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South Carolina is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. Like many popular cities, however, our state has a major personal injury problem. Did you know that, in South Carolina, the rate of personal injury cases is 30.21 per 100,000 residents, which is 217% higher than the national average of 9.53?
In fact, personal injury cases account for 36% of the state's entire civil caseload, which is 210% more than the national average proportion. That's the third-highest proportion of personal injury cases in the country, with the average being 11.65% in the United States.
If you've suffered an injury due to someone else's fault, it's safe to say that you're not alone. Like others in your situation, you may be enduring a long, painful recovery process. Unfortunately, recovery is just one of the many concerns you've got to worry about. While you're healing, you're probably also thinking about questions like:
At Bostic Law Group, P.A., we understand the stress and frustration you may be experiencing. Our personal injury attorneys have been helping clients since 2000 by utilizing their extensive experience and knowledge of state and federal personal injury laws to provide much-needed guidance when you need it most. During this difficult time, however, it's critical that you contact a personal injury lawyer in North Charleston as soon as possible to start the process of pursuing compensation.
If you've been involved in an accident that left you injured or incapacitated, dealing with legal matters and lawyers is the last thing you want to do. However, having a personal injury lawyer to handle the legal process while you recover can alleviate some of the stress in your life. The legal system in South Carolina can be complicated - especially when it comes to personal injury cases. Fortunately, hiring a personal injury attorney from Bostic Law can relieve the burden of managing your own case. Perhaps more importantly, working with a seasoned personal injury firm can help you get the compensation you need to survive and provide.
As your North Charleston accident attorney, our firm will guide you through your rights, the compensation you may be entitled to, and how to pursue it through a customized legal strategy. As the process progresses, our team will keep in touch with you to answer your queries, provide helpful advice when you have concerns, or simply be a friendly professional when you need to talk about your case.
Our attorneys specialize in a wide range of personal injury accidents and cases, including the following:
We provide aggressive legal representation to help you win the compensation you deserve while also offering compassion as you deal with your injuries and other legal matters. Throughout the process, we will act as your advocates and remain committed to providing you with honest and responsive service. And that, in a nutshell, is the Bostic Law difference.
Personal injury cases in South Carolina can happen from a number of different accidents, from car wrecks and wrongful death situations to nursing home negligence and workers' compensation issues. The sheer number of different personal injury cases makes understanding this niche of law particularly exhaustive - especially in The Palmetto State. But that doesn't change the fact that you should be educated on the topic if you have been injured due to no fault of your own.
To help you establish a solid foundation of knowledge on the subject, keep reading this article, which covers some of the laws governing personal injury cases in South Carolina and the steps you can take to protect your rights.
While some cases may share similarities, any personal injury attorney in North Charleston, SC, who says your case is exactly the same as someone else's isn't being truthful. There are several factors that come into play when determining the value of a case. These can include medical expenses, lost wages, permanent injury, the need for future medical care, where the incident occurred, and witness statements.
However, two particular factors have the most significant impact on the case's value: the defendant's behavior and the character of our client. Liability drives damages, while credibility is an essential asset for any client. No matter how skilled their attorney may be, a client's credibility and likability can greatly affect the outcome of the case. It's crucial to be open and honest with your attorney from the beginning so that they can help you overcome any obstacles that may arise during the case.
Did you know that insurance companies in the United States have spent millions of dollars stereotyping personal injury victims and the attorneys who represent them? Moreover, some people fake injuries, which can prejudice jurors against those who have actually been harmed. Despite those unfortunate facts, one truth remains: Horrible accidents occur every day, tragedies affect every community in our state, and families are left to deal with nothing but questions in the aftermath.
When tragedy strikes, it doesn't discriminate based on race, ethnicity, location, or profession. As such, South Carolina personal injury laws treat everyone equally. If you've been hurt because of someone else's carelessness, you have the right to hold them accountable both legally and financially, regardless of your background.
As they say, "It's not what you know; it's what you can prove." That saying is especially true in today's day and age. In order to receive full compensation for accident claims in South Carolina, it's not enough to just have physical harm, medical bills, and ongoing pain. As your personal injury lawyers, we must establish additional elements of the case and provide proof to answer a number of questions before an insurance carrier or jury will make you whole.
Some of the questions we must provide answers to include:
Dealing with insurance companies can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to personal injury cases. Though the questions listed above may seem simple and their answers straightforward, insurance companies will dispute the value of your case for any reason they can find. But don't be discouraged. At Bostic Law, our personal injury lawyers have spent entire careers helping people overcome the challenges you're facing, and they're readily available to help you, too.
It's important to have insurance, especially if you get injured. With health insurance, you can receive medical treatment that you may not otherwise be able to afford. If you've been in an accident, we'll work to make sure the insurance company of the person at fault pays for your medical expenses. Medical expenses are defined by the true cost of the treatment you receive, not just what you pay out of pocket.
For instance, if your co-pays are $400 but your medical care costs $11,500, our state's personal injury laws guarantee that you'll get the full $11,500, not just your out-of-pocket expenses.
If the other party in your case cannot be proven to have been negligent, careless, reckless, or willful in some way, South Carolina law does not allow you to receive compensation. Negligence can be easily demonstrated at times, such as when a doctor forgets to remove a surgical tool from your body or when a texting driver hits someone from behind.
Liability can be disputed in other cases, such as when the other driver claims that the person swerved into their lane during a crash, or when a product manufacturer argues that an injury occurred due to improper use. In such cases, a personal injury lawyer can assist in identifying independent witnesses and experts who can establish that someone else is responsible for your injuries
Once an attorney in your case shows that the other party is liable for your injuries, they must then prove that their negligence is behind those injuries. As an example, suppose you have a previous history of back pain, and a short time later, you get in a rear-end collision. In such a situation, an insurance company may contend that your preexisting condition - and not the collision - is the reason behind your current back pain.
To counter their argument, we may require your doctor's testimony to verify that the accident aggravated your back pain, leading to medical attention. Additionally, we may ask your friends and family to describe any changes in your physical activity after the crash to further establish the difference in your condition and prove that it was caused by the accident.
If you have been unable to work for a period of time due to an accident, or if your injuries will affect your future earning potential, you are entitled to compensation for lost income. This includes both the wages you have already lost and the amount you will lose over your lifetime as a result of someone else's negligence. It is important that insurance companies do not underestimate or ignore these damages when negotiating a settlement.
It's critically important that you understand every aspect of your personal injury case before you settle or accept an insurance company's offer. Once you sign on the dotted line and approve a release, you won't qualify for further payments, even if you need more medical attention. That's why it's so important to work with a personal injury law firm like Bostic Law.
We'll evaluate your case for free to help you better understand the challenges ahead. When the insurance companies try to squirm out of covering your injuries, we'll fight to protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.
Now that you have the information above to help fortify your foundation of knowledge, let's take a look at some of our personal injury specialties at Bostic Law Group, P.A.
According to state records, out of the 3.9 million licensed motorists in South Carolina, close to 219 thousand were involved in auto accidents in 2019. If you were to account for those not licensed in the state, you would find that 1 in 20 drivers got in an auto wreck - about 5.6% of all motorists. Those statistics are staggering, and they seem to be getting worse.
Fortunately, in South Carolina, the law says that personal injury victims are entitled to compensation that covers the full extent of their injuries. Why? Because the purpose of auto injury compensation is to help the victim return to the life they had before their accident. Of course, in reality, that's easier said than done. Truly recovering from an auto accident - both physically and mentally - is quite rare.
The unfortunate truth is that it's not possible for personal injury laws in South Carolina to reverse or even account for the trials and tribulations you face due to auto accident injuries. But there's light at the end of the tunnel.
By hiring a personal injury lawyer in North Charleston, SC, you can receive financial compensation that equals those damages. How much money can you get? Every personal injury case is different. In general, however, personal injury victims are often compensated for needs and expenses such as:
Whether you or one of your loved ones is injured because of an auto accident, contact Bostic Law Group today to speak with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. The quicker you call, the faster we can dig into your case and begin fighting for your right to compensation.
At Bostic Law, one of the most common questions we receive is what auto accident victims should do on the scene after they've been in a South Carolina car wreck. Being involved in an auto accident is harrowing and stressful, but it's crucial for you to remain as calm as possible in the immediate aftermath. Once you collect yourself, it's time to focus on a few very important steps that can affect whether or not you obtain reasonable compensation for any injuries you sustain.
If possible, have every car involved in your car accident move to a safe space away from traffic. Common options include moving to the shoulder of the highway or road or to a safe parking lot.
Once you move out of traffic, turn on your hazard lights to make your vehicle more noticeable. This helps prevent you from being hit by other cars that are passing you.
If anyone has been injured in the car wreck, make sure you call medical services. If you aren't sure if you or anyone else is hurt, it's always best to err on the side of safety and call an ambulance anyway.
Regardless of how serious your car wreck is, you should contact the police. Calling law enforcement helps ensure that a police report is written and recorded. Make sure to take this step even if you believe that the officer on the scene attributed blame to the wrong motorist.
Once you have called the cops, it's time to collect information. Try to collect the following:
Take photos of your car and any other vehicles that may have been involved in your car wreck. Try to snap photos from varying angles if it's safe to do so.
Your parents probably raised you to apologize for something that you may believe is your fault. When you're involved in a car wreck, do not ever apologize or admit that anything was your fault.
Can you smell alcohol on the breath of the person who hit you? Does it sound like they're slurring their words? Are they stumbling around? These are red flags that you should make a note of because they could help indicate whether the other driver was intoxicated when they hit you.
If you've been involved in a car accident in South Carolina and need help in seeking a fair recovery from your insurance company, The Bostic Law Group, P.A., is here for you. We specialize in personal injury and auto accident cases in South Carolina. When you hire a personal injury attorney in North Charleston, SC, from Bostic Law, you can rest easy knowing you're in seasoned, capable hands.
Contact our office immediately for a legal consultation if you have any questions about your case. We take pride in serving our community and want to ensure that you receive the assistance you need to obtain a full, fair recovery after your auto accident.
Getting injured on the job isn't just painful - it can be a source of stress, anxiety, and mental anguish too. Nobody wants to feel like they can't put food on the table because they can't go to work. Sadly, in South Carolina, 30,300 workplace injuries and illnesses were reported.
Employees who are injured at work are generally eligible for benefits under state and federal workers' compensation programs. South Carolina's workers' compensation program provides compensation for medical expenses related to the injury and disability benefits if necessary. Additionally, in the event that an employee is unable to return to work immediately after an accident, they can receive a portion of their regular wages as they recover.
But getting the workers' compensation you rightly deserve isn't always easy. That's why it's so important to have a personal injury lawyer by your side.
While South Carolina's workers' compensation program seems great when you're hurt at work, recovering those benefits can be difficult. That's especially true if you're trying to recover and heal from your injuries at the same time. A personal injury attorney can help accomplish that task for you, even when you're facing tough scenarios such as:
At Bostic Law Group, P.A., our workers' compensation lawyers in North Charleston understand the significance of workers' compensation benefits for you, your family, and your financial stability. We strive to provide you with the detailed guidance and assistance required to file a successful claim or appeal a denied one.
With more than 25 years of experience in handling worker's compensation cases, we're ready and willing to answer your questions and help you get the benefits you need.
Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences a human can endure. Their loss leaves what seems to be a giant hole that can never truly be filled. To make matters worse, grief is often compounded by confusion and anger when you learn that your loved one died because of an accident caused by negligence or carelessness. At Bostic Law Group, P.A., our attorneys understand the distress you feel after losing a loved one in an accident.
On both a human and professional level, we believe that you and your family shouldn't suffer alone. That's why, during this trying time, we're here to provide reliable help and healing when you need it most.
Losing a loved one can never be compensated for with money. However, it can be helpful to seek compensation through a wrongful death suit to avoid financial difficulties in the future. Pursuing compensation can enable your family to be in a better position to focus on healing emotionally.
According to laws in South Carolina and the United States, you might be eligible to pursue compensation for your family's losses. Some of the most common types of wrongful death compensation include:
By holding the negligent party accountable for their actions, you may also be able to prevent another family from enduring the same heartache yours has experienced. Whether you're the deceased's child, spouse, parent, or heir, contact our wrongful death law firm today. Together, we'll take the first steps toward a better tomorrow.
Getting injured in an accident caused by someone else's negligence can be a scary and painful experience. Dealing with legal matters during recovery can be overwhelming, but a great personal injury lawyer in North Charleston, SC, can help alleviate your worries and allow you to focus on healing. Our North Charleston lawyers are dedicated to helping injured individuals recover quickly by providing excellent legal representation and attentive client services as you seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and suffering.
If you're looking for a law firm you can trust, contact our office today for a legal consultation.
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Lowcountry community members are set to gather and honor local heroes for Veterans Day.Mayor Reggie Burgess and the City of North Charleston will host their 22nd Annual Tribute to Veterans event Monday morning. For 14 consecutive years, the city has been selected as a regional site for Veterans Day by the Department of Defense and the Veterans Day National Committee. This is a big honor, as North Charleston is the only site in all of South Carolina.Event leaders are anticipating over 300 veterans...
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Lowcountry community members are set to gather and honor local heroes for Veterans Day.
Mayor Reggie Burgess and the City of North Charleston will host their 22nd Annual Tribute to Veterans event Monday morning. For 14 consecutive years, the city has been selected as a regional site for Veterans Day by the Department of Defense and the Veterans Day National Committee. This is a big honor, as North Charleston is the only site in all of South Carolina.
Event leaders are anticipating over 300 veterans will be in attendance to be recognized and honored with a custom-designed commemorative coin.
A Charleston native, Colonel Joseph Dawson Jr., will be the keynote speaker at this special ceremony and will share his story of 28 years of service and a lifetime of giving back to his community.
TJ Rostin, the recreation director for the City of North Charleston, has attended this event for about nine years and said it is important to recognize veterans and what they have done for the country.
“It’s so great to see and meet all these men and women that come here today, listen to their stories, listen to all of the things they’ve been through, just how they feel about our country and what they’ve done so that we can do what we do every day,” Rostin said.
Rostin said that it is so special to see and hear from these veterans and see how much this event means to them.
“It’s just a wonderful event for us to be able to honor all of the men and women who have served our beautiful country in as many ways as they have. We don’t get to do this as often as I think we should, but today is just our day to pour all of our support and love and passion into what they have done for us for our country,” he said.
The Tribute to Veterans event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Anyone is welcome to attend and honor these veterans. For more information about this event as well as Colonel Dawson’s story, click here.
There are several other ways to honor Lowcountry Veterans on Monday. American Legion Post 166 will be hosting a celebration at 11 a.m. at the Carolina Memorial Gardens and the City of Goose Creek will host a Veterans Day Ceremony also at 11 a.m. at John McCants Veterans Park. The Seabrook Island Club and the Kiawah-Seabrook Exchange Club will host their 13th Annual Veterans Day Charitable Golf Event Monday and Fort Moultrie is offering free admission all day in recognition.
Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Last night, the South Carolina Stingrays held a special Community Night at the Community Resource Center (CRC). Three Stingrays players—Micah Miller, Kyler Kupka, and Reilly Webb—volunteered their time to play street hockey with local kids, sign autographs, and share their love of the game. The event provided a fun and inspiring introducti...
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Last night, the South Carolina Stingrays held a special Community Night at the Community Resource Center (CRC). Three Stingrays players—Micah Miller, Kyler Kupka, and Reilly Webb—volunteered their time to play street hockey with local kids, sign autographs, and share their love of the game. The event provided a fun and inspiring introduction to hockey for children in the community.
In addition to participating in street hockey games, the Stingrays gifted kids with team merchandise, creating an opportunity for young fans to connect with the players and learn more about the sport. ServiceMaster of Charleston, a Stingrays corporate partner, provided free ice cream for all attendees, making the night an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
Louis Smith, Executive Director of the Community Resource Center, highlighted the event's impact on the children and the broader community. “This event benefits these kids for several reasons,” Smith shared. “It introduces them to a new sport, it inspires them to study and look at hockey, and it also brings a cultural thing to these young kids.” Smith emphasized the CRC’s established role in the community, noting, “We started the Community Resource Center back in 2013. We have three locations here in North Charleston, Hollywood, and Summerville. We impact about 17,000 people a month. We help make sure they have groceries, we work with the schools, we do it all.”
For the Stingrays players, the experience was equally rewarding. Miller reflected on the importance of connecting with local kids: “I’d say the most fun part was just getting to know the kids. A lot of them don’t know a ton about hockey, but I feel like we kind of sparked an interest for them, and they seemed to really enjoy it.” Kupka echoed this sentiment, adding, “I loved seeing how much fun the kids had, getting outside with them, and playing some street hockey. They were loving it.” Webb also noted the joy that the children brought to the event, saying, “The kids all had fun outside playing hockey, and they all had smiles on their faces. That’s what I loved about it.”
The South Carolina Stingrays’ Community Night at the CRC reflects the team’s commitment to community involvement and promoting hockey as a source of fun and inspiration. The Stingrays are proud to work with local organizations like the Community Resource Center, give back to the community, and encourage a new generation of hockey fans.
Published: Oct. 29, 2024 at 1:45 PM PDT|NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments hosted a celebration of progress for South Carolina’s first-ever mass transit system.Leaders gathered on Tuesday at the future site of the Shipwatch Square Transit Center, located at 3621 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston.“This is the center of the Lowcountry Rapid Transit corridor. This becomes a hub of transit, multi-modal access and workforce development. A one-stop shop for all y...
Published: Oct. 29, 2024 at 1:45 PM PDT|
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments hosted a celebration of progress for South Carolina’s first-ever mass transit system.
Leaders gathered on Tuesday at the future site of the Shipwatch Square Transit Center, located at 3621 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston.
“This is the center of the Lowcountry Rapid Transit corridor. This becomes a hub of transit, multi-modal access and workforce development. A one-stop shop for all your needs,” Principal Transit Planner Sharon Hollis said.
The event functioned as a progress report for the work done so far with the public getting a chance to hear from those who have worked most closely on this system. The project has hit its halfway mark since planning began in 2019 and leaders are looking at around 60% of the final design.
The project is estimated to open to the public in 2029.
The Lowcountry Rapid Transit System is set to be a 21.3-mile modern bus rapid transit system to provide reliable forms of transportation between various places in the region.
The recommended route for the LCRT, though subject to change as they work through the design plan, would run from Ladson to downtown Charleston across 20 stations. Transit users would have access to 7,600 daily trips with a 21-hour weekday service.
The line would run in dedicated lanes along the sides and center median of busy roads, like Rivers Avenue. Each station would have real-time signage, Wi-Fi, lighting and off-board fare payment.
It would also add road safety improvements for heavily traveled roads and added facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. This includes sidewalks, crosswalks and pathways.
According to the transit group, Rivers Avenue has a 200% higher crash rate than the state’s average. The project would add 34 pedestrian crosswalks there.
“When they provide better for their families, their mindsets are higher and they can invest,” Mayor Reggie Burgess said. “This system builds generational wealth.”
Leaders said it was challenging to create an extensive plan that did not interrupt the function of existing communities but adds to them.
“What we’ve done is design a transit system that goes through communities that are alive, vibrant and active, and it adds to that. It does not displace anyone, “Chairman Mike Seekings said. “It allows communities to add things they don’t have, like housing.”
The corridor alone is expected to see a job growth of 30% and a household increase of 50% over the next 20 years.
The project requires funding from both the 2016 and 2024 transportation sales tax referendums, $250 million from 2016 and a portion of the total $648 million from 2024. There will also be $5 million from the federal government to cover construction.
The system would provide connectivity to more than 60 healthcare and hospital systems, five colleges and universities and several neighborhoods, community centers, jobs, entertainment, grocery stores and more.
Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.
Published: Nov. 14, 2024 at 3:02 PM PST|NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A Lowcountry knife maker is paving the way in his industry and making history while doing it.Quintin Middleton knows his way around a kitchen.“My mom has four boys. She said, ‘You not going anywhere unless you know how to cook, bake. So like you need to make sure you know how to do something,’” Middleton said.For this Lowcountry native, that something was gaining knowledge about knives by cooking and even by watching ca...
Published: Nov. 14, 2024 at 3:02 PM PST|
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A Lowcountry knife maker is paving the way in his industry and making history while doing it.
Quintin Middleton knows his way around a kitchen.
“My mom has four boys. She said, ‘You not going anywhere unless you know how to cook, bake. So like you need to make sure you know how to do something,’” Middleton said.
For this Lowcountry native, that something was gaining knowledge about knives by cooking and even by watching cartoons.
“I wanted to make a sword or make a knife and be like He-Man or Star Wars. And so I would take a tubing off my swing set, flatten it with a hammer and chase my brothers around the yard like, “Huhhh! I’m [Ninja Turtle’s] Leonardo,’ or something like that,” Middleton laughed.
His culinary craft continues to grow as a cut above the rest. Middleton opened Middleton Made Knives in North Charleston. It’s the first Black-owned knife shop in the country.
Each knife is custom-made with its own specialty skill. Middleton shares a standard knife takes anywhere from four to eight hours for him to craft at his home workshop in St. Stephen.
The process takes patience, as did Middleton’s journey to entrepreneurship. He credits a mentor for taking him in as an apprentice early on and helping him hone his hobby.
“He saw my determination about learning the craft. He always said if you’re serious, I’m serious so that notion to see a young person willing to learn, willing to drive and willing to put in the time. So he saw that and poured that time into me,” Middleton said.
Determination and faith is at the forefront of Middleton’s entrepreneurial endeavors.
“Any time I do any big business, anytime even opening this store, I had to pray. I said, ‘God show me where you need me to go. Show me how to do this,’” he said.
Now, Middleton is hoping to breathe life back into the community that helped raise him, by providing jobs to people in the area.
“My big motto for this season is each one, lift one. So if I can lift or inspire somebody while I’m here or if I can lift and inspire someone to do entrepreneurship, that’s my thing to breathe life into them.”
Middleton Made Knives is located at 2154 Noisette Boulevard in North Charleston.
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