Knightsville Car Accident Lawyer

Car crashes can cause severe damages or injuries. Despite efforts to increase motor vehicle and driver safety, there are still countless accidents every year. In 2020, motor vehicle deaths were estimated to be the highest in 13 years. If you were a victim of a car accident, you shouldn’t have to pay for any of your damages.

Instead, file a claim to get compensated for them. The Knightsville car accident lawyers at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward have the experience and dedication to help you win your case. We have the results that prove our history of fighting hard for our clients, and we will do the same for you.

Most Common Causes of Car Accidents

Car accidents are a pervasive and often tragic aspect of modern life, claiming millions of lives and causing countless injuries each year across the globe. These incidents can be caused by a wide array of factors, ranging from human errors and behavioral choices to environmental conditions and mechanical failures. Let’s delve into the primary causes of car accidents, shedding light on the complex web of circumstances that contribute to these unfortunate events.

Distracted Driving: This includes activities such as texting, talking on the phone, eating, or adjusting the radio while driving. A Knightsville car accident lawyer can help you if you were injured in a car accident as the the result of a distracted driver.

Speeding: Driving at speeds higher than the posted speed limits or too fast for road conditions can lead to accidents.

Impaired Driving: Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or prescription medication can impair judgment and reaction times. A drunk driving lawyer from MDSW can help you get compensation if you’ve been injured due to a runk driver.

Reckless Driving: Aggressive behaviors such as tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic, and excessive lane changing can cause accidents.

Running Red Lights and Stop Signs: Disobeying traffic signals and signs can lead to intersection accidents.

Fatigue: Drowsy driving can impair a driver’s ability to react quickly and make sound judgments.

Weather Conditions: Adverse weather, such as rain, snow, ice, or fog, can reduce visibility and road traction, increasing the likelihood of accidents.

Poor Road Conditions: Potholes, uneven road surfaces, and lack of proper signage can contribute to accidents.

Mechanical Failures: Vehicle defects or failures, such as brake malfunctions or tire blowouts, can lead to accidents.

Inexperienced Drivers: Novice drivers may lack the skills and experience to handle challenging road situations.

Tailgating: Following too closely behind another vehicle can reduce reaction time and lead to rear-end collisions.

Failing to Yield the Right of Way: Not giving the right of way when required can result in accidents, especially at intersections.

Running Off the Road: Drivers may lose control and run off the road due to various factors, including distractions or fatigue.

Aggressive Driving: Aggressive behaviors like road rage can escalate into accidents.

Inadequate Signaling: Failure to use turn signals or brake lights can confuse other drivers and lead to accidents.

Why Should I Retain a Knightsville Car Accident Lawyer?

There are many reasons why you should hire a personal injury lawyer to help you with your car accident claim. A car accident lawyer in Knightsville will:

• Help you gather evidence critical to winning a settlement
• Provide you with legal advice and answer all questions regarding your case
• Handle all your communications with other parties
• Consult with various s to support your case

However, the primary reason you should hire a Knightsville car accident lawyer is to fight back against the insurance company. You may think that insurance companies are on your side, but the complete opposite is true. Most insurance companies only want to pay you the bare minimum for your settlement, even if you were in a terrible car accident.

Insurance companies love to use stall tactics and drag out the negotiation process. They do this knowing that you need compensation fast, and the longer it gets delayed, the more economic hardship you face. Thus, you will be more inclined to accept a lower offer.

Comparative Negligence in South Carolina

Carolina car accident laws are guided by a comparative negligence fault system. Under this system, multiple parties can be held at fault for an accident. The amount you can recover for your damages will depend on how much fault you are assigned.

For example, if you are determined to be 30% at fault for a collision, you will only be able to recover 70% of the full value of your claim. If your fault level is above 50%, you will not be able to recover damages at all. In fact, the other party may instead attempt to recover damages from you.

The Cost of Hiring a Knightsville Car Accident Lawyer

When weighing whether or not to hire an attorney, one of the most common concerns people have is about the price of doing so. When people think about lawyers, they typically think of paying big retainers and being charged every time their attorney answers the phone. While this is how many lawyers operate, this picture doesn’t hold for personal injury attorneys.

Instead, these lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. That means that they only collect a fee if they are able to recover compensation for their clients. You also don’t have to worry about an eventual bill that will suck up all the money you do receive and deliver it straight to your attorney. The fee you pay will be a prearranged percentage of your payout.

Essentially, you can think of your Knightsville car accident attorney working for free. They don’t get paid unless you do. Knowing that, you can feel secure about them doing everything in their power to ensure you recover as much money as possible for your damages.

Should I Accept the Initial Offer From the Insurance Company?

You should never accept the initial offer made by insurance companies. Instead of succumbing to stall tactics, our car accident lawyers will speed up the negotiations process and won’t hesitate to go to trial to get firm and fair results. Just hiring a lawyer is enough to get insurance companies to finally move forward and settle fairly.

Damages You Can Collect After Your Car Accident

The average car accident settlement varies in value depending on the damages claimed. After a car accident, you can recover compensation for many damages, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death due to fatal car accidents
• Medical expenses
• Vehicle repairs
• Lost Wages

If any of your damages aren’t listed above, don’t worry. As long as you can show that they resulted from your car accident, it won’t be difficult to factor them in.

Throughout the entire process, our Knightsville car accident lawyers will stand by you to make certain no damage gets left out of your final settlement. We want to see you get the maximum amount of compensation available for your claim.

Get a Reward for Punitive Damages

The Official Code of South Carolina Annotated (OCSCA) § 15-32-520 allows car accident victims to recover an award for punitive damages. Punitive damages act as punishment against a negligent driver. Usually, a car accident case can qualify for punitive damages if:

• The driver was egregiously negligent in their actions
• The driver was committing a crime when the accident happened
• The driver was intentionally trying to harm or kill others

While not every case will qualify for punitive damages, our lawyers will make sure you get an award for them if your case does.

When Is the Best Time to File a Car Accident Claim in South Carolina?

Even though South Carolina’s statute of limitations gives you three years to file, time is of the essence. However, we don’t want to instill a panic to file as fast as you can. The best time to file a car accident claim is when:

• All your damages get accounted for
• All your medical treatment gets completed to the best of your ability
• You’ve spoken with an attorney about the best options for your case

You should begin building your case and preparing to file quickly, but you shouldn’t blindly rush into your claim either. Our car accident attorneys can guide you through all the steps correctly.

Talk to One of Our Car Accident Lawyers in Knightsville Today

After an auto wreck, you can contact the Knightsville car accident lawyers at Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward for a free case review and consultation. With millions recovered for our clients over the years, know that we will fight hard for you. If we can’t recover compensation for your car accident, you owe us nothing.