The Legal Truth

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Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers has included the information on this podcast as a service to the general public. Use of this podcast and any related materials does not in any manner constitute an attorney‐client relationship between Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers and the user. While the information on this podcast is about legal issues, it is not intended as legal advice and should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your particular state. Anyone seeking specific legal advice or assistance should retain an attorney.

Any prior results mentioned do not guarantee a similar outcome. The content reflects the personal views and opinions of the participants in the podcast and are not intended as endorsements of any views or products.

This podcast could include inaccuracies. The information contained in this podcast does not constitute legal advice, and is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up‐to‐date as laws continue to change.

In this podcast you will hear information about focus groups. Please note that not all of the Firm’s cases are presented to a Focus Group. Additionally, when speaking about juries or jurors in relation to a focus group, we are speaking of focus group participants and not actual trial juries or jurors.

The Truth About Working to Get Real Value Faster with the Help of AI

Thu, 14 May 2026 03:00:00 -0400

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.”

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☑️ Pearl Carey | LinkedIn

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Determining and Leveraging Truth Nationwide

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:00:00 -0400

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 office. Now, his goal is to take this service nationwide, making it affordable for attorneys who represent ordinary people in mid-range and large cases, not just catastrophic ones.

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☑️ Pearl Carey | LinkedIn

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Building the Case: A Look Behind the Curtain

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0400

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 are solid. You can sit on it. You can depend upon it. Any of the legs are weak, or broken, you're going to bust your butt.” A must-listen for anybody thinking about filing a case.

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The Truth About SC Dog Bites and Domestic Animal Liability

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0400

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 the firm’s professional staff.

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The Truth About What Causes Tractor-Trailer Wrecks

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0400

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 Safety Regulations set the minimum standards for interstate trucking companies and can help identify whether crashes result from driver-only incidents or company violations. He also breaks down a large truck crash causation study, which found that driver-related issues were a critical reason in about 87% of crashes.

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The Truth About Using Focus Groups to Build Stronger Cases

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0400

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’s approach to building cases, selecting evidence, and achieving real value for clients.

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The Truth about What Evidence Is Inadmissible in South Carolina in Civil Trials (That May Surprise You)

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0400

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.

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The Truth About the Impact of Medical Liens on a Settlement

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400

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 recovery while meeting legal obligations to lien holders. Tune in for his insights about the three mistakes that can affect a case.

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The Truth About Pre-Existing Conditions in Personal Injury Claims

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0400

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 importance of honesty, and the reason why lay witnesses can make or break a plaintiff’s personal injury case.

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The Truth About Comparative Negligence in South Carolina

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 03:00:00 -0400

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 or 100 people who will say that ‘plaintiff has no fault, if they fall, no matter how dangerous the condition is,’” he says to Pearl Carey, on the firm's professional staff. Dirk reveals how defense attorneys systematically search for any plaintiff conduct to reduce payouts, particularly in a state where plaintiffs lose all compensation if found more than 50% at fault. Through insights from focus groups, he demonstrates how even minimal plaintiff fault can significantly impact case outcomes and emphasizes the critical importance of understanding that "everything you do is going to be looked at and investigated."

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☑️ Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. | Derrick Law Firm | LinkedIn

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I Have Been Sued - What Now?

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 03:00:00 -0400

“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 exceeded, and discusses bad faith insurance practices in South Carolina. Dirk emphasizes that "the final say-so is the insurance company" when it comes to settlement decisions, even when defendants disagree. Tune in for his insights about protecting your assets and navigating the complex relationship between insurance companies and plaintiff attorneys.

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Why Reasonableness & Bad-Faith Remedies Matter - For Everyone Who Touches an Insurance Policy

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 03:00:00 -0400

"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 accept less than their cases are worth. Through insights from his experience and hundreds of focus groups, he demonstrates why bad faith laws protect not just plaintiffs but also policy holders who could lose everything when insurance companies gamble with their assets.

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The Truth About Recovering Medical Expenses in Personal Injury Claims

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0400

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 companies' early settlement offers and his insight about why expert testimony can be crucial for proving causation.

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The Truth About Recovering Non-Economic Damages in a Personal Injury Claim

Thu, 29 May 2025 03:00:00 -0400

"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 calculated, who can testify about them, and how they differ in wrongful death cases.

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The Truth About Recovering Lost Wages in a Personal Injury Claim

Thu, 15 May 2025 03:00:00 -0400

"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 their claims, emphasizing that medical documentation can be essential in many cases. Dirk also reveals the need for short-term disability insurance – because insurance companies don't provide ongoing payments to a personal injury victim while you're healing.

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The Truth About How People Greatly Harm Their Own Personal Injury Claims

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0400

"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 from insights gained through 400-plus focus groups, Dirk explains how these common missteps can dramatically impact jury perception and impact case outcomes.

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Attorney’s fees on personal injury cases are a percentage of the total recovery for the client. If Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers advances case costs and expenses, it will be reimbursed from the client’s recovery after the percentage of attorney’s fee is deducted.

The Truth about Tort Reform: How Senate Bill 244 Could Harm South Carolina Citizens

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0400

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 parties to receive fair compensation while creating additional hurdles in the claims process.

Click here for the full text of SB 244 and here for a list of South Carolina representatives.

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Some of the information contained in this podcast is based on AI-generated content which is NOT guaranteed to be correct and accurate and not intended as legal advice. The information is meant for general discussion only and to represent the type of information that AI can generate.

The Truth About Whether You Need a Personal Injury Attorney: 10 Questions to Answer

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0400

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.

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☑️ Dirk J. Derrick, Esq. | Derrick Law Firm | LinkedIn

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The Truth About Serving on a Focus Group: What’s in It for You?

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0400

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 staff, mock jurors not only help set community standards, they’re also paid for their time. And, they’re treated to homemade cake. “I can vouch for the cake,” Dirk says.

Interested in serving on a focus group? Click here to learn more.

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The Truth About Focus Groups and the Leverage They Give Our Clients

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0400

“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, we've got people signed up in every county in the state, so we’re gonna take it statewide so that we also have cases on almost every county in the state,” he tells Pearl Carey, on the firm’s professional staff,

As Dirk explains, focus groups take away the leverage that insurance companies have typically held over plaintiffs. He envisions a time when the firm will have enough data from focus groups to benefit the entire state by curbing the flow of unnecessary litigation.

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The Truth About Being Injured by an Underinsured Driver

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0400

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 for his insights, gleaned through 35 years, about the legal implications of various motorist coverages. With co-host Pearl Carey, on the firm’s professional staff, Dirk answers common questions. As he did with his mother, Dirk urges clients not just to buy coverage – but to use it.

To learn more, click here to order “3 Feet From Disaster,” Dirk’s free booklet about buying car insurance in South Carolina.

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The Truth About Being Damaged by an Uninsured Driver

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0400

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 to collect on damages, and more.

To learn more, click here to order “3 Feet From Disaster,” Dirk’s free booklet about buying car insurance in South Carolina.

While past results do not guarantee future results, you are guaranteed our best efforts. Dirk J. Derrick, 901 Main St., Conway, SC, 29526.

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La Verdad Sobre La Compensación Laboral: Una Guía Para Los Trabajadores Hispanohablantes

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0400

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 con Derrick Law Firm y ahora con Ross & Cristaldi, Rosie cubre el proceso de compensación, qué beneficios esperar, cómo reportar una lesión, el plazo para presentar una reclamación y mucho más. Además, responde a preguntas comunes sobre las opciones para el tratamiento médico, los beneficios por discapacidad y cómo otros beneficios, como el Seguro Social, pueden afectar su reclamación. A lo largo del episodio, Eydi y Rosie enfatizan la importancia de buscar asesoría legal, especialmente para quienes no hablan inglés, para garantizar que elles reciban todos los beneficios que les corresponden.

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The Truth about Workers’ Compensation Law in South Carolina

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0400

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 topics including eligibility criteria, benefits, and challenges claimants may face. For workers who consider filing on their own, Brandon acknowledges that not all claims require a lawyer’s help. Still, he observes that “if your claim is resulting in delays, it’s not accepted, or if it’s a major claim where you’re going to be out of work for a long time or potentially indefinitely, I would definitely recommend having an attorney.”

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The Truth About What You Should Know Before Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0400

In this episode of The Legal Truth, Dirk Derrick and co-host Pearl Carey, on the firm’s professional staff, answer common questions about hiring a personal injury lawyer in South Carolina. Relying on his 35 years of experience, Dirk highlights topics that clients should consider, such as who on the team will lead their case (the lawyer on file), what the typical payment structure is (contingency fees), and, at Derrick Law Firm, who gets the say on whether to pursue claims (“The client is the boss”). Ultimately, Dirk urges prospective clients to ask tough questions before hiring a firm so that both parties build a relationship based on trust.

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The Truth About Wrongful Death Claims

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0400

Attorney Dirk Derrick and co-host Pearl Carey, on the firm’s professional staff, cover wrongful death claims, explaining that they stem from myriad situations: a person killed in a car or truck crash or through medical malpractice, unsafe conditions at a business or on private property, or other scenarios. Ultimately, someone was killed because of wrongful conduct by another party. The ensuing investigation will reveal whether the death was caused by negligence, recklessness, or wrongful conduct.

Most wrongful death lawsuits are now presented to one or more focus groups, and attorneys share the groups’ conclusions with insurance companies to help the two parties reach a settlement without a trial. The groups essentially work as unofficial juries. But if the case can’t be settled out of court, then the findings guide attorneys in how to present the case to a jury.

If a victim survives for some time, before dying from their injuries, then a companion action, called a survival action, is brought to recover the cost of medical bills and associated costs.

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The Truth About Claims Against Drunk Drivers and the Bars That Overserve Them

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0400

South Carolina is in the top 10 in the country for deaths caused by drunk driving. There’s a drunk driving problem and an overservice problem.

On this episode of The Legal Truth, hosts Dirk Derrick and Pearl Carey, on the firm’s professional staff, talk to Dorsey Strickland, an attorney at the Derrick Law Firm, about claims against drunk drivers and the bars that over serve them.

Tune in as Dirk explains why a victim of drunk driving/overserving in South Carolina needs to hire an attorney who handles these types of cases (not all law firms do), why these cases require fast investigation, and the types of damages a victim can seek for injuries caused by drunk driving and overserving. The episode also briefly explains when a bar can be held liable for overserving and how there are some in the restaurant/bar industry who are trying to fight the South Carolina legislation meant to keep drunk drivers off the road.

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☑️ Dorsey Strickland | Derrick Law Firm

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The Truth About Attorney Fees in Personal Injury Claims

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 03:00:00 -0400

People wonder what happens if they hire a lawyer and lose. But in personal injury cases, most lawyers charge what is called a “contingency fee,” which means the lawyer only gets paid attorneys’ fees if they win the case at trial or recover a settlement.

On this episode of The Legal Truth, hosts Dirk Derrick and Pearl Carey, on the firm’s professional staff, discuss attorneys’ fees in personal injury claims, including what a contingency fee is, how it works, and what other costs are deducted after attorney fees. Dirk also covers four things that potential plaintiffs should know before signing a contract with a lawyer.

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The Truth About the Validity of Your Claim

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 03:00:00 -0400

People call our law office all the time and ask, “Do I have a claim?” To answer that question, your lawyer needs to know the facts of your case–just be sure to act fast before those facts disappear.

On this episode of The Legal Truth, hosts Dirk Derrick and Pearl Carey, on the firm’s professional staff, explain the three criteria that the Derrick Law Firm investigates in every case to determine the strength of a personal injury claim, how a pre-existing condition may affect your case, and what an injured victim should and shouldn’t do following an accident.

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The Truth About the Real Value of Your Claim

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 03:00:00 -0400

"How much is my injury worth?" If you watch TV lawyer ads, everyone is talking about getting you the money you deserve. But what does that mean?

On this premiere episode of The Legal Truth, Dirk Derrick, attorney and owner of Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers, and Pearl Carey, on the firm’s professional staff, shed light on this most frequently asked question.

Dirk explains why a common belief about the value of a personal injury claim is wrong. The episode covers why it's important to contact an attorney immediately after you’ve been involved in an accident (hint: time erases evidence) and mistakes to avoid if you don’t want to weaken your personal injury claim.

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