As auto accident attorneys in Charleston, we see the devastating aftermath of serious wrecks every day. But what happened last week on the IOP Connector was a profound reminder of the power of human courage.
When a fiery collision shut down the bridge, Alberto Ortega didn't just wait for first responders. He stepped forward as a true Good Samaritan—braving the flames to pull complete strangers from a burning vehicle, risking his own life to save theirs.
Because he chose to do the right thing in a moment of absolute crisis, Alberto is now facing his own long, difficult road to recovery.
In our line of work, we know how quickly a wreck can change a life. We also believe that when a member of our community shows that level of selfless bravery, it is our collective responsibility to step up and have their back. Let’s show Alberto the same care and protection he gave to others in their darkest hour.
If you are hit by a drunk driver or a hit-and-run driver in South Carolina, the legal rules completely change. 🛑⚖️🚘
When someone is distracted and rear-ends you on the standard Charleston commute, it’s considered "simple negligence." The law handles it as an honest, careless mistake. But when a driver gets behind the wheel intoxicated, or chooses to step on the gas and flee the scene of a crash, the state of South Carolina views it as something entirely different: criminal recklessness.
Here is the straight talk: If you are the victim of a drunk or hit-and-run driver, your personal injury claim isn’t bound by standard insurance limits or standard compensation rules.
In a normal car wreck case, you can sue for compensatory damages—money to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. But when the at-fault driver acts with reckless disregard for human life, you have a legal right to pursue punitive damages.
The Tip: Punitive damages are designed explicitly to punish the wrongdoer and make an example out of them so nobody else does it. Even better for victims? While South Carolina normally caps punitive damages, our state law completely removes the cap if the defendant caused the injury while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
What if they fled and were never found? Don't lose hope. Thanks to South Carolina law, your mandatory Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is legally required to step into the shoes of that missing driver. It ensures your medical bills and recovery are covered, even if the coward who hit you is never tracked down by law enforcement.
Recovering from a crash caused by a drunk or fleeing driver is incredibly emotional and legally complex. Insurance companies will still try to settle with you quickly for the bare minimum before you realize punitive damages are on the table. A dedicated Charleston auto accident attorney will dig into the police reports, toxicological data, or witness statements to ensure the full weight of the law is brought down on the insurance company.
You shouldn't have to carry the financial burden of someone else’s criminal choices.
Getting your car fixed after a crash? Watch out for the hidden trap in the paperwork. 🛠️📋❌
You’re in a wreck on the standard Charleston commute or out near Harrell Square. Your car is banged up, and you just want to get it into a local body shop so you can get back on the road. The insurance company agrees to pay for the repairs and sends over a document for you to sign before they cut the check.
It sounds simple enough: you sign the paper, they pay the mechanic, and you get your car back.
Here is the straight talk: You need to look incredibly closely at the title and the fine print of that document.
There is a massive difference between a document that settles your Property Damage claim and one that settles your entire case. Some insurance companies use sneaky, broad language in their repair releases. If the document says something like "Release of All Claims" or includes phrases like "including bodily injury and property damage," signing it to get your bumper fixed could legally kill your medical recovery too.
The Catch: Once you sign a broad release, you cannot change your mind. If your neck starts hurting next week, or a hidden injury flares up later, you are completely blocked from seeking compensation for your medical bills.
The Tip: Before you ink your name on any insurance document, ensure it explicitly states that it applies ONLY to property damage and completely reserves your right to pursue a separate bodily injury claim. If the adjuster tells you "Oh, don't worry, that's just standard legal language," do not take their word for it.
A qualified Charleston auto accident attorney can read the fine print for you in two minutes to ensure your rights are protected before you sign. Never let the rush to fix your car wreck your health recovery.
The U.S. Men’s National Team is taking the field tonight for a massive World Cup matchup against Türkiye, and the excitement is hitting a fever pitch across the Lowcountry!
Whether you’re heading downtown, watching with friends in Mt. Pleasant, or hosting a watch party in North Charleston, we want to make sure everyone celebrates safely.
At the Trey Harrell Law Office, our priority is keeping our community safe and preventing preventable traffic accidents. Win or lose, nobody should be getting behind the wheel if they've been drinking. 13 bars and 50 stars—we don’t care who you are. But if you drink and drive, law enforcement absolutely does!
To help keep our Charleston roads safe tonight, we are launching another round of our Trey Helps You Uber initiative!
👇 HOW TO SNAG YOUR VOUCHER: 👇 🚗 Go to TreyHelpsYouUber.com right now. 🎟️ Claim your $10 off Uber voucher. 📱 Save it to your app and secure a safe ride home after the final whistle!
Vouchers are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so grab yours before kickoff!
Enjoy the game, cheer loud for the red, white, and blue, and let's look out for one another. Go Team USA! 🦅🇺🇸
📞 Need Legal Help? If you or a loved one have been injured in an auto accident, the team at the Trey Harrell Law Office is here to support you. 📞 Call us today: 843-636-TREY 🌐 Visit: TreyHelps.com
Please remember that no legal advice intended but it should be common sense that . Full Disclaimer at treyhelps.com/disclaimer/
Wrecked on I-26 today but thinking, "I'll just wait a couple of weeks to see if my neck stops hurting"? Read this first. 🛑🏥
You’re involved in a car accident in downtown Charleston or out on the standard commuter routes. You’re sore, but you figure it’s just standard whiplash and you can tough it out. You decide to wait two or three weeks to see if the pain goes away on its own before scheduling a doctor's appointment.
Here is the straight talk: To an insurance adjuster, waiting to see a doctor is the ultimate gift.
While South Carolina doesn't have a strict, statutory "14-day medical rule" like some states do, insurance companies have a massive unwritten rule. If you wait more than a week or two to seek medical care after a crash, the adjuster will immediately flag your file for a "gap in treatment."
They will use that gap to argue two things to try and dent your personal injury claim: "If you were actually hurt, you wouldn't have waited two weeks to see a doctor." "How do we know you didn't hurt your back lifting groceries or working in the yard during those two weeks after the wreck?"
The Tip: Even if you think your injuries are minor, get evaluated by a medical professional—whether it's an urgent care, the ER, or your primary doctor—within 48 to 72 hours of the crash.
Let a doctor make the official medical record linking your pain directly to the collision. It protects your health first, and it gives your Charleston auto accident attorney the bulletproof documentation needed to shut down the insurance company's favorite stalling tactics.
Don't tough it out at the expense of your recovery and your rights!
When you look at the giant corporate law firms plastering billboards across South Carolina, it’s easy to feel like the legal world is just a massive machine. To them, a crash is just a data point, and a client is just a file number to pass along to an assistant you'll never meet in person.
Here is the Trey Helps truth: We built our firm on the exact opposite philosophy. Being a Charleston auto accident attorney means managing tough legal battles, but our ultimate goal is to be a trusted neighbor. When a wreck turns your life upside down, you don’t need a distant corporate office—you need someone who understands the local roads you drive every day, from Harrell Square to the standard highway commutes.
True community advocacy means making "sincere deposits" into the lives of the people around us. That’s why we answer our own phones, meet you face-to-face, and treat your recovery as if it were our own family member's. We skip the flashy corporate highway advertising so we can focus 100% of our energy on giving you the personal, down-to-earth support you deserve.
If you ever need us, you won't get caught in a corporate loop. You'll get a neighbor who has your back.
*Please remember that no legal advice intended. For full disclaimer head to trey helps.com...
What happens if you’re hit by a driver who has absolutely no insurance? 🚗🛑
You’re driving home through Charleston or Greenville on a busy Saturday afternoon when another car blows through a red light and hits you. To make matters worse, the other driver admits they don't have insurance, or they step on the gas and completely flee the scene.
Your car is wrecked, and you're hurt. If they don't have insurance, who pays your medical bills and fixes your vehicle?
Here is the straight talk: You turn to your own insurance policy, and thanks to South Carolina law, you are protected.
In South Carolina, every single auto insurance policy is legally required to include Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage. This is a safety net you already pay for. If you are involved in a hit-and-run or get hit by someone driving illegally without insurance, your UM coverage steps into the shoes of the at-fault driver. It pays for your vehicle repairs, your medical treatments, and your pain and suffering just like the other driver’s insurance should have.
The Tip: Don't just stick to the bare minimums.
While South Carolina requires a minimum of $25,000 in UM coverage, that number can disappear incredibly fast if you suffer a serious injury. When you review your policy, consider bumping up your UM limits to match your primary coverage. It costs very little extra per month, but it ensures that you aren't left financially stranded by a reckless, uninsured driver.
Dealing with your own insurance company for a UM claim can still feel like an uphill battle. If they are dragging their feet or offering you less than your case is worth, a local Charleston auto accident attorney can step in to make sure your own insurance company honors the policy you’ve been paying for.
*Please remember that no legal advice intended. For full disclaimer see link in bio…
Happy Father’s Day weekend to all the dads keeping the Lowcountry moving forward! 🛠️👨👧👦
We are heading into Father’s Day weekend, a time to celebrate the men who teach us how to cast a fishing line, cook the perfect backyard brisket, and double-check the tire pressure before a family road trip.
Here is the Trey Helps truth: When people think of a Charleston auto accident attorney, they usually picture courtrooms, insurance negotiations, and car accident settlements. But to our team, being a dad is the ultimate job. Being a father means learning how to protect what matters most, showing up when things get tough, and making daily, "sincere deposits" into your family's future.
That’s exactly how we view our role in the community. We don't want to be a faceless logo on a giant corporate billboard along I-26. We want to be the neighbor you can trust to look out for your family on and off the road.
Speaking of looking out for our neighbors, we are thrilled to announce our first three random winners of the Trey Helps Gas You Up summer giveaway!
To all the dads, stepdads, grandfathers, and father figures across South Carolina who work hard every day to guide, protect, and provide: thank you. We hope you get to kick back, relax, and enjoy some well-deserved time with the people who love you this weekend.
*Please remember that no legal advice intended. For full disclaimer see link in bio…
The tow trucks are on the way. Have you collected these 3 crucial pieces of evidence? 📸📱
You’re shaken up after a wreck on the Ravenel Bridge or a busy intersection in West Ashley. Your adrenaline is pumping, and you just want to clear the road. But before the tow trucks pull the cars apart and the scene is cleared, the next five minutes are the most critical window you have to protect your personal injury claim.
Here is the straight talk: Once the cars are gone, the physical evidence vanishes forever. You cannot rely on the police report alone to tell the whole story.
To make sure the insurance company can’t twist the facts later, you need to grab your phone and document these three specific things right away:
1. The "Big Picture" Photos (The Angles): Don’t just take close-up shots of the dent in your door. Step back and take wide-angle photos showing the entire scene. Capture where the cars ended up in relation to the lane lines, the location of traffic lights, and any skid marks on the pavement. Physical placement tells the truth about how a car accident happened.
2. The Other Driver's Paperwork: Take a clear, glare-free picture of their physical insurance card and driver's license. Don't let them just read the policy number out loud to you—errors happen, and sometimes people give old information.
3. Witness Contact Info: If someone stops to help or say they saw what happened, grab their name and phone number immediately. Do not assume the police officer will get it. Bystander witnesses frequently drive off before the police arrive, taking your best piece of independent proof with them.
The Tip: If you are too hurt to do this yourself, ask a passenger or a safe bystander to take the photos for you. Having this evidence locked down completely shuts down the insurance adjuster's favorite excuse: "We don't have enough proof to accept liability."
If you have the evidence but the insurance company is still dragging their feet, a local Charleston auto accident attorney can use it to force their hand.
*Please remember that no legal advice intended. For full disclaimer at TreyHelps.com
If you’ve been injured in a crash on I-26 or downtown on the Crosstown, you’ll quickly notice something confusing: you aren't dealing with just one insurance claim. You’re suddenly dealing with different adjusters, different paperwork, and different timelines.
Here is the straight talk: In South Carolina, an auto insurance claim is automatically split into two completely separate "buckets."
Bucket 1: Your Property Damage (PD) Claim This is strictly about the metal and glass. It covers getting your car towed, getting an estimate at a local body shop, paying for a rental car, or cutting you a check if your vehicle is a total loss. Because it’s relatively easy to put a price tag on a bumper, this claim usually wraps up within a couple of weeks.
Bucket 2: Your Bodily Injury (BI) Claim This is about you—your medical bills, your lost wages from missing work, and the physical pain you're enduring. Unlike a car repair, your body takes time to heal. This claim should never be settled quickly. If you sign a settlement release early just to get your medical bills paid, and your injury worsens three months from now, you cannot go back for more help.
The Tip: Never let an insurance adjuster convince you to settle both buckets at the same time right after a crash. You can resolve your property damage claim to get back on the road immediately without closing out your injury claim. Keeping these two tracks separate protects your right to a full recovery. If the adjusters are trying to blur the lines or force a quick signature, a qualified Charleston auto accident attorney can step in, handle the paperwork for both buckets, and give you the breathing room you need to heal.
Attorney Trey Harrell
As auto accident attorneys in Charleston, we see the devastating aftermath of serious wrecks every day. But what happened last week on the IOP Connector was a profound reminder of the power of human courage.
When a fiery collision shut down the bridge, Alberto Ortega didn't just wait for first responders. He stepped forward as a true Good Samaritan—braving the flames to pull complete strangers from a burning vehicle, risking his own life to save theirs.
Because he chose to do the right thing in a moment of absolute crisis, Alberto is now facing his own long, difficult road to recovery.
In our line of work, we know how quickly a wreck can change a life. We also believe that when a member of our community shows that level of selfless bravery, it is our collective responsibility to step up and have their back. Let’s show Alberto the same care and protection he gave to others in their darkest hour.
If you are able to chip in to support his recovery and medical journey, please consider donating to his GoFundMe page here: www.gofundme.com/f/support-albertos-recovery-after…
Let's rally together, Charleston, and take care of a local hero.
#Charleston #IOPConnector #GoodSamaritan #CommunityFirst #AutoAccidentAttorney #SupportLocalHeroes
1 week ago | [YT] | 0
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Attorney Trey Harrell
If you are hit by a drunk driver or a hit-and-run driver in South Carolina, the legal rules completely change. 🛑⚖️🚘
When someone is distracted and rear-ends you on the standard Charleston commute, it’s considered "simple negligence." The law handles it as an honest, careless mistake. But when a driver gets behind the wheel intoxicated, or chooses to step on the gas and flee the scene of a crash, the state of South Carolina views it as something entirely different: criminal recklessness.
Here is the straight talk: If you are the victim of a drunk or hit-and-run driver, your personal injury claim isn’t bound by standard insurance limits or standard compensation rules.
In a normal car wreck case, you can sue for compensatory damages—money to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. But when the at-fault driver acts with reckless disregard for human life, you have a legal right to pursue punitive damages.
The Tip: Punitive damages are designed explicitly to punish the wrongdoer and make an example out of them so nobody else does it. Even better for victims? While South Carolina normally caps punitive damages, our state law completely removes the cap if the defendant caused the injury while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
What if they fled and were never found?
Don't lose hope. Thanks to South Carolina law, your mandatory Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is legally required to step into the shoes of that missing driver. It ensures your medical bills and recovery are covered, even if the coward who hit you is never tracked down by law enforcement.
Recovering from a crash caused by a drunk or fleeing driver is incredibly emotional and legally complex. Insurance companies will still try to settle with you quickly for the bare minimum before you realize punitive damages are on the table. A dedicated Charleston auto accident attorney will dig into the police reports, toxicological data, or witness statements to ensure the full weight of the law is brought down on the insurance company.
You shouldn't have to carry the financial burden of someone else’s criminal choices.
Please remember that no legal advice intended. Full Disclaimer at treyhelps.com/disclaimer/
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0
View 1 reply
Attorney Trey Harrell
Getting your car fixed after a crash? Watch out for the hidden trap in the paperwork. 🛠️📋❌
You’re in a wreck on the standard Charleston commute or out near Harrell Square. Your car is banged up, and you just want to get it into a local body shop so you can get back on the road. The insurance company agrees to pay for the repairs and sends over a document for you to sign before they cut the check.
It sounds simple enough: you sign the paper, they pay the mechanic, and you get your car back.
Here is the straight talk: You need to look incredibly closely at the title and the fine print of that document.
There is a massive difference between a document that settles your Property Damage claim and one that settles your entire case. Some insurance companies use sneaky, broad language in their repair releases. If the document says something like "Release of All Claims" or includes phrases like "including bodily injury and property damage," signing it to get your bumper fixed could legally kill your medical recovery too.
The Catch: Once you sign a broad release, you cannot change your mind. If your neck starts hurting next week, or a hidden injury flares up later, you are completely blocked from seeking compensation for your medical bills.
The Tip: Before you ink your name on any insurance document, ensure it explicitly states that it applies ONLY to property damage and completely reserves your right to pursue a separate bodily injury claim. If the adjuster tells you "Oh, don't worry, that's just standard legal language," do not take their word for it.
A qualified Charleston auto accident attorney can read the fine print for you in two minutes to ensure your rights are protected before you sign. Never let the rush to fix your car wreck your health recovery.
Please remember that no legal advice intended. Full Disclaimer at treyhelps.com/disclaimer/
2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
Attorney Trey Harrell
The U.S. Men’s National Team is taking the field tonight for a massive World Cup matchup against Türkiye, and the excitement is hitting a fever pitch across the Lowcountry!
Whether you’re heading downtown, watching with friends in Mt. Pleasant, or hosting a watch party in North Charleston, we want to make sure everyone celebrates safely.
At the Trey Harrell Law Office, our priority is keeping our community safe and preventing preventable traffic accidents. Win or lose, nobody should be getting behind the wheel if they've been drinking. 13 bars and 50 stars—we don’t care who you are. But if you drink and drive, law enforcement absolutely does!
To help keep our Charleston roads safe tonight, we are launching another round of our Trey Helps You Uber initiative!
👇 HOW TO SNAG YOUR VOUCHER: 👇
🚗 Go to TreyHelpsYouUber.com right now.
🎟️ Claim your $10 off Uber voucher.
📱 Save it to your app and secure a safe ride home after the final whistle!
Vouchers are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, so grab yours before kickoff!
Enjoy the game, cheer loud for the red, white, and blue, and let's look out for one another. Go Team USA! 🦅🇺🇸
📞 Need Legal Help?
If you or a loved one have been injured in an auto accident, the team at the Trey Harrell Law Office is here to support you.
📞 Call us today: 843-636-TREY
🌐 Visit: TreyHelps.com
Please remember that no legal advice intended but it should be common sense that . Full Disclaimer at treyhelps.com/disclaimer/
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
Attorney Trey Harrell
Wrecked on I-26 today but thinking, "I'll just wait a couple of weeks to see if my neck stops hurting"? Read this first. 🛑🏥
You’re involved in a car accident in downtown Charleston or out on the standard commuter routes. You’re sore, but you figure it’s just standard whiplash and you can tough it out. You decide to wait two or three weeks to see if the pain goes away on its own before scheduling a doctor's appointment.
Here is the straight talk: To an insurance adjuster, waiting to see a doctor is the ultimate gift.
While South Carolina doesn't have a strict, statutory "14-day medical rule" like some states do, insurance companies have a massive unwritten rule. If you wait more than a week or two to seek medical care after a crash, the adjuster will immediately flag your file for a "gap in treatment."
They will use that gap to argue two things to try and dent your personal injury claim:
"If you were actually hurt, you wouldn't have waited two weeks to see a doctor."
"How do we know you didn't hurt your back lifting groceries or working in the yard during those two weeks after the wreck?"
The Tip: Even if you think your injuries are minor, get evaluated by a medical professional—whether it's an urgent care, the ER, or your primary doctor—within 48 to 72 hours of the crash.
Let a doctor make the official medical record linking your pain directly to the collision. It protects your health first, and it gives your Charleston auto accident attorney the bulletproof documentation needed to shut down the insurance company's favorite stalling tactics.
Don't tough it out at the expense of your recovery and your rights!
*Please remember that no legal advice intended. Full Disclaimer at treyhelps.com/disclaimer/
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0
View 1 reply
Attorney Trey Harrell
You aren’t a file number on an assembly line. 🤝🏢
When you look at the giant corporate law firms plastering billboards across South Carolina, it’s easy to feel like the legal world is just a massive machine. To them, a crash is just a data point, and a client is just a file number to pass along to an assistant you'll never meet in person.
Here is the Trey Helps truth: We built our firm on the exact opposite philosophy.
Being a Charleston auto accident attorney means managing tough legal battles, but our ultimate goal is to be a trusted neighbor. When a wreck turns your life upside down, you don’t need a distant corporate office—you need someone who understands the local roads you drive every day, from Harrell Square to the standard highway commutes.
True community advocacy means making "sincere deposits" into the lives of the people around us. That’s why we answer our own phones, meet you face-to-face, and treat your recovery as if it were our own family member's. We skip the flashy corporate highway advertising so we can focus 100% of our energy on giving you the personal, down-to-earth support you deserve.
If you ever need us, you won't get caught in a corporate loop. You'll get a neighbor who has your back.
*Please remember that no legal advice intended. For full disclaimer head to trey helps.com...
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0
View 1 reply
Attorney Trey Harrell
What happens if you’re hit by a driver who has absolutely no insurance? 🚗🛑
You’re driving home through Charleston or Greenville on a busy Saturday afternoon when another car blows through a red light and hits you. To make matters worse, the other driver admits they don't have insurance, or they step on the gas and completely flee the scene.
Your car is wrecked, and you're hurt. If they don't have insurance, who pays your medical bills and fixes your vehicle?
Here is the straight talk: You turn to your own insurance policy, and thanks to South Carolina law, you are protected.
In South Carolina, every single auto insurance policy is legally required to include Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage. This is a safety net you already pay for. If you are involved in a hit-and-run or get hit by someone driving illegally without insurance, your UM coverage steps into the shoes of the at-fault driver. It pays for your vehicle repairs, your medical treatments, and your pain and suffering just like the other driver’s insurance should have.
The Tip: Don't just stick to the bare minimums.
While South Carolina requires a minimum of $25,000 in UM coverage, that number can disappear incredibly fast if you suffer a serious injury. When you review your policy, consider bumping up your UM limits to match your primary coverage. It costs very little extra per month, but it ensures that you aren't left financially stranded by a reckless, uninsured driver.
Dealing with your own insurance company for a UM claim can still feel like an uphill battle. If they are dragging their feet or offering you less than your case is worth, a local Charleston auto accident attorney can step in to make sure your own insurance company honors the policy you’ve been paying for.
*Please remember that no legal advice intended. For full disclaimer see link in bio…
3 weeks ago | [YT] | 0
View 1 reply
Attorney Trey Harrell
Happy Father’s Day weekend to all the dads keeping the Lowcountry moving forward! 🛠️👨👧👦
We are heading into Father’s Day weekend, a time to celebrate the men who teach us how to cast a fishing line, cook the perfect backyard brisket, and double-check the tire pressure before a family road trip.
Here is the Trey Helps truth: When people think of a Charleston auto accident attorney, they usually picture courtrooms, insurance negotiations, and car accident settlements. But to our team, being a dad is the ultimate job. Being a father means learning how to protect what matters most, showing up when things get tough, and making daily, "sincere deposits" into your family's future.
That’s exactly how we view our role in the community. We don't want to be a faceless logo on a giant corporate billboard along I-26. We want to be the neighbor you can trust to look out for your family on and off the road.
Speaking of looking out for our neighbors, we are thrilled to announce our first three random winners of the Trey Helps Gas You Up summer giveaway!
To all the dads, stepdads, grandfathers, and father figures across South Carolina who work hard every day to guide, protect, and provide: thank you. We hope you get to kick back, relax, and enjoy some well-deserved time with the people who love you this weekend.
*Please remember that no legal advice intended. For full disclaimer see link in bio…
4 weeks ago | [YT] | 0
View 0 replies
Attorney Trey Harrell
The tow trucks are on the way. Have you collected these 3 crucial pieces of evidence? 📸📱
You’re shaken up after a wreck on the Ravenel Bridge or a busy intersection in West Ashley. Your adrenaline is pumping, and you just want to clear the road. But before the tow trucks pull the cars apart and the scene is cleared, the next five minutes are the most critical window you have to protect your personal injury claim.
Here is the straight talk: Once the cars are gone, the physical evidence vanishes forever. You cannot rely on the police report alone to tell the whole story.
To make sure the insurance company can’t twist the facts later, you need to grab your phone and document these three specific things right away:
1. The "Big Picture" Photos (The Angles): Don’t just take close-up shots of the dent in your door. Step back and take wide-angle photos showing the entire scene. Capture where the cars ended up in relation to the lane lines, the location of traffic lights, and any skid marks on the pavement. Physical placement tells the truth about how a car accident happened.
2. The Other Driver's Paperwork: Take a clear, glare-free picture of their physical insurance card and driver's license. Don't let them just read the policy number out loud to you—errors happen, and sometimes people give old information.
3. Witness Contact Info: If someone stops to help or say they saw what happened, grab their name and phone number immediately. Do not assume the police officer will get it. Bystander witnesses frequently drive off before the police arrive, taking your best piece of independent proof with them.
The Tip: If you are too hurt to do this yourself, ask a passenger or a safe bystander to take the photos for you. Having this evidence locked down completely shuts down the insurance adjuster's favorite excuse: "We don't have enough proof to accept liability."
If you have the evidence but the insurance company is still dragging their feet, a local Charleston auto accident attorney can use it to force their hand.
*Please remember that no legal advice intended. For full disclaimer at TreyHelps.com
1 month ago | [YT] | 0
View 1 reply
Attorney Trey Harrell
If you’ve been injured in a crash on I-26 or downtown on the Crosstown, you’ll quickly notice something confusing: you aren't dealing with just one insurance claim. You’re suddenly dealing with different adjusters, different paperwork, and different timelines.
Here is the straight talk: In South Carolina, an auto insurance claim is automatically split into two completely separate "buckets."
Bucket 1: Your Property Damage (PD) Claim
This is strictly about the metal and glass. It covers getting your car towed, getting an estimate at a local body shop, paying for a rental car, or cutting you a check if your vehicle is a total loss. Because it’s relatively easy to put a price tag on a bumper, this claim usually wraps up within a couple of weeks.
Bucket 2: Your Bodily Injury (BI) Claim
This is about you—your medical bills, your lost wages from missing work, and the physical pain you're enduring. Unlike a car repair, your body takes time to heal. This claim should never be settled quickly. If you sign a settlement release early just to get your medical bills paid, and your injury worsens three months from now, you cannot go back for more help.
The Tip: Never let an insurance adjuster convince you to settle both buckets at the same time right after a crash. You can resolve your property damage claim to get back on the road immediately without closing out your injury claim.
Keeping these two tracks separate protects your right to a full recovery. If the adjusters are trying to blur the lines or force a quick signature, a qualified Charleston auto accident attorney can step in, handle the paperwork for both buckets, and give you the breathing room you need to heal.
*Please remember that no #LegalAdvice Intended. Full Disclaimer at treyhelps.com/disclaimer/
1 month ago | [YT] | 0
View 1 reply
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