The Hartman Law Firm, LLC

Countless numbers of boaters take advantage of the Cooper River or the Atlantic Ocean and other small streams throughout the Charleston area. Unfortunately, boating accidents occur too often on these waterways. Sometimes, these accidents can’t be helped. Bad weather can be a factor, however, a boating accident may be caused by the driver’s negligence or some defect in the boat or its equipment. If you were involved in a boating accident that was caused by negligence or a boat defect, you may be entitled to compensation. The Charleston boating accident lawyers at Hartman Law Firm, L.L.C. can help. With offices conveniently located in Charleston, we have helped numerous boat crash victims throughout the state. We have the expertise and knowledge about boat wrecks to help you win the largest amount of compensation possible given your situation. To schedule a free consultation, call our Charleston boating accident law firm today at 843-300-7600 or use our online form.

Every year millions of American citizens are involved in car accidents. Thousands die. Some accidents cannot be avoided, but most wrecks are preventable. These accidents are caused by people who do not follow the law and act negligently, causing the accident. In 2010, there were 3,252 deaths in South Carolina due to all injury, intentional and unintentional. The overall death rate was 70.3 people per 100,000 in population. An additional 88,937 persons suffered injuries in motor vehicle crashes. In 2010, there were 442,973 non-fatal injuries as a result of car accidents (hospitalization and emergency department visits) in SC with a rate of 957.7/10,000 population. If you or someone you love was injured in a Charleston-area car accident, you have the legal right to hold the other driver responsible. Hartman Law Firm, L.L.C. has helped victims of serious car crashes obtain money to cover their medical bills, lost earnings, rehabilitation costs, and pain and suffering. We want to help you, too. Call our Charleston car accident law firm today at 843-300-7600 or contact us online. We represent clients throughout the Charleston area and across South Carolina. We can provide you with a free, no-obligation initial consultation.

The motorcycle accident law firm of Hartman Law Firm, L.L.C. has extensive experience in helping motorcyclists and their families with legal claims. Please call so we can help you if you have been injured in a motorcycle accident because someone else broke the law. Motorcycling is a popular recreational activity and mode of transportation for thousands of South Carolina residents. Motorcycle ownership has increased dramatically in the past few years. In 2010, there were 3,047 non-fatal injuries involving motorcycles. There were 85 fatalities associated with motorcycles in 2010. It is a fun, but dangerous, activity. Wrecks are usually caused by another driver, not the cyclist. Because motorcycles are small, oftentimes other drivers have a hard time seeing them. That’s especially a problem where the vision of other motorists may be obscured. Motorcycle accidents typically occur during a car accident, when the two vehicles collide. Some important facts about motorcycle accidents include: About 70 percent of all motorcycle accidents occur at intersections, where bikers may be less visible than cars. Other accidents occur where a motorist’s line of sight is partially blocked by buildings, parked vehicles, trees or undergrowth. Motorists who do not keep a proper lookout for motorcycles may turn or pull out in front of them, causing a catastrophic collision. In some instances, motorcyclists are hit from behind because they’re able to brake much more quickly than heavier vehicles. The end result of a collision between a motorcycle and a car can be devastating, and the motorcyclist usually suffers the most severe injuries and damage. A collision between a larger vehicle such as a truck or bus can be even worse due to the sheer size and weight of these vehicles. It’s important to know what steps to take should a motorcycle accident occur. Those include notifying your insurance company and contacting an attorney knowledgeable about motorcycle laws. Insurance companies are especially cautious with motorcycle-related claims, and the insurance difficulties that normally face automobile drivers are magnified for bikers. Hartman Law Firm, L.L.C. knows insurance company defense tactics. We also know how to present your case to maximize your recovery for your injuries. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a motorcycle accident caused by the negligence of another motorist, Hartman Law Firm, L.L.C. has the experience and the compassion to help you. To learn more about our impressive credentials, please contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Despite the general rule of pedestrian right of way, careless drivers continue to hit people crossing or walking along South Carolina streets, causing serious injury and death. In 2010, 13 South Carolina pedestrians were killed and another 1,744 were injured, according to the South Carolina Department of Transportation. The Charleston, South Carolina firm of Hartman Law Firm, L.L.C., has experience representing those injured in motor vehicle accidents – and we know that sometimes drivers are responsible for pedestrian injuries and fatalities. If you were injured by a negligent motorist while walking along or crossing an South Carolina street, call our firm today at 843-300-7600 or contact us via email for a free, no-obligation consultation about your legal rights.

Tractor-trailers or eighteen wheelers are importation to the economy of our state and our nation at large. However, when an eighteen wheeler is involved in a collision or accident the damage is catastrophic because of how big they are. In fact, it is often other drivers and their passengers in automobiles who are injured or killed. In South Carolina, there were 82 fatalities as a result of crashes involving tractor-trailers in the year 2012, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There were 12 fatalities in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties combined in the calendar year 2012.

People place their trust in the hands of the doctors and staff that care for them when they are at their weakest. Sometimes doctors and their staff do not meet guidelines put in place to protect patients from mistakes. Mistakes can occur in diagnosis, anesthesia, or providing the correct dosage of medication. Every year, thousands of patients across the country suffer wrongful deaths. Proving a malpractice wrongful death claim is hard and expensive to prove. It requires skill, effort and resources. But deserving victims can obtain relief. Hartman Law Firm, L.L.C. has experience in pursuing medical malpractice wrongful death cases across South Carolina. If your loved one has died because of medical malpractice, you have the legal right to hold the doctor accountable. To learn how the Charleston medical malpractice wrongful death firm of Hartman Law Firm, L.L.C. can help you, call us today at 843-300-7600 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation. We have offices in Charleston and we represent clients throughout South Carolina.

This country depends on our semi-trucks. You can be assured that every item you purchase in your store has at one time or another been transported by a semi-truck. This is good news for every one of us as we can find what we need in almost every part of the country. The bad news is cars, vans, trucks and SUV’s that share the road with these large semi-trucks are driving down the road with deadly giants. Sadly, injuries and death occur every 16 minutes when a personal vehicle is involved in a collision with a semi-truck. These accidents tend to be multi-vehicle,meaning they have more injuries and result in more deaths. Semi-Truck drivers face all the bad habits of other drivers such as aggressive driving, driving drunk or under the influence, defective products, etc. They too often have these same habits. If this is the case their actions put more people at risk just based on their size alone. What is unusual about a semi-truck accident is that often the trucking company will send an insurance representative to the scene of the accident. These agents are working hard to make sure it appears that the accident was not the fault of their driver. Some of these companies will even go so far as to attempt communication with the other parties. Do not talk to the insurance company until you have talked to Frank Hartman. The insurance company wants to write you a check and disappear. Once you take the check you cannot give it back, and more often than not, you deserved more.

Have you been injured? When you are faced with a personal injury compassion and empathy are important qualities of your attorney.The Hartman law firm has the knowledge, resources and persistence to win without losing sight of your emotional involvement in these circumstances. Whether it was a slip and fall, a trip, or any other manner of accident that harmed you, we have the fortitude and resources to uncover what caused the situation. This will help preserve the evidence, reveal the truth, and enforce changes to policy without ever losing sight of obtaining the compensation and apology you deserve.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that traumatic brain injury, or TBI, affects about 1.7 million people each year. 52,000 people die from TBI and 275,000 must go the hospital as a result of the injury. It is also estimated that traumatic brain injuries contribute to nearly one-third of all deaths related to injury. Many TBI cases are preventable events, such as automobile crashes, workplace accidents, and slips and falls. There is also medical evidence to suggest that brain injury at birth can be a cause of cerebral palsy. Children are more open to getting cerebral palsy as a result of a preventable event during childhood.

South Carolina law requires any company who has more than four employees to carry worker’s compensation insurance. Also, Worker’s Compensation is a no-fault system, meaning it does not matter if you or your employer was at fault for the injury. You must report any injury that occurs on the job within 90 days of the accident. You then have a period of two years in which to file a claim. If your employer does not file the claim, you can do so yourself by completing the appropriate documentation. Also, if your employer denies your benefits from the injury you received on the job you may file a claim. There is a seven day waiting period before any worker’s compensation benefits will take effect. If you are out of work for 14 days then you will receive compensation for the first seven days that you were off the job. You will need a doctor’s permission to return to work. If you feel the doctor is in error, even if he has only cleared you for light duty, you have the right to request a hearing which will be heard in sixty days. If you are released to light duty you must take the position offered or you may risk losing all benefits. If you have a non-surgical scar or impairment that can be seen from more than four feet away you can request an informal committee review. If you travel more than ten miles round trip to see the doctor the insurance company has assigned to your case you may be entitled to travel expenses at the same rate a state employee earns when he/she travels. If you do not agree with the insurance company doctor you may ask for a second opinion using the proper documentation. When dealing with worker’s compensation there are many deadlines and there are many specific rules that must be met in order for your case to properly be presented to the members of a hearing panel. A hearing is the way to resolve problems between you and your employer’s representative. Because their representative will be very knowledgeable about workers compensation you need someone on your side who is also familiar with the law. If you or someone you love has been injured at work in Charleston, South Carolina call the Hartman Law Firm, L.L.C., we are on your side and want to help.

Medical malpractice or medical carelessness is the failure of a medical provider to meet the standard of care in diagnosing or treatment of a patient. According to a study of 37 million patient records that was released on August 9, 2004, an average of 195,000 people in the United States died due to potentially preventable, in-hospital medical errors in each of the years 2000, 2001 and 2002. Doctors are not the only people who can fail when giving a patient care. Other people include: “Nurses, Medical Technicians, Health Care Providers, Hospitals, Clinics, Nursing Homes and their Staff Members” There is never a guarantee of a cure or a positive outcome during treatment but providers are expected to meet the standards of peers in the medical community. Medical malpractice centers on whether or not the provider failed to meet standard medical care. Abuse or neglect of patients in psychiatric in-patient care, assisted living or nursing homes also is a malpractice concern. The numbers show it is only a few health care providers that provide care where injury occurs. Yet, those few are the reason for the skyrocketing medical and insurance costs across the United States. Losing a loved one is never easy, but losing one to the hands of another turns grief into trauma. Sometimes simple questions are shut down or the medical staff claim what you remember is out of order. They are working to protect themselves and their jobs. This is the time when you need to contact and attorney. Frank Hartman is just a phone call away anytime you need him.

Because of the healthcare situation in the United States, emergency room use is rising. However, the number of emergency departments across the U.S. is falling, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. This development has led to medical professionals working harder and with more patients. It makes for a situation in which mistakes can be made. However, the circumstances do not change the obligations medical professionals have to avoid mistakes when they treat patients. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed because of an emergency room error, you have rights under the law against the defendant. To learn how the Charleston emergency room error medical malpractice lawyer at Hartman Law Firm, L.L.C. can help you, call us today toll free or contact us online. We represent clients throughout Charleston and across South Carolina. We can provide a free, no-obligation initial consultation.

Cancer can comes in more than 200 different forms. Each form of cancer is associated with the area of the body from which it originated, for example colon cancer or throat cancer. If you identify cancer early, the potential for remission can be very high. However, if the doctor fails to identify or incorrectly diagnoses the cancer and treatment is not begun immediately, the cancer can progress and become fatal. Because time is of the essence for cancer patients, a failure to identify or a misdiagnosis resulting in delayed treatment can be fatal. If you or someone you love experienced a missed or delayed diagnosis of cancer, Hartman Law Firm, L.L.C. can help you to determine if you have a medical malpractice claim under the laws in South Carolina. Our attorneys can answer important questions including: Who is responsible for a misdiagnosis of cancer? How does a misdiagnosis occur? What legal steps can you take get compensation? What types of damages can result? We serve clients in Charleston and across South Carolina. Contact us today for a free case review.

Doctors make mistakes. While some errors may be understandable, there are certain errors that no doctor should ever make. These events have been referred to as “never” events. Recent studies show that a never event may occur as many as 80 times each week. If you or someone you love was the victim of a never event, you should speak with a medical malpractice lawyer from Hartman Law Firm, L.L.C. now. Because never events are so bad, you may be entitled to compensation for the harm that the error has caused you. Find out more by calling us today toll-free or submitting our online form.

Everything from batteries to airplanes have been discovered to have something that went wrong in the manufacturing process. While every company strives to create a product that is the best on the market, sometimes there are errors. Every product has some type of government agency that double checks the work of a manufacturing company. These are the people who often find the defects as they track the performance of the product. If they feel it is a danger they will ensure it is pulled off the market for purchase and encourage owners to bring it in to be fixed or to be replaced. If you believe your injury or illness was caused by a product that was manufactured wrong, you need to talk to an attorney who will work to see if there are other people having the same problems you are. That may be a large factor in getting what you deserve after the mistakes the company caused you.Frank Hartman is the attorney you need to put to work for you. His dedication to the answers is exactly what you need.

More than 75% of Social Security Claims are denied on the first application of the claimant. Once the claimant appeals the initial decision and opts for a hearing in front of an administrative law judge, the percentage of successful outcomes increases dramatically. There are many major factors when considering whether you have a good Social Security Disability (SSD) claim. Arguably, the most important factor to consider is your age. If you are older than 55 years old, then the federal government assumes that you can no longer work and you have a much better chance of winning. In fact, the federal government presumes you cannot work, which is a good thing. Another important factor is the past ten years of your work history. It is that work history that the government considers when determining what jobs you are capable of potentially doing. Your lawyer must prove that, through a combination of both physical and mental conditions, you can no longer work in any of those positions. You prove your physical and mental conditions through the medical records you will allow the government to gather from every doctor you have treated with in the past. The medical records are half the battle when it comes to getting the successful outcome that you want. It is important that you document any and all medical conditions you have by going to the doctor for treatment. Another important factor to consider is your education level. Put simply, the less education you have the better. The reason why is your education level plays a role in determining what sort of jobs you are qualified for in the American economy. If you are a blue-collar worker with a G.E.D., but you can no longer perform the physical work you once could, you have a good case on the facts. These are just some of the factors considered in the whole scheme of things. You need a good, experienced lawyer in Charleston, South Carolina to guide your Social Security Disability claim. Call the Hartman Law Firm, L.L.C., we are on your side and want to help.

Between 2005 and 2012 there were 251 American’s who died as a result of a dog bite. Rottweiler’s and Pit Bulls accounted for nearly 73% of all deadly encounters. South Carolina has been victim of 12 of these deadly attacks that involved Pit Bulls. It is these types of statistics that have prompted many communities to restrict what type of animal you may have living in your home or on your property. According to South Carolina’s law the animal’s owner is responsible even if no sign of dangerous behavior has ever been seen before. If you have been involved in an incident regarding a dog bite you need to discuss your legal options quickly. Attorney Frank Hartman is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week to help you get the rights you are entitled to.