Mount Pleasant Side-Impact Collision Lawyer
Side-impact collisions can cause severe injuries to drivers and passengers simply due to the lack of materials between them and another vehicle. Car doors are only a few inches thick and generally, cannot resist damage when rammed by thousands of pounds of moving steel – especially at high speeds.
Side-impact injuries can result in broken bones, spinal injuries, brain damage, and even death. Victims often spend thousands of dollars on medical and hospital bills, physical therapy, and lose weeks or months of income.
If you have been involved in a side-impact collision, contact a Mount Pleasant side-impact collision lawyer right away. An experienced accident attorney can help you analyze your legal options and determine what course of action makes the most sense in your situation.
Causes of Side-Impact Collisions
Side-impact collisions, often referred to a “T-boning,” occur for many reasons including:
- Aggressive or reckless driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI)
- Speeding
- Distracted driving (which includes texting or talking on a cell phone while driving)
- Falling asleep at the wheel
Other factors may be responsible as well, such as defective auto parts, road construction, inclement weather, and more.
Determining Liability
There may be numerous possible defendants in a head-on collision lawsuit such as the other driver, auto manufacturers, vehicle service companies, tire manufacturers, government entities responsible for road safety, and many others. Determining fault is a key element in side-impact collision lawsuits. South Carolina follows comparative negligence laws, meaning a plaintiff can still recover for damages even if they were partly negligent.
However, this may only be the case if the plaintiff’s negligence does not exceed that of others involved. A plaintiff’s recovery will be reduced in proportion to their negligence.
An experienced Mount Pleasant side-impact collision lawyer can review the accident details, approximate liability, and help a person decide what course of action, if any, is in their best interests.
Potential Compensation for a Side-Impact Collision
There are two categories of damages associated with side-impact collisions:
- Economic damages. Economic damages include medical bills, hospital expenses, car repairs, lost income, property damage, and other damages that are easily quantifiable
- Non-economic damages. Non-economic damages include physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and damages that are not easily quantifiable
A Mount Pleasant side-impact collision lawyer can determine what types of damages may be available to someone by reviewing what they have already had to spend and what they likely will have to spend in the future.
South Carolina’s statute of limitations, in which a plaintiff must file a side-impact car accident lawsuit, is only three years from the date of the accident. It is likely in a plaintiff’s best interests to start the process as quickly as possible, while witnesses are available and the accident is still fresh in their minds.
How a Mount Pleasant Side-Impact Collision Attorney Can Help
If you have been involved in a side-impact collision, it is important to understand that insurance companies will be involved. Most insurers have a team of attorneys who aim to pay you as little as possible – if anything at all.
An experienced Mount Pleasant side-impact collision lawyer represents individuals in Mount Pleasant and the surrounding areas, and knows how insurance companies operate. The lawyer will work hard to level the playing field so that you have a greater chance of receiving the compensation you are entitled to.