What to Know About Lewis Law Firm's Personal Injury Practice

Lewis Law Firm handles personal injury cases across South Carolina

Lewis Law Firm is a personal injury law practice based in South Carolina that represents clients in cases involving car accidents, workplace injuries, medical malpractice, and other incidents where someone has been harmed. The firm works on a contingency basis, meaning you pay no upfront fees—the firm collects a percentage of any settlement or judgment only if your case is resolved in your favor.

The firm's approach centers on investigating what happened, gathering evidence, and negotiating with insurance companies or preparing for trial. Understanding how a personal injury firm operates, what they handle, and how to work with one can help you decide whether to reach out for a consultation.

Key Takeaways

• Lewis Law Firm works on contingency, so you pay nothing unless the firm recovers money on your behalf.
• The firm handles car accidents, workplace injuries, medical malpractice, and other personal injury claims across South Carolina.
• Most personal injury cases settle before trial, but the firm prepares each case as if it will go to court.
• An initial consultation with the firm is typically free and lets you describe what happened and learn what options exist.
• The firm's fee is a percentage of what you recover, which is set by agreement before work begins.

How contingency fees work

When a personal injury firm takes your case on contingency, it means the firm advances the costs of investigation, expert witnesses, court filings, and other expenses. You reimburse those costs only if the case settles or wins at trial. The firm's fee—typically between 25 and 40 percent of the recovery, depending on whether the case settles or goes to trial—comes from the money awarded to you.

This arrangement removes the barrier of upfront legal costs, but it also means the firm must believe your case has real value before taking it. The firm will not take every case that walks through the door; they evaluate whether the facts support your claim and whether the defendant has the resources to pay a judgment.

Types of cases Lewis Law Firm handles

Personal injury law covers harm caused by someone else's negligence or wrongdoing. Car accidents are the most common—rear-end collisions, intersection crashes, and accidents caused by distracted or impaired driving. Workplace injuries include falls, equipment accidents, and repetitive strain injuries where an employer failed to maintain safe conditions or follow safety rules.

Medical malpractice cases involve harm caused by a doctor, surgeon, hospital, or other medical provider who deviated from the standard of care—for instance, a misdiagnosis that delayed treatment or a surgical error. Premises liability covers injuries on someone else's property due to negligence, such as a slip on an unmarked wet floor or a fall from a broken stair. The firm also handles wrongful death cases when someone dies as a result of another person's negligence.

What happens during an initial consultation

Most personal injury firms, including Lewis Law Firm, offer a free initial consultation. During this meeting, you describe what happened, when it happened, and what injuries or losses you suffered. The attorney asks questions to understand the sequence of events, whether anyone witnessed the incident, and what medical treatment you received.

The attorney will also ask about your damages—the financial and non-financial harm you experienced. This includes medical bills paid so far, lost wages if you missed work, ongoing treatment costs, and pain and suffering. The firm uses this information to estimate what your case might be worth and whether it makes financial sense to pursue.

At the end of the consultation, the attorney will tell you whether the firm can take your case. If they decline, they may refer you to another firm that handles your type of claim. If they agree to represent you, you will sign a fee agreement that spells out the firm's percentage, how costs are handled, and what happens if the case settles versus goes to trial.

The investigation and negotiation process

Once you hire Lewis Law Firm, the attorney begins gathering evidence. This includes obtaining the police report (if applicable), medical records, photographs of the scene or your injuries, and witness statements. For car accidents, the firm may request traffic camera footage or cell phone records to establish what the other driver was doing at the time of impact.

The firm also works with medical experts who review your records and provide an opinion on the cause of your injury, the treatment you needed, and your prognosis. In medical malpractice cases, an expert from the same medical field must confirm that the defendant's conduct fell below the standard of care.

Once the investigation is complete, the firm sends a demand letter to the defendant's insurance company or attorney. This letter summarizes the facts, explains why the defendant is liable, and requests a specific dollar amount to settle. Most cases settle during negotiation; if the insurance company refuses to offer a fair amount, the firm files a lawsuit and prepares for trial.

Settlement versus trial

The vast majority of personal injury cases settle before trial. A settlement is a negotiated agreement in which the defendant (or their insurance company) pays you a lump sum in exchange for you agreeing not to pursue the case further. Settlements are faster, cheaper, and more predictable than trial—you know exactly what you will receive.

If settlement negotiations stall, the case goes to trial. At trial, a judge or jury hears evidence from both sides and decides whether the defendant is liable and, if so, how much to award you. Trial is riskier because the outcome is uncertain, but it may result in a larger award if the jury finds the defendant's conduct particularly egregious. Lewis Law Firm prepares every case as if it will go to trial, even though most settle.

What to bring to your first meeting

Before your consultation, gather documents related to your injury. For a car accident, bring the police report number (or the report itself if you have it), photos of vehicle damage, and the other driver's insurance information. For a workplace injury, bring the incident report filed with your employer and any safety violations you observed.

Bring all medical records and bills related to your injury, including emergency room visits, doctor appointments, imaging (X-rays, MRI), and physical therapy. If you missed work, bring pay stubs or a letter from your employer showing the dates and wages lost. Bring the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the incident. The more organized your documentation, the faster the attorney can assess your case.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a personal injury case usually take?

Simple cases that settle quickly may resolve in a few months. Cases requiring extensive investigation or expert opinions typically take one to two years. If the case goes to trial, add several more months for court scheduling. The firm will give you a realistic timeline once they understand the complexity of your claim.

What if I cannot afford a lawyer?

Contingency fees exist precisely for this reason. You pay nothing upfront and nothing if the case does not result in a recovery. The firm covers investigation costs and expert fees. You only reimburse those costs from the settlement or judgment you receive.

Can I still pursue a case if I was partially at fault?

South Carolina follows comparative negligence rules, which means you can recover even if you were partially responsible, as long as you were not more than 50 percent at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 20 percent at fault and the award is $100,000, you receive $80,000.

What if the defendant does not have insurance?

An uninsured defendant is harder to collect from but not impossible. The firm may pursue a judgment against the defendant personally, garnish wages, or place a lien on property. Some cases are not worth pursuing if the defendant has no assets or income. The attorney will discuss this during your consultation.

How much will the firm charge me?

The firm's fee is a percentage of your recovery, typically 25 to 40 percent depending on whether the case settles or goes to trial. This percentage is negotiated and set in writing before the firm begins work. You will also reimburse the firm for investigation costs, expert fees, and court filings, but only from your recovery.