A Charleston Car Accident Lawyer’s Guide for People Hurt in Local Crashes

A Charleston Car Accident Attorney Explains What You Need to Know to Protect Your Rights After an Accident

The experienced Charleston car accident lawyers at Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers help people who are hurt in Charleston County crashes. We can’t promise to take your case before meeting with you, but if we represent you, we will work hard to get you the fair accident compensation you deserve.

With over 250 years of combined legal experience and more than 3,000 five-star reviews from our clients, community, and other lawyers, our team has experience handling complex car accident cases. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll a serious car crash can take on victims and their families. That's why we are dedicated to working tirelessly to help our clients receive the fair compensation they deserve for their injuries and losses.

While no amount of money can undo the trauma you've endured, obtaining a fair settlement or verdict could provide the resources necessary to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.

Types of Charleston Car Accidents We Handle

Our Charleston auto accident lawyers represent clients who have been injured in all types of motor vehicle collisions, including:

• Rear-end collisions. These crashes often occur when a driver follows too closely or fails to brake in time to avoid an accident. While the rear driver is typically liable, there are instances where the lead driver may share fault.
• Head-on collisions. Head-to-head crashes are some of the most devastating accidents. They are often caused by driver impairment, fatigue, or wrong-way travel.
• T-bone collisions. Side-impact crashes frequently happen at intersections when a driver runs a red light or stop sign. The lateral force involved in T-bone accidents can cause severe injuries to those struck on the side.
• Rollovers. Single-vehicle rollovers and multi-vehicle accidents that cause a rollover often involve significant injuries like head trauma, broken bones, and ejections.
• Multi-vehicle pileups. Crashes involving numerous vehicles can be challenging to investigate and may require determining the percentage of fault for each driver involved.
• Hit-and-run accidents. When a driver flees the scene, it creates additional obstacles to securing compensation. Our hit-and-run accident attorneys explore all available sources of recovery.
• Rideshare accidents. Questions about insurance coverage and liability for the rideshare company versus the individual driver can complicate crashes involving Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare vehicles.

No matter how your accident occurred, our Charleston car crash lawyers may be able to investigate the details, determine liability, calculate your damages, and, if appropriate, and work hard to maximize your recovery.

Common Causes of Charleston Auto Accidents

There are numerous potential causes of car crashes in Charleston. Some of the most common include:

• Impaired driving. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs significantly impairs a driver’s coordination, judgment, and reaction time.
• Distracted driving. Any activity that takes a driver's eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off the task of driving is a dangerous distraction. Common distractions include texting, eating and driving, and changing music.
• Fatigued driving. Drowsy driving due to lack of sleep or driving for too long can slow reaction time and impair decision-making.
• Speeding. Exceeding posted speed limits or driving too fast for conditions reduces a driver's ability to maintain control of their vehicle. Additionally, crashes that happen at high speeds may be more severe.
• Reckless or aggressive driving. Behaviors like tailgating, unsafe lane changes, and road rage can cause accidents.
• Vehicle defects. Manufacturers can be liable for crashes caused by defective automotive parts like tires, brakes, or other failed components.
• Inclement weather. Rain, fog, ice, high winds, and other adverse weather conditions impact road conditions and driver visibility, increasing the chances of hydroplaning and loss of vehicle control. Drivers have a responsibility to drive safely, given the weather conditions.

Our legal team thoroughly investigates all contributing factors to determine each car accident's cause(s) and identify all potentially liable parties.

Injuries Commonly Suffered in Charleston Car Crashes

Your injuries are unique. The pain you feel and the way your injuries impact your life matter. You may have suffered one or more of the following injuries in your Charleston car accident:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI). The violent force and jolting motion of a car crash can cause the brain to strike the inside of the skull, resulting in concussions, hemorrhages, contusions, and other traumatic brain injuries with lasting cognitive and physical effects.
• Spinal cord injury. Damage to the spinal cord can lead to partial or complete paralysis, loss of sensation and mobility below the injury site, and other permanent disabilities requiring a lifetime of medical care and assistance.
• Internal injury. Blunt force trauma can cause internal bleeding, damage to organs like the spleen or kidneys, and other internal injuries. These injuries may not have immediate symptoms, but they may become life-threatening without prompt treatment.
• Broken bones. Vehicle collisions often cause fractures ranging from hairline cracks to compound, displaced breaks requiring surgery and lengthy recoveries. Breaks to hips, legs, arms, ribs, and other bones may occur.
• Soft tissue injuries. Whiplash, sprains, strains, and other soft tissue damage from the violent forces and impact involved are frequent car accident injuries.
• Burns. Explosions and vehicle fires can cause burns of varying degrees of severity in an auto accident. Severe burns may require skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries.
• Amputation. In catastrophic crashes, the force may be so great that it severs or severely mangles an arm or leg, requiring amputation and prosthetic limbs.

After an auto accident injury, you deserve to recover physically, financially, and emotionally to the extent allowed under South Carolina law.

Damages You May Recover After a Charleston Car Accident

If another driver's negligence caused your Charleston car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for economic and non-economic damages such as:

• Medical expenses. This includes past and future costs like emergency transport, hospital stays, doctor visits, surgery, medication, medical equipment, rehabilitation, and in-home nursing care.
• Lost income. Your lost income includes compensation for wages lost from being unable to work due to injuries, as well as diminished future earning potential, lost employee benefits, and lost self-employment income.
• Property damage. You have the right to seek compensation for your vehicle's repair and replacement costs and any other damaged property.
• Pain and suffering. These non-economic damages compensate for the physical pain and emotional anguish caused by your injuries.
• Disability or disfigurement. If you suffer a permanent disability or disfigurement, such as paralysis, amputation, scarring, or loss of function, additional compensation may be available.
• Loss of enjoyment of life. You may seek damages for accident injuries that prevent you from participating in activities and enjoying the quality of life you had before the accident.
• Punitive damages. These are awarded in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct by the defendant as a punishment and deterrent.

Our Charleston auto accident attorneys understand how to calculate damages accurately and pursue fair financial recoveries. 

The Car Accident Claims Process in Charleston, South Carolina

Knowing what to do in the days and months after a car crash can be confusing. At the accident scene, it’s important to report the accident to the police and gather evidence if you can. After that, seeking medical attention as soon as possible is essential, even if you don’t think your injuries are serious.

Then, in the following days and weeks, you can:

• Report the accident to insurance. Promptly notify your insurance provider that you were in an accident, but avoid giving a recorded statement.
• Consult a lawyer. An experienced Charleston car accident attorney may investigate the collision, handle communications with the insurance companies, determine liability, calculate your damages, work to negotiate a fair settlement, and represent you in court if needed.
• Continue medical treatment. Follow your doctor's treatment plan exactly as prescribed and attend all follow-up appointments. This demonstrates you are making an effort to get better.
• File your claim promptly. In South Carolina, you generally have three years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit but there are exceptions. However, building a strong claim takes time, so consult a lawyer as soon as possible.  
• Consider a settlement or proceed to trial. Your lawyer will advise you whether to accept or reject an insurance company settlement offer. If settlement negotiations are unsuccessful, your case may proceed to trial.

Why Hire a Charleston Car Accident Lawyer

South Carolina law does not require you to hire a lawyer. However, as you manage your physical recovery with your usual work and family obligations, you may want to have an experienced car accident attorney working for you. A car accident lawyer can:

• Advise you on South Carolina accident law. Our lawyers understand the specific laws and statutes involved with car accident cases and liability determination in South Carolina. 
• Engage in settlement negotiations. Our attorneys can negotiate with insurers who may try to minimize your recovery.
• Represent you in court. If your case proceeds to trial, it is valuable to have an experienced litigator with courtroom experience giving arguments and presenting evidence before a judge and jury.  
• Thoroughly investigate your case. Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers can gather evidence, interview witnesses, review records, and consult expert witnesses.
• Value your claim. Our lawyers know how to account for current and future economic damages like lost income and medical costs and how to pursue full compensation for non-economic damages.

Don't take on the daunting task of a car accident case alone. Having the Charleston personal injury lawyers at Derrick Law Firm on your side can allow you to focus on your recovery with the assurance that your legal rights are protected.