Car crashes are a significant cause of property damage, personal injury, and wrongful death. According to the South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book 2020 Edition, there is a motor vehicle accident every 4.3 minutes in South Carolina. If you have suffered such an accident, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure how to move forward. A South Carolina car accident lawyer can help.
Car accident victims may suffer from harsh consequences such as high medical bills and serious injuries resulting from the accident someone else caused. This can create long-term financial implications, limit health and mobility, and lead to pain and suffering for years to come.
You can rely on our South Carolina auto injury lawyers to provide sound legal advice and a detailed case review. We will help you understand your legal options, how to file an injury claim, and how to pursue maximum compensation. Contact us online for a free consultation* with a South Carolina auto accident attorney at our law firm.
If you have any car accident questions, visit our car accident FAQ page, or reach out to us now to your lawyers for support and guidance. HawkLaw Fights to Win!
While you hope, we deliver. HawkLaw’s team of South Carolina car accident lawyers have earned millions in compensation, including $3 million for one trucking accident*. But we’re not just your lawyers; we’re here to make sure you’re always doing okay and to help you get on track again.
You don’t have to fight your case alone. We’ll work diligently and to the best of our abilities for you. As a digital-first law firm, you can get your case initiated immediately so we can start fighting for you. Call 888-HAWKLAW today or use our live chat, and we’ll get to work right away!
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While cars have many safety features that minimize the damage you suffer in an accident, there is still a good chance you suffered a serious injury in your car crash. The seat belt and airbags might lessen the severity of these injuries, but the harm might still be long-term — or even lethal. Here are some of the most common injuries caused by car accidents and the accompanying symptoms.
Mild concussions are those that will heal with proper medical care, but they can still be debilitating for quite some time and carry serious symptoms. These include:
Spinal injuries can see people losing the ability to control their limbs, paralysis, and even cardiovascular issues. Your spine is how your brain communicates with your body. Some common symptoms of spinal injuries include:
Internal bleeding is often life-threatening. This sort of injury is invisible and insidious. It is also a reason why it is essential to seek medical attention after any car accident. Some symptoms of internal bleeding include:
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury that occurs when your head “whips” forward and then suddenly stops. It often happens with head-on collisions but can happen with side or rear-end accidents. Some symptoms of whiplash include:
Unfortunately, car accidents resulting in injuries happen often, quite frequently leaving families struggling and individual victims fighting for their life. Consider some of these statistics about South Carolina car accident injuries specifically.
According to the South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book 2020 Edition, there is:
If you have been injured or lost a loved one to a car accident like this, it is critical to take action now. Whether it was a distracted driver, or a truck accident brought on by a tired operator, you may have rights to compensation. From broken bones to brain injuries or even death, a simple mistake made by careless drivers, poorly maintained vehicles, or reckless driving can create long-term outcomes. A South Carolina car accident lawyer can help you pursue financial compensation for your losses.
Auto accidents in South Carolina have many causes. They can result in everything from lingering pain and emotional trauma to permanent disfigurement. Causes for the accidents can include bad road conditions, distracted driving, driving under the influence, and more. Let’s break down the common causes of car accidents that South Carolina personal injury lawyers regularly see.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common motor vehicle accident causes and their implications.
Drunk driving occurs when a person uses drugs or alcohol prior to operating a vehicle. This may include prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, or illicit drugs. When this occurs, their ability to react fast enough, respond to changing conditions, or drive safely is impaired. That puts you and all other drivers on the road at risk.
Drunk driving is more common than many people believe. The South Carolina Department of Public Safety reports that:
You do not always know this right away. When filling out a police report, be sure to document anything you saw before or after the accident that may indicate intoxication. This may include swerving, slow driving, drastic changes in direction, or lack of control. A police investigation may determine if this occurred, but your input may also help determine if this type of accident occurred.
HawkLaw has extensive experience working with victims of drunk driving accidents. We understand just how much these drivers can take from you with the decision to get behind the wheel intoxicated. We are here to help you.
HawkLaw is committed to working closely with you to gather evidence and support your case, helping you to secure the fair compensation owed to you. As a results-focused personal injury legal team, you can depend on our proven record of delivering settlements* resulting from drunk driving.
Did you know that using a cell phone to text and drive is six times more dangerous than drunk driving? A simple text message can end a person’s life or create devastating results. Texts can always wait. Texting and driving is illegal in South Carolina, regardless of whether it is urgent.
According to the South Carolina Department of Insurance, on average, there are two auto accidents every hour that involve a distracted motorist in this state. Additionally, in 2020, South Carolina officials reported more than 20,000 collisions involving distracted driving. Distracted driving occurs when a driver engages in an activity that takes their focus off the road or the act of driving. There are many types of distracted driving causes. Here are a few:
If you have been the victim of a distracted driver, try to gather any evidence about the incident to report to the police during the initial accident report. Be sure to let your attorney know what has occurred as well. Did you see the driver engaging in an activity that caused them to be distracted? That is valuable information in your case. Let your car accident lawyer know what occurred.
After a car accident, you may be owed compensation if you suffered losses brought on by the negligence of the other driver. This compensation may include more than you think.
You may wonder what type of compensation you can get in a car accident claim or insurance claim. Generally, to qualify for any compensation, you need to have suffered financial loss in some way.
There are two main types of damages available in car accident cases: monetary and non-monetary.
Monetary damages include:
Non-monetary damages include:
If the at-fault driver has a liability insurance policy, the driver’s insurance company is likely to pay these damages in an award or settlement.
HawkLaw will work closely with you to document any losses you have shared. Our goal is to help you receive the compensation owed to you no matter what your losses are.
If you are not sure about claims, that is okay. We are here to help you. Do not speak to the insurance company without your personal injury attorney by your side. When Is There “Shared Fault” In a Car Accident Case? South Carolina’s car accident laws allow for “comparative negligence” in personal injury claims. This means that if you file a claim against someone, he or she may argue that you are partially to blame for the accident.
During a civil trial, the jury may issue a verdict stating you are 30% responsible for the accident. In this instance, your damages will be reduced to 70%.
It is common for adjusters from car insurance companies to raise the possibility of comparative negligence so they do not have to pay the full amount of damages. One thing you should never do is apologize or accept blame for anything, not at the scene or at any time during the claims process. The auto insurance company will look for reasons to deny your claim, and apologies are just what they seek. Our team is here to help you avoid these kinds of claims process mistakes.
It is our job at HawkLaw to work to preserve your right to fair compensation. To do that, we will collaborate with you to gather evidence for your case. We also will work closely with the insurance company on your behalf so there is less risk that you will say something that endangers your case. Insurance adjusters are known for using social media posts and statements you make against you, even if you are a victim.
Auto insurance adjusters are not your friends. They look out for their best interests, not yours. They are for-profit companies that do not make money by paying the total and fair compensation you deserve. They can use many tactics to this end, including trying to shift blame onto you or attempting to bully you into signing off on a low offer.
Never sign anything, and never hand over any records or information before you speak to an attorney. This includes medical records that the insurance company claims they need to pay out your claim.
At HawkLaw, we value the attorney-client relationships we build with everyone we represent and have earned hundreds of positive client testimonials. We offer the legal representation you need to fight back against insurance company non-payment tactics and hold the negligent driver responsible for your injuries.
Best of all, we work on a contingency fee, which means we may offer free consultations, and if we do not win your case, you may not owe us a dime in attorney’s fees.* Check out our disclaimer below, then call our law office at 1-888-HAWKLAW or use our online contact form to ask about a free case evaluation today.*
Your eligibility for workers’ compensation after a car accident depends on whether the car accident happened while performing the duties of your employment or if it occurred outside this scope. These situations can be complex because if you were in the scope of your normal work duties, but someone else was responsible for the car accident, you may be able to receive workers’ compensation and still file a personal injury claim.
In South Carolina, you usually cannot sue your employer if you accept workers’ compensation, and it is assumed you will accept workers’ comp just by working somewhere that offers it. If your boss shows gross negligence, the situation may change. However, for the most part, you waive the right to sue your employer by accepting workers’ comp.
Workers’ compensation does not pay for things like pain and suffering, loss of comfort, loss of consortium, and the like. It only pays medical bills and a portion of your lost wages. For this reason, it is sometimes worthwhile to explore both workers’ comp and an injury claim against the negligent driver.
If you think you may have both a workers’ comp claim and a personal injury case, the South Carolina injury attorneys at HawkLaw are here to help. Get in touch with us at 1-888-HAWKLAW or use our online contact form for a free case review.*
What Is The Statute Of Limitations For Car Accidents in South Carolina? South Carolina personal injury laws place a three-year time limit on personal injury claims in most circumstances. Whether you are seeking compensation for vehicle damage, personal injury, or the wrongful death of a loved one, the law provides you with a timeframe of three years to ask the state court for a civil case.
The three-year clock starts running on the date the accident occurs or the date of the death in the instance of a wrongful death claim.
What does this mean in your case? First, do not be overly concerned with the statute of limitations. Your best bet is to seek immediate help with your case as soon as the accident occurs (after you receive medical care). Allow our attorneys to handle the process every step of the way after that.
Second, know that our goal is to help you get a settlement sooner. That means gathering evidence and working with you to file your claim as quickly as possible. This helps protect your right to compensation. Even if you think the statute of limitations has lapsed, reach out to us to learn what options we may be able to offer.
Talk to an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible to see how we might be able to help with your case. We serve all of South Carolina, including Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, and Spartanburg. You deserve a personal injury attorney to guide you through this legal process. Contact HawkLaw’s auto accident lawyers for a case evaluation.
Call 888-HAWKLAW or talk to us using our live chat and we’ll get to work right away. You take care of you and we’ll take care of the rest.
Once we have what we need to build a case for your claim, we will contact the insurance company or at-fault party and attempt to negotiate a fair and just compensation for your injuries. Our goal is to do right by you and agree on a fair and just settlement for your damages, pain, and suffering. If an acceptable settlement can’t be reached, your lawyer* will advise you about the option of going to court.
Even though serious injuries can result from car accidents, South Carolina is a “fault” state for auto insurance. This means that clear proof of who is at fault for the accident must be presented to earn fair and just compensation from the auto accident. HawkLaw’s car accident legal process uncovers the vital evidence to support your claim as we fight hard for your rightful compensation.
In South Carolina, insurance companies use the state’s 51% rule, as dictated by the precedent of the case Ross v. Paddy, to determine fault for a car accident. Under the 51% rule, you will receive payment from the insurance company if it can be proven that you bear 50% or less fault for the accident. You can speak to a personal injury attorney for more details about how the 51% rule works.
It’s not legally mandated, but it’s in your best interest to contact your insurer if you’re at fault for an accident. While there’s high potential that your insurance premiums will go up, your insurer will be more open to discussing options with you if you contact them immediately after the accident. The other driver’s insurance company may also discuss the incident with your insurer so it’s best to contact them yourself ahead of time. You can also retain your HawkLaw car accident attorney to discuss matters with the other driver’s insurer.
*Disclaimer: Cases are principally handled out of Greenville, Spartanburg, Charleston, and Columbia offices. Case "worth" is determined from the total settlement amount. The settlement amount shown are gross numbers before attorney’s fees and cost deductions. The % fees will be computed before deducting expenses and costs from the gross settlement. No fees or costs with no recovery. The information contained in this Website is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. The specific results achieved for clients shared on this website do not imply that similar results may be achieved for other clients. Read Our Full Disclaimer. Read Our Privacy Policy
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