Charleston, South Carolina, is a popular tourist destination for those traveling from elsewhere within the state as well as from out of state. If you’re a tourist in Charleston and you sustain an injury caused by someone else, understanding your rights is crucial.
Through a personal injury lawsuit, you could recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. However, you must act quickly, as South Carolina only allows injury victims three years to file lawsuits against the parties responsible for harming them.
Common Ways Tourists Are Injured in Charleston
Tourists in Charleston, SC, can sustain injuries in many ways, from slip-and-falls to boating accidents. Some of the most common tourist injury cases our firm handles include:
- Slip and Fall Accidents: Slip and fall accidents can occur anywhere, including in stores, hotel lobbies, and the Charleston International Airport. If property owners don’t maintain safe environments, they could be liable for the resulting injuries.
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: Rental car accidents can be even more stressful than normal car accidents because, in addition to everything else, victims must also deal with the rental car company.
- Premises Liability Incidents: Beyond slip and fall accidents, other incidents can occur due to hazardous property conditions. Hotels and event spaces may provide inadequate security, and poor building maintenance can cause tourists to be struck by falling objects.
- Pedestrian Accidents: Many tourists in Charleston enjoy walking around the city. However, this comes with the risk of being struck by a distracted or aggressive driver.
- Boating Accidents: As a city surrounded by water, boating is popular in Charleston, particularly for tourists. Unfortunately, boating accidents can occur in various ways and lead to many severe injuries, including head injuries, lacerations, and drownings.
Can You File a Personal Injury Claim If You Live Out of State?
If you live out of state, you can still file a personal injury claim in South Carolina for injuries that occurred while you were in the state. An experienced South Carolina personal injury lawyer can file your lawsuit and handle everything for you from start to finish.
You do not have to meet with your lawyers in person. Instead, you can discuss your case over the phone or via Zoom call, which is often easier for out-of-state victims than traveling back to Charleston. However, if you are still in Charleston, our lawyers will be happy to meet with you in person.
Who May Be Liable for Your Injury?
The party or parties that may be liable for your injury depend on the circumstances of the accident that harmed you.
For example, the boat owner or operator may be liable if your injury resulted from a boating accident. If it resulted from a car accident, another motorist may be liable. And if you slipped and fell in a hotel, the hotel may be liable.
Identifying the at-fault parties is one of the major roles your lawyer will have in your case. They’ll do this by investigating the incident and collecting various types of evidence that connect a party’s actions to your injuries.
It’s also important to remember that several parties could share liability. If you were in a car accident, the other driver could be partially at fault for running a red light. However, the rental car company could also share liability if the car it provided to you was poorly maintained and contributed to causing the accident.
Compensation Available to Injured Tourists in Charleston
The compensation injured tourists could receive through their personal injury cases in Charleston falls into two categories. The first are economic damages. This money is compensation sought for your losses that have tangible value, such as medical expenses and lost wages. The second are non-economic damages, which are compensation sought for your losses with intangible value, such as permanent disability, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
To maximize your recovery, it’s vital that you work with an experienced lawyer who can accurately assess your past and future losses and determine a fair value for them.
Steps to Take After an Injury in Charleston, SC
Taking the right steps after an injury in Charleston can strengthen your case and maximize your potential compensation. Some of the most important steps to take include:
- Report the Accident: Always report an accident resulting in injury to the police. They’ll file an official incident report, which you may need when making an insurance claim against the at-fault party.
- Seek Ongoing Medical Treatment: You should follow up with all medical treatments until you have fully recovered. Once you are fully recovered, it will be easier for your lawyer to assess the value of your case, as medical complications are unlikely to arise.
- Memorialize the Accident in Writing: Write down everything you remember about the incident in a journal. This includes the date and time it occurred, who was with you, what you were doing, and how the accident happened.
- Avoid Speaking to the Insurance Company: The at-fault party’s insurance company may contact you for a statement about the incident. Do not speak to the insurance adjuster without your lawyer present. Their job is to get you to admit fault for the accident. They’ll twist your words to make it seem like you did.
- Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer: It’s always in your best interest to consult a personal injury lawyer after an accident in South Carolina. A lawyer can provide legal advice tailored to your particular situation and protect your rights.
Contact Our Charleston Personal Injury Lawyers
If you were injured while traveling in Charleston, SC, it’s crucial that you take the proper steps to protect your right to seek compensation. Contact Murphy Crantford Meehan for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer about your case.
During your initial consultation, our lawyers will review the incident that caused your injuries. We’ll walk you through what to expect from your legal case. We’ll also answer your questions and make sure you feel confident in hiring our firm to handle your case from start to finish.
