By Arnab Dey
In South Carolina, a fatal accident involving a car happens every 9 hours!
Let that data sink in just for a minute. There is a reason why the US state of South Carolina enjoys the infamous distinction of being the most dangerous state for car accidents.
Between the years 2014 and 2018, South Carolina consistently features in the list of the top 5 US states with the highest car accident rates, injuries, and fatalities.
If you are involved in a car accident in the Palmetto State, you need to start looking for a personal injury attorney South Carolina.
In this article, we are going to look at some of the major causes of car accidents in South Carolina. Additionally, we are going to shed light on how the insurance process works and why you need a personal injury attorney to help you.
Car Accidents in South Carolina: 5 Major Causes:
In this section, we are going to discuss the five major causes of car accidents in South Carolina-
1. Drunk Driving–
Understanding this problem is not as easy as it looks. In the state of South Carolina, there are different laws that fix accountability. There are Social Host Laws and Dram Shop Laws that can be applied to understand the responsibility.
2. Distracted Driving–
We are hooked to our smartphones most of the time. This is true even when we are driving. Every time there is a beep from our smartphone, we pick it up even when we are doing speeds in excess of 80MPH. This leads to accidents.
3. Aggressive Driving–
Most of us are always in a hurry to get to a destination. To reach faster, we tend to Overspeed, tailgate, and not pay heed to road regulations and norms. This causes drivers to lose control of their vehicles and ends up causing accidents.
4. Fatigued Driving–
There have been reported incidents of drivers falling asleep behind their vehicles. This is more common when it comes to large trucks and commercial vehicles, where employees are overworked and underpaid most of the time.
Related Resource: Key Things to Remember Legally between Car and Truck Accidents
5. Vehicle Defects–
It is true that not all accidents are caused because of human errors. In some situations, it can be because of a tire burst, brake failure, and more. In terms of serious crashes, the failure of the airbags to deploy also leads to injuries for occupants.
South Carolina Insurance Norms and Car Accident Laws:
Title 56 of the State’s Code of Laws contains the rules and regulations pertaining to motor vehicles. Title 56 broadly contains four things- licensing, traffic rules, car quality standards, and rules and regulations.
The following are some important points you should be aware of when it comes to car accidents in South Carolina-
1. At-Fault State:
In very simple words, this means that the driver that has caused the accident is ‘responsible’. He or she has to pay for the damages. States can be divided into at-fault or no-fault states. In no-fault states, everyone that is involved in a car accident has to file with their insurance.
2. Duty of Care:
South Carolina road laws require that you would drive like a responsible and rational person on the public roads. Drivers are expected to exercise some level of caution so that they do not harm others on the road- car drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, or anyone else.
3. Comparative Negligence:
According to the best personal injury attorneys in South Carolina, the state is a modified comparative fault state. This means that the parties that are involved in an accident are assigned a percentage of the total liability.
All car drivers in South Carolina are required to carry insurance. The liability for the same is fixed. In other words, you cannot go beyond that. It is fixed at a minimum of $25,000 per person for bodily injuries.
An additional $50,000 for everyone else that is involved in the accident. A sum of $25,000 needs to be secured for property damage in a single accident.
While the insurance laws might appear to be straightforward enough, things do not always go according to plan. Insurance companies are not too eager to part with their money and can go to any lengths to prove that the victim in the accident was to be blamed partly for the accident. This is why you need a personal injury attorney to build your case and argue it successfully.
Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney in a Car Accident Case: Things to Remember:
In the final section of the article, we are going to look at some important pointers that you should remember when looking for and hiring a personal injury attorney-
1. Experience with the specific nature of the case.
Not all car accident cases are alike. In fact, there are more than ten different types of car accidents you can be a part of. This is one major reason why experience matters. You need experience not just in terms of handling car accident cases but also experience in working in the state.
2. Affordability can be another factor
you should be checking out when hiring a personal injury attorney in South Carolina. The payment terms, duration, and other areas relating to the fees should be clear right at the very outset. If they are not, then you can get abandoned by your attorney midway through the case.
3. Local knowledge and past history with law enforcement officials
can swing the case in your favor. Some of the most seasoned attorneys share excellent relations with judges and other public servants that function in the Justice Department. Sometimes, this is all you need if you want your personal injury case to go to trial.
While there are tons of options that show on Google Search every time you type ‘personal injury attorney’, the fact of the matter is that not all of them can be trusted. Make sure that you look for experience, expertise, and affordability. You can also look for an attorney that specializes in cases going to trial if you feel that your case would.
The Bottom Line
In this article, we have covered multiple aspects of personal injury cases (car accidents) in the state of South Carolina. Car accidents can have lifelong consequences and impact not only the one who has been involved but also their near and dear ones.
Working with a personal injury lawyer can help you get a fair settlement and allow you to overcome problems that are associated with medical bills and lost wages.
If you would like any additional information regarding car accident claims or lawsuits in South Carolina, please reach out to us in the comments.
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