A recent change to the law may affect how much money you are able to recover from someone who has injured you. If you are injured, and more than one person is responsible for your injuries, the jury in your case has to determine each defendant's respective percentages of fault.
For example, you sue two individuals for your injuries in a car wreck, and the jury decides that defendant #1 is 30% at-fault, and defendant #2 is 70% at-fault. This distribution of fault affects how much money (out of the total amount awarded by the jury) that each defendant owes you. Because defendant #1 is only 30% at-fault, he is required to pay you only 30% of the total amount that the jury awards. Since defendant #2 is 70% at-fault, he is liable for the entire amount because a defendant who is found to be 50% or more at-fault is legally responsible for the entire amount of money that the jury awards you. See S.C. Code Ann. §15-38-15. Because of the complex nature of these requirements, it is very important that you and your attorney discover any and all individuals who caused your injures. Call Hall & Landers today for a consultation.
