Arcadia Car Accident Lawyer

A car accident can cause significant injuries that reshape a person’s future. Simultaneously, they can also cost thousands in damages, lost wages, and medical bills. If you’re hurt in an Arcadia car wreck, HawkLaw, P.A. is available to represent you through this life-altering event. Understanding the steps to take after an accident, and how an attorney can benefit you, are key to recovering your life and your financial footing.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident in Arcadia, South Carolina?

It’s normal to feel shaken after a car accident, especially if you’ve been injured, but there are crucial steps you can take to preserve your health and financial well-being:

• Call 911. If you’ve been seriously injured, seek immediate medical attention. Otherwise, speak with police officers who arrive at the scene – they can create an official police report about the accident.
• Exchange relevant information with the other party. Exchange names, phone numbers, email addresses, and insurance details.
• Take pictures with your phone or record videos to document everything, from the site of the accident to injuries and road conditions.
• If there were witnesses to the accident, gather their names and phone numbers. They may be able to provide an account of the incident that can support your claim.
• Did you speak with the police right after the accident where the damages exceeded $1,000 or there was a fatality? Remember, South Carolina law requires you to file a police report in such cases, so you must do so immediately.
• At the same time, notify your insurance company right away that you’ve been hurt in a car accident so you can begin the claims process.
• You can contact an Arcadia car accident lawyer from the scene of your accident. Contacting a car wreck lawyer as soon as possible gives them the most opportunity to help you with your claim, including preventing mistakes and preserving relevant evidence.

How Long After a Car Accident Can You Get a Lawyer?

Hiring an attorney may be the last thing on your mind on the day of your accident, but securing timely legal representation is essential to protect your interests and help you with filing a compensation claim. Missed deadlines, inconclusive evidence, and red tape with insurance companies are all difficult to deal with alone.

There is no time requirement for hiring an attorney, but South Carolina law states that you must file a claim for damages within three years from the date of your accident. The sooner you obtain legal representation, the sooner you can begin to build your case and potentially receive compensation for damages and injuries.

South Carolina Car Accident Laws

Laws that govern car accidents differ from state to state. In South Carolina, several rules affect your ability to obtain compensation for a claim.

• Comparative Negligence. South Carolina follows a comparative negligence rule. This means if a driver is found to be at fault (at least in part) for an accident, they may still recover compensation for a claim, but at a discounted rate. If a driver is found to be 51% or more at fault, they may not recover any compensation.
• Statute of Limitations. In South Carolina, you have three years from the date of an auto accident to file a claim against another involved party.
• Car Accident Insurance. Drivers in Arcadia, SC, are required to carry liability insurance for bodily injury, property damage, and uninsured motorists coverage. These policies protect drivers if they are at fault in an accident, or if they are involved in an accident with an underinsured/uninsured motorist.

Compensation For Car Accidents

Car accidents can cost thousands in damages and medical bills, but they can also result in non-economic damages that are intangible losses such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Physical limitation or disfigurement
• Mental and emotional distress
• Loss of companionship

Additionally, punitive damages may be paid to a party if the defendant’s actions were particularly egregious or reckless. Punitive damages in South Carolina are typically capped at $500,000, or three times the amount of actual damages, whichever is greater—however, there are some exceptions to this rule. An Arcadia car accident lawyer can help you understand the amounts you may be entitled to receive and how those amounts may be calculated.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Car accidents are frequently caused by distracted drivers or drivers not obeying traffic laws. In Arcadia, some intersections are infamous for producing car accidents. The intersection of NC 11 and NC 87 in East Arcadia was responsible for 34 car accidents between 2016 and 2020.

Additionally, backcountry roads that seem familiar to drivers who travel along them can create a false sense of security, making them exceed the speed limit or pay divided attention to the road. Recently, two people were injured (one fatally) when two vehicles collided near the intersection of Pinewood Rd. and Cody Rd. in Sumter County.

Injuries may occur in any accident, but the likelihood of them being severe or life-threatening increases when passengers and drivers choose to avoid safety belts. Crashes that happen along Arcadia roadways when safety belts are not in use can even result in fatalities.

How Can an Arcadia Car Accident Lawyer at HawkLaw Help Me?

The decision to hire legal representation should never be taken lightly. If you are injured in a car accident, the team at HawkLaw can help by:

• Taking the burden of the initial stages of accident investigation and communication with relevant third parties: Your attorney will be able to help with collecting evidence, obtaining traffic camera footage, and negotiating with insurance adjusters on your behalf.
• Filing a car accident injury claim: For claims to be accepted, they need to be filed timely and correctly. A skilled South Carolina lawyer will help ensure that your claim is taken seriously and not dismissed at face value.
• Litigation, if necessary: In some cases, claims disputes result in litigation. If necessary, your attorney will prepare you for trial, present arguments on your behalf, and produce evidence in court to support your case.

Hiring an attorney to represent you in your auto accident is a smart decision that can help take the headache out of the process.

Hurt In a Car Accident? Speak To an Experienced Attorney at HawkLaw

Car accidents are traumatic, but hiring an attorney who is local to the Arcadia area can help you build your case and file your claim with confidence. Our team of attorneys is active in our local community and familiar with local weather conditions, dangerous roadways, and other factors that contribute to car wrecks. Our team has helped many victims receive millions in damages in recovery. Contact us today to learn how we can give you the assistance you need.