Snap your fingers. That is how long it takes for a car accident to occur. However, the result of that accident can quickly turn you and your family’s lives upside down for months, years, and maybe the rest of your life. While you struggle to recover from the physical and emotional pain of a serious crash, you may be faced with expensive medical bills and a reduced income caused by an inability to work. If you’re the victim of a serious wreck, describing what happened to one of our firm’s experienced Columbia car accident lawyers can potentially help.
The Solomon Law Group, LLC has long been helping South Carolina residents who have been wrongfully injured in auto accidents. Your injuries could have been prevented if the other party had acted responsibly. You shouldn’t have to deal with the consequences of the accident that wasn’t your fault. We’ll hold whoever harmed you accountable for their actions, which often means recovering monetary damages from the person or entity whose negligence caused your crash.
Understanding Motor Vehicle Collisions Happen in South Carolina
Most of us go through our days unaware of how common car accidents are in South Carolina. Data collected by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety in 2022 showed that our state had 143,426 collisions that year. Of those, 1,018 were fatal, and 2,130 caused serious injuries.
While a car accident can happen at any time, even under ideal driving conditions, there are certain factors and circumstances that are most commonly responsible for wrecks in our state, including:
- Distracted Driving.Any activity that could divert a driver’s attention away from the primary task of focusing on the road is considered a distraction. The most common distraction involves the use of a cell phone to talk, text, or otherwise communicate. South Carolina law deems it unlawful to use a wireless communication device to send texts while operating a vehicle. Texting and driving aside, distractions can also include eating, talking on a cell, changing radio stations, and engaging with passengers.
- Impaired Driving.Drivers who consume alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicating substances experience a reduction in their ability to react to traffic conditions as well as an impairment of their judgment. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 13,524 individuals died in alcohol-impaired crashes nationwide in 2022.
- Disobeying Traffic Rules.Drivers who are in a hurry try to make up time by ignoring other traffic laws, such as traffic lights and stop signs. Running these can cause a collision with other drivers who are driving responsibly. South Carolina’s traffic laws have been established under Title 56 of the Code of Law.
- Aggressive Driving.Tailgating, making frequent or unsafe lane changes, failing to signal or yield to the right of way of another driver, or disregarding traffic controls are all examples of aggressive (and reckless) driving that can cause car crashes in Columbia, SC. Road rage also contributes to car wrecks because a driver focuses more on taking out their anger than driving safely. It’s not unheard of for aggressively driving motorists to run someone off the road or purposely block them from making a turn that they need to take.
- When a driver speeds, they decrease the control they have over their vehicle. This can make it where they’re not be able to stop as quickly and can cause them to have difficulty navigating sharp curves. The National Safety Council finds that speeding was a factor in 29% of all traffic fatalities in 2022. That translates to around 33 people being killed each day because of speeding.
- Inexperienced Drivers.New drivers may not be used to driving on highways, in heavy traffic, or even be used to having other people in the car. If they don’t practice driving skills and build up their confidence, they could make mistakes that lead to automobile collisions.
- Night Driving. Driving at night is more challenging than operating a vehicle during the day. Motorists need to get used to having lower visibility and depending on their headlights so they can safely navigate their vehicles when lighting is diminished to avoid becoming involved in a crash.
- Failure to Check Blind Spots. When drivers need to turn or change lanes, they may check their rearview mirrors but not their blind spots. If someone thinks they’re alone on the road and doesn’t notice a car behind them, they could collide with another vehicle.
If you decide to file an insurance claim or pursue a lawsuit against the at-fault driver, your Columbia car accident attorney will need to understand why your collision occurred. Gathering evidence, like crash reports and photos, can help with this.
Common Types of Car Wrecks Our Richland County Attorneys Handle
The type of wreck you’re in can significantly impact the damage and injuries sustained. While some accidents may only result in minor injuries, others could potentially change lives permanently. Some of the most common types of wrecks our Columbia car accident lawyers handle include:
- Rear-End Collisions
- Sideswipes
- Side-Impact Crashes (also known as T-Bone Accidents)
- Rollovers
- Multi-Vehicle Pile-Ups (also referred to as Chain Reaction Crashes)
- Head-On Collisions
Regardless of the type of accident you had that hurt you or took the life of a relative, be sure to reach out to our Columbia law firm for a free consultation to discuss it. You can count on us at The Solomon Law Group, LLC, to investigate the facts surrounding your wreck.
If necessary, we’ll consult with experts like a crash reconstructionist to help create a narrative of the accident that supports your version. With skilled Columbia car accident attorneys on your side, you can rest assured that any and all instances of negligence that resulted in your collision will be uncovered. This ensures you’ll receive the maximum settlement you may be entitled to.
What To Do After an Auto Accident in the Midlands
Even though car accidents are jarring and terrifying, the next steps you take after a collision could help you with your claim down the road. Having an idea of what you need to do will help you whether you just had a car crash or if you, unfortunately, ever have one in the future.
- Check for Injuries. Assess if you or anyone else is hurt. Call 911 if anyone needs immediate medical care. Remember that not all injuries are visible or noticeable right away. Even if you do not have paramedics come to the scene, you should be evaluated by a physician as soon as possible.
- Get Out of Traffic. Car collisions can create a lot of congestion on the road. If possible, move the vehicles to the side of the road and out of the way of traffic. However, if you notice something in your car is smoking, smell burning, or see that fluid is leaking, it’s imperative to move away from the vehicle and encourage others to also maintain a safe distance.
- Call the Police. South Carolina law requires motorists to have an official police report made if there are more than $1,000 in damages or an injury or death. The law enforcement officer who reports to the scene will take statements from everyone involved in the accident. When you’re explaining what happened, only state the facts. Don’t try to fill in gaps that you don’t know or remember. It’s perfectly acceptable to tell the officer you don’t know a particular detail because guessing could lead to inaccuracies that could hurt you in the future.
- Don’t Apologize. You might feel inclined to apologize for the accident as an impulse, even if you’re not at fault. However, our Columbia car accident lawyers warn that an apology implies you’re at fault and could be used against you by the other party.
- Take Photos. Photograph everything that you can. This includes the scene, close-ups of the damage, and your injuries. Take more photos than you think necessary. You can also take videos.
- Exchange Information. Speak to the other parties involved in the auto collision. Get names, addresses, contact information, driver’s license numbers, and insurance information from the other parties. You should verify the numbers at the scene by perhaps calling one another.
- Get Witness Information. Get names, addresses, and contact information of eyewitnesses if they want to provide their account. Eyewitnesses aren’t obligated to give their side of the story; however, if they choose to speak with you or the police, they may be able to provide additional information that can be used to determine fault. Your car accident attorney may wish to use their account of what happened to strengthen your claim.
After you’ve done all you can at the scene, you may want to consider turning your case over to a Columbia lawyer who is experienced in navigating car crash cases. Doing so will ensure its proper handling and allow you to focus on your recovery from your injuries.
Car Accident Injuries Columbia Residents Face
While a car accident could result in a multitude of injuries, some temporary or permanently disabling impairments are more common than others. Our car wreck attorneys often take on cases in which vehicle occupants have suffered:
- Head and Neck Injuries, including Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Back and Spine Injuries
- Bruises and Lacerations
- Burn Injuries
- Broken Bones
- Soft Tissue Injuries
A preventable fatality is also an unfortunate outcome resulting from many car accidents in Columbia, SC.
Obtaining Compensation After Your SC Wreck
The aim of filing a car accident claim or, if necessary, a lawsuit in South Carolina is to seek compensation for your losses. Generally, if you are successful in proving the following elements of negligence against an at-fault party, you’d likely be entitled to a settlement:
- The defendant owed you or your loved one a “duty of care” requiring them to operate their vehicle in a lawful, reasonable, safe, and careful manner.
- The defendant breached this duty of care by operating their vehicle in a careless or negligent manner.
- The defendant’s careless actions caused you or your loved one to suffer an injury or resulted in your loved one’s wrongful death.
If the other side isn’t cooperative or doesn’t make a fair settlement offer, you and your Columbia, SC car accident lawyer may need to have a discussion about taking your case to trial. If this seems to be the best course of action, it may be helpful to know that, unlike a criminal trial, you only have to prove your case by a preponderance of the evidence in civil court. In other words, your version of the accident would have to be “more likely than not” that it happened as you claim it did.
With a lawsuit filing, you’ll become the plaintiff, while the at-fault party and their insurance carrier will be the defendants. You’ll have the burden of proof to sway a jury. Unlike a criminal trial, a civil trial only
What Kind of Compensation Can You Receive as a Car Crash Victim?
Your compensation will cover your financial losses, like medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. If you’re unable to go back to your previous job and need to take a lower-paying position, you can also seek damages for diminished earning capacity. An injury that prevents you from being able to work at all could mean you’re eligible for loss of future earnings. That would be the amount you would have earned had the accident not happened.
But there are also other types of compensation you may not know that you were eligible to recover. After an accident, the days spent with painful injuries, time away from living your life as you would normally, and struggling to come to terms with your newfound impairment would fall under the category of pain and suffering.
When our firm, The Solomon Law Group, LLC, is representing you, you can have peace of mind knowing we’re going to gather the necessary evidence, thoroughly investigate your case, and fight to get the maximum compensation you deserve.
Knowing When To Let Columbia Car Accident Lawyers Help You
If you or a loved one has been hurt or lost their life in a vehicle wreck in our area, you have the right to seek legal representation. Any of the Columbia car accident lawyers on our staff can competently help you file your claim so that you can get compensation for your lost wages, medical expenses, and any other crash-related costs.
At The Solomon Law Group, LLC, you can count on us to always represent your best interests, so you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us at your earliest convenience to schedule a free consultation to speak with an attorney about taking legal action. They’ll be able to evaluate your case and help you determine the best way to proceed.
