Car Accident Attorneys in Charleston
Were you injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence? If so, you may be able to get compensation. Charleston County has a high rate of vehicle collisions, and many are due to careless driver behavior. You should not have to pay for someone else’s carelessness or poor decisions. Let our experienced car accident lawyers in Charleston help you get the justice and full compensation that you deserve.
Car Accidents in Charleston, South Carolina
In South Carolina, a person is injured in a vehicle accident every nine minutes. Many types of car accidents are due to driver error or negligence. In 2018, over 15,000 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence; 69 of those were under the age of 18. Many with high blood alcohol content were repeat offenders.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Charleston, South Carolina
Traffic violations such as running stop signs and red lights account for some of the worst crashes with injuries. Speeding and aggressive driving also cause many car accidents. Lastly, road defects such as potholes can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles and crash. Tragically, many crashes are caused by uninsured or underinsured motorists. In those situations, you need a skilled attorney to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Head Injuries Caused by Car Accidents
Head injuries are very common in car accidents. Concussions can often result in side-impact collisions where a person’s head slams against the car window. The worst head injuries are traumatic brain injuries, which can result in permanent disabilities. These tragic injuries are often accompanied by emotional distress caused by the life-altering nature of serious car accidents. Paralysis can also occur when a head injury is accompanied by neck injuries that damage the spine.
Causes of Car Accidents in an Injury Claim
HOW CAR ACCIDENTS HAPPEN
Driving while intoxicated
When drivers get behind the wheel while intoxicated on alcohol, drugs, or even prescription medications, terrible car accidents can occur. Alcohol and drugs reduce a person’s ability to focus on the task of driving, impair a driver’s judgement, and slow down the driver’s reaction time, all of which can cause dangerous collisions.
Distracted driving
Distracted driving is becoming more and more common in the United States and is the cause of more car accidents than any other type of negligence. Examples of distracted driving include: Texting Talking on the phone Eating and drinking Holding a pet Turning around to talk to passengers Adjusting the radio Toying with a GPS Applying makeup Daydreaming
Aggressive and reckless driving
Drivers who intentionally ignore applicable traffic laws make the road less safe for other motorists, motorcyclists, bikers, and pedestrians. Suddenly and unexpectedly shifting lanes, passing cars on the wrong side of the road, and speeding are types of reckless driving.
Speeding
A type of reckless driving, collisions caused by speeding can be particularly serious. Speeding increases the likelihood that a driver will lose control of their vehicle. It also makes impacts with other vehicles more severe, and deadly, because the force of the impact is greater.
Failing to yield the right-of-way
When drivers fail to yield the right-of-way to other motorists, devastating crashes can occur, particularly side crashes. Drivers who try to speed through red lights or roll through stop signs put others and themselves in great danger.
Defective parts
Although driver negligence is to blame in most car accidents, sometimes manufacturers are the negligent party. Defective car parts can cause accidents if they malfunction.
Poor maintenance
If a vehicle has not been properly maintained or if it was improperly repaired in a shop, then the motor vehicle itself may contribute to accidents.
Teenage drivers
Young, inexperienced drivers may not be familiar with all traffic laws, may fail to properly yield the right-of-way to other vehicles, and may be more prone to distracted driving, which can lead to accidents.
Compensation for Car Accident Victims in Charleston
As a car accident victim in Charleston, you may be able to seek compensation for:
MEDICAL EXPENSES, INCLUDING AMBULANCE, HOSPITAL, ONGOING CARE, AND REHABILITATION.
HOME CARE EQUIPMENT
LOST WAGES OR DIMINISHED EARNING POTENTIAL
You may also be able to receive compensation for damage to your vehicle and its contents, as well as the cost of a rental vehicle.
If your family member died due to a car driver’s negligence, you and your family could seek compensation for things like funeral and burial expenses, loss of financial and emotional support, and more through a wrongful death claim.
Contact us now
(843) 376-4030
A history of success in Car Accident cases
$1,272,800
Single Car Collision
$125,000
Car collision
$100,000
Car collision
$400,000
Pedestrian v. Car Collision
$130,000
Single Car Collision
A history of success in Car Accident Claims
The experienced trial lawyers at Cranton Meehan fight for Charleston car accident victims. The negligent driver’s insurance company adjuster may try to get you, the victim, to admit to some blame for the accident. Unfortunately, this may hurt your chances of getting the compensation you deserve.
At Cranton Meehan, we will be ready to fight for you in court if we cannot obtain a fair settlement from the insurance company. We know how to build a strong compensation claim, and will be willing to battle for you at the negotiating table or in the courtroom.
Don’t wait any longer to get the compensation you deserve for the injuries you’ve suffered and the losses you’ve incurred. The Charleston car accident lawyers of Murphy Crantford Meehan are standing by to discuss your rights and legal options. Call us at 843-376-4030 or reach out to us online for a 100% free consultation.
What should I do After a Car Accident?
What Should I Do if I’ve Been Hurt in a Car Accident in Charleston?
- Contact the authorities and report the accident. A police report is very important for creating an official record that detailed what happened according to the parties involved.
- Get prompt medical attention and medical care for all parties involved in the accident. It’s important to make sure that all parties are in stable condition after an accident and there are no hidden or internal injuries.
- Try to identify or secure the contact information of as many witnesses as possible. The more testimony that can be secured about what happened, the more accurate the record is to determine who is at fault.
- Take photos of the scene and record any other relevant information about the accident and circumstances around it. The photos help to reconstruct the scene and help to bring clarity to what might have happened, irrespective of witness testimony.
- Contact an attorney as soon as possible. Legal representation can protect those who were seriously injured in the accident and make sure they get the compensation needed to find a path forward from this traumatic event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Our attorneys can answer your specific questions when we get the details of your case, but here are some questions our clients often have about car accidents and our answers:
Car accident victims often suffer back and neck injuries and soreness, head injuries, cuts and bruises, and broken bones. In severe cases, they can also suffer internal injuries, paralysis, and loss of limbs.
In many instances, the other driver could be liable, but it could also be the driver’s employer, the automobile manufacturer, or other parties.
It’s important you contact an experienced Charleston car accident attorney before you talk to anyone about the accident. It’s also crucial to contact a lawyer as soon as possible, since crucial evidence could be lost, cleaned up, or destroyed in the days and weeks after the crash. Hire a lawyer as soon as possible so they can secure the critical evidence and begin building a strong compensation claim for you.
At Murphy Crantford Meehan, we represent clients on a contingency-fee basis. That means you don’t pay anything upfront, and we don’t get paid until we win for you.
In most cases, South Carolina law requires you to file a lawsuit within three years following the car accident. If you cannot reach a settlement with the other party’s insurer and fail to file a personal injury lawsuit within this time frame, the court would be barred from hearing your case.
Well-Respected