What to Know About Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega Personal Injury Law

Who Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega Are and What They Handle

Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega is a personal injury law firm based in South Carolina that represents people injured in accidents, workplace incidents, and other situations where negligence or wrongdoing caused harm. The firm handles cases involving car accidents, truck collisions, slip-and-fall injuries, workplace accidents, and product liability claims. They work on a contingency basis, meaning you pay no upfront fees—the firm collects a percentage of any settlement or judgment they win on your behalf.

The firm operates within South Carolina's personal injury system, which requires you to prove that someone else's carelessness or intentional action caused your injury and resulting damages. Those damages can include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and ongoing care costs. Understanding how a firm like this one works helps you decide whether to pursue a claim and what to expect during the process.

Key Takeaways

• Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega handles personal injury cases on contingency, so you pay nothing unless they recover money for you.
• The firm represents clients in car accidents, workplace injuries, slip-and-fall cases, and product liability claims across South Carolina.
• Personal injury claims require proof that someone else's negligence caused your injury and specific damages like medical costs or lost income.
• Most personal injury cases settle before trial, but the firm is prepared to take cases to court if needed.
• South Carolina has a three-year deadline to file most personal injury lawsuits, so contacting a firm early protects your right to pursue a claim.

How Contingency Fees Work With This Firm

When you hire Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega on contingency, you do not pay the firm an hourly rate or retainer. Instead, the firm advances the costs of investigating and building your case—expert witnesses, medical records, court filings—and takes a percentage of whatever money you recover. If the case settles or you win at trial, the firm deducts its fee and case costs from your settlement or judgment before you receive your portion. If you recover nothing, you owe the firm nothing, though you may still be responsible for certain court costs depending on your agreement.

This arrangement means the firm has financial incentive to pursue cases with real merit and real damages. Before taking your case, they will evaluate whether you have a viable claim—whether the evidence shows someone else was at fault and whether damages are substantial enough to justify the time and expense. Ask the firm directly what percentage they take and what costs they advance, as these terms can vary by case type and complexity.

Types of Cases the Firm Handles

Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega represents clients in several common personal injury categories. Motor vehicle accidents include car, truck, and motorcycle collisions where another driver's negligence caused injury. Workplace accidents cover injuries on the job that may fall outside workers' compensation or involve a third party's liability. Slip-and-fall cases involve injuries on someone else's property due to unsafe conditions the property owner knew about or should have known about. Product liability claims arise when a defective or dangerous product causes injury.

Each case type has different proof requirements and damages calculations. A car accident case might focus on police reports, medical records, and lost wages. A slip-and-fall case requires evidence that the property owner was negligent in maintaining the space. A product liability claim may involve expert testimony about design defects or manufacturing failures. The firm's experience in these specific areas means they understand what evidence matters and how South Carolina courts evaluate each type of claim.

What Happens From Initial Consultation to Settlement or Trial

Your first step is a consultation with the firm, usually free, where you describe what happened, your injuries, and the costs you have incurred. The firm will ask for medical records, accident reports, insurance information, and any documentation of lost income. They will explain whether they believe you have a viable claim and what the process looks like. If you decide to move forward, you sign a contingency agreement that outlines the firm's fee percentage and what costs they will advance.

Once hired, the firm investigates your claim by gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, obtaining expert opinions if needed, and reviewing insurance policies. They send a demand letter to the at-fault party's insurance company describing your injuries, damages, and the basis for liability. The insurance company responds with an offer, often lower than your claim. Negotiation follows, with the firm pushing for a higher settlement. Most cases settle at this stage. If settlement talks stall, the firm files a lawsuit in South Carolina court, and the case moves into discovery—the formal exchange of evidence—and potentially toward trial.

The timeline varies widely. Simple car accident cases may settle in months. Complex cases involving serious injury, multiple parties, or disputed liability can take one to three years or longer. Throughout, the firm handles communication with insurance companies and opposing counsel, so you are not negotiating alone.

South Carolina's Statute of Limitations and Why Timing Matters

South Carolina law gives you three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in most cases. This deadline, called the statute of limitations, is strict—if you miss it, you lose your right to pursue a claim in court, even if you have a strong case. Some situations have different deadlines: claims against government entities may have shorter timeframes, and claims involving minors may have extended deadlines. The clock starts on the date of injury, not the date you discovered the injury.

Contacting a firm like Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega early protects you in several ways. The firm can file a lawsuit before the deadline if settlement negotiations stall. Early investigation preserves evidence—witness memories fade, accident scenes change, and video footage may be deleted. Insurance companies know the deadline too, and they may delay settlement talks hoping you will miss the filing window. Having a firm working on your case from the start keeps pressure on the other side and ensures your claim does not expire.

Damages You May Recover in a Personal Injury Claim

Personal injury damages fall into two main categories: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are measurable costs: medical bills, surgery and therapy expenses, prescription medications, medical equipment, lost wages from time off work, and reduced earning capacity if your injury prevents you from working at your previous level. You document these with receipts, medical records, and pay stubs. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent scarring or disfigurement. These have no receipt, so courts and juries evaluate them based on the severity and permanence of your injury.

South Carolina does not cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, meaning there is no legal maximum on what you can recover for pain and suffering. However, the at-fault party's insurance company will argue for a lower figure, and a jury may award less than you hoped. The firm's role is to present evidence—medical testimony, your own account of how the injury changed your life, expert opinions on long-term effects—that supports a higher damage award. In cases involving gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing, you may also recover punitive damages, which punish the defendant rather than simply compensating you.

When to Contact the Firm and What to Bring

Contact Smith, Born, Leventis, Taylor & Vega as soon as reasonably possible after your injury, ideally within days or weeks rather than months. Early contact gives the firm time to investigate while evidence is fresh and witnesses remember details. Bring any documents you have: the accident report (police report for car accidents, incident report for workplace injuries), insurance information for all parties involved, medical records and bills, photographs of your injuries or the accident scene, and any communication with the at-fault party or their insurance company.

If you have already filed an insurance claim or been contacted by an adjuster, bring that correspondence too. Do not sign anything or give a recorded statement to an insurance company without consulting the firm first—insurers often use these statements to minimize your claim. The firm will advise you on what to say and handle communication on your behalf. If you have missed some documents, do not worry; the firm can obtain many records directly from medical providers, employers, and government agencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I was partially at fault for the accident?

South Carolina follows a "comparative negligence" rule: you can still recover damages even if you were partly 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 were 20 percent at fault and your damages total $10,000, you recover $8,000. The firm will evaluate the evidence and advise you on how a court might view your share of responsibility.

How much does it cost to hire this firm?

There is no upfront cost. The firm works on contingency, taking a percentage of your recovery—typically one-third to 40 percent depending on whether the case settles or goes to trial. You also pay case costs like filing fees and expert witness fees, which the firm advances and deducts from your settlement. Ask during your consultation what the exact percentage is and what costs apply to your specific case.

Can I still pursue a claim if I have already settled with my insurance company?

It depends on what you settled. If you accepted a settlement from your own insurance company under your uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, you may still have a claim against the at-fault party. However, your insurance company may have a lien on any recovery, meaning they recoup what they paid you. Contact the firm immediately to understand your options, as timing matters.

What if the at-fault party does not have insurance?

You can still pursue a claim, but recovery is harder. The firm may pursue the defendant's personal assets or recommend you file a claim under your own uninsured motorist coverage if you have it. South Carolina requires all drivers to carry liability insurance, so uninsured drivers are breaking the law. The firm will explore all available sources of recovery.

How long does a personal injury case usually take?

Simple cases with clear liability and agreed-upon damages may settle in three to six months. More complex cases involving serious injury, multiple parties, or disputed fault typically take one to three years. Cases that go to trial can take longer. The firm will give you a realistic timeline based on your specific situation during your initial consultation.