Columbia Car Accident Lawyer
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, there were 141,096 traffic crashes in 2019, resulting in 58,410 injuries and 1,006 fatalities. Driver error was considered the primary contributing factor in nearly 95% of non-fatal crashes and over 82% of fatal collisions, including serious or deadly choices such as speeding, failure to yield the right-of-way, improper lane changes, following too close, driver inattention/distracted driving, drinking and driving, improper turns, running a stop sign or red light, and other driving mistakes.
Almost every crash that occurs happens because of driver negligence. Almost every car accident could be avoided if drivers took more care to drive legally, safely and attentively. At Simmons Law Firm, we help accident victims and their families recover compensation after crashes caused by negligent drivers. A personal injury can be costly in terms of medical expenses, lost wages, and the disruption to your life, not to mention the pain and suffering you are forced to endure because of someone else’s avoidable mistake. Getting the compensation you need and deserve is not always easy; it can be an uphill battle and a hard fight to win, but it’s a fight we believe in and are ready to take on for injury victims and their families. Learn more below about how we help car accident victims recover physically and financially after a crash, and call Simmons Law Firm if you or a loved one has been hurt in a car accident in Columbia or South Carolina.
How Simmons Law Firm Helps With Car Accident Injury Claims in Columbia and South Carolina
Drivers in South Carolina are required by law to carry liability insurance in case they get into an accident that causes personal injury or property damage to another person or their property. The minimum amounts required by law are $25,000 for physical injury per person up to $50,000 per accident, plus $25,000 per accident for property damage. Recognizing how costly and damaging a serious accident can be, many drivers choose significantly higher coverage than the minimum amounts. Companies like Uber and Lyft cover their drivers with double the minimum amount for bodily injury ($50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident) if the driver gets into an accident while logged into the app. If their drivers are en route to pick up or during a trip when they get into a crash, the rideshare companies cover them with a million-dollar policy.
Unless the driver’s liability for causing the crash is clear, you can expect the insurance company to dispute how the accident happened. They will claim their driver wasn’t at fault or that the injury victim was at least partly at fault for the accident. Under South Carolina’s comparative negligence laws, any portion of blame they can shift to the victim proportionately reduces how much the victim can recover, and if they are considered more at fault than the other driver (more than 50% to blame), then they can’t recover anything at all, regardless of the other driver’s conduct. Our job as your injury lawyer is to prove the other driver’s negligence and fault while also keeping you from having to shoulder any of the blame that should not be allocated to you.
Even if the driver’s liability is clear, the insurance company is likely to downplay how serious it was and dispute your injuries or damages. They might claim the accident could not have resulted in those injuries, that they are exaggerated, or that they come from some other accident or pre-existing condition. This is especially likely to happen if you don’t have an attorney representing you, in which case the insurance company will make a very low offer to settle your claim, hoping you don’t know better and take their offer before calling a lawyer. We know how to document an injury and all associated costs and build a strong case that reflects your needs and the true value of your claim. If we can’t negotiate a fair settlement with the insurance company, we’ll be ready to take them to court and argue your case in front of a judge and jury.
Our auto accident representation includes helping people who were hit by uninsured drivers as well. Even though South Carolina law requires drivers to carry liability insurance, nearly 11% of drivers don’t do it. If you get hit by an uninsured driver or a hit-and-run driver, we can represent you in a claim under your Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. Even on a UM claim, the insurance company is going to dispute liability or undervalue the claim if they can. We’ll keep them honest and work to get you a recovery that compensates you for your medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and all the legal damages you’ve suffered and will continue to suffer because of the other driver’s negligence.
Help Is Here After a Car Accident Injury in Columbia or South Carolina
If you’ve been hit by a negligent Uber or Lyft driver or other motorist in Columbia or South Carolina, the auto accident attorneys at Simmons Law Firm are here for you. At Simmons Law Firm, we have more than 30 years of experience successfully handling car accidents and other motor vehicle accident cases. Because we charge contingency fees, you owe us nothing unless we obtain compensation for you.
If you have suffered an injury due to a car accident, a truck accident, or another motor vehicle accident in Columbia or South Carolina, contact our attorneys for a free, no-obligation review by calling us at 803-779-4600 or toll-free at 888-715-8818, or by contacting us online.
