After a crash, many people feel overwhelmed by medical bills, insurance calls, and uncertainty about what to do next. You do not have to navigate this alone. Attorney Frank Hartman has been representing car accident victims in and around North Charleston for decades. He knows the law, understands how a successful car accident case is built, and has extensive experience with the local court system and the insurance company lawyers who routinely practice in this area.
Frank takes time to listen to your story, explain how South Carolina car accident law applies to your situation, and help you understand the best steps to protect yourself. His goal is to give you clarity, confidence, and support during a difficult time.
After a car accident, you’re not just dealing with vehicle damage—you’re dealing with injuries, medical bills, missed time at work, and insurance companies that are already working to protect their bottom line. You deserve someone who is focused on protecting you.
Frank Hartman has built his practice around helping injured clients in North Charleston take back control after serious accidents. He understands how overwhelming this process can feel, and he steps in to handle every aspect of your claim—from investigating the crash and gathering evidence to negotiating with insurance companies and, when necessary, fighting for you in court.
Insurance companies may sound helpful, but their goal is to protect their bottom line—not your recovery. My job is to make sure you’re treated fairly and get the compensation you truly deserve.
When you work with Frank, your case isn’t just another file. You get an attorney who listens, keeps you informed, and is fully committed to pursuing the compensation you need to move forward with confidence.
North Charleston isn’t like other places. Our unique geography and traffic patterns create accident scenarios that demand specific, local legal expertise. If you were hurt in the area, you need an attorney who understands these specific complexities:
Choosing the right car accident lawyer can make a meaningful difference in how your case is handled—and how your future unfolds. Frank Hartman brings years of experience representing injured clients in North Charleston, along with a proven track record of results in car accident cases ranging from straightforward claims to complex, high-stakes injuries.
His approach is simple: treat every client with respect, build every case with precision, and pursue the full compensation each person deserves. Past clients consistently highlight not only the outcomes he achieves, but the way he supports them throughout the process—keeping them informed, answering questions, and making a difficult time feel more manageable.
When you work with Frank Hartman, you can expect:
✔️ Extensive experience handling car accident cases and navigating every stage of the legal process
✔️ A results-driven strategy focused on maximizing compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and long-term needs
✔️ A strong reputation backed by client testimonials that reflect trust, communication, and real support
✔️ Willingness to take your case to trial if insurance companies refuse to offer a fair settlement
✔️ Clear, consistent communication so you always know where your case stands
✔️ A personalized approach that prioritizes your recovery, your concerns, and your future
With Frank Hartman, you’re not just hiring a lawyer, you’re choosing an advocate who is committed to standing by your side and helping you move forward with confidence.
When you’re dealing with an accident, here are the core legal facts that impact every car accident claim in South Carolina:
The legal process can feel overwhelming. Here is exactly what happens when you work with Frank and The Hartman Law Firm:
Unlike many personal injury attorneys who only negotiate settlements, Frank Hartman is a trial lawyer — and insurance companies know it.
Every crash is different. Understanding the type of accident you were involved in can help identify who may be responsible and what compensation may be available. The Hartman Law Firm handles a wide range of accident types, including:
If your situation does not fit neatly into one of these categories, that’s okay — Frank can evaluate what happened and help you understand exactly where your case stands under South Carolina law.
Insurance companies look for any reason to reduce or deny your claim. Avoid these mistakes:
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After a car accident in North Charleston, you may need to access local courts, hospitals, or law enforcement. Here are the key contacts and locations you may need.
2500 City Hall Lane North Charleston, SC 29406
Mon–Fri: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
9330 Medical Plaza Dr North Charleston, SC 29406
✅ Emergency Department Open 24 Hours
171 Ashley Ave Charleston, SC 29425
✅ Emergency Department Open 24 Hours
4800 Dorchester Rd North Charleston, SC 29405
🚨 Emergency: 911
📞 Non-Emergency: (843) 743-7200
Accident reports for I-26, I-526 and all state highways
North Charleston, SC
Available 24/7 · No fee unless we win
Insurance companies are not judges or juries — they are businesses focused on maximizing profits by minimizing payouts. Their decisions do not control your legal rights.
However, the responsible driver’s insurance carrier will likely be looking for ways to avoid paying your claim, or to reduce the amount of money you receive. That may mean:
Backed by years of real case experience, Frank Hartman shares what most people don’t learn until it’s too late. Download these guides to better understand your rights, the insurance process, and what to expect after an accident.
You are entitled to recover the full value of your damages from the at-fault driver's insurance. No reduction to your compensation.
You can still recover compensation, but your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are 20% at fault on a $100,000 claim, you recover $80,000.
South Carolina law bars you from recovering any compensation. This is the threshold insurance companies will aggressively try to push you past — which is why early legal representation matters.
Shifting blame onto the injured party is one of the most common tactics insurance adjusters use to reduce or eliminate payouts. They may cite your speed, your lane position, a split-second reaction, or even the fact that you did not seek medical treatment immediately as reasons to assign partial fault to you.
This is not an objective process. It is a negotiation — and the insurance company has experienced adjusters and lawyers working their side of it from the moment the claim is filed.
Frank Hartman's job is to build the strongest possible case for your version of events from the beginning. That means gathering police reports, witness statements, traffic camera footage, accident reconstruction evidence where appropriate, and medical documentation that connects your injuries directly to the crash — before the insurance company has the opportunity to shape the narrative.
In some accidents, there may also be more than one responsible party. A trucking company, a vehicle manufacturer, a government entity responsible for road conditions, or an employer whose employee caused the crash may all share liability. Identifying every potentially liable party is an important part of making sure your full damages are accounted for.
If you are unsure who was at fault — or if the insurance company is already suggesting you share the blame — contact Frank Hartman before making any statements or accepting any offers.
| Case Type | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|
| Straightforward cases settling before litigation | 3 to 12 months |
| Cases with disputed liability or complex injuries | 12 to 24 months |
| Cases requiring litigation and trial | 1 to 3 years |
Step 1
Check yourself and others for injuries
Before anything else, assess your own condition. If you can move safely, check whether other people involved in the crash require immediate medical assistance. Do not attempt to move anyone who may have a spinal or neck injury unless there is an immediate danger such as fire.
Step 2
Move to safety if possible
If the vehicles are operable and the accident occurred in a lane of traffic, move them to the shoulder or a nearby parking area if it is safe to do so. Turn on hazard lights and, if available, set out flares or warning triangles to alert approaching traffic.
Step 3
Call 911
South Carolina law requires that most car accidents be reported to law enforcement. Call 911 immediately — this gets both police and emergency medical services on the way in a single call. A police report is one of the most important pieces of documentation in any car accident claim. Do not skip this step even if the other driver suggests handling things privately.
Step 4
Exchange information but do not discuss fault
Get the other driver’s name, contact information, insurance carrier, and policy number. Do not apologize, speculate about what happened, or make any statements about fault — even casual comments like “I didn’t see you” can be used against you later by the insurance company.
Step 5
Document the scene thoroughly
Use your phone to photograph and video everything — vehicle damage from multiple angles, road conditions, skid marks, traffic signals, signage, weather conditions, and any visible injuries. Collect names and contact information from any witnesses before they leave the scene.
Step 6
Seek medical attention immediately — even if you feel fine
Go to an emergency room, urgent care, or your primary care physician the same day. Many serious injuries do not produce obvious symptoms immediately after a crash. Prompt medical evaluation creates a documented connection between the accident and your injuries that is critical to your claim.
Step 7
Write down everything you remember
As soon as you are able, write a detailed account of exactly what happened — road conditions, speeds, the sequence of events, what the other driver said, and anything else you observed. Memories fade and blur quickly after the stress of an accident. A written record made close to the time of the crash is far more reliable than memory alone weeks later.
Step 8
Contact Frank Hartman before speaking to the insurance company
The other driver’s insurance company may contact you within hours of the accident asking for a recorded statement. You are not required to give one. Contact Frank Hartman first — a free consultation costs you nothing and protects everything you have documented up to this point.
You generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (SC Code § 15-3-530). If a government vehicle was involved, the deadline is shorter — two years with a 180-day notice requirement.
If the at-fault driver was uninsured, you can typically make an uninsured motorist (UM) claim through your own insurance policy. South Carolina requires insurers to offer UM coverage.
Frank Hartman works on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing upfront. He only receives a fee if he wins your case and wins you a settlement or verdict.
Under South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence law, you can still recover compensation as long as you are 50% or less at fault. Your recovery amount will be reduced proportionally by your degree of fault.
Straightforward cases that settle before trial typically resolve in 3 to 12 months. Cases requiring litigation may take 1 to 3 years. Frank generally waits until you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) before entering negotiations to make sure your claim reflects your full damages.
The first thing to do after a car accident or any injury is to assess your injuries. Your next steps will depend in part on whether and how seriously you are injured. If you believe you may be seriously injured or are unsure whether you can move safely, don’t try.
To the extent that you’re able, you should:
Allow EMTs at the scene to check you out if you have any concerns that you may be injured, and seek follow-up care as needed. If you’re not sure whether you need medical attention, see a doctor. Then, when you’ve attended to any urgent health matters, you should contact a North Charleston personal injury lawyer before you take any other action.
You should contact a car wreck attorney in North Charleston as soon as possible after your accident. Connecting with a lawyer early will help you avoid the pitfalls of dealing with the insurance company, and will give your attorney the best opportunity to gather evidence and collect witness statements before footage is erased, evidence is lost, and memories start to fade.
Your car accident attorney can help with everything from managing deadlines and technical requirements you may not be aware of to collecting evidence and protecting you from shady insurance company tactics.
The process may include drafting and filing a complaint, assembling a well-supported demand for compensation, negotiating on your behalf, preparing required discovery materials, requesting evidence from others through the discovery process and/or subpoenas, taking deposition, and preparing your case for trial.
While you may be able to settle a small claim on your own, it is virtually always worth your while to consult an experienced local car accident lawyer. When you consult with attorney Frank Hartman, you can rest assured that you’ll get straight information. If your claim is one that can be easily managed without representation, we’ll tell you so.
When you’re looking for an auto accident attorney in North Charleston, you’ll want to consider the attorney’s experience with cases like yours, willingness and ability to take your case to trial if that’s the right answer for you, and reviews from past clients. No one knows more about how an attorney will treat you and handle your case better than someone who has been through the process with that lawyer.
When you go to your free consultation, you’ll also want to pay close attention to how the attorney and others at the firm treat you. Make sure your questions are answered and they listen to your concerns and make you comfortable sharing sometimes-sensitive information with them.
The best evidence for establishing fault after a car accident will depend on the case. Some examples of key fault evidence include traffic citations showing that the responsible driver was acting negligently, video from nearby security cameras or traffic cameras, and eyewitness statements. Your attorney can talk with you about the types of evidence that will likely be most effective in your case and gather that evidence on your behalf.
The answer to this question depends on the specifics of your case. Damages in a personal injury case are based on your losses. Some common damages in car accident cases include medical expenses, lost wages, anticipated future medical costs, projected lost future earnings, costs of physical therapy or counseling associated with the accident, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
The best source of information about the damages that may be available in your case is an experienced auto accident attorney in North Charleston.
Unless your claim is very small, a quick settlement offer is typically a red flag. The insurance company representative may use comforting language like, “I want to get this check out to you as soon as possible. I know you could probably use it right now.” But they’re not on your side. If an insurance company wants a quick settlement, it’s usually to get you to sign away your rights before you know the full extent of your injuries and financial losses.
You should always consult a car accident attorney in North Charleston before accepting a quick settlement.
