Columbia Wrongful Death Attorneys

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Columbia Wrongful Death Attorneys

Between Richland and Lexington County, there were 5,715 deaths in Columbia in 2019. Lexington had 201 accidental deaths, with poison being the top cause at 61 deaths. In Richland County, there were 184 accidental deaths, with poison being the leading cause, with 72 fatalities and transportation deaths following closely behind at 61 deaths. Although these deaths were accidents, they could have been prevented in some cases. If you have lost a loved one due to someone else's negligence, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. A wrongful death lawyer can help you understand your legal options and guide you through the process of filing a claim. The experienced lawyers at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor can help you navigate this difficult time and get the justice your loved one deserves. Contact a wrongful death attorney at our firm today for a free consultation.

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South Carolina Wrongful Death Laws

In South Carolina, wrongful death is defined as the death of a person caused by the negligence or unlawful act of another. The state’s wrongful death laws allow certain family members to file a lawsuit against the person or entity responsible for their loved one’s death.

flowers in front of a casket after a wrongful death

What Does a Wrongful Death Lawyer Do?

A wrongful death lawyer is a type of personal injury attorney who represents the family members of a person who has died due to the negligence of another. If you have lost a loved one in an accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party. 

A Columbia wrongful death attorney can help you investigate the accident, gather evidence, and file a lawsuit against the responsible party. If you are successful, you may be able to recover damages for your loved one’s medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.

Wrongful death cases can be complex, and it is important to have an experienced attorney on your side. Contact a lawyer at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor today to learn more about your legal options. An experienced attorney can help you get the justice you deserve.

What You Can Expect From Our Columbia, SC Wrongful Death Attorneys

At The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, our attorneys understand the pain and suffering you go through after losing a loved one. We will work tirelessly to get you the justice and compensation you deserve. When you contact our office, we will:

  • Conduct a thorough investigation into the accident
  • Gather evidence to support your claim
  • Build a strong case on your behalf
  • Handle all the legal paperwork and filings
  • Represent you in court, if necessary
  • Fight for you to get the best possible outcome in your case.

You should not have to worry about anything after losing a loved one. Let us handle the legal aspects of your case while you focus on your family.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Columbia, SC?

Under South Carolina law, wrongful death cases must be brought by the executor or representative of the wrongful death victims’ estate. In most cases, this is a relative named in a will. However, if there is no will, there is an order in which surviving family members can be selected to bring the suit forward.

The beneficiaries of a wrongful death claim include:

  • The surviving spouse
  • The victim’s children
  • If there is no spouse or child, the victim’s parents can file a claim.

Liability in a Columbia, SC Wrongful Death Claim

For a defendant to be found liable in a wrongful death claim, the plaintiff must prove that the death was caused by the defendant’s negligence or intentional wrongdoing. This can be done by showing that the defendant breached their duty of care and that this breach resulted in the victim’s death.

For example, if a drunk driver hits and kills a pedestrian, the driver can be liable for wrongful death. The driver breached their duty of care by driving while intoxicated.

What Evidence Can I Use to Prove Liability in a Wrongful Death Case?

Many types of evidence can be used to prove liability in a wrongful death case. This includes:

  • Eyewitness testimony
  • Surveillance footage
  • Accident reports
  • Expert testimony
  • Medical records

When you hire a wrongful death attorney, they will work with you to gather the evidence you need to prove your case.

What Types of Damages Can You Recover in South Carolina Wrongful Death Claims?

After the death of a loved one, family members are often left with substantial financial burdens. A successful wrongful death claim can help ease these burdens by awarding damages for:

  • Medical bills incurred before the victim’s death
  • The victim’s funeral and burial costs
  • The loss of the victim’s income and benefits
  • The loss of the victim’s companionship, love, and support
  • The pain and suffering of the victim’s family members

You may be entitled to compensation if you have lost a loved one in an accident. Contact our Columbia wrongful death attorneys to learn more about your legal options. A skilled attorney can help you file a wrongful death lawsuit and get the justice you deserve.

What Types of Accidents Can Result in a Wrongful Death?

Many types of accidents can lead to wrongful death. Some common examples include:

  • Motor vehicle accidents – car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents are some of the most common causes of death in the United States.
  • Accidents at work – If you have lost a loved one in a workplace accident, you may be able to file a workers’ compensation claim or a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party.
  • Slip and Falls – If a property owner fails to maintain their property and someone is injured, the property owner may be held liable in a wrongful death suit.
  • Pedestrian Accidents – If a driver hits and kills a pedestrian, the driver may be held liable in a wrongful death lawsuit.

If you have lost a loved one in an accident, contact a Columbia wrongful death lawyer to learn more about your legal options. An experienced attorney can help you get the justice you deserve.

Contact Our Columbia Wrongful Death Lawyers Today

If you have lost a loved one in an accident, contact The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor today. We will thoroughly investigate the accident and gather evidence to support your claim. Our experienced wrongful death attorneys will build a strong case on your behalf and fight for you to get the best possible outcome for your case. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We will fight for you and your family.

120 3rd St NE
Hickory, NC 28601

Phone: (828) 327-9004
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

130 Church St NE
Concord, NC 28025

Phone: (704) 787-9419
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

301 S McDowell St #1016
Charlotte, NC 28204

Phone: (704) 676-1093
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

1348 Ebenezer Rd #103
Rock Hill, SC 29732

Phone: (803) 980-5300
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

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News From Our Blog

Notice of Data Security Event
Updated March 28, 2025

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor is providing notice of an event that may affect certain individuals’ information. Although we have no indication of identity theft or fraud in relation to this event, we are providing information about the event, our response, and additional measures individuals can take to help protect their information, should they feel it appropriate to do so.

What Happened? On October 28, 2024, The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor identified suspicious activity related to our email system. We quickly took steps to investigate and determined that an unknown actor may have accessed certain emails within our email system between August 7 and November 7, 2024. We then conducted a comprehensive review of the potentially affected emails and attachments to determine what information was contained therein and to whom the information related, which was completed on February 25, 2025. Unfortunately, we were unable to verify the addresses of certain affected individuals, so we are providing this notice to ensure potentially affected individuals receive information about the event.

What Information Was Involved? The information affected may include individuals’ Social Security number, driver’s license and state ID information, financial account number, and health information.

What We Are Doing. We are notifying individuals about this matter and providing guidance about free resources that are available to assist with monitoring relevant accounts, credit reports, and how to place a fraud alert or security freeze on one’s credit file. Further, as with our typical security practices, we will continue to evaluate our policies, procedures, staff training, and technical security measures to reduce the likelihood of an event like this reoccurring.

What Individuals Can Do. We encourage you to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing your account statements and monitoring your free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. We also recommend you review the below “Steps Individuals Can Take To Help Protect Personal Information”.

For More Information. If individuals have questions about this matter, we have a dedicated assistance line with agents ready to answer their questions. Please contact our toll-free dedicated assistance line at 1-800-939-4170, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. through 9 p.m., excluding holidays. You may also write to us at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, Attn: Compliance, P.O. Box 2688, Hickory, NC 28603.

Sincerely,

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor

STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT PERSONAL INFORMATION

Monitor Your Accounts

Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumer’s name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.

Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/

https://www.transunion.com/credit-help
1-888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

Additional Information

Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect their personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state attorney general. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state attorney general. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.

For District of Columbia residents, the District of Columbia Attorney General may be contacted at: 400 6th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001; 1-202-442-9828; and oag.dc.gov.

For Maryland residents, the Maryland Attorney General may be contacted at: 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023; and https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/.

For New Mexico residents, consumers have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in their credit file has been used against them, the right to know what is in their credit file, the right to ask for their credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting bureaus must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to consumers’ files is limited; consumers must give consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; consumers may limit “prescreened” offers of credit and insurance based on information in their credit report; and consumers may seek damages from violators. Consumers may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active-duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage consumers to review their rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580.

For New York residents, the New York Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; or https://ag.ny.gov.

For North Carolina residents, the North Carolina Attorney General may be contacted at: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6000; and www.ncdoj.gov.

For Rhode Island residents, the Rhode Island Attorney General may be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903; 1-401-274-4400; and www.riag.ri.gov. Under Rhode Island law, individuals have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this event.
STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT A MINOR DEPENDENT’S PERSONAL INFORMATION

Typically, credit reporting agencies do not have a credit report in a minor’s name. To find out if a minor has a credit report or to request a manual search for a minor’s Social Security number each credit bureau has its own process. To learn more about these processes or request these services, consumers may contact the credit bureaus by phone, writing, or online:
Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/help/article-list/-/h/a/request-child-credit-report/
https://www.experian.com/help/minor-request.html
https://www.transunion.com/fraud-victim-resources/child-identity-theft

1-800-685-1111 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013 P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

To request information about the existence of a credit file in a minor’s name, search for a minor’s Social Security number, place a security freeze or fraud alert on a minor’s credit report (if one exists), or request a copy of a minor’s credit report consumers may be required to provide the following information:
● A copy of their driver’s license or another government issued identification card, such as a state identification card, etc.;
● Proof of address, such as a copy of a bank statement, utility bill, insurance statement, etc.;
● A copy of the minor’s birth certificate;
● A copy of the minor’s Social Security card;
● The minor’s full name, including middle initial and generation, such as JR, SR, II, III, etc.;
● The minor’s date of birth; and
● The minor’s previous addresses for the past two years.

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