay for a new middle school and expansion and renovations to a learning center in York County School District 1, in York.
According to the district, four elementary schools and one middle school are between 80% and 90% capacity in a district that continues to grow along with the Charlotte metro. As of March, almost 2,400 new homes in the City of York are on tap from development plans in place, according to the district
Therefore, the district maintains, a new middle school is needed to meet that growth as elementary students age up.
The district also wants to renovate its Pinckney Street Learning Center/York One Academy to become an early childhood center.
The tax impact on voters would be $36 additional per year for every $100,000 of assessed home value; $54 per year for every $100,000 of assessed value on second or rental properties; and $945 per year for every $1 million of assessed business property value.
LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — News investigations take time. The process of digging up stories some people would rather not have told takes a while to develop sources, obtain records, verify facts, and interview the people with first-hand information about whatever it is we’re looking into.That’s exactly what Queen City News Chief Investigative Reporter Jody Barr was doing in Heath Springs, South Carolina, on Monday night.In Apr...
LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — News investigations take time. The process of digging up stories some people would rather not have told takes a while to develop sources, obtain records, verify facts, and interview the people with first-hand information about whatever it is we’re looking into.
That’s exactly what Queen City News Chief Investigative Reporter Jody Barr was doing in Heath Springs, South Carolina, on Monday night.
In April, the Lynches River Electric Cooperative board voted 5-4 to terminate Chief Executive Officer Brian Broughton’s employment. Rumors swirled about the reasons for the firing, but finding official documents about the specifics is a challenge.
Since electric cooperatives are considered private corporations, although they do receive taxpayer dollars, co-ops are not subjected to the provisions of the S.C. Freedom of Information Act.
The public’s ability to investigate the business conduct of electric cooperatives in S.C. is limited, as is the state’s authority to regulate them. The state’s Office of Regulatory Staff has limited oversight of these utilities and can, “…inspect, audit, and examine an association of electric cooperatives for compliance with certain laws and an association’s bylaws,” according to the ORS website.
The public can’t file an SCFOIA request to demand to see internal records of an electric cooperative since those entities are not public bodies as defined under the Act.
Meeting minutes from the April 15, 2024, co-op board meeting are not available anywhere on the LREC website. Those board minutes would likely contain the specifics for the termination. Obtaining those meeting minutes is just one piece of the investigative puzzle we’re working to confirm to further our pursuit of answers to what happened inside the LREC.
That’s what led us to The Bus Stop in downtown Heath Springs on Oct. 7, 2024.
Broughton’s brother, Greg, posted on the former CEO’s Facebook page on Oct. 6, reminding the public of a meeting set for Oct. 7, 2024, at 7 p.m. at The Bus Stop to be “…made aware of Lynches River Cooperative happenings and have any questions answered,” according to the public post still visible on Broughton’s page. The invite was also posted on a public LREC members’ Facebook page.
We wanted to hear Broughton’s side of the story and went to the meeting to get it. It was a town hall-style meeting with the former CEO seated at the front of the room, addressing a crowd seated inside facing him. Broughton told the crowd his side of how he believed he was mistreated and targeted by some of the LREC board. Broughton also touched on a few other elements related to allegations we’d received that caused us to take a closer look at the LREC.
Until we have those elements confirmed, vetted, and verified we’re not ready to publish the allegations as fact.
Our goal of attending the meeting wasn’t to immediately publish a report from it. The meeting was an opportunity to hear a side of the LREC story with Broughton speaking freely, delivering his side in his own words, in his own time, and under his own terms.
We listened for about an hour when Broughton began taking questions. Barr took the opportunity to question Broughton, even asking if he could move closer to the front of the room where Broughton was seated at a table so they could hear one another better.
“Come on,” Broughton told Barr when asked if he could move closer.
The exchange went on for ten minutes or so with Broughton answering questions before the crowd got involved and Broughton ordered us out of the town hall.
The video at the top of this story unpacks what happened Monday night – a night that ended in a 911 call and an investigation of a shooting outside a former LREC board member’s home minutes after the town hall.
When the rest of our investigation is finished, we’ll publish it.