Car Accident Attorney inColumbia, SC

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Cobb Hammett, LLC Fighting
for Your Rights in Columbia, SC

When an accident comes without warning, even the most prepared person can fall victim. One moment, you're walking to a restaurant after a long day of work. The next moment, someone else's negligence and carelessness change your life forever. Personal injury victims aren't just the victims of negligence they suffer from pain, concern over family and ability to work. Often, these victims do not have the luxury of worrying about work and family, because they're clinging to life in an ER. Without a personal injury attorney in Columbia, SC, by their side, they mistakenly provide official statements to insurance agencies and accept settlement offers that only account for a fraction of what they have lost.

If you have recently been hurt in an accident, you may be asking questions like:

  • "What happens now?"
  • "How will I pay for my hospital bills?"
  • "Will I get fired from my job?"
  • "Will I be able to function independently ever again?"

With more than 100,000 car accidents in South Carolina every year, we hear these questions every day. Our hearts hurt for those who are suffering due to no fault of their own. Accident victims are not only left with questions like those above; they're also forced to deal with costs associated with medical bills, car repair, follow-up appointments, and loss of income.

While reading these facts can be bleak, there is a silver lining. South Carolina law dictates that those who are found responsible for your pain and suffering may be obligated to pay for your expenses. Cobb Hammett, LLC exists for that exact reason to make sure that negligent parties are held accountable. We fight on your behalf to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. We aren't afraid to go toe-to-toe with greedy insurance agencies who do not have your best interests at heart.

Our overarching goal is to protect your rights, and our law firm is uniquely positioned to do so, with attorney Michael Dill's vast experience in the auto insurance industry.

Personal Injury Attorney Columbia, SC
Service Areas

We offer comprehensive vehicle representation for a number of different automobile accidents, including:

  • Distracted Driving
  • Drunk Driving
  • Rollovers
  • Multi-Vehicle Accidents
  • Automobile Defects
  • Roadway Defects
  • Speeding
  • Reckless Driving
  • Uninsured Motorists or
    Underinsured Drivers
  • Rear-End Collisions
  • Car Rental Accidents
  • RV Accidents

If you know you have been involved in one of the car accidents above, the time to seek experienced representation is now. Generally, car accident victims have three years from the date of their injuries to file a personal injury claim in Columbia. That time frame can be reduced in certain circumstances. When a wrongful death is involved, surviving family members must take action in a similar time frame.

The bottom line is that speed is of the essence in these cases. When we sit down with you to learn more about your accident, we will help you understand South Carolina law so that you are fully informed before taking legal action. The sooner we can dig into the details of your case, the sooner we can fight for your rights.

We Recover Compensation
When You Need It Most

The law states that personal injury victims are entitled to compensation for the full extent of their injuries. Why? Because the primary goal of injury compensation in Columbia, SC, is to help the victim return to the state they would have been in, if the accident never occurred. In the literal sense, doing so isn't possible. The law cannot reverse the incredible suffering and pain that accompanies a severe injury. As such, personal injury victims are entitled to receive a financial reward that equals those damages.

How much compensation you get depends on the facts and nuances of your case. With that said, you may be able to recover compensation for the following needs:

  • Rehab-Related Expenses like
    Physical Therapy
  • All Medical Expenses
  • Pain and Suffering
  • Long-Term Disability
  • Lost Wages and Loss of
    Future Income Earning Ability
  • Disfigurement
  • Emotional Distress
  • Mental Anguish

If you or someone you love was recently injured in a car wreck, contact our office today to speak with a personal injury lawyer in Columbia, SC. The sooner you call, the sooner we can begin fighting for your rights and the compensation you need.

 Personal Injury Lawyer Columbia, SC The-Cobb-Dill-Hammett-Difference
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What Our Clients Say

The Role of Negligence in Your
Columbia Personal Injury Case

If there were one common truth that we can count on, it's that life is unpredictable. Sometimes, accidents just happen. However, when recklessness and negligence come into play in situations where accidents cause personal injuries, the negligent party can be held responsible under South Carolina law. For victims to have a chance at compensation, the party responsible for the accident must be proven to be negligent. When a party or parties are negligent, they fail to take appropriate care when performing an action, like driving an automobile.

 Car Accident Attorney Columbia, SC
At Cobb Hammett, LLC, our team works to prove negligence
for our clients by proving:
  • The defendant had an obligation to look out for your safety.
  • The defendant did not uphold that duty.
  • There was causation between the defendant's breach of duty and the injuries you sustained.
  • You suffered real damages.

After an accident occurs, it is critical to take certain steps to help prove the responsible party's negligence and maximize the compensation you rightly deserve.

Steps to Maximize Compensation
After an Accident in Columbia, SC

All too often, car wreck victims don't get the compensation they need because they failed to take the proper steps after their accident. Don't let this be you. By having comprehensive records of your car accident and its aftermath, you have a much better chance of protecting your rights and maximizing compensation for your bills and injuries. If you have been injured in an automobile accident in Columbia, follow these steps before doing anything else:

1.

Go to a Doctor

First and foremost, seek medical attention for any injuries that you have sustained. You might not realize it now, but your injuries may be more complex and serious than you think. Damage like head trauma and back injuries are not easy to diagnose on your own and sometimes take time to surface. A full medical examination will help reveal the extent of your injuries, lead to a quicker recovery, and help document the injuries you sustained. This last part is essential to prove the significance of your injuries.

 Law Firm Columbia, SC
2.

File an
Accident Report

The second step you should take is to report your injuries to the correct authorities. The authorities change depending on the circumstances of your accident. If you were involved in a car wreck in Columbia, you should file your report with the highway authorities and any associated insurance agencies. Regardless of where you were injured and how the wreck occurred, the biggest takeaway here is to file a report. That way, you have an established, official record of the incident that can be referred to down the line.

Personal Injury Attorney Columbia, SC
3.

Preserve Evidence
if Possible

Personal injury cases in Columbia are won with evidence. It might sound like the job of the police, but it's important that you try to secure any evidence that you can collect relating to your accident, especially if you are injured. Evidence in auto accident cases tends to disappear quickly. By preserving evidence soon after the accident, it can be used in court. For example, if you cannot get a witness statement immediately after your wreck, their testimony may come across as less reliable. Completing this task on your own can be quite difficult, especially after a serious accident. That's why it's so crucial to complete the last step below.

 Personal Injury Lawyer Columbia, SC
4.

Contact a Lawyer

One of the most intelligent, important steps you can take after a car accident is calling a personal injury attorney in Columbia, SC. At Cobb Hammett, LLC, we will assist you with every step of your personal injury case to ensure that your rights are protected. That includes gathering all types of evidence relevant to your case. When we investigate your accident, we will determine the person who is liable for your losses. If there are multiple liable parties, we will hold each one accountable for their negligence.

Every personal injury case is different, which is why experience counts when it comes to car accident compensation. Our track record speaks for itself, but no number of past results will guarantee a perfect outcome. What we can guarantee, however, is our undivided attention and fierce dedication to your case, no matter the circumstances. Unlike other personal injury law firms in Columbia, you can have peace of mind knowing your best interests always come first at Cobb Hammett, LLC.

 Car Accident Attorney Columbia, SC

Common Car Accidents in
Columbia, SC

At Cobb Hammett, LLC, we have years of experience handling some of Columbia's most complicated car accident cases. Some of the most common cases that come across our desks include:

Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk driving is a major problem in the Lowcountry. Drunk drivers are incredibly irresponsible and regularly cause fatal accidents because they drive physically and mentally impaired by alcohol. Drunk drivers have slower reaction times, delayed reflexes, and impaired vision, making them unfit to operate a motor vehicle. In auto wrecks, drunk drivers often come away with minor injuries compared to their victims, which is a bitter pill to swallow

Individuals who make a choice to drive drunk cause accidents by weaving in and out of traffic, going over the speed limit, failing to see pedestrians, and ignoring traffic laws. They may run cars off the road, rear-end vehicles, hit them head-on, or even cause a vehicle to roll over.

Drunk driving accidents in Columbia care result in horrible injuries, such as:

  • Burns
  • Broken Bones
  • Head Injuries
  • Brain Trauma
  • Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Soft Tissue Injuries
  • Mental Anguish

If you are injured or have lost a family member due to an impaired or drunk driver, our team of personal injury lawyers in Columbia can help. We have extensive experience with car accident cases and can explain your rights in simple, plain terms. It is important to know that you can file a personal injury suit regardless of the criminal case outcome against the drunk driver.

 Law Firm Columbia, SC

Rental and RV Accidents

When accidents happen in RVs or rental cars, people are often unsure of their rights. This confusion is understandable since there are additional insurance and legal issues that must be accounted for in these cases.

Fortunately, the lawyers at Cobb Hammett, LLC, have the experience to help you with complex car accident and RV cases. Attorney Michael Dill worked in the auto insurance industry before becoming an attorney. He also has an undergraduate degree that includes a focus on risk management and insurance. When it comes to rental and RV accidents, we review each client's case with a fine-tooth comb. Once we understand your accident, our team will explain your rights and options in easy-to-understand terms.

If you were involved in an accident while driving an RV or a rental vehicle, you may find that your auto insurance company, the rental car's insurance company, and the other party's insurance carrier will try to deny your claim. Situations like these call for a bold, experienced personal injury attorney in Columbia, SC, who isn't afraid of large corporations and insurance groups. We have extensive experience with insurance companies and know how to interpret policies. As your advocate, we will ensure that you receive the coverage and compensation you are entitled to, even if an insurance company says you aren't.

We can help you seek compensation in cases that involve:

  • Injuries from Boating Ac
    cidents
  • Rental Cars Injuries
  • RV Accidents
  • Jet Ski Injuries
  • Golf Cart Injuries
  • Rental cars
  • Boat accidents
  • ATV Accidents

Victims of RV and rental car accidents (as well as their families) may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost income or benefits. Our personal injury lawyers work with life-care planners, medical experts, and economists to determine the amount of compensation you will need.

Personal Injury Attorney Columbia, SC

Texting While Driving and
Distracted Driving Accidents

We live in a time where just about everyone has their eyes glued to their phones. Often, this happens in situations where the person needs to be paying attention, like when they're driving an automobile. Taking a few moments to glance down at your phone can cause irreparable damage to other drivers. That is why texting while driving is illegal in Columbia. Typically, this crime is met with a minor traffic violation. However, when a distracted driver injures another motorist, you can seek compensation through a legal suit. If you have been injured in such a situation, our team can help you hold the negligent driver accountable for your losses and damages.

Texting takes drivers' minds and eyes off the road and their hands off the wheel. Because they are not paying attention to their driving,

They miss crucial road signs and information such as:

  • Changes in the Flow
    of Traffic
  • Traffic Lights
  • Traffic Signs
  • Work Zones
  • Bicyclists
  • Lane Changes
  • Incapacitate Cars and
    Motorists

At Cobb Hammett, LLC, we represent injury victims in Columbia who are involved in all types of car accidents, including distracted driving. We work with vigor to recover the full amount of compensation you and your family will need to recover. You can rely on our attorneys for dedicated, representation throughout your case. Unlike some distracted driving lawyers in Columbia, we will assist you with all aspects of your accident, including access to good medical care if needed.

 Personal Injury Lawyer Columbia, SC

Unflinching Legal Advocacy. Compassionate Care

At Cobb Hammett, LLC, we are proud of our commitment to our clients. We pledge to provide them with the highest quality legal representation in Columbia and treat them with respect, empathy, and compassion. If you are suffering from the results of a dangerous car accident, know we are here to assist.

We will help you seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and additional losses. Surviving family members may also recover funeral expenses and compensation for the personal loss of a loved one, including the deceased's future income and benefits. When you or your family's health and financial security are on the line, trust the best choose Cobb Hammett, LLC.

CONTACT US

Latest News in Columbia, SC

Midlands hospital, health care providers could be dropped by big insurer. What we know

Customers of a Midlands health care system could be at risk of losing their in-network coverage, depending on the outcome of ongoing negotiations with one of the nation’s largest insurance companies.Lexington Medical Center this week sent out a notification to all of its patients who have Aetna insurance that the West Columbia-based health care provider could be dropped as an in-network option for the insurance giant.“Lexington Medical Center is c...

Customers of a Midlands health care system could be at risk of losing their in-network coverage, depending on the outcome of ongoing negotiations with one of the nation’s largest insurance companies.

Lexington Medical Center this week sent out a notification to all of its patients who have Aetna insurance that the West Columbia-based health care provider could be dropped as an in-network option for the insurance giant.

“Lexington Medical Center is currently in negotiations with Aetna Healthcare on its commercial contract set to terminate on February 1, 2025,” the medical center said in a message sent to patients. “We are diligently working in good faith to remain an in-network provider with Aetna Healthcare, but our status is doubtful.”

The message was sent, Lexington Medical Center said, so that patients can consider making different selections for the health care coverage for the coming year.

“We know many of you are going through open enrollment with your employer and want to make the most informed decision when selecting health care coverage, which is why we are letting you know now,” the message said.

Besides its West Columbia hospital near Interstate 26, Lexington Medical Center operates 44 separate practices and specialists throughout the Midlands, from oncologists to podiatrists to urgent cares. All of them would be affected if negotiations between the health provider and the insurer don’t come to some kind of resolution.

While Lexington Medical Center said it would continue to serve Aetna customers, “you may be subject to the out-of-network terms of your health plan, which generally results in higher out-of-pocket costs to you,” it said.

The center offers financial assistance programs for patients, and ongoing treatments may be eligible for continuity of care during a transitional period while customers find another provider. Emergency services will also continue to be treated as in-network, the medical center said.

Asked for comment by The State, a Lexington Medical Center spokesperson said in a statement, “We are working to remain an in-network provider with Aetna Healthcare, and we hope to reach a mutually beneficial agreement to care for the patients we serve.”

In a statement sent via email, a spokesperson for Aetna’s parent company CVS Health said the company was likewise working to renew its contract with Lexington Medical.

”We are hopeful that we will reach an agreement that keeps them in our networks while keeping health care services affordable for our members and health plan sponsors,” the company said.

The State

803-771-8405

Bristow Marchant covers local government, schools and community in Lexington County for The State. He graduated from the College of Charleston in 2007. He has almost 20 years of experience covering South Carolina at the Clinton Chronicle, Sumter Item and Rock Hill Herald. He joined The State in 2016. Bristow has won numerous awards, most recently the S.C. Press Association’s 2023 faith reporting award for his coverage of the breakup of the United Methodist Church.

Teacher arrested for assaulting two students at Lexington County school, SC sheriff says

A man who’s a teacher at a Columbia-area school was arrested for assaulting two students this year, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.Jermaine Cornelius Singletary, 51, was charged with two counts of third-degree assault & battery, the sheriff’s department said Wednesday i...

A man who’s a teacher at a Columbia-area school was arrested for assaulting two students this year, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.

Jermaine Cornelius Singletary, 51, was charged with two counts of third-degree assault & battery, the sheriff’s department said Wednesday in a news release.

The sheriff’s department said Singletary teaches at Irmo Middle School. The Lexington-Richland 5 school is on Wesctott Road near the intersection with St. Andrews Road, in the area of Columbia between Harbison Boulevard and Lake Murray Boulevard.

While Singletary is listed on the roster of teachers on the school’s website, a link to his bio leads to an error page.

“School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties received notification that a district employee has been arrested,” L-R 5 officials told The State when asked about Singletary. “We are cooperating fully with law enforcement in their investigation, and the employee is on administrative leave.”

The assaults involved two students in incidents that were separated by several months this year, according to the sheriff’s department release.

Singletary struck a student in March after he thought the student touched his head, the sheriff’s department said. The teacher hit another student in October after the student retrieved a portion of an assignment Singletary threw in a trash can, according to the release.

Information on the students’ conditions, and if they needed any medical treatment, was not available.

Singletary did not report either incident to school administrators, the sheriff’s department said.

“When we became aware of these two incidents, we opened our investigation and determined Singletary allegedly assaulted two students on two separate occasions,” Sheriff Jay Koon said in the release.

Singletary turned himself in Wednesday morning and was booked into the Lexington County Detention Center, the sheriff’s department said. No bond has been set and Singletary remains locked up, jail records show.

Following a bond hearing, the Columbia resident is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 19, Lexington County judicial records show.

If convicted on the misdemeanor assault and battery charges, Singletary faces a maximum punishment of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine for each count, according to South Carolina law.

There was no word what a conviction would mean to Singletary’s status with L-R 5, and if he would lose his teaching certification.

In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.

The State

803-771-8435

Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. Support my work with a digital subscription

SC woman woke to find large snake behind toilet in apartment, sheriff’s department says

A South Carolina woman woke up Tuesday morning and went to her apartment’s bathroom where she was met by a large snake that was behind the toilet, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department said.It wasn’t a plumbing tool, and the reptile was not the woman’s pet.An incident report said the woman screamed and called for help, an understandable reaction to unexpectedly ...

A South Carolina woman woke up Tuesday morning and went to her apartment’s bathroom where she was met by a large snake that was behind the toilet, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department said.

It wasn’t a plumbing tool, and the reptile was not the woman’s pet.

An incident report said the woman screamed and called for help, an understandable reaction to unexpectedly finding a ball python at about 5 a.m. inside of an apartment in Columbia. Information on the length and estimated age of the brown and black snake wasn’t available.

Neither the woman nor the snake was hurt, as deputies who responded to Rice Terrace Apartments and Townhomes were able to extract the exotic animal, initially placing it in a pillowcase, according to the incident report.

“We were able to provide a solution to the resident quickly and save the snake’s life!” Master Deputy Alexandra Salrin told The State.

Other than possibly frayed nerves, the only damage reported was a bathroom that was flooded because of the snake, the incident report said. Information about how the snake caused the bathroom to flood was not available.

The apartment complex is at 107 Rice Terrace Drive, in a section of Columbia between Hardscrabble Road and Longtown Road, near Ridge View High School.

The woman who found the snake first called a friend, then they both reached out to law enforcement for help, according to the incident report. Master Deputy Shannon Huffman, a member of the Community Action Team, responded to the apartment, “and knew exactly what to do!” the sheriff’s department said.

Huffman has been with the sheriff’s department for almost 4 years, according to Salrin.

Huffman’s efforts were shared on social media, While it’s common for the sheriff’s department to be called to an animal-related issue, it’s unusual to have to assist in incidents involving exotic animals such as snakes, according to Salrin.

“This was definitely a unique call for service for us,” Salrin said.

Despite the unusual nature of the call, deputies are trained to deal with a variety of situations, according to Salrin.

“We prepare our deputies to expect to be called to incidents that they never expected to be dealing with and our deputies are trained to assess the situation and determine if there is another agency or specialized unit that needs to assist,” Salrin said. “Thankfully, in this situation, (Master Deputy) Huffman has experience with a variety of animals and was comfortable dealing with the snake.”

The sheriff’s department doesn’t know how the snake ended up in the apartment. Because of the size of the snake, Salrin said there is speculation that the snake is someone’s pet and may have escaped from another apartment in the complex.

“However, that cannot be confirmed because no one has come forward” to claim the snake, Salrin said.

The snake won’t be left to fend for itself, as it was taken home by one of the sheriff’s department’s Operations deputies, according to Salrin.

In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.

This story was originally published November 6, 2024, 8:06 AM.

Final: South Carolina earns 28-7 win over Vanderbilt in Nashville

The South Carolina Gamecocks (5-3) face No. 24 Vanderbilt at 4:15 p.m. Saturday at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The game will air on SEC Network.A win would give USC six wins and bowl eligibility with three games to go in the regular season.It could be a wet afternoon in Nashville. It’s raining just before kickoff, and there’s a 70% chance of showers into the evening.Rocket Sanders scores his third touchdown of the night on a 43-yard pass from QB LaNorris Sellers. The drive went 61 yards on just...

The South Carolina Gamecocks (5-3) face No. 24 Vanderbilt at 4:15 p.m. Saturday at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The game will air on SEC Network.

A win would give USC six wins and bowl eligibility with three games to go in the regular season.

It could be a wet afternoon in Nashville. It’s raining just before kickoff, and there’s a 70% chance of showers into the evening.

Rocket Sanders scores his third touchdown of the night on a 43-yard pass from QB LaNorris Sellers. The drive went 61 yards on just two plays and lasted 1:20 and was set up by a turnover on downs.

The Gamecocks go up by two scores again with another Rocket Sanders touchdown run. Sanders scores from a yard out on a drive in which he had four carries and 49 yards.

The Commodores get on the board with a 17-yard touchdown run from QB Diego Pavia. The score capped a 10 plays, 75-yard drive that lasted 5:13.

USC got off to a quick start after half when QB LaNorris Sellers found TE Joshua Simon and receiver Jared Brown down field for big chunk plays of 20 and 51 yards respectively. RB Raheim “Rocket” Sanders then ran it in from 33 yards out. The drive lasted 1:38 and went 75 yards on three plays.

After USC recovered the fumble towards the end of the first quarter, QB LaNorris Sellers connected with receiver Nyck Harbor for a 23-yard pass. That set Sellers up to find TE Joshua Simon for a 17-yard touchdown to draw first blood for the Gamecocks.

The drive went 81 yards on 12 plays and lasted 4:45.

After the first quarter, neither team has drawn first blood. The Gamecocks went on a six-minute drive that resulted in a missed field goal by Alex Herrera.

After USC forced another Vanderbilt punt, QB LaNorris Sellers fumbled, ending his positive streak of not turning the ball over. It was forced by Miles Capers and recovered by Langston Patterson.

Vandy QB Diego Pavia fumbled it right back, forced and recovered by Kyle Kennard.

South Carolina, according to Saturday’s final availability report from the SEC, will be without RB Matthew Fuller, LB Mo Kaba, DB Buddy Mack III, OL Jakai Moore and defensive tackles Nick Barrett and DeAndre Jules.

The Gamecocks will wear garnet helmets, white jerseys and garnet pants in Saturday’s game.

South Carolina is favored by 6 points over Vanderbilt, according to the VegasInsider consensus line that factors in multiple sportsbooks. the over-under is 45 points.

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This story was originally published November 9, 2024, 3:34 PM.

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