Car Accident Lawyer Florence

Every case is different, but Florence injury victims are often able to recover:

• Emergency room bills and all medical treatment
• Future medical care related to the crash
• Lost income and reduced future earning ability
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of daily life
• Property damage
• Permanent disability or scarring damages if applicable

South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If you are 50 percent or less at fault, you can recover compensation. If you are more than 50 percent at fault, you cannot recover. We work hard to show the other driver caused the crash or carries most of the fault.

It is best to call an attorney as early as possible because evidence is time sensitive. Traffic camera footage on Palmetto, Evans, or Second Loop Road may be erased. Witnesses can forget details. Vehicles get repaired before photos are taken. Insurance companies often try to settle quickly for low amounts.

Once we are on your side, we protect your claim, preserve evidence, and stop insurers from pressuring you.

Florence has several high traffic areas and travel corridors that lead to common types of collisions. Some of the crashes we see most include:

• Rear end collisions on Second Loop Road during heavy traffic
• Side impact crashes at East Palmetto and Irby Street intersections
• High speed I 95 collisions caused by distracted or drowsy drivers
• Big truck crashes near the I 95 and I 20 interchange
• Hit and run accidents near apartment complexes or mall parking lots
• Drunk driving crashes near restaurants, bars, or entertainment areas
• Pedestrian and bicycle collisions in downtown Florence and around school zones
• Uninsured or underinsured driver accidents on rural stretches of Florence County

In South Carolina, fault is often determined by looking at whether a driver failed to use reasonable care (such as speeding, distracted driving, running a red light, DUI). The law also uses the concept of “modified comparative negligence,” meaning: you can recover damages even if you are partly at fault, as long as your fault is 50% or less. If your fault is 51% or more, you cannot recover.

We will investigate: the police report, traffic laws, witness statements, vehicle black-box data when available, the road & weather conditions, and whether there were other liable parties (such as a trucking company, municipality responsible for road maintenance, or a negligent driver hired by a business).

When fault is disputed or unclear, we work to build a strong case of negligence:

• We gather accident scene photos, vehicle damage analysis, skid marks, traffic data
• We retain expert witnesses (accident reconstruction, safety experts)
• We pull available records (traffic light timing, maintenance records of the road)

We negotiate with the insurer of the at-fault driver and advocate aggressively if they deny or minimize fault

Because you have a limited time to act, it is best not to wait until everything is perfect — start the investigation as soon as possible.

Under South Carolina law (S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530), you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit following a car crash.

If the defendant is a government or public entity (for example, a local sheriff’s deputy, municipal vehicle, or county road) different rules may apply (often only two years).

Missing this deadline usually means losing your right to sue, so contact us right away.

When a crash happens, most people feel overwhelmed and unsure what to do next. Here are the steps that protect your health and your case:

• Get medical care right away. McLeod Regional Medical Center or MUSC Health Florence Medical Center are common first stops for accident victims. Even if you do not feel severe pain, some injuries appear later.
• Call law enforcement. The Florence Police Department or the South Carolina Highway Patrol should create an official report.
• Document the scene. Take photos of the vehicles, the intersection or roadway, traffic signals, and your injuries.
• Get witness contact information. Local witnesses can be critical in proving fault.
• Report the accident to your insurance company. Keep the report factual but avoid giving recorded statements to the other driver’s insurer.

Contact a local attorney as soon as possible. Early representation preserves evidence and stops insurance companies from taking advantage of you.