Car Accident Attorneys in St. Andrews, SC

Car accidents are an inevitable part of driving, with the average person being involved in an accident about once every 18 years. Per the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, there is one accident every 3.7 minutes in South Carolina and one fatal accident every 9.4 hours.

When you’re involved in a crash that isn’t your fault, it’s hard to know what to do next. You need medical treatment, but who will pay for it? What about the time you spend away from work, unable to provide for your family? That doesn’t even cover issues like property damage, pain and suffering, and the mental trauma caused by a serious crash.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a car accident, it’s time to talk to an experienced St. Andrews car accident attorney. Call Peake & Fowler at 803-788-4370 to schedule a consultation now.

Why You Need Peake & Fowler on Your Side

When you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident, you need an advocate whose only goal is to do what is right for you. The other party’s car insurance company certainly doesn’t fit the bill, no matter how apologetic they sound when they call you or how much they swear to do the right thing.

An insurance company’s top priority is their profit margin, and one of the easiest ways to boost that margin is to avoid paying out full and fair compensation to injured accident victims. Even when you are working with your own car insurance company, there comes a point where it is easier for them to pay out the bare minimum and close your claim, rather than spend more time on pursuing the other party.

At Peake & Fowler, we understand how a car accident can turn your life upside down. The financial impact can be massive, especially if you are suddenly unable to work and your family counts on your income. The time spent healing from serious injuries can take a toll on your physical health, your emotional wellbeing, and your family’s stability.

We believe that the liable party should be held accountable for the damage caused by their negligence. No matter what tricks the insurance company pulls to deny you the compensation you are due, we will build the strongest case possible to help you in your pursuit of a full and fair settlement.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents can be very physically traumatic. At lower speeds, a collision can put over two tons of force on your body—now imagine how much more traumatizing a crash at high speeds can be. Because of this, victims can suffer a wide range of injuries and outcomes. Some commonly reported car accident injuries in South Carolina include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Broken bones
• Back and neck injuries
• Burns and scarring
• Disfigurement
• Internal injuries
• Spinal cord damage
• Cuts and lacerations, as well as subsequent infections

Some injuries are not immediately noticeable, but that does not mean they aren’t serious. In fact, an injury like internal bleeding can kill you within a matter of hours if it isn’t caught and treated immediately—even though symptoms may not appear for hours or even days.

That’s why it’s so important to seek medical care as soon as possible after an auto accident in the St Andrews area. Not only is it a crucial part of your personal injury case, but it is also the best way to protect your health after the physical trauma of a collision.

Determining Liability

One of our biggest priorities as your attorney is to determine liability for the crash. This is a four-part process:

• First, we must demonstrate that the other party had a duty of care to you. By driving on the road, they are obliged to drive safely and try to avoid harming other drivers and pedestrians.
• Second, we have to show that they failed to meet that duty of care. This may happen if they texted while driving, drove too fast for conditions, misjudged a turn, or drove under the influence.
• Third, we have to show that their negligence led to accident that caused your injuries.
• Finally, we have to prove the extent of the damages caused by their negligence.

In some accidents, this is a quick and straightforward process. For example, a drunk driver drifts across the median and hits another car head-on. In this situation, it is very clear who is at fault for the accident and who should be responsible for all damages. Other accidents are more complicated, and liability may be split between multiple parties.

Consider a side-swipe crash on a busy street in St. Andrews. A driver does not thoroughly check their blind spot before switching lanes, and they side-swipe a car as they try to merge. They obviously have some liability. However, the other driver was texting and driving, so they didn’t notice the other party trying to merge. They may have had a chance to avoid the accident, but they missed it because they were distracted. These cases take much longer to work out.

The Fight for Fair Compensation

Car accidents can be extremely expensive, and we don’t think it’s fair that victims bear the full financial brunt of a collision. Compensation comes in many forms, and some of the most commonly awarded types of compensation in car accident cases include:

• Medical bills
• Future medical expenses for serious or lifelong injuries
• Lost wages
• Lost future income for victims who are permanently unable to work
• Disability and disfigurement
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish

Being able to prove the extent of your injuries is a key part of getting full and fair compensation. Your attorney can help you in this area. The more evidence you bring to the table, the easier it is to prove the multitude of ways in which your injuries have affected your life. You may provide copies of medical bills, medical records, photographs, video footage of the crash scene, witness testimony, and personal injury journal entries to highlight the impact of your injuries.

We’re Ready to Help—Call Peake & Fowler Today

If you’re ready to pursue full compensation for your car crash injuries, our team of St. Andrews personal injury attorneys is here to help. To schedule a consultation and learn more about your options, get in touch with us online or call us at 803-788-4370.