South Carolina Sinkhole Injury Lawyer
It seems like a long shot that you’d get injured by a sinkhole in South Carolina, right? But it can and does happen more often than you think, sometimes causing severe and even fatal accidents. In May of 2022, a truck slid into a huge sinkhole in Greenville, SC. In June of 2021, A large part of a downtown Charleston, SC street collapsed.
If you have suffered injuries due to a sinkhole, West Law can help. Caroline has over 25 years of experience and knowledge and will fight for the compensation you deserve.
Whether you own property containing sinkholes or have been injured by a sinkhole, our South Carolina sinkhole accident lawyer can provide the legal representation and advice you need. West Law provides free consultations to all injury victims.
Sinkholes & Insurance Coverage
In addition to presenting a risk of accidents and injury, sinkholes also raise insurance liability claims for the property where the sinkhole exists. A property owner with an insurance policy for their land should be capable of recovering compensation for damages and injuries caused by the presence of a sinkhole.
Issues That Might Affect Insurance Coverage Due to Sinkholes
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Whether the sinkhole is visible on private or public property
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The property owner’s knowledge of the sinkhole’s existence
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Whether the property owner who knew of the sinkhole’s existence took proper precautions to warn others of its presence
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Whether an insurance provider conducted routine inspections of the property
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Whether a property owner acted negligently with regards to the sinkhole and/or the injured party
Whether the sinkhole caused damage or injury on your property, or someone else’s, West Law can help analyze the details of your sinkhole injury, assign liability, and file a personal injury or wrongful death claim on your behalf.
South Carolina Sinkhole Injury Claim
If your sinkhole accident happened on someone else’s property, and the owner did not warn of the potential hazard, you may have grounds to take legal action based on premises liability. Your attorney will need to show the following:
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The property owner had a duty of care to warn you about the possible danger.
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The property owner breached that duty of care by not warning you about the potential danger.
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This lack of warning contributed to your sinkhole accident.
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You suffered injuries and other damages due to the sinkhole.
South Carolina Sinkhole Injury Damages
Your sinkhole injury lawyer will work hard to help you receive financial recovery for the damages you suffered. In a personal injury case, you may be eligible to receive two types of damages: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages for Sinkhole Injuries
Economic damages address the financial losses you suffered. They typically include:
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Hospitalizations
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Surgeries
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Imaging tests (e.g., X-rays, MRIs, CAT scans)
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Ambulance transport
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Assistive medical devices
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Physical therapy
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Lost income (due to work missed)
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Loss of future earning capacity
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Property damage
Non-Economic Damages in a Sinkhole Injuries
Non-economic damages are harder to put a dollar amount on because they demonstrate the physical and emotional losses you suffered due to the sinkhole accident. They might include:
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Pain and suffering
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Mental anguish
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Disability or disfigurement
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Loss of consortium
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Loss of companionship
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Loss of enjoyment of activities
If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one because of a sinkhole accident, get in touch with our injury attorney today. Caroline West has over 25 years’ experience fighting for the injured and their families. Call for a Free Consultation today.