South Carolina Automobile Insurance: What You Need to Know
Contact our Car Insurance Dispute Lawyers at the Strom Law Firm to protect your rights and obtain the compensation you deserve.
Whether you
are driving on I-20, I-77 or headed downtown on I-26, a single moment can change your life. Even if it is not your fault, a car accident can leave you with mounting medical bills, lost wages, and a totaled vehicle. But what do you do if you are in a car accident or motorcycle accident and the one at fault is an uninsured driver?
Don’t give up.
What many people do not realize is that their own insurance policy may cover what the policy of an uninsured driver does not. When you hire the Strom Law Firm, we will review all possible sources of coverage to help ensure that you receive the money that you deserve for your injuries.
What is the Difference Between Uninsured and Under-insured?
A person who drives and causes an accident and does not have any auto insurance, is legally defined as an uninsured driver. A person who has insurance but does not have enough coverage to pay for injuries that result from your accident is considered under-insured. In South Carolina, both uninsured and under-insured car insurance are available.
How Can I Protect myself against Uninsured and Under-insured Motorists?
Talk to your South Carolina car insurance agent to discuss purchasing uninsured and under-insured motorist coverage.
You want to purchase coverage in the event that you are injured in an auto accident, and the at-fault driver is not insured and/or has insufficient coverage to compensate you for your injuries.
This may be true even if you do not have comprehensive or collision insurance. The auto accident attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. have handled numerous personal injury and property damage cases, and we are familiar with insurance policies. We can weed through their legal verbiage, which can go a long way towards helping you recover.
South Carolina Minimum Insurance Requirements
25/50/25
The first two numbers apply to bodily injury. The last number applies to property damage. What this means is that if one person is injured as a result of an accident and it is your fault, your policy limits are $25,000.00. If more than one person is injured as a result of an accident that is your fault, the policy limit is $50,000.00. If more than two people are injured, the policy limit is still $50,000.00, and any possible recovery will be distributed accordingly. Of course, the amount that will be distributed depends specific facts in your case.
In the event that you get into an accident and it is your fault, your insurance company will pay up to $25,000.00 in property damage to the other driver.
In the unfortunate event that you are in an accident and you are found to be at fault, and the coverage that you have is insufficient to cover the injuries to the other party, you can be held personally liable.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
If you are in the middle of a car insurance dispute and the company is acting in bad faith, you may want to seek help from a knowledgeable car accident attorney. Dealing with an insurance company alone can be very complicated and frustrating. Many times insurance companies will try to make you settle for less than what is owed.
Car insurance companies may engage in bad faith acts including unreasonable delays in the claims process and underpayment of claims. These acts may be considered illegal and can prevent you from getting the money you are owed.
If you have been involved in a wreck, due to no fault of your own, you are entitled to have your vehicle repaired, if possible. The car insurance company should offer you reimbursement for the loss of use while your vehicle is being repaired. If your vehicle is found to be a total loss, you are entitled to the fair market value of your vehicle prior to the collision.
A South Carolina business litigation attorney at the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. will assist you in fighting for the compensation you deserve from car insurance companies. Don’t accept less than you are owed from car insurance companies. Our South Carolina auto accident attorneys have the knowledge and experience necessary to fight big insurance companies. Our goal is for you to receive fair payment from car insurance companies. If you believe a car insurance company is treating you unfairly, contact the Strom Law Firm today for a free consultation. 803.252.4800.
