It can be hard to know where to turn when you are looking for reliable information about pursuing a personal injury claim in South Carolina.
You may be wondering whether you should accept the insurance company’s settlement offer or hire an attorney to negotiate on your behalf. Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers's website has many informative articles regarding many of the questions you may have about your claim.
We offer articles on a wide range of subjects from the personal injury legal process to workers' compensation questions and beyond. Browse our free legal library to learn more about car, truck, and motorcycle accidents—as well as other kinds of personal injury claims—in South Carolina.
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The Legal Truth Episode 20 | I Have Been Sued - What Now?“Don’t panic,” Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. advises anyone who has been sued. From determining insurance coverage to understanding the litigation process, Dirk walks through the critical steps in this conversation with Pearl Carey, from the firm's professional staff. He reveals how insurance companies control settlement decisions, explains the concept of "blue sky" policies when coverage limits are exceeded, and discusses bad faith insurance practices in South Carolina. Dirk emphasizes that "the final say-so is the insurance company" when it comes to settlement decisions, even when defendants disagree. Tune in for his insights about protecting your assets and navigating the complex relationship between insurance companies and plaintiff attorneys.
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The Legal Truth Episode 19 | Why Reasonableness & Bad-Faith Remedies Matter - For Everyone Who Touches an Insurance Policy"Without bad faith and the need to act in a reasonable way, there would be no reason for the insurance companies to pay you early," host Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. explains in this episode devoted to reasonableness and bad faith protections. Speaking with Pearl Carey, on the firm's professional staff, Dirk reveals how insurance companies leverage time, money, and uncertainty to compel claimants to accept less than their cases are worth. Through insights from his experience and hundreds of focus groups, he demonstrates why bad faith laws protect not just plaintiffs but also policy holders who could lose everything when insurance companies gamble with their assets.
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The Legal Truth Episode 18 | The Truth About Recovering Medical Expenses in a Personal Injury ClaimIf you’re injured through no fault of your own, you may face complex questions trying to get money to pay for medical expenses. What can I recover? Will an insurance adjuster shortchange me? Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. outlines key points of South Carolina personal injury law in this comprehensive discussion with Pearl Carey, from the firm's professional staff. Tune in for his warning against insurance companies' early settlement offers and his insight about why expert testimony can be crucial for proving causation.
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The Legal Truth Episode 17 | The Truth About Recovering Non-Economic Damages in a Personal Injury Claim"Non-economic damages, in a nutshell, are what I consider the most serious damages in a case," host Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. explains to Pearl Carey from the firm's professional staff. Unlike medical bills and lost wages, non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and lifestyle changes that don't have a clear dollar value attached. Dirk describes how these damages are calculated, who can testify about them, and how they differ in wrongful death cases.
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The Legal Truth Episode 16 | The Truth About Recovering Lost Wages in a Personal Injury Claim"You can't just stay out of work and say, 'I didn't feel like going to work,” Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. explains about recovering lost wages after an injury. Speaking with Pearl Carey, from the firm's professional staff, Dirk describes critical requirements for documenting wage losses in personal injury claims.
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The Legal Truth Episode 15 | The Truth About How People Greatly Harm Their Own Personal Injury Claims"Your credibility is the most important thing on the line," Dirk Derrick, Esq. warns plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
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The Legal Truth Episode 14 | The Truth about Tort Reform: How Senate Bill 244 Could Harm South Carolina CitizensHost Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. and Pearl Carey, on the firm’s professional staff, analyze Senate Bill 244's potential impact on South Carolina citizens.
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The Legal Truth Episode 13 | The Truth About Whether You Need a Personal Injury Attorney: 10 Questions to AnswerIf you’re in a car accident and may want to pursue a claim yourself, stop and answer these 10 questions first. Your responses will be your guide, as Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. and Pearl Carey, on the firm’s professional staff, explain. Tune in as they ask and answer all 10, ranging from investigating and preserving evidence to negotiating with an insurance carrier.
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The Legal Truth Episode 12 | The Truth About Serving on a Focus Group: What’s in It for YouSouth Carolinians can weigh in on interesting cases and help steer the legal community away from unnecessary litigation. How? By being a juror in a Derrick Law Firm focus group. Firm founder Dirk Derrick devotes this episode to inviting participation. After 400 focus groups, the firm believes in their value to lawyers and their appeal to jurors. As he explains to Pearl Carey, on the professional staff, mock jurors not only help set community standards, they’re also paid for their time. And, they’re treated to homemade cake. “I can vouch for the cake,” Dirk says.
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The Legal Truth Episode 11 | The Truth About Focus Groups and the Leverage They Give Our Clients“I'm getting old,” Dirk Derrick says with a chuckle. “But before I drop off this earth, I want the database of information that prevents people from being drug out by the insurance industry. I want the ace of spades.”
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The Legal Truth Episode 10 | The Truth About Being Injured by an Underinsured DriverTune in for Dirk's insights, gleaned through 35 years, about the legal implications of various motorist coverages.
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The Legal Truth Episode 9 | The Truth About Being Damaged by an Uninsured DriverHost Dirk Derrick explains how to protect yourself in the event of a wreck with an uninsured driver with Pearl Carey, on the firm’s professional staff.