All it takes is a fraction of a second for a car accident to forever change the lives of all those involved in that collision. According to 2022 data compiled by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, 143,426 lives were changed in that year due to a car accident. Some of those incidents were minor fender benders, but 1,093 families lost a loved one in a crash.
The actions taken immediately after a vehicle collision can impact the outcome of your case. That’s why you need to discuss what happened to you with an experienced Florence car accident lawyer if you’ve been seriously hurt or a loved one died in a wreck in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina.
Reach out to us at The Solomon Law Group, LLC for a free case consultation to discuss what happened to you and your rights.
Your Post-Accident Checklist
There can be many reasons why you might get into a car crash in Florence. Whether that auto accident was caused by another driver, the weather, or your actions, the steps that you need to take in the aftermath of a wreck to help support any future claim you may file are the same.
Here is a good post-accident checklist to follow:
Call 911
Checking for injuries after a car accident in Florence is crucial. If you or anyone else is hurt, you’ll definitively want to request that paramedics come to the crash scene. If you don’t believe anyone is hurt, you may opt to only summon the police. However, you should still seek medical attention afterward if you have any injuries that haven’t manifested themselves.
Secure the Scene
If possible, you should try to move the vehicles off the road to allow for traffic to continue passing through. If the cars can’t be moved, you should place warning markers or flares on the road. Those are two items you should carry in your car. They can prove helpful whether you’re involved in an accident yourself or you witness one.
Document the Scene
While you wait for the police to respond, you will want to document the accident scene. That should include taking photos and videos of the crash’s impact, the road, and the surrounding environment. It’s best to take photos before you or the other motorist moves your vehicles out of traffic.
Exchange Information
You need to exchange information with the other motorist involved in the collision with you. You two should make sure one another has each other’s names, phone numbers, addresses, and insurance information. You may want to consider asking to take a photo of their driver’s license and allowing them to do the same. If they give you their cell number, call it on the spot to verify it’s correct.
Get Witness Information
You should get information for any witnesses to the accident as well. You could also consider having them make a statement as a video. It will be good to get their recollection of what happened while it is still fresh.
Do Not Admit Fault
No matter what happened in the accident, it would be best if you did not admit fault to anyone at the scene or in the aftermath of your crash. When the police show up, you should give your version of events as just the facts. You’ll want to discuss the issue of fault with your Florence car accident lawyer.
Not admitting fault also extends to your social media accounts. Understand that anything you post from the moment your accident occurs until you’ve resolved your case can be used as evidence. The more significant a case, the more likely it is that an insurance company will do a deep dive into your social media and medical history to try to discount your claim.
Benefits of Hiring a Florence Car Accident Lawyer
Once you report the accident to your insurance company, the claims process will begin. You might be able to handle your case on your own if you suffered relatively minor injuries. However, you’ll almost certainly need assistance with your case if you suffered catastrophic injuries or a close relative died in a Florence car accident. Why? Because are the types of cases where an insurer will do their best to deny liability to minimize any potential expenditures.
This is when you should consider speaking with us at The Solomon Law Group, LLC as early in the claims process as possible. Our attorneys understand insurers’ tactics and will do our best to not let them employ them. This will give you the best chance of securing maximum compensation in your case.
There’s another reason it is important to involve a skilled Florence collision attorney early on in your case. That will help bolster your chances of moving your case along to the next step if your car insurance claim is denied or they come back with a number that won’t completely cover your losses. Your attorney is a skilled negotiator and will be able to counter any offer they make.
You can also count on your lawyer to ensure you meet all filing deadlines. For example, after a car crash in Florence, there’s a 3-year statute of limitations applicable in South Carolina to file your civil lawsuit.
Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation
Why should you contact us at The Solomon Law Group, LLC to help with your Florence car accident? Our mission statement clarifies why: Carl L. Solomon created a “well-run and respected law firm that is rooted strongly in values, engages in best business practices, and delivers an exceptional legal work product.”
We offer all new clients a free case evaluation. During this initial consultation, a Florence car accident lawyer will discuss what happened to you and provide you with information about the best way forward. Contact our law office today to have a conversation with one of our attorneys and get some helpful answers.
