General Personal Injury

Strong claims usually include consistent medical treatment, clear documentation of symptoms, photos or video, witness information, incident reports, and proof of lost income. A simple journal of pain levels, limitations, and missed activities can also help demonstrate how the injury affects daily life.

Many cases settle, but you should prepare as if trial is possible. A strong case posture comes from thorough investigation, clear medical evidence, and a willingness to litigate when needed. If a fair settlement is not available, trial can be the right tool to pursue accountability.

Some cases resolve in months, but serious injuries often take longer because treatment and recovery take time. Insurers often evaluate a claim more seriously when your medical condition is clear and future care needs are documented. If a lawsuit becomes necessary, the timeline may extend, but that step can also be what forces a fair outcome.

Compensation can include medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other losses tied to the injury. In cases involving reckless behavior, punitive damages may apply. The categories that matter most depend on how the injury happened and how it affects your life.

South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If you are 50% or less at fault, you can still recover, but your compensation is reduced by your share of fault. If you are more than 50% at fault, recovery is typically barred. This is why early evidence matters, including photos, witness statements, and video.

You usually do not have to give a recorded statement to the other party’s insurance company, and a recording can be used to challenge your credibility or minimize your claim. If your own insurer requests information, be careful, accurate, and consider having counsel involved. If you want help dealing with adjusters, call (843) 881-8644 or contact Hughey Law Firm online.

Yes. Many injuries worsen over hours or days, including concussions, soft-tissue injuries, and back or neck pain. Prompt evaluation protects your health and creates medical documentation that connects the injury to the incident. If you wait too long, insurers often argue the injury came from something else.

Focus on safety and medical care first. Call 911 if someone is hurt, get evaluated, and follow your doctor’s instructions. If you can do it safely, take photos, gather witness contact information, and preserve anything related to the incident (damaged items, clothing, product packaging). Avoid guessing about fault or giving recorded statements before you understand your rights.

In most personal injury cases, you do not pay anything up front. Many clients hire counsel on a contingency fee, meaning the attorney fee comes from the recovery obtained, not hourly billing. During your consultation, we explain the fee arrangement and how case expenses are handled so you can make an informed decision.

Most South Carolina personal injury cases must be filed within three years, and the deadline often starts when you knew or should have known you had a claim. Some cases have different timelines, and claims involving a government entity can follow additional rules, so it is smart to confirm the deadline early. If you have questions about timing, call Hughey Law Firm at (843) 881-8644, use live chat, or send a message through our contact page.

Elder Abuse

We move quickly to preserve evidence and obtain records, including charts, care plans, medication administration logs, staffing and training documentation, and incident reports. We also review prior complaints and regulatory history and work with appropriate experts when needed. To speak with our team, call (843) 881-8644 or contact us online.

Many injury claims fall under a three-year statute of limitations, but the correct deadline depends on the facts, the parties involved, and how the harm occurred. Acting quickly helps preserve records and witness information.

Arbitration agreements can affect how a dispute is resolved, but they do not automatically eliminate accountability. Do not feel pressured to sign on the spot. Ask for a copy, review it carefully, and consider legal guidance before agreeing.

Preserve bank statements, billing records, and facility account logs. Document missing property and unusual withdrawals, and report concerns through appropriate channels. Financial exploitation often overlaps with coercion or neglect, so a broader investigation may be needed.

Ask for a medication list and administration records, and request a care conference. Over-sedation can mask injuries, increase fall risk, and reduce quality of life. Independent medical evaluation can also help confirm whether medication practices contributed to harm.
Falls, pressure ulcers, malnutrition or dehydration, medication errors, infections, and wandering events are among the most common. These injuries are often preventable with proper staffing, monitoring, and care planning.

If you believe your loved one is at risk, safety comes first. You can transfer them while an investigation is pending. Before moving, request copies of records (care plan, medication administration records, incident reports), and document any refusal to provide them.

If there is immediate danger, call 911. For long-term care facilities, you can report concerns through South Carolina’s Long Term Care Ombudsman Program. For suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult outside a facility, you can report through Adult Protective Services.

Elder abuse can include physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and improper restraint. Many cases also involve systemic problems like understaffing, poor training, and unsafe policies that put residents at risk.

Common warning signs include unexplained bruises or fractures, repeated falls, sudden fearfulness, poor hygiene, dehydration, rapid weight loss, pressure injuries, unexplained medication changes, and missing valuables. If staff restricts visits or discourages private conversations, take that seriously. If you are concerned, call (843) 881-8644, use live chat, or contact Hughey Law Firm through our website.

Auto Accident (Car, Truck, Motorcycle, Pedestrian, DUI, Rideshare)

Yes. You do not need to be the driver to have a claim. Pedestrian and bicycle cases often turn on right-of-way, visibility, speed, distraction, and available video. Prompt medical care and early evidence collection often make the difference, especially in busy Lowcountry corridors and intersections.

A criminal DUI case is separate from your civil injury claim, and you can pursue compensation even if the criminal case is still pending. Drunk driving facts can support punitive damages in the civil case. In some situations, a business may also face exposure for unlawful alcohol service depending on the circumstances.

South Carolina requires motorcycle riders and passengers under age 21 to wear a helmet approved by the Department of Public Safety. Even when not legally required for an adult, helmets reduce the risk of catastrophic brain injury.

Trucking evidence can disappear quickly, including electronic logging data, onboard computer records, dash camera footage, dispatch communications, and maintenance history. Federal hours-of-service rules help show whether fatigue and log violations contributed. Preservation letters and rapid investigation are often essential.

Truck cases often include multiple responsible parties, such as the motor carrier, a maintenance provider, a shipper, or a broker. Liability may depend on who controlled safety practices and whether federal rules were violated. Identifying every responsible party can increase available coverage and improve accountability.

Coverage depends on whether the driver was offline, logged in and waiting, or actively transporting a passenger. South Carolina law sets coverage requirements for transportation network companies and the different “app status” periods. These claims often involve multiple insurers, and early investigation matters.

South Carolina requires uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, and it may apply when the at-fault driver has no insurance or flees. The South Carolina Department of Insurance explains UM coverage and minimum coverage requirements. Report the crash, preserve evidence, and notify your insurer promptly.

An FR-10 is a financial responsibility form often tied to verifying insurance information after a crash. If you lost your FR-10, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety directs you to contact the Highway Patrol troop office for help.

In South Carolina, many collision reports are requested through the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV). If you are unsure which report you need or do not have the report number, Hughey Law Firm can help identify and request it as part of investigating your claim.

Call 911, get medical help, and document the scene with photos and witness information if it is safe. Exchange insurance information, but avoid arguing fault at the scene. Notify your insurer promptly and keep all medical and expense documentation. If you want guidance early, call Hughey Law Firm at (843) 881-8644 or reach us online.

Wrongful Death

We investigate the cause of death, preserve key evidence, manage insurer communications, and build a damages case that reflects both financial loss and the human impact. If you want to speak with a lawyer, call (843) 881-8644, use live chat, or contact Hughey Law Firm through our website.

Yes. The criminal case is separate and focuses on punishment by the state. The civil case focuses on financial accountability for the family and the estate, and it can move forward even if the criminal matter is unresolved.

When children are beneficiaries, the settlement process may require additional court oversight to protect their interests. Planning for structured settlements, guardianship considerations, and court approvals often becomes part of a responsible resolution strategy.

Distribution typically follows South Carolina’s statutory beneficiary structure, often starting with spouse and children. Court approval may also apply in certain situations, including when minors are involved.

Often, yes. Because the personal representative brings the claim, families commonly need an executor or administrator appointed through probate before moving forward. Hughey Law Firm can coordinate with probate counsel so the process stays organized and efficient.

Damages can include funeral and burial expenses, medical costs related to the final injury, lost financial support and services, and loss of companionship and emotional harm. In appropriate cases, punitive damages may apply when the conduct was reckless or intentional.

Wrongful death addresses losses suffered by the family due to the death. A survival action addresses losses the person suffered before death, such as pain and suffering and medical bills incurred between injury and death. South Carolina’s survival statute appears in S.C. Code § 15-5-90.

Many wrongful death claims have a three-year deadline, and timing issues can become complex if medical malpractice or a government entity is involved. Because key evidence can be lost and insurers start building defenses early, families should speak with counsel promptly.

The case must be filed by the estate’s personal representative (executor or administrator). The recovery benefits the eligible family members under South Carolina law, commonly the spouse and children first, then parents, then heirs depending on the family structure.

Wrongful death applies when a person dies because of another party’s wrongful act, neglect, or default, and the person could have pursued a personal injury claim if they had survived. South Carolina’s wrongful death statute is found in S.C. Code § 15-51-10.