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Greenville Car Accident Lawyer
When you’ve suffered a car crash, you’re left with damages. If the accident was not your fault, make sure the other driver pays for your suffering by calling a Greenville auto accident lawyer. If you are struggling in the wake of a car crash, a Greenville car accident lawyer from HawkLaw, P.A. can make a difference.
South Carolina Car Accident Laws
In Greenville, South Carolina, quite a few laws are relevant to car accidents, with many designed specifically to criminalize behaviors that often lead to accidents. Here are some of the most commonly cited laws.
- Following too closely/rear-end collisions
- Failing to use due care
- Driving in reckless disregard to the safety of others
- Crossing into oncoming traffic
- Changing lanes before it is safe to do so
- Running red lights
- Failing to yield
- Passing too closely
- Driving under the influence
- Speeding
- Hit-and-run
For more information, you can explore South Carolina law directly.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Greenville, South Carolina
Car accidents are often caused by several factors working together at once, but it is important to know the greatest threats when behind the wheel. These are among the most common causes of car accidents in Greenville, South Carolina.
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence
- Speeding
- Drowsy driving
- Aggressive driving
Let’s further evaluate each car accident cause.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a situation in which the driver is not properly focused on the road. Their attention may instead be directed toward their phone or inputting an address in the car’s GPS system. Even talking to other passengers can be a form of distracted driving.
Driving Under the Influence
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol impairs a motorist’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. Without the ability to drive safely, accidents are more a matter of when than if.
Speeding
Going past the speed limit will not only put people in more danger of accidents, but those accidents tend to have serious injuries compared to the typical fender bender. By simple physics, the faster you are driving, the harder the sudden stop is going to hit car accident victims.
Drowsy Driving
Driving tired is easily on par with the dangers of drunk driving. The National Safety Council suggests that drivers who are tired and fatigued are three times more likely to be involved in an auto accident than drivers who are properly awake and focused.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving encompasses a variety of poor behaviors, including driving erratically, speeding, failure to obey the rules of the road, and failure to yield to other drivers who have the right of way.
Common Car Accident Injuries in Greenville, South Carolina
If you’ve suffered any of the following injuries or other traumatic wounds, you deserve compensation to help you recover:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Spinal injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Burns
One of your first considerations after a car accident will be your injuries. Your car might be totaled, but that can be replaced. Your health and safety, however, aren’t as easily fixed, so you’ll need medical care as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, auto accidents can be physically devastating. Because vehicles have so much momentum, even at what we think of as low speeds, the damages can be catastrophic. A seat belt or airbag may save your life, but it may not stop all the trauma your body may experience during a crash.
Who’s at Fault For My Car Accident in Greenville, South Carolina?
After your accident, one of your first steps will be finding fault and contacting your insurance provider about the crash. South Carolina is a fault state, which means that the person at fault for the accident is also financially responsible. That means you’ll have to prove who caused the accident before you receive your settlement or compensation.
So, when you report your accident to the insurance company, you’ll need to have the other driver’s insurance information. You may file a claim with your insurance company, who will then seek compensation from the other driver’s insurer. They’ll make a settlement offer based on the damages you’ve suffered.
Unfortunately, they may not offer you enough, or they may refuse to settle with you at all. If you believe they plan to fight back, you’ll need to take your claim to court. In this case, you’ll need to file a claim against the driver for your compensation, and you’ll need to be ready to defend your claim.
How Comparative Negligence Will Affect Your Car Accident Claim
Unfortunately, you can expect the other driver to be unwilling to pay. They do not want to cover the high expenses you have likely accrued because of your accident. As such, they will usually push back and try to put the blame on you. If you don’t fight this, that could diminish or dismiss your claim.
South Carolina also recognizes modified comparative negligence, which means that your compensation will be reduced if you’re found partly at fault for the accident. For example, if you are found 20 percent at fault for your Greenville accident, you’ll only receive 80 percent of your compensation.
If you’re found more than 50 percent at fault for the accident, you’ll be unable to receive any compensation at all.
When you’re dealing with long-term medical bills, that’s unacceptable. That’s why you need a Greenville car accident attorney on your side. You’ll need help fighting back when they accuse you of fault. Losing what you are owed can leave you struggling with your recovery for years after the incident. Even a small percentage could mean thousands of dollars that you need but won’t receive for your bills.
Seeking Compensation for Your Greenville Car Accident
Once you’ve decided to file, what compensation should you seek? Determining your claim’s worth is tough without an attorney’s help. You will need the right tools to calculate your damages, both tangible and intangible, and you may not have the same amount of experience with them.
As such, you’ll need help finding both your economic and non-economic damages. Your economic damages should be simpler to calculate, however. These damages are the monetary losses you’ve suffered because of your car crash. Your repair bills, for example, would fall under these damages.
Don’t forget that not all your suffering is financial, however. The emotional and mental toll you have suffered might not have a price tag on it, but it’s important to be compensated for these damages as well.
Not sure what to include in your compensation? Speak to your Greenville auto accident lawyer about any of the following damages you’ve suffered and what they’re worth:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional trauma
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
Why You Should Work With a South Carolina Auto Accident Lawyer
Hiring a Greenville auto accident lawyer in the wake of a car crash comes with a host of benefits you may not want to miss. While some people may be hesitant to get a personal injury lawyer involved, it is often an effective way to get the fair compensation you or a loved one deserve to cover medical expenses, emotional distress, potential disfigurement, and more.
Lawyers help with a variety of steps when filing a car accident claim, including:
- Determining fault
- Building a strong case
- Fighting for a fair settlement
Determining Fault
Determining fault is key in any kind of personal injury case, and motor vehicle accidents are no exception. To determine fault in South Carolina, you will need to demonstrate that someone was acting negligently and that their negligence directly led to the accident that caused your injuries. A lawyer can help you put together an argument to make your case. This can also improve your chances of not being partially blamed for the accident. South Carolina uses a comparative negligence standard, so your maximum compensation is based on the percentage of fault you have for the accident.
Building Your Case
Plenty of research goes into a car accident case, and a lawyer will gather all the necessary evidence. They can talk to witnesses, gather evidence from the scene, get the police report, obtain records of your medical treatment, and more. Plus, they can make all the filings for you.
Fighting for a Fair Settlement
When fighting for a settlement, it is not the at-fault driver whom you need to worry about. You will be up against the driver’s insurance coverage and an insurance company whose business model depends on denying you as much compensation as possible. A car accident lawyer will be able to stand up to insurance adjusters and protect your insurance claim against the insurer’s tactics.
You Don’t Pay Unless We Win
At the law offices of HawkLaw, our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. That means there is no risk in hiring us for your case because it will not cost you anything unless we win. It all begins with a case review and free consultation*.
Why Our Clients Choose HawkLaw
At HawkLaw, we have been serving South Carolina, including Greenville, Anderson, and more, for over 20 years, and we have extensive experience with all sorts of personal injury cases, including a multitude of car wrecks. Our attorney-client relationship strategy focuses on the client first with legal advice, communication, compassion, and an unrelenting commitment to excellence for every case. Plus, we are a digital-first law firm, so you can initiate your case and legal representation online from the convenience of your home.
See How a Greenville Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
When someone else causes a car accident, chances are high that they will try to avoid paying for your suffering. They might be the ones responsible, but they’ll do what they can to put the blame on you and avoid paying. Sadly, this tactic may work if you’re not prepared to fight back.
Fighting back isn’t easy when you’re injured and overwhelmed with the expenses and losses you’ve suffered. So, if you’re struggling with your claim, reach out to a Greenville car accident lawyer from HawkLaw. Our attorneys understand the strain an accident puts on you, and we can help lift some of that burden.
We’ll help you fight back with the right defense.
Unsure where to get started? Reach out for a free consultation* today. A Greenville car accident lawyer is ready to speak to you before you sign anything so that you know what to expect and how we can help. When you’re ready to get started on your fight for compensation, reach out by calling 1-888-HAWK-LAW (429-5529) or by completing the online form below.
Additional Resources
Frequent Answered Questions
When you’re injured, your time is limited. South Carolina residents will need to file within three years to get their compensation. Otherwise, their claim will be thrown out, and they’ll be barred from recovery.
Determining fault will depend on the type of accident and the evidence we can gather from the accident. For example, if someone rear-ended you, chances are good that they’re at fault. In a T-bone accident, however, we may need to ask witnesses about who was wrongfully crossing the intersection.
Yes, you can sue in a single-vehicle accident. While there wasn’t another vehicle involved, your accident could have been caused by a defective part or a damaged roadway. That means the responsibility for your accident may be on the manufacturer of the part, or the Department of Transportation may have indirectly caused the accident. A lawyer can help you investigate and find the person or group liable for your injuries.
If you’ve been hurt while taking a Lyft or Uber, reach out to your Greenville rideshare accident lawyer. You may be due compensation for your losses, so make sure you get the help you need for your claim.
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Greenville, SC 29615
John Hawkins is the Founder and CEO of HawkLaw He has been licensed to practice law in South Carolina since his graduation with honors in 1994 from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he was on the Law Review and Order of Wig and Robe.