Auto Accident Injury in Greenville, SC
Have you suffered an injury due to a car accident in Greenville? If so, your life may never be the same again. Injuries from a car accident can interfere with your ability both to work and to enjoy everyday activities. They can also be incredibly painful. As such, you need an auto accident attorney who understands the laws in and around Greenville, SC that will fight for your legal rights and help you receive the financial compensation you deserve.
Auto Accident Injury Statistics in Greenville, South Carolina
According to the National Safety Council, in 2019 about 4.4 million people suffered serious injuries in motor vehicle accidents, and an estimated 38,000 were killed.
In terms of traffic fatalities, South Carolina leads the nation, with deaths per mile driven nearly double that of the national average, at 1.88 deaths per 1 million miles covered. Greenville, South Carolina, has some of the highest traffic fatalities in the state, with the second-most number of traffic fatalities in 2019 than in any other county, excluding Horry. Greenville has been among the worst in the state for traffic collisions for five years running.
In 2018, there were 2,174 serious injury collisions and another 35,964 injury crashes. The numbers of persons seriously injured or who reported injuries were significantly higher, at 2,642 and 55,411, respectively.
What to Do After an Auto Accident
It’s important to be prepared in the event you are a victim of a car accident. Below are the steps to remember immediately after your crash.
Receive Immediate Medical Attention
What is the most important step that you need to take after an auto accident? You need to receive immediate and proper medical treatment. You may believe that the injuries sustained after an auto accident are minor. Proper medical treatment helps ensure that you have not sustained any internal injuries that you may not be aware of.
File a Police Report
Even if no injuries occurred, it’s essential to call 911 and request law enforcement assistance. When officers arrive, note their names and badge numbers. Answer their questions truthfully but avoid offering unsolicited details about what happened or who you believe caused the accident. Ask for the police report number and find out when and where you can obtain a copy, including the cost.
For accidents involving serious injuries, fatalities, or significant property damage, it is treated as an emergency. In other cases, contact the Greenville Police Department’s non-emergency line at 864-271-5333 to request assistance.
Gather the Appropriate Documentation
While waiting for officers to arrive after a car accident, collect information from all other drivers involved in the accident, including the following:
- Full name, address, phone number and email address
- Driver’s license state and number
- Auto insurance company name, policy number, and phone number
Use your phone to photograph each driver’s license, insurance card, your vehicle, and any other vehicles involved in the accident. Avoid relying solely on verbal exchanges—documenting as much as possible will strengthen your case later. Keep the interaction calm and polite, but avoid apologizing or making statements that suggest you might be at fault.
Recovering Damages After an Auto Accident Injury
After surviving a car accident, the emotional and economic toll it takes can be staggering. You are not only dealing with the mental anguish that comes with being involved in a crash, but you may also be experiencing severe physical harm as well.
Common injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents include:
- Burn injuries
- Back and neck injuries, such as whiplash
- Brain and head injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
The total economic loss for accidents in Greenville, SC, alone exceeds $4,000,000 on an annual basis. In 2017, the total amounted to $438,259,700. In this year, the county reported 4,009 accidents that involved injuries, 73 that involved fatalities, and 12,994 that involved significant property damage. The total number of personal injuries that same year was 5,713, while the total number of fatalities came out to 74.
While there is no county-wide data for the cost of fatalities, injuries, etc., the South Carolina Department of Public Safety estimates that the average cost of each fatality is $1,578,000. Incapacitating injuries cost an average of $92,000, non-incapacitating injuries cost approximately $27,000 and possible injuries cost about $21,800. Even accidents that involve no injuries typically result in $11,700 worth of expenses.
Hiring a car accident lawyer ensures you have the financial ability to cover any losses that have occurred as a result of a crash. An auto accident attorney will also help you handle the paperwork that you will have to complete from insurance companies. This boosts your odds of receiving the insurance compensation you deserve.
Auto Accident Laws in South Carolina
Liability Laws for Greenville
When car accidents happen, it is essential to determine who bears responsibility for the resulting damage and medical bills. Determining fault impacts everything from your insurance claim and level of liability to the amount of confusion you may endure during the claims process.
South Carolina is a fault state, meaning the at-fault driver in a car accident is financially responsible for damages. However, the state does recognize the modified comparative negligence standard. Per this standard, drivers may assume partial fault for a crash and still recover damages, so long as his or her share of fault is less than 50%. The courts will reduce compensation by the percentage of fault assigned to the plaintiff.
Statute of Limitations in Greenville
Each state has its tort laws that determine the statute of limitations on a claim. In some states, this gives you just one year to file a claim in court, while others may give you up to six years. If you endure injuries in a car accident in South Carolina, you generally have three years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury claim. However, if the claim is against a government agency, you have a slightly shorter window of two years.
This is why it is important to consult with an attorney immediately after your car crash. Don’t wait and risk losing out on any compensation they can recover.
Work With an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer Near Greenville, SC
After a car accident, you have enough to worry about. We can help you find an auto accident attorney for your unique case. Get the financial restitution that you deserve if you’re the victim of someone else’s conduct.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in South Carolina!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.
