Why Choose CSA Law? Winning Matters
$300+ millions
recovered
30+ years of
experience
9,000+ cases
resolved
South Carolina Personal Injury Attorneys
Start out as a client, end up as a friend
We believe a team of experienced, focused, and passionate trial lawyers gives injured clients the best opportunities to receive all of the financial compensation and medical treatment they need to recover as quickly as possible.
That is why our lawyers have been committed for more than three decades to protecting the rights of injured people and helping them succeed in their financial recovery. Tenacious and tireless, our attorneys are focused on fighting for our clients’ rights and interests in any legal setting so that injured people can maximize their financial recoveries and reclaim their lives.
Practice Areas
Experience & Knowledge
“Personal injury” ecompasses many areas of law. If you are considering filing a lawsuit or pursuing a claim, then it’s important to find an attorney with the right experience, background and knowledge. At Chappell, Smith & Arden, our attorneys focus in many different types of injury cases. In particular, we most commonly handle the following case types:
Workers’ CompensationAfter on-the-job injuries, the attorneys of Chappell Smith & Arden, P.A. work to pursue your full workers’ compensation benefits or appeals for wrongful denial/termination of benefits.
Car AccidentsIf you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, our attorneys may help you recover compensation for property damage, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Trucking AccidentsTrucking accidents caused by negligence can be devastating, and Chappell, Smith & Arden, P.A. helps victims achieve the financial recoveries they deserve. We’re not afraid to go up against trucking companies and their insurers.
Motorcycle AccidentsWe understand just how challenging a motorcycle crash can be, both for you and your family. That’s why we provide quality legal services to help you protect your rights and advocate for the compensation you deserve.
Nursing Home Abuse & NeglectIncidents of abuse and neglect in nursing homes continue to increase in the United States. Our attorneys help keep you and your loved ones safe, pursuing justice for nursing home injuries.
Product LiabilityWhen manufacturers, designers or distributors fail to comply with state/federal rules and regulations for product safety, our Columbia product liability attorneys help clients hold these companies liable for injuries and damages.
Brain InjuryA traumatic brain injury can have a devastating impact on your quality of life. If your brain injury was caused by negligence, get help by reaching out to our South Carolina brain injury attorneys.
Slip and FallIf you slip, trip or fall at work or on another person’s property, the property owner may be liable for any serious injuries that result. Find out how our premises liability attorneys may find the evidence necessary to secure compensation for you.
Wrongful DeathIf your loved one was killed due to negligence, you may be owed compensation for pain and suffering, loss of consortium and other damages. Our wrongful death lawyers can help secure justice for your loss and hold the at-fault party accountable.
Our Attorneys Are Here to Help You
Founded in 1993, the mission of Chappell Smith & Arden, P.A. is to help injured clients get the justice they deserve. Our exceptional, experienced attorneys are licensed to practice in several areas, including all federal and state courts in South Carolina, all state courts in North Carolina, and federal district and appeals courts across the nation. We are also qualified to serve clients in the Supreme Court of the United States.
Our Clients Love Us
“Chappell Smith & Arden made my case absolutely painless. They were professional, diligent, compassionate and extremely attentive. Mark Chappell and his team went above and way beyond to make sure I was compensated for someone else’s wrongdoing.”
“They are absolutely AMAZING! It’s very rare to not only find great customer service, but genuine people who care about their clients. They truly go above and beyond to help, even after they’ve helped with your claim.”
“Chappell Smith & Arden were our attorneys for our car accident case. They were very reassuring and patient with us during a long and stressful negotiation with the drivers Insurance company and were highly successful in arranging a deserved financial settlement. We recommend Chappell Smith & Arden for whatever legal representation is needed.”
“Chappell Smith represented me in a workers comp case they did a wonderful job. Kind courteous and they actually care about their clients. They understand the stress these cases bring, especially for someone like me that suffers from PTSD. They actually take time and listen and are genuine when they ask if they can help you.”
“One of the “BEST” Law Firms. They treat you like family. They are always available when you need them. They work hard to get what you need and deserve. If you are looking for excellent representation, look no further. Chappell, Smith and Arden are here for YOU!”
How Much Is My Case Worth?
This is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive, and the hardest to answer. Other related questions we get asked include:
- Is my case worth pursuing?
- Can I handle my case myself? (Do I need a lawyer?)
- How much should I expect to recover in the end?
- How long will it take?
- Will the insurance company pay my bills and wage loss along the way?
Here’s the truthful answer that online settlement calculators and other lawyers often ignore:
It depends. Every case is different. Some cases do not need a lawyer to get resolved. These are cases with property damage only, or ones with only one “get checked out” visit to the ER. Other cases with more serious facts or injuries might need a lawyer. The good thing about CSA Law is that we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we will sit down with you to review your case and tell you if you really need to hire an attorney — at no charge.
As far as how long a case takes to resolve, that also depends on the extent of the injuries, the liability issues, and the difficulty negotiating a reasonable settlement. The only sure answer to the above questions is that the insurance company will not “pay as you go” on your case. While they have the money in their account, the pressure is on you to resolve your case more quickly, and the more they earn in interest on that money. So don’t expect the carrier to write you a check upfront and say, “Let’s be friends.”
Ultimately, you’ll need to talk to an experienced and knowledgeable personal injury attorney near you to find out if you have a strong case and how much compensation you may be owed.
Don’t be fooled by easy answers and smooth promises to deliver X amount in a settlement without knowing the full details of your case.
Notable Settlements
Holding Negligent Parties Accountable
$150 million Bridge collapse
$56 million Military class action
$14.5 million Insurance bad faith
$5 million Forklift accident
$3.5 million Head-on-collision
$1.3 million Multiple vehicle wreck
This list is not a description or characterization of the quality of the firm’s representation and is in no way a guarantee of a specific result for your case. Every case is different, and our South Carolina injury lawyers and the court will evaluate each case on its own merit.
3 Personal Injury Myths That Can Cost You
The negligent actions of others can end up harming you on a physical, psychological and even financial level, especially if you are left with permanent impairments that prevent you from working and/or that require long-term medical care.
In these cases, you may have the opportunity to financially recover by pursuing a personal injury case against the negligent parties. However, if you believe certain myths about these cases, you may end up compromising your rights and claims to compensation before your case even gets started.
Don’t be misled by these personal injury myths.
“I don’t have to file my case right away because there’s plenty of time to do so.”
Fact: You really do not have “plenty” of time to file a personal injury case, as South Carolina law limits this time frame to 3 years. In other words, you only have 3 years from the date of your accident (or from the date on which your injuries were discovered) to file your case before the statute of limitations expires.
While a few years can seem like a substantial amount of time, it really is not in the legal arena. Putting off your case for too long can result in:
- A loss of important evidence to support your case
- Reduced payouts later if time deteriorates the strength of your case.
So, it’s strongly advised to move forward sooner – rather than later – when it comes to filing a personal injury case.
“Whether or not I follow doctors’ orders won’t affect my future personal injury case.”
Fact: If your doctor specifically recommends certain treatments and/or limited physical activity for some time, not complying with these orders or recommendations can come back to haunt you later.
Defendants in your case may use your noncompliance as “evidence” against you, possibly arguing that your injuries were not as severe as you have alleged or that you may not have been injured at all in the accident/event since you did not follow through with the recommended treatments.
So, if you know you will be filing a personal injury case in the future, listen to and follow doctors’ orders now. If you think you are getting the wrong medical advice, get a second or third opinion.
“I don’t need to worry about retaining documents or evidence related to my accident. I can get copies later when I’m ready to move forward with my case.”
Fact: While you may be able to locate certain evidence later (like medical reports, doctors’ bills or even police reports), there may not be copies/additional versions of other types of evidence for your case (like pictures, items worn on the day of the accident, etc.).
So, make sure you err on the side of caution and don’t throw anything away that may be useful to a future case. Even if you are not sure, keep the item. You can always toss it later. However, if you toss it now, it may not be available later – and it could cost you in compensation when you are ready to move forward with your personal injury case.
Personal Injury Frequently Asked Questions
What damages can I claim in a personal injury case?
Every personal injury is different, but most cases involve different types of compensatory “damages,” which is money awarded to compensate you for your…
What are punitive damages?
Punitive damages are awarded in addition to compensatory damages and serve the purpose of punishing the at fault party, deterring similar conduct…
What is the statute of limitations for personal injury cases?
In South Carolina, you only have 3 years in which to file a personal injury claim. After that deadline, your case will be barred, regardless of how strong and…
What if I was partially at fault?
As lawyers love to say in response to any question: “It depends.” Generally, in South Carolina, you may still recover actual compensatory damages…
How much is my case worth?
The value of your case cannot be ascertained with any simple formula or calculator. Instead, a personal injury attorney will need to investigate the facts of your…