Charleston Head-on Collision Lawyer

Head-on collision accidents in Charleston often occur when one driver has crossed the center line and collides with another. Accidents with head-on collisions typically happen because of distracted driving, like texting, drinking, or driver fatigue where a driver can simply fall asleep and cross the center line and cause an accident.

If you have been in an accident, it is important for you to contact a Charleston head-on collision attorney as soon as possible. A skilled car accident attorney can help you fight for your right to the compensation that you are owed for your injuries.

Common Causes

The most common roadways where head-on collisions occur in Charleston are rural roads, long stretches where the driver’s attention can wane for lack of traffic. Another common factor is driving at night in the dark. It is harder for drivers to see oncoming vehicles whether or not they cross the center line in order to take evasive action. High-speed highways are also common, although they are less common in city streets where there are no high speeds and traffic is thicker requiring more attention from the driver.

Head-on collisions usually involve the most serious of injuries and anyway a human body can possibly be injured is at play in a head-on collision. The most serious of which are brain injuries and spinal cord injuries which can affect a person drastically and negatively for the remainder of their life. In head-on collisions, as well, there may be fatalities more often than in direct collisions.

Assigning Fault

Fault is assigned based on the physical evidence and interviews with the drivers and any eyewitnesses to the wreck. Fault can also be determined by damage to the roadway often in a high-speed impact, or the roadway itself is damaged, or if there is debris in the roadway from the collision which might occur in more serious accidents.

South Carolina also has an MAIT Team, which is a special team that investigates these types of accident cases in much more detail, so multiple factors are considered in determining liability in a head-on collision.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages are available in head-on collisions in Charleston when a person has acted willfully or recklessly. Most common cases where punitive damages may come into play are in cases of extreme speeding. For instance, when drivers race on highways. Another one of the most common factors for justifying punitive damages is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Simple negligence alone does not justify punitive damages in an automobile accident case in South Carolina, and they have to be proven.

Following Up With Doctors

It is important to follow up with an individual’s doctor immediately after a head-on collision in Charleston for a number of reasons, primarily including the driver’s health. The claim does not matter as much as a person’s health. It is important to get checked out for that reason but there are other reasons as well. Visiting with a doctor shortly after a wreck helps document exactly what the injuries are, what the discomfort is and failing to do that will result in a complete lack of documentation as to what injuries were incurred in the wreck, which will help a Charleston head on collision attorney later on.

However, that is of second importance to a person’s health. Health is the most important reason to go. The second most important reason to go is to document the injuries that have been incurred in the wreck.

Contacting an Attorney

The specific steps a Charleston head-on collision accident attorney takes in any given case depends on a case-by-case basis. In a severe accident, like a trucking case where there are severe injuries, a lot of actions need to be undertaken immediately to preserve the evidence and that includes retaining an accident reconstructionist and perhaps an engineer as well to investigate the scene while the evidence is still fresh. A skilled attorney will have the necessary resources to provide the best overview of evidence. If you have been involved in an accident, it is important to contact a Charleston head-on collision lawyer sooner rather than later to begin your case.