Charleston Car Accident Attorney

A car accident can leave you in serious physical and financial pain. Things can get even worse if the insurance companies try to deny liability or downplay the severity of your injuries in an effort to save themselves money. But you don’t have to navigate this stressful time alone — because Joe Cunningham Law is here to help.

Attorney Joe Cunningham is personally dedicated to getting his clients the money they need to rebuild their lives, offering them individualized care and service when they need it most. Joe takes his commitment to his fellow South Carolinians seriously, always putting their needs and concerns first. It’s a devotion he displayed as a U.S. Congressman, and it’s one he brings to every case his law firm takes.

Are you ready to put Joe’s compassion, drive, and legal insight to work on your case? Contact Joe Cunningham Law today for a free consultation with a Charleston car accident lawyer and tell him your story.

What Are the Common Causes of Car Accidents?

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety estimates there is an auto collision in the state every 3½ minutes, and at least one person dies every 8 hours. Sadly, the vast majority of these collisions are entirely preventable. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that at least 94 percent of crashes nationwide result from driver error, such as:

Distracted driving
Impaired driving
Driving while fatigued or drowsy
Speeding
Tailgating
Improper lane changes
Failure to yield the right of way
Reckless or aggressive driving

Inclement weather conditions and manufacturer defects can also contribute to causing car accidents.

What Are Common Types of Car Accidents in South Carolina?

How a car accident happens can play a large role in determining who may be to blame — and, therefore, who could be liable for compensating injured people. Some of the most common types of car accidents in South Carolina include:

T-bone or side-impact accidents
Head-on collisions
Sideswipe accidents
Rear-end accidents
Rollover crashes
Blind spot accidents
Single-vehicle crashes
Multi-vehicle accidents
Pileup crashes
Hit-and-run accidents
Uber/Lyft/rideshare accidents

No matter the accident type, the legal team at Joe Cunningham Law has
the resources and experience to investigate the collision, determine
avenues for compensation, and pursue them aggressively on your behalf.

What Are the Damages I May Be Entitled To?

Calculating your financial losses following a Charleston auto accident can be challenging. First, there are your immediate losses, like current medical bills, vehicle repair and replacement estimates, and lost wages. Then, there are expenses you haven’t incurred yet, like future medical bills and reductions in your quality of life. Insurance companies are interested in resolving claims as quickly, efficiently, and cheaply as possible. That may mean being offered a lowball settlement to get your car accident claim off their plate and save them money.

An experienced Charleston car accident attorney can review your claim and calculate the fair value of your losses, which could include the following:

Medical expenses
Lost wages
Loss of future earning capacity
Disfigurement
Emotional trauma
Pain and suffering
Property damage, such as vehicle repair and replacement

Are you concerned about recovering the money you need to recover physically and financially? Discuss your situation with a knowledgeable South Carolina motor vehicle accident attorney at Joe Cunningham Law.

What Should I Do if I Am Involved in an Accident?

Car accidents are frightening. Even if you remember learning the steps to take immediately after a car accident during driver’s education courses, the intense emotions and pain accompanying a crash can make it hard to think straight.

As a refresher, always pull over to a safe location and contact the authorities. If possible, exchange information with the other driver, check everyone for injuries, and document the scene. Next, get medical attention if you haven’t done so already. Not only can this diagnose any latent injuries you might not yet be aware of, but it also provides documentary evidence linking them to the accident, strengthening your eventual insurance claim or lawsuit.

Your actions in the days and weeks following a car wreck can also potentially impact the strength of your compensation claim or car accident lawsuit. You can protect yourself by taking these additional steps:

Follow Your Treatment Plan

Your doctor or health care professional should have outlined your treatment plan when you met with them. Keep all additional medical appointments, follow-ups with specialists, and stick to the plan as outlined. Doing so will improve your prognosis as well as demonstrate to the insurance companies that you are taking your health seriously.

Contact a Charleston, SC, Car Accident Attorney

Seeking the compensation you deserve for an accident that wasn’t your fault can quickly become more challenging than it should be. Rather than trust that a for-profit business will put your needs ahead of its shareholders, get help from an experienced Charleston car accident lawyer. They can independently investigate the crash, manage communication between you and the insurer, negotiate for a settlement on your behalf, and take your case to trial if necessary.

Go on a Social Media Diet

It is normal to want to share your story with family and friends. However, resist the urge to engage on social media platforms. Insurers can use anything you post against you, no matter how innocent it might have seemed at the time. Photos of you trying to move on with your life can get contorted into evidence that you are not taking your treatment seriously. Remember, the insurer’s goal is to save themselves money by giving you as little as they can get away with.

Keep Detailed Records

To help your attorney calculate the fair value of your claim, keep detailed records of your bills and expenses, including medical treatment, lost income, and repair estimates.

Get Started on Your Claim Today

843-633-3360 Schedule a Free Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a car accident injury lawsuit in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, you have three years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit seeking compensation for your financial losses. What happens if you miss the filing deadline? Your case faces dismissal, and you lose leverage for negotiating a fair settlement.

Don’t risk jeopardizing your rights. Instead, talk to an experienced car accident lawyer in Charleston, SC, as soon as possible.

Whom can I hold responsible for my car accident?

Anyone who contributed to the car crash could potentially be responsible for compensating you accordingly. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, this could include any or several of the following parties:

The other driver
The other driver’s employer, if they were on the job at the time
The vehicle’s owner, if they knowingly lent it to an unfit driver
The company that manufactured a defective part that contributed to the crash
A government entity that failed to design or maintain a safe roadway

What should I do if I think that the car accident was partially my fault?

First and foremost, you are not a car accident expert. Do not apologize, do not offer opinions, and do not admit fault for causing a collision. Allow a knowledgeable South Carolina car accident attorney to investigate the cause of the crash for you.

Crucially, being partially to blame for an accident does not necessarily prevent you from securing compensation from other at-fault parties. South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence system, meaning you can still recover money from an at-fault party so long as your share of fault does not exceed theirs, as determined by a judge or jury serving as factfinder.

However, your recovery will be reduced in proportion to your share of fault. In other words, if you are found to be 30 percent to blame for an accident that cost you $100,000 in losses, the most you could recover is $70,000.

That’s why it’s so important to work with an experienced car accident attorney in Charleston, SC. A car crash lawyer knows how to paint your car accident case in the most attractive light, minimize your share of fault, and put the blame squarely where it belongs: the other party.

How can a Charleston, SC, car accident lawyer help with my claim?

Car accident cases can be complex, and insurance companies are vested in limiting the amount of compensation they pay out. Fortunately, you don’t have to go up against them alone. Instead, you can turn to an experienced Charleston, SC, car accident attorney for help.

A car accident lawyer will handle your injury case by:

Investigating the auto wreck to determine all liable parties
Working with experts to build a strong case for compensation
Negotiating with insurance companies for a fair and full settlement
Taking your case to trial if the insurance companies won’t cooperate
Supporting you at every stage of your case

Contact an Experienced Charleston, SC, Car Accident Attorney Today

Joe Cunningham Law is a small law firm that can make a big impact on your car accident case. By being selective about the cases he takes, Joe Cunningham can effectively manage his caseload, offering personalized and individual attention to every client he represents. You always know where you stand and can count on clear and open communication at every stage of your case.

If a careless driver in South Carolina hurt you, let Joe help you demand justice. Contact Joe today for a free, no-obligation consultation and case review with a Charleston, SC, car accident lawyer.

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