The Legal Truth

“When I had the first focus group room here in Conway, I didn't say, ‘Hey, I want this to be a side business,’” Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. says as he reflects on the growth of the Derrick Law Firm ’s focus group service. In this conversation with Pearl Carey , on the firm's professional staff, Dirk describes how the service has gradually become popular with lawyers outside of South Carolina, who are le...

AI agents are helping Derrick Law Firm provide real value to clients – real fast. Firm founder Dirk J. Derrick, Esq sits down with Pearl Carey , on the firm's professional staff, to unpack how the firm usesAI tools. And if AI can speed up a plaintiff’s case, Dirk lets listeners in on a defense-side secret: “I've not met a defense attorney yet real excited about AI and speeding everything up.” Lear...

Insurance companies used to have all the leverage. That’s changing at Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers . Why? Because they get leverage through focus groups that help determine the real value of a case. In this conversation with Pearl Carey , on the firm's professional staff, Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. describes how he started using jury research in 2019, when he installed a courtroom in the firm’s new...

Think of a case as a three-legged stool. One leg is liability. The second is causation. And the third is damages. In this episode, Pearl Carey , on the firm’s professional staff, sits down with host Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. for an in-depth discussion about the truth of building a case. As Dirk explains: “Every case is like a three-legged stool. You have a stool that has three legs, and all three legs...

If you live in South Carolina, and you have a dog: Make sure you have insurance that covers dog bites. Why? Because South Carolina is a strict liability state – meaning, if your dog bites someone, you’re responsible for damages even if you did nothing negligent. Host Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. shares this and other key takeaways about the state’s dog bite law in this conversation with Pearl Carey , on...

Tractor-trailer crashes are a devastating problem in South Carolina, which ranks among the top states in the country for fatal crashes involving commercial trucks. Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. discusses the issue with Pearl Carey , on the firm's professional staff. In South Carolina, around 140 to 150 people are killed each year in truck-related crashes. Dirk explains that the Federal Motor Carrier Safet...

As a competitive athlete, Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. never wanted his opponent to have leverage over him. “Somebody having leverage on you of size or speed – it's not a fun place to be in.” As a lawyer – he still doesn’t. So his firm, Derrick Law Firm , developed a focus group service. Speaking with Pearl Carey , on the firm's professional staff, Dirk discusses how the service has transformed the firm’...

South Carolina juries frequently ask to see the police report that was written in the civil case they’re deciding. They won’t get it. Tune in as Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. breaks down what evidence is inadmissible and why in this conversation with Pearl Carey , on the firm's professional staff. Learn More and Connect ☑️ Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. | Derrick Law Firm | LinkedIn ☑️ Pearl Carey | Derrick Law Fi...

Host Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. breaks down a complex aspect of personal injury cases that many clients don’t think about: medical liens. Speaking with Pearl Carey , on the firm's professional staff, he reveals why liens from Medicare, Medicaid, health insurance, and hospitals can impact what clients receive from their settlements. He explains how understanding medical liens helps clients protect their...

As soon as you’re born and start walking around, you’ve got pre-existing conditions. In South Carolina, a special rule – the “Eggshell Plaintiff Rule” – recognizes that fact. Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. explains the rule and more in this discussion with Pearl Carey , on the firm's professional staff. Tune in for his insights about the crucial differences between new injuries and aggravations, the import...

You want to sue after being in a vehicle accident, but were you glancing at your phone when it happened? Were you going five miles an hour over the speed limit? In this explanation of how comparative negligence works in South Carolina, Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. cautions that juries may reduce awards if they decide that the plaintiff bears some fault. “Very rarely will we get a focus group of 12 people...

“Don’t panic,” Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. advises anyone who has been sued. From determining insurance coverage to understanding the litigation process, Dirk walks through the critical steps in this conversation with Pearl Carey , from the firm's professional staff. He reveals how insurance companies control settlement decisions, explains the concept of "blue sky" policies when coverage limits are exce...

"Without bad faith and the need to act in a reasonable way, there would be no reason for the insurance companies to pay you early," host Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. explains in this episode devoted to reasonableness and bad faith protections. Speaking with Pearl Carey , on the firm's professional staff, Dirk reveals how insurance companies leverage time, money, and uncertainty to compel claimants to acc...

If you’re injured through no fault of your own, you may face complex questions trying to get money to pay for medical expenses. What can I recover? Will an insurance adjuster shortchange me? Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. outlines key points of South Carolina personal injury law in this comprehensive discussion with Pearl Carey , from the firm's professional staff. Tune in for his warning against insurance...

"Non-economic damages, in a nutshell, are what I consider the most serious damages in a case," host Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. explains to Pearl Carey from the firm's professional staff. Unlike medical bills and lost wages, non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and lifestyle changes that don't have a clear dollar value attached. Dirk describes how these damages are c...

"You can't just stay out of work and say, 'I didn't feel like going to work,” Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. explains about recovering lost wages after an injury. Speaking with Pearl Carey , from the firm's professional staff, Dirk describes critical requirements for documenting wage losses in personal injury claims. He details how employees, tipped workers, and self-employed individuals can substantiate t...

"Your credibility is the most important thing on the line," Dirk Derrick, Esq. warns plaintiffs in personal injury cases. Speaking with Pearl Carey from the firm's professional staff, Dirk reveals the five most devastating self-inflicted case killers: dishonesty, neglecting medical advice, harmful social media posts, poor attorney communication, and signing documents without legal review. Drawing...

Host Dirk J. Derrick, Esq . and Pearl Carey , on the firm’s professional staff, analyze Senate Bill 244's potential impact on South Carolina citizens. Using AI analysis, they break down how proposed changes to comparative fault, dramshop liability, and insurance bad faith laws could significantly shift leverage to insurance companies. Dirk warns that these reforms would make it harder for injured...

If you’re in a car accident and may want to pursue a claim yourself, stop and answer these 10 questions first. Your responses will be your guide, as Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. and Pearl Carey , on the firm’s professional staff, explain. Tune in as they ask and answer all 10, ranging from investigating and preserving evidence to negotiating with an insurance carrier.  Learn More and Connect ☑️ Dirk...

South Carolinians can weigh in on interesting cases and help steer the legal community away from unnecessary litigation. How? By being a juror in a Derrick Law Firm focus group. Firm founder Dirk Derrick devotes this episode to inviting participation. After 400 focus groups, the firm believes in their value to lawyers and their appeal to jurors. As he explains to Pearl Carey , on the professional...

“I'm getting old,” Dirk Derrick says with a chuckle. “But before I drop off this earth, I want the database of information that prevents people from being drug out by the insurance industry. I want the ace of spades.” Dirk believes the ace of spades is jury focus groups. He believes this, because Derrick Law Firm has conducted 400 juries since 2019 and doesn't plan to stop anytime soon. “Right now...

Years ago, Dirk Derrick decided to check in with his mother about her motorist insurance coverage. She didn’t have enough, so Dirk encouraged her to increase her liability, underinsured, and uninsured motorist coverages. She did, and it was cheap. “If my mama can afford it, people need to talk to their insurance agents about getting enough coverage to cover their family,” Dirk observes. Tune in fo...

If you drive a car in South Carolina, tune in for key takeaways about uninsured motorist coverage. Host Dirk Derrick explains how to protect yourself and your family in the event of a wreck with an uninsured driver. Fielding questions from Pearl Carey , on the firm’s professional staff, Dirk clarifies issues surrounding uninsured motorist coverage, the importance of liability coverage, the process...

Este es un episodio especial en español de La Verdad Legal para la comunidad latina de Carolina del Sur. La Intermediaria de la Comunidad Hispana de Derrick Law Firm , Eydi Hughes , entrevista a la abogada de compensación laboral Rosie Escalante sobre el derechos de todos los trabajadores, sin importar su estatus migratorio, a los beneficios por compensación de accidentes laborales. Anteriormente...

Host Pearl Carey , on the Derrick Law Firm ’s professional staff, invites Attorney Brandon Hylton for an in-depth discussion about South Carolina's workers’ compensation law. With decades of experience in this practice, Brandon outlines the steps for filing a claim, stressing the importance of immediate reporting to employers and highlighting potential complications if claims are denied. He covers...