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 Laurens, 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 Laurens 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 Laurens 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 Laurens, 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 Laurens, 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 Laurens, 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 Laurens, 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.
LAURENS COUNTY, S.C. —A Waterloo Elementary School teacher is no longer in the classroom after being accused of committing identity fraud to gain employment, according to the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office. Parents, all with children who have special needs, are expressing outrage and demanding answers from Laurens School District 55 about how this incident happened....
LAURENS COUNTY, S.C. —
A Waterloo Elementary School teacher is no longer in the classroom after being accused of committing identity fraud to gain employment, according to the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office. Parents, all with children who have special needs, are expressing outrage and demanding answers from Laurens School District 55 about how this incident happened.
“It’s really scary to think about because I’ve been around her so many times. I’ve been on field trips with her, and she seemed like a genuinely good person,” said one parent, who spoke anonymously out of fear of retaliation.
The district sent a letter to parents notifying them of the teacher’s removal but provided little information about how the alleged fraud was discovered.
“So many questions rushed through my mind, like who is this? How did she get a job here? Why did she get her identity changed? Like, what is happening? And we haven’t been able to get a lot of information yet,” another anonymous parent said.
According to district leaders, the teacher, identified as Bryia Scott, was employed by Aya Healthcare, a staffing agency contracted by Laurens School District 55.
One parent expressed their frustration with the hiring process, saying, “I feel like she came in with like a Craigslist application and just got the job.”
Here is a link to a September 2023 memo that lays out the requirements for school districts and guidance we have sent to school districts regarding Required Reporting, Certification, Background Checks, and Evaluation of Purchased Service Teachers.
In the memo from the South Carolina Department of Education, it is stated that hiring contractors does not absolve school districts of their responsibility to ensure student safety. The memo states districts must verify that contracted educators are appropriately certified and undergo thorough background checks.
According to school district leaders, they will be working to fill Scott's position by Jan. 7, 2025.
“I have already made the district aware that if they do not have a certified teacher in that room on the day that they return, that my son will not be there and that I expect his absences to be excused,” said one parent.
The incident has sparked broader concerns within the school community. Some parents have started a petition calling for cameras to be installed in special needs classrooms to enhance transparency and safety.
Gray Court, South Carolina – A celebration in Gray Court on Friday morning was a boon both to the Gray Court-Owings Historical Society and the Laurene County 250th Revolutionary War Committee with the unveiling of signage that explains the buildings in the settlement.The signage is important for explaining the history of the Culbertson Backcountry Settlement and its buildings, but also because it’s the first of 14 kiosks planned by the Laurens County 250th Revolutionary War Committee.Laurens County p...
Gray Court, South Carolina –
A celebration in Gray Court on Friday morning was a boon both to the Gray Court-Owings Historical Society and the Laurene County 250th Revolutionary War Committee with the unveiling of signage that explains the buildings in the settlement.
The signage is important for explaining the history of the Culbertson Backcountry Settlement and its buildings, but also because it’s the first of 14 kiosks planned by the Laurens County 250th Revolutionary War Committee.
Laurens County provided funding for the committee to prepare the interactive informational signs ahead of the nation’s 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, said Dianne Culbertson, a member of the SC 250 Anniversary American Revolution Commission and of the local Gray Court-Owings Historical Committee.
“We are planning 14 of them, and this is our first one completed. It has a QR code that takes you to a video that explains even more,” Culbertson said.
Piedmont artist Jorge Perez Rubio was hired to do the artistic representation of a settlement, and it includes each of the eight actual historic buildings at the site.
Located at 7072 Georgia Road in Gray Court, the settlement includes a block house moved from Oconee County, but all the other historic structures were moved from within five miles away.
“We have a church, a one-room African American school, two log cabins, the blockhouse, a blacksmith shop,
an outhouse and a chicken coop,” Culbertson said. “The only new structure was a small shed built to display several of the original massive logs from the blockhouse.”
The settlement represents the way many people lived during and before that time.
“We want the story told of the loyalists, the patriots, slaves, women, Native Americans and even children who were instrumental in the Revolution,” Culbertson said.
Many history textbooks have left out the important part our state and county played in the lead up to and the battles during the Revolutionary War, she added, and the LC 250th Committee is working through these 14 kiosks to remedy that.
For an in-depth video about the Laurens County Revolutionary War Trail and the Backcountry Settlement use QR code above or go to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNbL0AGqTjE.
This story originally ran on page 3 of the Wednesday, Nov. 20 issue of The Laurens County Advertiser.
Christmas is around the corner and the City of Laurens in partnership with Main Street Laurens has released their jam-packed calendar, celebrating all-things holiday and community related.It all starts with the official tree lighting event from 3 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6.“We’ll have Santa’s Village and the Holiday Vendor Market open at 3 p.m. This year, Martha Franks has a booth and residents have been making goat milk soap, crochet and other special crafts. Proceeds will go toward their senior living program,” ...
Christmas is around the corner and the City of Laurens in partnership with Main Street Laurens has released their jam-packed calendar, celebrating all-things holiday and community related.
It all starts with the official tree lighting event from 3 to 9 p.m. Dec. 6.
“We’ll have Santa’s Village and the Holiday Vendor Market open at 3 p.m. This year, Martha Franks has a booth and residents have been making goat milk soap, crochet and other special crafts. Proceeds will go toward their senior living program,” said Lisa Canada, Marketing Director. “Sanitary Market will be there with craft beer and there will be a variety of shops with homemade ornaments, jewelry and more.”
The tree lighting ceremony is at 7 p.m. with Santa and Mayor Nathan Senn, followed by the annual illuminated bike ride around the square. There will be carriage rides offered and plenty of family-friendly activities.
On Dec. 7, the Holiday Market returns from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., along with the carriage rides and the Christmas parade kicking off at 4 p.m.
“Other than carriage rides and shopping, it’s a big, free, community event and the official kick off to our holidays,” Canada said. “We also have merchants hosting their own holiday events. I know Southern Twist and Trade for example, will have pictures with the Grinch. Be sure to follow us on Facebook for additional information.”
Also on Dec. 7 will be the annual Laurens Christmas Parade from 4pm-5:30pm.
Canada said the support they’ve received for the event has been overwhelming.
“Jersey Mikes is our presenting sponsor. Groucho’s Deli is donating the cookies Mrs. Claus will hand out. Love Bailey, Martha Franks, PRTC, the Palmetto Room and CPW have all supported us,” Canada said. “We couldn’t do these events without them.”
As the month continues, Main Street Laurens will offer festive activities for the entire community.
On Dec. 13, a Holiday Wine and Chocolate Tasting event will bring guests around the square, popping into various stores and trying a variety of local wine and chocolates.
“This is a fun way to invite people in to shop while having a unique experience,” said Craig Scharton, Executive Director of Main Street Laurens. “It’s a fun date night or a girls night out.”
Tickets are now available.
Plan to finish up last-minute shopping on Dec. 20 with the free community Christmas Cookies and Caroling event from 5 to 8 p.m.
“Sometimes things can be too organized. This is an organic event that invites the community out to go caroling on the square. Our local businesses will have their own Christmas cookies in each store and we’re going to walk around downtown, sing some carols and have some fun,” Scharton said.
Volunteers with Main Street Laurens hope to create a tradition with those who love to sing, shop and spend time with their friends in the community.
If you haven’t already, be sure to use one of these opportunities to vote for your favorite window decorations too.
“Pick up a ballot with any merchant on the square through Dec. 13, vote for your favorite window design and drop off to Designs by D,” Scharton said.
This is the second window design contest hosted by Main Street Laurens.
The first was held over the Fourth of July.
“It was really successful. We had 800 ballots dropped off and shop owners had a lot of fun with the friendly competition,” Scharton said.
Visit the Main Street Laurens Facebook page or The City of Laurens, SC Facebook page for the most up-to-date schedule.