Available 24/7
(843) 846-6444
Available 24/7
(843) 846-6444
(843) 864-6444Personal Injury Attorney in Saluda, SC
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 Saluda, 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:
- Now that you're injured, what happens next?
- How am I going to pay for my stay at the hospital?
- Am I going to get fired because I've missed work?
- How will I be able to become independent again after this serious injury?
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.
- Your Local Personal Injury Attorney
- Max Sparwasser: A Personal Injury Lawyer in Saluda, SC You Can Trust
- Injured in a Car Wreck? It's Time to Fight for Your Rights
- The Truth About Insurance Companies and Car Accidents in South Carolina
- Trust the Max Sparwasser Law Firm Difference
- Worker's Compensation Personal Injury
Service Areas
Max Sparwasser: A Personal Injury Lawyer in Saluda, SC You Can Trust
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 Saluda 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:
Why Choose The Max Sparwasser Law Firm, LLC?
Injured victims choose Max Sparwasser Law Firm, LLC because we put our clients' needs first.
We Work for You
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.
Seasoned Personal Injury Lawyer
Your case is going to be handled personally by Max, properly and professionally. NO FEES are collected unless you are paid benefits.
Personalized Attention
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.
Injured in a Car Wreck? It's Time to Fight for Your Rights
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 Saluda 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 Saluda, SC, can maximize your chances of winning your case.
The Truth About Insurance Companies and Car Accidents in South Carolina
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.
The Truth About Insurance Companies and Car Accidents in South Carolina
When you hire a personal injury attorney in Saluda, 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.
The Role of Negligence in South Carolina
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:
- Running Red Lights
- Speeding
- Failure to Yield
- Distracted Driving
- DUI
- Improper Lane Change
- Much More
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.
Workers' Compensation Claims in South Carolina Explained
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 Saluda, SC, fought some of the state's biggest employers in court, including brands such as:
- Volvo
- BMW
- College of Saluda
- Boeing
- Medical University of South Carolina
- Kapstone
- Roper Hospital
- Rober Bosch Corporation
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
Who Can Receive Workers' Comp Benefits in South Carolina?
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:
- Federal Employees
- Small Businesses with Three or Less Employees
- Agricultural Employees
- Casual Employees
- Some Realtors
- Corporate Officers
- Railroad Workers
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.
Top Reasons to Hire a Worker's Compensation Personal Injury Attorney in Saluda, SC
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:
- Reporting the Injury to Management and Continuing to Work
- Having an Existing Condition
- Fear Over Job Termination
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.
Trust the Max Sparwasser Law Firm Difference
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 Saluda, 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.
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Latest News in Saluda, SC
Hurricane Helene: See the historic river level, rainfall, wind speed totals for the Upstate
A.J. Jacksonhttps://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2024/09/28/what-were-the-top-as-the-rare-the-wind-speedhow-much-rain-did-hurricane-helenefell-in-the-upstate-sc/75430155007/
As many as 4 million utility customers lost power from Florida to Virginia following Hurricane Helene, according to the National Weather Service and USA Today reports.In the Upstate, river flood warnings remain until Monday, but flash flood emergencies have ended for Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, and Spartanburg counties, said Clay Chaney, an NWS meteorologist.Here are wind, rainfall, and river level statistics in the Upstate caused by the storm.Hurricane Impact:...
As many as 4 million utility customers lost power from Florida to Virginia following Hurricane Helene, according to the National Weather Service and USA Today reports.
In the Upstate, river flood warnings remain until Monday, but flash flood emergencies have ended for Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, and Spartanburg counties, said Clay Chaney, an NWS meteorologist.
Here are wind, rainfall, and river level statistics in the Upstate caused by the storm.
Hurricane Impact:Helene in South Carolina updates: 11 deaths reported in Upstate; thousands without power
River levels around the Upstate from Hurricane Helene
Rainfall totals from Hurricane Helene
How high were wind gusts in the Upstate during Hurricane Helene?
Duke Energy restores power to 723,000, 1 million wait
According to Duke Energy, Hurricane Helene caused more than 1.7 million outages to customers across South Carolina. About 1 million customers in the state are still without power.
As of 5:45 p.m., Duke Energy's outage map shows about 534,000 customers in the Upstate without power.
According to Ryan Mosier, communications lead at Duke Energy, "The damage we are seeing from Helene is historic. Folks who have spent 30-year careers at Duke Energy have never seen anything like this."
There have been no updates on a timeline of full power restoration since Thursday afternoon's press conference alongside Gov. Henry McMaster, where energy company officials across the state said that it is hard to make an exact statement about when households and businesses will have power back, but it could be as late as mid-week.
As of 3 p.m. on Saturday, Duke Energy confirmed resolving more than 723,000 power outages across South Carolina.
Laurens Electric Cooperative restores 25 percent of service area
According to the Laurens Electric outage website, there are still about 44,000 customers without power in their service area as of 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The utility had restored about 25 percent of its membership's power by noon.
The cooperative energy service provides power to more than 66,000 members across the Upstate in Anderson, Greenville, and Spartanburg counties. No timeline has been set for when all members will have full service.
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative expects multiple-day outages
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative has dispatched 300 crew members and line workers to assess Hurricane Helene damage across Anderson, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg counties. Initially, 216 workers were deployed.
The co-op estimates there are more than 289 broken poles in the service area.
Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative provides energy services to customers in Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg, Oconee, and Pickens counties in the Upstate. There has been no updated timeline from Blue Ridge Electric on an expected full energy restoration for their service area.
Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina: Outages may last a week or longer
In a statement provided by the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina (ECSC), the western portion of the state should prepare for outages of at least a week, if not longer, as crews repair a mangled power grid.
ECSC also reported that at least 1,400 cooperative power poles were snapped by the storm and require replacement.
"This is not a simple restoration job," said Mike Couick, chief executive of ECSC. "For many areas, particularly in the Upstate and along the western border of South Carolina, co-ops are essentially rebuilding our electric system from the ground up.
ECSC is the state trade association of independent, member-owned electric cooperatives with nearly 2 million members and 20 electric cooperatives. They provide energy to portions of Anderson, Greenville, Spartanburg, Oconee, and Pickens counties in the Upstate.
– A.J. Jackson covers the food & dining scene, along with arts, entertainment and downtown culture for The Greenville News. Contact him by email at ajackson@gannett.com, and follow him on X (formally Twitter) @ajhappened. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers.Sign up today for a digital subscription.
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