Being involved in a car wreck can be one of the scariest moments in a person’s life. In addition to the fear and anxiety you’ll be processing immediately, there is then the realization that you have damages to your vehicle and, worse, pain and injuries that set in once the adrenaline goes away.
After getting hurt in a collision caused by someone else, you do not deserve the pain and hardship you will suffer. These injuries can impact your ability to work and make money, your ability to sleep and your ability to enjoy your life as you did before the wreck. The expense of medical treatment continues to rise and the financial impact of a car wreck can quickly feel overwhelming.
Eadon Law offers free case evaluations, during which we can determine if you have a case to pursue compensation. For the representation of an experienced, aggressive car accident injury lawyer, licensed in South Carolina and North Carolina, please call Eadon Law at 803-760-7444.
Common Causes
In 2020, a traffic collision happened every 4.3 minutes on South Carolina roadways. Car accidents occur due to a number of factors but can often be traced back to the fault on the part of one or both drivers. Sometimes car crashes occur because of bad weather, or a variety of dangerous driving practices like speeding, or ignoring traffic signage and instruction. But car accidents also include the following causes:
- Distracted driving – distracted driving can include texting while driving, interacting with passengers in the vehicle or simply not paying attention to the road and traffic conditions. Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. Texting while driving is illegal in both South Carolina and North Carolina.
- Drunk or impaired driving – Sadly, catastrophic wrecks occur on a regular basis because a driver chooses to drink too much alcohol or do drugs prior to getting behind the wheel. Drunk driving related crashes increase on weekends and around holidays
- Speeding – speeding is often a factor in auto accidents as it stops a driver from being able to react as quick as they think they will be able to.
HELP, I’ve Been Involved in a Wreck!
There are more than six million car wrecks in the United States each year. Yet, many of us do not know what to do when we are involved in a car wreck. Here are some suggested steps to take:
What To Do Immediately After a Car Wreck
- Check if you or other passengers are injured.
- If no one is seriously injured, move away from the roadway and activate your hazard lights to alert other drivers. Do not leave the scene of the accident until law enforcement arrives.
- If anyone is seriously injured call 911 and request that a police officer and EMS personnel come to the scene
- Seek medical treatment as soon as you are able
Things To Do While You Wait for Officers to Arrive
- Write down the name, address, and telephone number of witnesses
- If you are physically able, take pictures of the damage to the vehicle, the accident scene and any visible injuries you may have
- Write down the names of anyone who claimed responsibility for the accident
- If anyone appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs and the reason for your suspicions (red eyes, lack of balance, slurred speech, etc.)
- Keep a copy of the FR-10 or crash report that the office provides you
Things To Do Soon After Your Car Wreck
- See a doctor or to go the Emergency Room as soon as you can, to get evaluated and checked out. A delayed diagnosis can be detrimental to your injury claim. Sometimes symptoms don’t appear until hours or days following the collision.
- Turn in your FR-10 or Crash Report to your insurance company and/or the Department of Motor Vehicles
FAQ
If you or a family member was injured in a car wreck, you might next ask yourself whether you need to speak with a lawyer. Eadon Law offers free consultations and case evaluations simply by calling (803) 760-7444. We encourage anyone involved in a car crash to call an attorney as soon as possible to discuss their legal options.
Yes, of course, but do so at your own peril. Many injured victims of car crashes wait to call an attorney and try to deal with the insurance company on their own with the hopes that they will be treated fairly. In some cases of minimal injury or minimal insurance coverage, this approach works. However, if you were seriously injured, you need to realize that you are up against a corporate giant with thousands of employees who are actively working to settle your case for as little money as possible.
According to a U.S. Treasury Department report from 2020, the property and casualty insurance companies – of which auto insurance represents about half – had more than $71.5 billion in net income for 2019. I would strongly urge you to at least contact a lawyer to get your questions answered before making this decision. Eadon Law offers free consultations at (803) 760-7444.
Insurance companies and their representatives often require accident victims to jump through hoops to frustrate and distract you while you should be working to recover from your injuries. As soon as you hire a lawyer, they will only be allowed to contact your attorney and you can focus on getting the treatment needed to recover. An experienced injury attorney has the skill necessary to prove your case and convince the insurance company that you deserve nothing less than full compensation.
Many people who are injured are concerned that they do not have the money to hire a lawyer. We take all accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning that we don’t get paid until you do. This means that you don’t have to pay a dime unless and until your case resolves.
If you suffered a personal injury in your car accident because of another driver’s negligence, you can seek compensation for a wide range of damages, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Future medical expenses/pain and suffering
- Compensation for permanent injuries
- If a drunk driver caused your car wreck or if the driver fled the scene of the wreck, you may also be able to seek punitive damages for their actions.
Contact Eadon Law today at (803) 760-7444
You should not have to deal with the burdens of medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering while fighting the insurance company on your own. Hiring Eadon Law will allow you to focus on recovering from your injuries, while our attorneys will deal with the insurance adjusters, investigate your car accident to gather the information, evidence, and witness testimonies we need to build a strong case on your behalf.