Horry County Personal Injury Lawyers

Top-rated Horry County Personal Injury Attorneys Fight to Secure the Compensation Our Clients Need

Horry County has over 350,000 residents, making it South Carolina’s fourth-most populous county and one of its most popular visitor destinations. Myrtle Beach draws large crowds each year, as do other sights and attractions in the area.

Whether you live in Horry County, work here, or are visiting, a serious injury can derail your plans and leave you needing help. A car accident, slip and fall, or other severe injury caused by another’s negligence can leave you facing large personal and financial costs. The experienced Horry County injury lawyers at the Steinberg Law Firm can answer your questions and help you protect your legal rights. 

Common Types of Horry County Personal Injury Claims

Personal injury claims come in many different forms. Some types of common personal injury claims in Horry County and throughout South Carolina include:

Car accidents

Car accidents are the most common type of personal injury claim in South Carolina. When the negligence of another driver or someone else causes a crash, the injured parties may have a claim for compensation.

According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, one person is injured in a roadway accident every 9.8 minutes on average. Someone suffers fatal injuries on a South Carolina road every 7.3 hours on average. DUI collisions claim a life every 21.9 hours on average. 

Car accidents aren’t limited to those in motor vehicles. Pedestrians and bicyclists can also be killed or seriously injured. The Department of Public Safety’s averages estimate that every 1.9 days, South Carolina loses a pedestrian in a fatal crash. One bicyclist suffers fatal injuries every 15.9 days on average. 

Motorcycle accidents

Myrtle Beach is a popular destination for motorcyclists. South Carolina’s weather makes motorcycle riding a popular hobby for most of the year. Motorcyclists have the right to travel on public roads as long as they follow all traffic laws – and others on the road have a duty to watch out for bikers and control their vehicles to prevent accidents. 

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety estimates that on average, one motorcyclist is killed on South Carolina roads every 2.3 days. In one year, approximately 159 motorcyclists suffer fatal injuries in roadway crashes.  

Truck accidents

From delivery trucks to full-size tractor-trailers, trucks play a key role in the commercial life of Horry County. A truck accident can cause serious harm and catastrophic injuries. 

In 2021, 5,788 people died in the United States in large truck crashes – a 17 percent increase from 2020. They included 137 fatal truck crashes that occurred in South Carolina.

Boating accidents

The 60-mile Grand Strand draws boaters to the water each year. Boaters are responsible for using due care to keep themselves and others safe on the water. Negligence, such as operating a boat while intoxicated, can result in serious accidents and injuries. 

In 2019, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources recorded 146 boating accidents. These accidents resulted in 14 deaths.

Slip and fall injuries

Falls are the leading cause of hospitalizations for elderly Americans. A fall injury can cause harm to anyone at any age. When a fall is caused by another’s negligence, an injured person may seek compensation. 

Falls were the second most common cause of workplace deaths in 2022 in South Carolina, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Falls also cause thousands of injuries, hospitalizations, and emergency room visits each year.

Dog bites

South Carolina places a duty on dog owners to control their dogs. When a dog owner fails to do so, and someone is bitten, the injured person may seek compensation. 

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) notes that approximately 4.5 million dog bites occur nationwide. Dog bites can cause severe injuries and also transmit deadly diseases, including rabies. Of the 101 reported rabies cases in South Carolina in 2021, three came from dogs that exposed multiple other people and animals to rabies through bites.

Dangerous products

A hidden defect in a consumer product can cause catastrophic injuries. Because of the hidden nature of these defects, the injured person may not know the defect exists until it’s too late. 

Defective product injury rates have increased nationwide over the past several years, jumping 6.8 percent in 2021 and 7.8 percent in 2022. While milder injuries like sprains have decreased, more severe injuries like amputations have increased. 12.7 million people needed emergency room care in 2022 for injuries linked to a hidden defect in a consumer product. 

Medical malpractice

Doctors have a responsibility to provide care that meets the standard of care in the profession. When their efforts fall below the standard of care, serious injuries or death can result. 

Nationwide statistics reveal that healthcare providers make “avoidable errors” in 3 to 15 percent of all medical interventions they perform. Misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, medication errors, and surgical errors top the list of most common medical errors in the United States. A 2016 Johns Hopkins study found that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the US.

Nursing home neglect and abuse

Nursing home residents often rely on nursing home staff for help with everyday needs. When nursing home staff fail to meet their responsibilities, residents may suffer significant harm.

Falls are among the most dangerous nursing home accidents. Neglect in providing food, medication, or basic hygiene can lead to more serious medical issues. Nursing home abuse can also cause serious physical, mental, emotional, or financial harm. 

Wrongful death

When a personal injury results in death, the survivors of the deceased person may have a compensation claim. In addition to compensation linked to the fatal injuries, the survivors may seek compensation for losses like funeral and burial costs, as well as their own mental and emotional suffering at the sudden loss of their loved one. 

Types of Compensation in Horry County Personal Injury Claims

When someone else’s negligence causes your injuries, that party ought to pay the costs of medical treatment and other financial losses. Personal injury law is a means to ensure that a negligent party pays for the harm they caused you or your loved one. 

Personal injury cases seek compensation for various types of losses after an accident. These losses share a common theme: They all resulted from the accident. If the other party hadn’t caused the incident, you wouldn’t have faced these losses. 

Courts in South Carolina typically think of personal injury losses in two categories, “economic” and “non-economic” losses.

Economic damages are typically financial losses from an accident. They may include losses like:

• Bills for emergency transport, emergency room care, hospitalizations, surgeries, medical tests, medications, doctor’s visits, therapy and rehabilitation, and medical equipment,
• Lost wages – both wages you lost from being unable to go to work while you healed and wages you’ll lose in the future if your injuries prevent you from working again, and
• The costs of repairing or replacing damaged property, such as a damaged vehicle.

Other financial losses may also be included in a particular case. Often, an injured person and their attorney will prove these losses to the court with copies of bills, receipts, invoices, pay stubs, and other data showing what the accident cost you financially. 

Non-economic damages are not financial in nature – but they are very real losses. Common non-economic damages include:

• Damages for the pain and suffering you’ve endured due to the accident,
• Compensation for the loss of enjoyment of life, if your injuries prevent you from returning to hobbies, home or family care, or other activities you used to enjoy,
• Compensation for scarring or disfigurement, and
• Damages for emotional and mental trauma connected to your experiences in a life-changing accident you couldn’t control. 

Each personal injury case is different. The compensation available in each case differs as well. An experienced Horry County personal injury lawyer can help you identify and fight for the necessary compensation in your case. 

Speak to a Dedicated Horry County Personal Injury Attorney Today

After a serious accident, you may struggle to recover from severe injuries. Tasks that used to be simple, such as getting dressed or making a meal, become monumentally difficult. You may worry about how you’ll pay your bills or support your family if you can’t return to work. You may feel concerned as bills pile up. Dealing with insurance companies that stonewall you, deny your claim, or drag out the process can be exhausting – even for those who aren’t injured. You may wonder where you can turn for help.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Reach out to the team at the Steinberg Law Firm today. Our experienced Horry County personal injury lawyers dedicate ourselves to fighting for our clients. When you schedule a free, confidential consultation with our office, you’ll speak to an attorney who can answer your questions and help you understand what to expect from your personal injury claim. To learn more, contact us today.