Car crashes are a significant cause of property damage, personal injury, and wrongful death. According to the South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book 2019 Edition, there is a motor vehicle accident every 3.7 minutes in South Carolina. If you have suffered such an accident, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure of 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 personal injury lawyers to provide sound legal advice and a detailed case review. We’ll help you understand your legal options, how to file an injury claim, and how to pursue maximum compensation. Contact us online for a consultation* with a South Carolina auto accident attorney at our law firm. Reach out to us now to your South Carolina car accident lawyer 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!
While cars have many safety features that minimize the damage you suffer in an accident, there’s still a good chance that 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:
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 2019 Edition, there is:
If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one to a car accident like this, it’s 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. Our South Carolina car accident lawyer can help you pursue financial compensation for your losses.
What are some common causes of car accidents in South Carolina? Here are a few common types of accidents:
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 don’t 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’re here to help you.
HawkLaw is committed to working closely with you to gather evidence and prove your case, helping you to secure the compensation owed to you. As a results-focused 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 SC, 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.3 And, in 2019, South Carolina officials reported 18,836 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’ve 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 our attorney know what’s occurred as well. Did you see the driver engaging in an activity that caused them to be distracted? That’s 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 ensure any losses you’ve shared are fully documented. Our goal is to ensure you receive the compensation owed to you no matter what your losses are. If you aren’t sure about claims, that’s okay. We are here to help you. Don’t speak to the insurance company without your personal injury attorney by your side.
South Carolina’s car accident laws allow for “comparative negligence” in personal injury claims.4 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%.
Are you unsure if you are to blame for the accident? Don’t make any statements to that fact, but allow our team to help you. It is common for adjusters from car insurance companies to raise the possibility of comparative negligence so they don’t have to pay the full amount of damages.
It’s our job at HawkLaw to work to preserve your right to compensation. To do that, we’ll work closely with you to gather evidence in the case. We also will work closely with the insurance company on your behalf so there is less risk that you’ll say something that puts your case at risk. Insurance adjusters are known for using social media posts and statements you make against you, even if you are a victim.
South Carolina personal injury laws place a three-year time limit on personal injury claims in most circumstances.4 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, don’t 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 this 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 ensure your case gets heard. We serve most 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.
Following the first meeting, your dedicated personal injury lawyer will launch your case. We have an investigative team with years of experience identifying what happened, recreating the incident, and collecting any evidence that helps with your case. As a digital-first law firm, you’ll be able to check in on our findings and see how your case is progressing.
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, a HawkLaw trial 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 car 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.
HawkLaw, P.A. has car accident lawyers in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and Spartanburg.
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