Columbia Car Accident Lawyer

If you were hurt in a car accident, McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates is here to step in and assist with all of your legal needs. Our team knows the local courts and insurers well. Our Columbia car accident lawyers move quickly to protect your rights and position your claim for maximum compensation.

We have over 200 years of combined legal experience, and we’re ready to provide the personalized assistance you deserve. You can learn more by reaching out to our Columbia personal injury lawyers for a risk-free initial consultation.

When to Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers in Columbia, SC

If you want a stronger chance of getting maximum compensation for your losses, contact us immediately after an auto accident. Hiring us right away means we’re here and ready to provide the assistance you need throughout every stage of the legal process.

You can rely on us to:

Give You Clear Answers to Your Legal Questions

We believe in providing our clients with the information they need to make informed decisions throughout the legal process. We’ll answer any questions you have and ensure you know what to expect as you move forward with your claim after a car crash.

We’re ready to help with rear-end, T-bone, and head-on collisions. Learn more by reaching out immediately for a risk-free initial consultation.

Gather Evidence to Establish Negligence

We begin an immediate investigation into the causes of your auto accident when you reach out to us for assistance. Depending on your circumstances, we may need to:

• Visit the accident scene
• Gather witness statements from everyone who saw the crash
• Get a copy of the official police accident report
• Look for surveillance or dashcam footage
• Work with accident reconstruction specialists

We need to prove that another motorist owed you a duty of care, failed to uphold that duty, and directly caused your crash in order to bring you fair compensation for all of your losses.

We prove negligence with photos, event data recorders, scene measurements, and witness interviews. We also use weather logs and road-design records if a defective roadway or signage played a role.

Handle All Communication Regarding Your Car Crash Claim

We handle the calls and the claims process, while you focus on medical treatment. We contact every insurance company involved, open all lines of coverage (liability, uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist, and MedPay), and we protect you from adjuster tactics.

We can also assist with insurance settlement negotiations, potentially allowing you to get the funds you need without going through the court system.

Assist with Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit

Our Columbia car accident lawyers can assist if your claim needs to go to court because the insurance company refuses to make you a fair settlement offer. We can help with the litigation process, and we’re ready to fight for you every step of the way.

Types of Motor Vehicle Accident Claims We Handle

Our team at McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates can help you after a wide range of motor vehicle accidents. For example, we’re ready to fight for you when you need help from a:

• Columbia Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer: You can reach out to us for assistance if a distracted driver hit your vehicle. We take on cases involving distracted driving caused by cell phones, passengers, eating and drinking, or other behaviors behind the wheel.
• Columbia Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer: You may qualify for funds to cover all of your losses after a drunk driver hits you. Driving under the influence (DUI) is a dangerous behavior that could result in catastrophic accidents.
• Columbia Fatigued Driving Accident Lawyer: We’re ready to take on your legal needs after a crash caused by a fatigued driver. Tired drivers often react slowly to changes in traffic, may make poor decisions, or could even fall asleep behind the wheel.
• Columbia Reckless Driving Accident Lawyer: Our legal team can fight for you after a crash caused by an aggressive driver. Drivers may cause these crashes by speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating other motorists, or engaging in other dangerous behaviors.
• Columbia Fatal Car Accident Lawyer: We’re here to help with your family’s legal needs after a fatal collision. You can rely on us to provide compassionate legal assistance if you need to file a wrongful death claim.

Reach out to us for the help you need after a car crash. We’re ready to adapt our services based on your unique needs. Contact us now for help with your injury case in Richland County.

Your Compensation After a Car Accident in South Carolina

Our car accident attorneys in Columbia can fight tirelessly to help you get maximum compensation. Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for funds to pay for your:

Medical Bills

Motor vehicle crashes often result in catastrophic injuries. We believe that you deserve payment for all the medical expenses associated with your collision, including the costs for your emergency treatment, time in a hospital, medications, and physical therapy appointments.

Your Columbia car accident attorney can track the costs of your medical treatments to include them in your claim.

Lost Wages

The party responsible for your auto accident may need to cover your lost income after a crash. You may miss a lot of time at work if you sustained serious injuries in the crash, and we believe the liable party should pay you for this missed time.

In addition to getting compensation for your lost wages, you may qualify for funds to pay for your reduced earning potential.

Pain and Suffering

Our personal injury team can help you seek compensation for your non-economic damages. These damages can include your emotional distress, mental suffering, and physical pain. We know how to determine a fair value for all of these losses after your auto crash.

Property Repairs

Car crashes often result in a lot of property damage. The party responsible for your crash may need to cover the costs of fully repairing your vehicle and any other personal property that sustained damage in the collision.

We Know Where Accidents Happen in Columbia

We‘re a local personal injury law firm and have a deep understanding of the dangerous roads in our area that we’ve gained by driving them, just like our clients. Many collisions happen at specific intersections around the city, including:

• I–20 and I–26 Interchange: You may have heard the I-20 and I-26 Interchange called “Malfunction Junction.” The interchange sees many collisions every year because of the sheer number of drivers who use it, its short merge zones, and its tight curves.
• I–20 and US–76: We see many rear-end collisions at the I-20 and US-76 intersection. Many of these accidents involve commercial vehicles, as drivers come off of I-20 at high speeds and try to merge with slower-moving traffic.
• Two Notch Road and Sparkleberry Lane Extension: Two Notch Road has seen a lot of commercial growth in recent years, increasing the flow of traffic in the area. We often see gridlock conditions forming around this intersection, with aggressive drivers refusing to yield and running red lights.
• Assembly Street and Gervais Street: This intersection has a six-lane configuration that often confuses drivers and results in pedestrian accidents and side-impact crashes. Heavy pedestrian traffic comes from the nearby entertainment district, the University of South Carolina, and the South Carolina State House.

We’re here to help accident victims after collisions anywhere in Columbia. Contact us now so we can get to work on your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accidents

Our team at McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates can help with any legal questions you have about your injury case. For example, you can reach out to us for answers to questions like:

Can I Get Compensation if I Partially Contributed to My Crash?

Yes, you may still get compensation if you contributed to a collision because South Carolina follows modified comparative negligence. You can seek compensation as long as you are not more than 50% at fault. You recover less if you share fault. 

Are There Deadlines on My Personal Injury Claim?

You generally have three years to file most personal injury claims in South Carolina for car accident cases under the statute of limitations. You have two years against a government entity, and in some other situations you may have less time to move forward with your case.

Our team can explain exactly how long you have available to seek compensation from the at-fault party.

What Injuries are Commonly Caused by Car Accidents?

Auto accidents often cause injuries like:

• Fractures and broken bones
• Herniated discs
• Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
• Burns
• Internal bleeding

We’re ready to help accident victims with all of their legal needs after a car accident. Contact us today so we can explain what you should do after a head-on, side-impact, or rear-end collision.  

Will My Claim Involve Punitive Damages?

The court system may award you punitive damages in some cases. These damages serve to punish the driver responsible for your crash, and they don’t directly relate to the losses you sustained. Not every injury victim will receive punitive damages as part of their compensation.

When do I Pay My Auto Accident Lawyer?

Because we work on a contingency fee basis, you only pay for our legal fees after we fully resolve your claim. The contingency fee system can relieve the financial pressures you experience after a crash, instead of adding to the costs you need to worry about as you focus on your recovery.

What Happens if an Uninsured or Underinsured Driver Hits Me?

If an uninsured motorist hits you, we can help you seek compensation. In some cases, you’ll need to go through your insurance company to get funds through your uninsured motorist coverage. In other cases, we may bring a claim directly against the at-fault driver.

Note that your uninsured motorist coverage may also help after a hit-and-run accident in Columbia, South Carolina.

What Should I do After an Automobile Accident?

You need to move fast after an automobile accident. Make sure that you report the crash to the police and seek immediate treatment for your injuries. Get contact information from witnesses and take pictures of your injuries.

You should also reach out immediately to an auto accident attorney for help and support. We’re ready to take charge on your behalf.

Contact Our Team After a Crash in Columbia, South Carolina

Our team at McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates is ready to fight to bring you maximum compensation through trial-ready advocacy after an auto accident.

Bring your police report, medical records, and correspondence with any insurance company to our personal injury law firm. We take over the legal process so you can heal.

You can rely on our Columbia car accident attorneys to focus on bringing you funds to cover your medical expenses, property damage, pain and suffering, and other losses. Contact us now for a case evaluation and to discuss your next steps.