Why Are South Carolina's Roads So Deadly?

Posted by Allison Sullivan on Jun 13, 2018 8:54:45 AM

While South Carolina's overall traffic fatality rate has been trending slightly downwards, Lexington County and Richland County have unfortunately been seeing the opposite.

According to The State newspaper, by May 17, traffic deaths in Lexington County in 2018 were double what they were by the same time last year, with 34 deaths in total compared to last year's 17. Richland County, meanwhile, was already battling a battling a surge in traffic fatalities on Columbia roads, and looks poised to continue the fight throughout 2018.

What's causing this sudden spike in traffic fatalities? How can you keep yourself and your family safe on South Carolina's roads? 

Let's take a look.

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Topics: Automobile Accident

Who Covers My Medical Bills After a Car Wreck?

Posted by Allison Sullivan on Mar 12, 2018 12:30:02 PM

Car wrecks that cause injury can come in many forms — vehicle collisions, wrecks involving tractor trailers, motorcycle wrecks, and more. After you've exchanged car insurance information with the at-fault party, called your own insurance company to notify them to start the claims process, and sought medical care for your injuries, you may be wondering — who pays the medical bills after a car accident, and how can you be sure your medical care will be paid for?

Let's take a look.

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Topics: Personal Injury, Automobile Accident, Wrecks Involving Tractor Trailers, Motorcycle Accidents

What Should You Do If You Witness a Car Accident?

Posted by Allison Sullivan on Nov 3, 2017 10:03:25 AM

There is a vehicle collision in South Carolina every five minutes or so, with injuries occurring about once every ten minutes and a collision fatality occurring about twice a day, according to the SC Department of Public Safety.

Do you know what to do if you witness a car wreck in South Carolina?

We have a few tips to help you know how to stay safe, assist the people involved, and if needed, provide evidence for the victim's eventual car insurance claim against the at-fault party.

These suggestions do not reflect any letter of the law but are rather meant to act as helpful suggestions. Every car wreck is different, so no guidelines can really be one-size-fits-all.

If you have questions that pertain to a specific incident, please feel free to give us a call at (803) 779-7599 or contact us online to request a free consultation.

What should you do if you witness a car accident in South Carolina?

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Topics: Automobile Accident

How Much Does It Cost to Insure a Teenage Driver?

Posted by Allison Sullivan on Jun 6, 2017 10:48:14 AM

As our children grow, they take on new responsibilities — chores around the house, less supervision when it comes to schoolwork, and eventually even access to the family car (or a vehicle of their own).

It's important to make sure you take a look at the costs involved in insuring teen drivers against vehicular collisions as early as possible.

Bringing a new driver into the family will inevitably change your auto insurance costs, but just how much does it cost to insure a teenage driver? Today, we'll take a look at the cost in terms of dollars and cents and give you a few tips on teen driver safety that can help keep your child safe and your premium rates reasonably low.

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Topics: Insurance, Automobile Accident

Are There Driverless Car Laws in South Carolina?

Posted by Allison Sullivan on Mar 30, 2017 8:47:32 AM

Driverless cars have been making national headlines since the original autonomous Tesla was first introduced.  Unfortunately, not all of these headlines have been positive.

While Pittsburgh and other Pennsylvania cities continue to grapple with the safety and regulations of driverless Uber cars, other areas of the country have seen these autonomous vehicles involved in fatal crashes when the computer failed to recognize the difference between a clear blue sky and the side of a tractor trailer on a busy highway.

Surveys have consistently shown that high numbers of current drivers are nervous or concerned about the potential for serious car wrecks involving driverless cars, with one national survey showing 3 out of 4 survey respondents stating they would be afraid to ride in a driverless car.

With autonomous vehicles like the Tesla S are on the rise, you may be looking at headlines like this (in which autonomous cars 'self-crashed' during tests) and wondering...

Are there any laws about driverless cars in South Carolina? 

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Topics: Automobile Accident

What to Do When You're the Victim of a Hit-and-Run Automobile Accident

Posted by Allison Sullivan on Feb 14, 2017 1:29:17 PM

Last week, we took a look at the numbers of totally uninsured drivers on the road in South Carolina and what that could mean for you in the case of a collision in which an uninsured driver was at fault. One thing we just barely touched on in that post was the possibility of a car wreck where the at-fault driver leaves the scene without exchanging information.

Since the driver in these cases isn't always located and therefore it's impossible to know whether or not they had insurance, you'll need to take a few different steps in order to get the compensation you deserve.

What should you do if you're the victim of a hit-and-run vehicle collision? Read on to find out.

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Topics: Insurance, Automobile Accident

How Many Uninsured Drivers Are There in South Carolina?

Posted by Allison Sullivan on Feb 7, 2017 9:48:22 AM

Car insurance is an essential aspect of vehicle ownership. Proof of insurance is one of the first things you'll be asked for if you're pulled over by a police officer, and we may take for granted that in case of an automobile collision that we'll be able to exchange insurance information with the other party.

Unfortunately, not everyone has liability automobile insurance. We've spoken before about the rate of underinsured drivers in South Carolina and how to protect yourself, but there's one problem that could be even worse — drivers with no insurance at all.

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Topics: Insurance, Automobile Accident

Can I Receive Compensation if my Pet Was Injured or Killed?

Posted by Allison Sullivan on Jan 27, 2017 8:52:35 AM

This is a subject near and dear to just about everyone's heart — our pets and companion or service animals. Whether you have a highly-trained service animal or a household pet that you adopted for the joy and companionship that a devoted pet can bring, it can be heartbreaking to see them injured or killed as a result of another person's actions or negligence.

Are you able to receive compensation after the injury or death of a pet due to a car accident, deliberate action on the part of another individual, or other negligence?

Today, we'll take a look at the answer.

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Topics: Automobile Accident

I've Been Pulled Over for Texting While Driving: Part 1 of Distracted Driving Series

Posted by Clarke Newton on Jan 4, 2017 12:00:00 AM

More than 1.1 million car crashes in 2013 involved the use of cell phones while driving, according to the National Safety Council. The numbers have only risen in the last couple of years, with the latest figures reading at about 1.6 million, with more than 330,000 injuries. Many of these crashes involve texting while driving, and states all throughout the nation have begun to take steps to address this growing concern.

While there are as of yet no federal laws on the books outright outlawing cell phone use while driving, individual states, counties, and even local municipalities have all passed their own laws and ordinances. 

What should you do if you're pulled over for texting while driving in South Carolina? Let's take a look at the facts.

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Topics: Automobile Accident, Criminal Defense

Staying Safe on Your Motorcycle This Fall in South Carolina

Posted by Allison Sullivan on Sep 28, 2016 12:00:00 PM

The onset of autumn in South Carolina brings out even more motorcyclists than the summer — the weather is milder, the sun doesn't beat down quite so hard, and the view is simply spectacular. Whether you're taking a day trip up to enjoy the mountains or headed down to the coast, it's important to stay safe! Motorcycle accidents can cause serious physical injury or even be fatal, so it's essential to take every safety precaution you can. We have a few tips to help you stay safe on your motorcycle this fall.

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Topics: Automobile Accident, Motorcycle Accidents