Our Legal Expertise

Car Accidents

A car accident that isn’t your fault can result in injuries, bills, lost wages and pain, and suffering. Many times the other driver’s insurance company will call and offer you a small settlement. The Insurance Research Council reports that people who hire an attorney get three times more money than those who settle cases on their own. I will handle all of the legal issues, paperwork, and anything else that comes up so you can focus on recovering and getting back to your normal life.

Communication

At the Heist Law Firm LLC the first thing I do for a new client is give them my cell phone number. I am available 24/7 and if I can not answer a call at that specific time I will call you right back. Communication with my clients is something I pride myself on.

What to do after a car accident

If you are injured in a car accident following these simple steps can help protect your rights:

1. Talk to the Police or call 911 if hurt. Make sure you get a copy of the collision report and give the officer a detailed description of what happened.

2. Gather the Facts. Make sure you get any witness information, take pictures, and get the other party’s insurance information.

3. See a Doctor. It’s important to see a doctor or go to the hospital anytime you are in a car accident. Often, symptoms may take time to develop, so see a qualified doctor as quickly as possible after your car accident, even if you aren’t sure you are hurt, it is important.

4. Don't think twice, BANK ON HEIST. (843) 732-8141. I will give you a free consultation.

5. If the insurance company calls you make sure to tell them you have representation and don’t talk about the accident.

Motorcycle Accident

Motorcycle accidents happen frequently and can lead to severe injuries or even fatalities. If you or someone close to you has been injured in a motorcycle collision in South Carolina, our team at Heist Law Firm is here to assist you in seeking the compensation you deserve.

Drivers who fail to pay attention and drive carefully can endanger the life of a motorcyclist in a matter of seconds. If the negligent driver caused your accident and the resulting injuries, South Carolina law allows you to hold them financially responsible.

Here at Heist Law Firm we are dedicated to advocating for injured individuals, ensuring their cases are heard, and helping them recover damages. During your initial consultation, we will carefully examine your case and discuss the available legal options. Once you decide to work with us, our experienced lawyer specializing in South Carolina motorcycle accidents will immediately begin working on your behalf.

COMPENSATION FOR A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

Victims of motorcycle accidents have the opportunity to receive compensation for the damages they have sustained. Due to the higher risk faced by motorcyclists on the road, compensation can help cover a range of losses including:

Medical Expenses
Property Damage
Reduced Quality of Life
Loss of Income
Reduced Earnings Potential
Emotional Distress

To accurately assess the appropriate amount of compensation you should seek, our team will carefully calculate the value of your specific damages. Depending on the circumstances of your case, we may suggest other recoverable damages.

Call us today to schedule a consultation!

Don't think twice, BANK ON HEIST. (843) 732-8141

Truck Accidents

A commercial truck accident can be much more catastrophic than an accident between two personal-use vehicles. A typical, fully loaded commercial truck (such as a big rig or dump truck) can weigh at least 25 times as much as a typical car. Due to this stark weight disparity and the basic laws of physics, most big rig truck accidents with other vehicles result in serious, even fatal, injuries.

If you or a loved one is involved in an accident with a commercial truck, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your injuries by bringing a legal claim against the responsible parties.

Don't think twice, BANK ON HEIST. (843) 732-8141

Worker's Compensation

South Carolina Worker’s Compensation laws protect victims of workplace accidents that caused personal injuries or wrongful death. The responsible employer or business can be held liable for the injuries and many of the costs involved. An injured worker can recover medical expenses, lost earnings, and disability benefits even if the employer did not outright cause the workplace accident or injury.

If you are hurt on the job your first step should be to immediately report the accident to your supervisor and then seek appropriate medical treatment. Your employer will typically have the right to select your treating doctor, so begin there first.

Damages in a Worker’s Compensation case can include:

Compensation for Personal Injuries, Pain, and Suffering
Lost Wages and Earnings
Medical Expenses and Hospital Bills
Permanent Disabilities, Disfigurement, and Scars
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
The Loss of Financial Support and Benefits
Funeral Expenses and Burial Costs

If you are hurt at work, don’t think twice……BANK ON HEIST. The Heist Law Firm LLC does not collect any money unless you win your case.

Slip and Fall

Whether it happens at the grocery store or a friend's house, slip and fall accidents occur fairly often. In some instances, the property owner is responsible for the injured party's injuries.

There are many dangerous conditions like torn carpeting, changes in flooring, poor lighting, narrow stairs, or a wet floor that can cause someone to slip and be injured. The same goes if someone trips on a broken or cracked public sidewalks, or falls down a flight of stairs. In addition, a slip and fall case might arise when someone slips or falls outdoors because of rain, ice, snow, or a hidden hazard such as a pothole in the ground.

Don't think twice, BANK ON HEIST. (843) 732-8141

Bicycle Accident

Even though biking in Charleston is becoming more common, careless and reckless drivers of motor vehicles continue to put cyclists’ lives at risk by failing to share the road. Under South Carolina Law, a cyclist who suffers injuries in a crash caused by a negligent motorist has a right to compensation to cover the full extent of their accident-related damages. But act fast; the law usually only gives injured parties three years to file suit.

Don't think twice, BANK ON HEIST. (843) 732-8141

Pedestrian Accident

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association ( NHTSA ) reports that each year nearly 5,000 pedestrians die in motor vehicle-related accidents, and approximately 76,000 pedestrians in 2012 suffered injuries when hit by a car or truck. These accidents can occur when pedestrians attempt to cross highways. In addition to pedestrian-vehicle incidents, thousands of non-vehicular pedestrian accidents also occur annually. Poor maintenance, sidewalk/ parking lot defects, and construction or other debris on walkways can also cause these accidents.

Whether injured by a vehicle or property defect, a pedestrian may recover damages for the injuries suffered if someone else's negligence caused or contributed to the incident. Negligence is the failure to do (or not do) something that a reasonable person in a similar situation would, to protect others from foreseeable risks. To establish negligence in a pedestrian accident, the injured person (the "plaintiff") must prove that the person at fault (the "defendant"):

Driver's Duty of Care

Generally, drivers must exercise reasonable care under the circumstances. Failure to do so is considered negligence. A few of the most common factors contributing to driver negligence are:

Distracted Driving
Speeding
Failing to Yield the Right of Way to Pedestrians at Crosswalks
Disobeying Traffic Signs or Signals
Failing to Signal While Turning
Disregarding Weather or Traffic Conditions
Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol

If You’re Involved in a Pedestrian Accident

People who may be legally responsible for your injuries might try to blame you for the accident, by claiming that your own negligence caused the accident. If you’ve been involved in a pedestrian accident, you should do the following:

Call the Police Immediately
Don't Leave the Scene of the Accident Before Help Arrives
Gather Names and Phone Numbers of Any Witnesses
Don't Make Any Statements to Anyone, Including Drivers, and Insurers

If you or someone you love has been injured in a pedestrian accident, you may be wondering what to do next. Because of statutes of limitation, you only have a set amount of time to bring a claim for your injuries. Get started today and don't think twice, BANK ON HEIST. (843) 732-8141

Dog Bites

Dog owners have a legal responsibility to prevent their pets from injuring people or damaging property. So when a dog hurts someone, the owner will usually have to reimburse the victim for medical expenses, time lost from work, and pain and suffering. The dog owner's liability insurance (usually a homeowners’ or renters’ policy) may cover the cost, even if the injury happens off the owner's property.

Don't think twice, BANK ON HEIST. (843) 732-8141

Admiralty Law

Maritime Law, also called Admiralty Law, governs all maritime activities and offenses. This practice area includes matters involved in marine transportation, navigation, commerce, shipping, salvaging, and the overall rules of marine vessel operation. Due to the complexity of maritime law, it is important to hire a skilled attorney experienced in this practice area. At The Heist Law Firm LLC, we can help you determine the route to take that fits your individual needs.

While each legal jurisdiction typically creates its own individual legislation overseeing maritime matters, admiralty law can be characterized by a significant amount of international law developed over the years – as well as many multilateral treaties.

The majority of maritime cases can be settled within state or federal courts under the saving to suitors clause. The clause provides common law remedy to claimants with a right to jury trial in maritime issues. State courts have concurrent jurisdiction in all admiralty cases except for lawsuits against an item of property (en rem). The saving to suitors clause authorizes state courts to apply state laws in admiralty cases; however, the state courts may not completely alter general admiralty federal law.

There are maritime cases that can only be brought in state and federal courts. They are:

Limitation of Shipowner’s Liability
Salvage Cases
Petitory Actions (Suits to Try Title to Property Independent of Questions Concerning Possession)
Possessory Actions (Action Brought to Recover the Possession of a Vessel That is Under a Claim of Title)
Property Arrests Quasi in Rem (Legal Action Primarily Based on Property Rights That Includes Personal Rights)
Vessel Arrests in Rem (Lawsuit Against an Item of Property, Not Against a Person)
Jet Ski, Boat, and Other Vessel Collisions

The common element of these federal court cases is the requirement that the court can exercise jurisdiction over maritime property. In a petitory and possessory action, a vessel whose title is in dispute will often be put into the possession of the court until the dispute is resolved. In a limitation action, the shipowner will be required to post a bond in accordance to the value of the vessel and any pending freight.

All other maritime cases not included in the above – such as claims for damaged cargo, personal injuries, maritime products liability, vessel collisions, and recreational boating accidents may be brought in either federal or state court, but only under the guidance of federal law.

Lawful Protection of Maritime Workers

Maintenance and Cure: Similar to workers’ compensation, maintenance and cure ensures compensation in the event that a maritime employee is injured while doing their job. This includes coverage for medical bills.
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act: Many maritime workers do not work on boats or vessels – instead, they work on the docks, ports, and harbors. In the event that they become injured while on the job, the LHWCA helps them to seek necessary benefits during their recovery.
Unseaworthiness: General maritime law requires vessel owners to warrant that a vessel and related equipment is reasonably fit for all intended purposes. Unseaworthiness constitutes a breach of such warranty.
Vessel Sinkings: Vessels, ships, and boats need to be built strong and properly to withstand the bodies of water they are to be used upon. The appropriate safety equipment and tools must be available to the crew and passengers for use in bad weather or during an accident. Victims are deserving of compensation and recovery when there is apparent negligence.
Wrongful Death: The United States Death on the High Seas Act of 1920 is an admiralty law enacted to permit the recovery of damages against a shipowner by a spouse, child, or dependent family member of a seaman killed in international waters. In wrongful death cases found to be caused by negligence or unseaworthiness the DOHSA ensures recovery for loved ones. The act also can apply to the sad event of an airline disaster that occurs beyond the territorial limit of U.S. waters and when maritime workers are lost at sea. General maritime law governs territorial waters, as well as the high seas.

Don't think twice, BANK ON HEIST. (843) 732-8141

Premise Liability

Premises liability is a legal concept that typically comes into play in personal injury cases where the injury was caused by some type of unsafe or defective condition on someone’s property or business.

Types of Premise Liability Cases

Slip and Fall Cases
Snow and Ice Accidents
Inadequate Maintenance of the Premise
Defective Conditions on the Premises
Inadequate Building Security Leading to Injury or Assault
Elevator and Escalator Accidents
Dog Bites
Swimming Pool Accidents
Amusement Park Accidents
Fires
Water Leaks or Flooding
Toxic Fumes or Chemicals

Don't think twice, BANK ON HEIST. (843) 732-8141