South Carolina Car Accident Attorney

Car accidents can happen in an instant. But they can leave injuries and related consequences that linger for months, years, or even a lifetime. If you got hurt in a South Carolina car crash caused by someone else, you could be entitled to money for the harm and loss you have suffered. Joe Cunningham Law can help.

A Former U.S. Congressman, Joe Cunningham has years of experience standing up for car crash injury victims like you, and he knows what it takes to stand up to big auto insurance companies and win. Maintaining the high standards set by his father, a Kentucky Supreme Court Justice, he and his team will keep you informed through every step of your case, and they’ll be available to you when you need them.

Let Joe give you and your accident case the attention you deserve. Reach out today to get started with your free, no-obligation consultation session with a South Carolina car accident lawyer.

What Are Common Causes of Car Accidents?

Every year, thousands of South Carolina drivers and passengers find their lives abruptly changed by car accidents. Understanding the causes of these crashes can clarify the circumstances that led to a car accident and who was at fault, which is a key factor in any personal injury case.

Some of the most common causes of car accidents in South Carolina include:

What Are Common Types of Car Accidents in South Carolina?

Car accidents can be categorized into different types depending on how they occur. Here are some of the most prevalent car accident types in South Carolina:

• Rear-End Collisions – One of the most common types of accidents, a rear-end crash occurs when a vehicle crashes into the back of a stopped or slowing vehicle ahead of it. Tailgating, distracted driving, and speeding often contribute to rear-enders.
• Head-On Collisions – These devastating crashes occur when two vehicles going in opposite directions strike each other front-first. They are frequently caused by dangerous passing maneuvers, wrong-way driving, and unintentionally crossing the centerline.
• Sideswipe Accidents – Sideswipe crashes happen when the sides of two parallel vehicles make contact or scrape against each other. Improper lane changes, drifting between lanes, and passing mistakes are common contributing factors.
• T-Bone Collisions – These accidents occur when two vehicles traveling in different directions collide at a right angle, forming wreckage in the shape of a “T.” Many of these accidents happen at intersections due to right-of-way confusion or traffic signal violations.
• Multi-Vehicle Pile-Ups – Multiple vehicles crashing in a chain reaction can happen in busy, congested traffic or due to hazardous conditions like fog or ice. When drivers fail to adjust their driving behavior to the road conditions, they increase the risk of these devastating pile-ups.

What Are the Damages I Could Be Entitled to from a Car Accident?

Each car accident case is unique, and the types and amounts of damages (money) available can vary considerably. However, many crash survivors can recover money for the following types of losses:

• Past and future healthcare costs related to the accident
• Incidental costs like travel expenses for medical appointments
• Lost income from having to miss work or accept lower-paying jobs
• Losses in lifetime earning capacity due to permanent impairments
• Subjective losses like pain, suffering, and emotional distress
• Losses in overall quality or enjoyment of life
• Property damage such as vehicle repair/replacement

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

Being involved in a car accident is a disorienting and stressful experience, especially when you suffer painful injuries in the collision. But taking the proper steps after an accident is essential to protecting your rights and minimizing the challenges ahead.

If you get hurt in a South Carolina car crash, you should:

• Seek prompt medical treatment.
• Follow your doctor’s orders for treatment, therapy, and recovery exercises.
• Keep records of all medical bills and expenses related to the accident.
• Photograph visible injuries from the crash.
• Save medical reports, test results, and hospital discharge papers.
• Notify your insurance company of the accident and potential claim.
• Contact an experienced car accident injury attorney for guidance.
• Gather crash-related details like the location, date, time, and traffic conditions.
• Obtain a copy of the official police crash report.
• Preserve evidence like damaged clothing, receipts, and ruined belongings.
• Avoid discussing the accident, your health, or who is liable on social media.
• Track lost income and out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries.
• Document how your daily routine has changed due to your injuries.
• Consult your lawyer before providing a statement or accepting any settlement offer.

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Injury Lawsuit in South Carolina?

South Carolina law imposes strict filing deadlines about how long you have to take action after an auto accident. In most cases, you have three years from the car accident date to file a lawsuit in civil court. Certain exceptions could extend this three-year deadline, but they’re rare, and you might have even less time to act in certain situations.

By promptly retaining a car accident law firm, you’re giving your attorney sufficient time to prepare your case thoroughly and negotiate effectively to maximize your payout.

Whom Can I Hold Responsible for My Car Accident?

Identifying who is at fault or liable in a crash is essential to any car accident claim. Potentially liable parties include:

• Other Drivers – If another motorist caused the crash because they were speeding, distracted, impaired, or breaking the law, they could be liable for any resulting harm.
• Employers – If the other driver was working or driving a company car at the time of the crash, their employer could be liable.
• Government Agencies – The responsible government body could be liable if hazardous road conditions like poor drainage, inadequate lighting, or missing signage contributed to the car wreck.
• Automakers – If a design or manufacturing defect caused or worsened the auto collision, the automaker that designed or made the defective vehicle could share responsibility.
• Vehicle Component Manufacturers – Similarly, a parts supplier could be liable if faulty components, like defective tires or brakes, contribute to a crash.
• Bars or Restaurants – If an intoxicated driver caused the accident, the establishment that over-served them alcohol could be liable in a dram shop claim.
• Property Owners – A property owner could be responsible if overgrown landscaping or other hazardous features on their property obstructed visibility or otherwise contributed to the crash.

What Should I Do If I Think That the Car Accident Was Partially My Fault?

If you know or suspect you were partly to blame for the auto wreck, you should first discuss your case with a trusted South Carolina car accident attorney. Do not apologize for the crash or admit fault when speaking to other parties, especially the insurance companies. Avoid talking to insurance providers entirely until you have consulted a lawyer; anything you say could be taken out of context and used to undermine and undervalue your claim.

The main reason is that South Carolina law reduces the amount of compensation available to you in a personal injury case if you are partially responsible for your injuries. The more you contribute to an accident, the less money you can get for your losses. In addition, if a court finds you 51 percent or more at fault, you could lose your right to recover any compensation in court.

How a South Carolina Lawyer Can Help with Car Accident Claims

An experienced car accident attorney in South Carolina has the knowledge, skills, and resources to protect your rights and maximize your potential compensation. A lawyer can support you and your motor vehicle accident case by:

• Investigating the accident to uncover evidence and identify liable parties
• Identifying and exploring all possible sources of compensation for your losses
• Filing necessary case paperwork and documents for your claim
• Retaining expert witnesses like accident reconstructionists and doctors
• Sending preservation letters to prevent destruction of evidence
• Requesting and compiling all pertinent medical, financial, and employment records
• Calculating the full value of your current and future accident-related losses
• Drafting persuasive demand letters and settlement proposals for your case
• Communicating with insurance companies and negotiating for full settlement value
• Filing a lawsuit in civil court if the other side won’t agree to a fair settlement
• Developing courtroom strategies and handling all aspects of litigation on your behalf
• Avoiding legal mistakes that could undermine your case or reduce its value

Contact a South Carolina Car Accident Attorney Today

The road to recovery might be challenging, but you don’t have to walk it alone. Let the team at Joe Cunningham Law shoulder your legal burdens so you can focus on getting better. Reach out today for a free, no-obligation case review with a South Carolina car accident lawyer.