The driver of the Ford Truck was injured and transported to a hospital. Determine fault of drivers. We will do this kind of initial case evaluation for free. If the fatal accident involved a government vehicle, you may only have 2 years in which to file a wrongful death claim against the government. The SC Highway Patrol says this investigation is on-going. At every turn they were in my corner. Source: Aiken Standard, "Driver charged with DUI in fatal car crash Saturday, " July 31, 2012. Understandably, losing someone you love in a fatal car crash can be devastating. Continuing to represent you if the defendant in your case files an appeal. We'll give you honest advice about when it's time to accept an offer, and when you should keep pursuing the legal claim. Several passengers were transported to the hospital and one was in critical condition. Tidwell said the driver was the only person in the car and no other injuries were reported. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating. Even though both children, 5-year-old Parker Hewitt and 3-year-old Haley Hewitt, were wearing seat belts and were both in car seats, the collision took their lives.
What compensation can I get after a car accident? And in South Carolina, your fault must be 50% or less in order to recover any damages. Additionally, driving the wrong way on an interstate is a highly dangerous and reckless activity. We work closely with professional investigators and accident reconstruction specialists to gather, document, and preserve evidence at the scene and through eyewitness accounts.
This rule states that your recovery will be reduced by the percentage of negligence, or fault, assigned to you. Rear-end collisions: Rear-end collisions are one of the most common types of two-car accidents and involve the front of one vehicle making contact with the rear of another. Would it be easier to just accept that amount? Many are for-profit companies, and they want to keep their expenses low so that their profits remain high. By taking early action, your attorney can help gather evidence, collect witness statements and do everything necessary to prevail on your behalf. We are also able to meet clients at our Conway, Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Mt. Troopers said that the driver ran off the left side of the road and hit an embankment. Determining Liability for Death from a South Carolina Car Wreck. Included in this list are several key steps that will help you protect your rights and have the necessary information on hand when you seek compensation for your injuries later. At my worst, they honestly and carefully protected and defended my family on multiple levels.
If you would like to learn more about our practice and discuss a specific legal issue with an attorney, call our Charleston / Tri-County Area law office at 843-377-1700 or complete the brief e-mail contact form. For this reason, a vast majority of wrongful death cases settle out of court. South Carolina state law defines controlled access highway as follows: "Every highway, street or roadway to which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right of access to or from except at such points only and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over such highway, street or roadway is a "controlled-access highway. " 2359 to schedule your consultation. According to the coroner, King died Friday night in the emergency department at Greenville Memorial Hospital from traumatic injuries from the collision. Other failure-to-yield accidents occur when an individual pulls out of a private driveway or parking lot without ensuring that there is a sufficient gap in traffic in which to do so. One person was killed in a crash on an interstate running through Richland County, the South Carolina Highway Patrol said. Your car wreck attorney can make sure that your rights are protected and help you pursue fair compensation for your property damage, medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. For this reason and others, it's in your best interests to talk with an experienced South Carolina car accident attorney as soon as possible. Call us today at 803-790-2800 (Columbia, SC) / 843-427-2800 (Myrtle Beach, SC), or start a live chat 24/7 with a real, live person to arrange a free and confidential consultation. Inclement weather and bad road conditions also frequently cause fatal single-vehicle accidents in South Carolina. We will follow up on this information to do an investigation in greater detail.
Just as there are a lot of different types of car accidents, there are a lot of reasons why they occur, as well. Head-ons occur when the front of one vehicle strikes the front of another. To demonstrate liability for a car accident, you need physical evidence. This is why it is important to contact an experienced car accident attorney, who can help try to establish fault and strengthen your case. That means that about 51 percent of drivers involved in accidents in 2019 were male, while roughly 43 percent were female. Traffic accidents happen too often in South Carolina. In South Carolina, traffic crash deaths rose from 823 to 979 – a 19 percent increase. Exceeding posted speed limits — 272 total crashes, 23 deaths, 36 serious injuries, and 159 other injuries. How Long After a Car Accident Can I Claim an Injury in South Carolina? As you can tell from the statistics above, serious motor vehicle accidents happen every day in South Carolina.
However, your settlement or award will be reduced in accordance with your percentage of responsibility. South Carolina officials report that the mother of the victims' car was also wearing a seat belt. Here are some bullet points illustrating how South Carolina's car accident statistics compare to some neighboring states: -. They have worked on an impossible situation and exceeded all expectations in the resulting settlements. Contact us online or call 888-324-3100 to talk to an experienced attorney and learn about your legal options to move forward after a serious injury caused by the negligence of others. Instead, it begins with the first drink, and the impacts on a person's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle become more pronounced as impairment increases. How can I address them? We can explore your legal options and explain how we can help. You are at risk of not receiving the cash as promised, and can run into difficulty if the amount you are given is not enough to cover your expenses. You have consulted with an auto accident lawyer and understand the full scope of your claim. The report indicates that a 2014 Kia was driving the wrong direction on I-385 in Laurens County, South Carolina when they struck a 2020 Hyundai head on.
Common injuries that occur are: Brain injuries. One out of every 9 female drivers in that same age group (10. Despite safe driving awareness campaigns, government safety planning and new vehicle technologies, car crashes continue to occur at an alarming rate. You have a right to legal representation if you decide to file a claim or lawsuit for your injuries or if the family of the deceased files a claim or lawsuit against you.
The accident attorneys at James Scott Farrin know how to stand up to insurance companies and fight for the compensation you may deserve. Yes, you can still file a car accident claim. As Car and Driver reports, "a bustling economy and cheap fuel prices explain part of the increase. " It may be necessary for our team to discuss your case with experts in order to understand your future losses as well. Consultations are free and confidential. If you accept this early settlement offer without knowing the value of your case, you can find yourself without enough money to cover all of your expenses. In some cases in which the defendant's carelessness or recklessness was particularly egregious, the plaintiff may also seek to recover punitive damages that are not related to the injuries they suffered but are instead designed to punish the at-fault driver for their behavior. Suddenly, things have changed. The insurer or insurers of the at-fault party may attempt to negotiate your lawsuit before entering the courtroom. Deadly crash claims life of Westminster man, coroner says. There are many reasons why it is important to seek medical care as soon as possible after a car collision, but one of the most important ones is that the record from this initial visit will be reviewed by the insurance company to determine the extent of your injuries – and this factors into how much they may pay you.
Your age and health before the accident. If your loved one worked and contributed to the family's financial resources, you may be entitled to compensation for the loss of their future wages and benefits. Assisting you in understanding the pros and cons of accepting any settlement offer you receive. Crash data show that 519 fatal crashes occurred on Mondays through Thursdays, while 487 fatal crashes occurred on Fridays through Sundays. For minor auto accidents that don't involve injuries, you may not need a lawyer. At the Knie & Shealy Law Offices, I make every effort to make things easier for my clients. The coroner's office said Linda Fullard, a 63-year-old from Swainsboro, Georgia, was a pedestrian who was killed in a crash on I-20.