Personal injury laws in South Dakota

Personal injury laws provide a legal remedy for a person to receive financial compensation if he or she has been injured in an accident, from using a defective product, or due to the intentional action on the part of another party. Personal injury law is based on the idea of negligence; in other words, the responsible party ignored the risk that his or her actions posed to others resulting in injuries to the victim.

The purpose of filing a personal injury claim is to receive damages to pay for any expenses that resulted from your injury such as medical and hospital bills, rehabilitation, and any long term care that may be required which can be the case with serious injuries such as broken bones, head and neck trauma, eye injuries, or spinal cord injuries.

Personal injury laws in South Dakota are similar to those in other states, but it’s important that you’re familiar with their specifics. In South Dakota, the statute of limitations for filing an action for personal injury must be brought within three years from the date that the accident occurred. The statute of limitations is one year in cases involving a government employee or agency.

South Dakota has “comparative fault” laws in cases in which the injured party shares some of the fault for the accident or injury. In these types of cases, the amount of compensation you’ll receive is reduced by a percentage that’s equal to your share of the fault.

If you’ve been seriously injured, the healing process could be a long one which means you won’t be able to return to your job, creating an additional strain on your finances. In South Dakota you’re entitled to reimbursement for lost time from your job.

Do you think you have a case?

An important question to then consider is “Do you have a personal injury case? In order to answer that and other questions about personal injury cases, you need to retain the services of an attorney who specializes in personal injury cases in South Dakota.

Rapid City attorneys, Greg Yates and Michael Shubeck, have decades of experience when it comes to handling personal injury cases. Both Mr Shubeck and Mr. Yates are very knowledgeable when it comes to the laws and statutes of South Dakota as they apply to personal injury. They have a proven track record for winning cases and earning fair and equitable settlements for their clients.

Have you spoken to an attorney yet?

If you need to speak to a personal injury attorney, make sure it’s one that knows South Dakota personal injury laws, including all statutes and limitations. Your first visit will be a free consultation to discuss your case to determine how to proceed and about all required fees. Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, collecting fees from your final settlement or verdict award.

Contact the Rapid City office of Greg Yates and Michael Shubeck to schedule your free consultation.