If you were hurt in a car wreck in Spartanburg, SC, you have the right to pursue compensation from the person who caused it. Spartanburg County is one of the most dangerous counties in the state for traffic crashes, and the injuries that come from those crashes can turn a person’s life upside down. Medical bills pile up fast. You may miss work. You may be dealing with pain that doesn’t go away. A personal injury lawyer who knows South Carolina law can stand in your corner and fight for what you deserve. Steinberg Law Firm serves crash victims across South Carolina, including those injured in Spartanburg, from our offices in the Lowcountry.

Table of Contents

• Why Spartanburg Car Crashes Are So Serious
• What South Carolina Law Says About Your Right to Recover Damages
• How Long You Have to File a Spartanburg Car Crash Claim
• What to Do After a Car Wreck in Spartanburg
• Why Crash Victims in Spartanburg Choose Steinberg Law Firm
• Steinberg Law Firm’s Car Accident Case Results in South Carolina
• FAQs About Spartanburg Car Accident Lawyers

Why Spartanburg Car Crashes Are So Serious

Spartanburg County has one of the worst crash records in South Carolina. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety’s FY2024-2026 Highway Safety Plan, Spartanburg was among the top four counties for fatal and serious injury collisions from 2017 to 2021, recording 1,061 total fatal and serious injury crashes during that five-year period. That number places it behind only Charleston, Greenville, and Horry counties statewide.

Speed is a major factor. The same Highway Safety Plan found that Spartanburg County had a speed-related fatal and serious injury collision rate of 38.45% during that period, meaning more than one in three serious crashes in the county involved speeding. That is well above the statewide average. Drunk driving adds to the problem. Spartanburg was also identified as a priority county for impaired driving countermeasures, ranking among the top counties for DUI-related fatal and serious injury crashes from 2017 to 2021.

The roads themselves create risk. Interstate 85 runs through the heart of the county and sees a constant flow of commercial trucks and commuter traffic. US-29, East Main Street, Reidville Road, and Boiling Springs Road are among the corridors where serious crashes happen regularly. Busy intersections near downtown Spartanburg, close to landmarks like Barnet Park and the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, generate frequent collision opportunities as traffic volumes outpace infrastructure.

The consequences of these crashes are real. A serious wreck on I-85 near the Brawley Street interchange or on Chesnee Highway can leave a person with broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury, or worse. These are not minor events. They require serious legal attention from someone who understands how South Carolina law works and how to build a strong case on your behalf.

What South Carolina Law Says About Your Right to Recover Damages

South Carolina law gives crash victims the right to seek compensation from the at-fault driver. Your claim is rooted in negligence, which means you must show that the other driver owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused your injuries as a result. Every driver on South Carolina roads owes a duty of reasonable care to everyone around them. When a driver speeds, runs a red light, drives drunk, or texts behind the wheel, they breach that duty.

Under South Carolina’s modified comparative fault rule, you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the crash, as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50%. If you were found to be 20% at fault, your total recovery would be reduced by 20%. This rule matters because insurance companies will often try to shift blame onto the injured person to reduce what they have to pay.

The damages you can recover fall into two broad categories. Economic damages cover your measurable financial losses, including medical treatment costs, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving a fatality, surviving family members may bring a wrongful death claim under S.C. Code § 15-3-530(6), which allows recovery for mental anguish and loss of society of the deceased family member.

When a government vehicle or government employee causes a crash, a different set of rules applies. Claims against government entities in South Carolina fall under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act (S.C. Code § 15-78-10 et seq.), which limits recovery amounts and imposes a two-year statute of limitations under S.C. Code § 15-78-110. That is one full year shorter than the standard three-year deadline for claims against private parties. Missing that deadline means losing your right to recover anything, so acting quickly is critical.

How Long You Have to File a Spartanburg Car Crash Claim

South Carolina sets a firm deadline for filing personal injury lawsuits. Under S.C. Code § 15-3-530(5), you have three years from the date of your crash to file a lawsuit in civil court. Miss that deadline by even one day, and the court will almost certainly dismiss your case, regardless of how strong it is.

Three years sounds like a long time, but it goes faster than most people expect. Evidence disappears. Surveillance footage from a gas station near the crash site on East Main Street or a traffic camera near the I-85 interchange gets overwritten within 30 to 90 days. Witnesses move or forget what they saw. The at-fault driver’s insurance company may drag out communications hoping you run out of time or give up.

There are situations where the deadline can be extended. If the injured person is a minor at the time of the crash, the three-year clock does not start until they turn 18. If the injury was not immediately apparent, the discovery rule under S.C. Code § 15-3-535 may delay the start of the limitations period until the injury was, or reasonably should have been, discovered.

On the other hand, the deadline can be shorter. If your crash involved a government vehicle, a city bus, or a driver operating a vehicle owned by a South Carolina government entity, the South Carolina Tort Claims Act applies. Under S.C. Code § 15-78-110, you have only two years to file, and you may need to file a pre-suit notice of claim before that. A car accident lawyer at Steinberg Law Firm can review your situation, identify the correct deadline, and make sure you do not miss it.

What to Do After a Car Wreck in Spartanburg

The steps you take immediately after a crash in Spartanburg can make or break your case. Your first priority is your safety and health. Call 911 from the scene, whether the wreck happened on I-85 near the Boiling Springs exit, on Reidville Road near Westgate Mall, or anywhere else in the county. Under S.C. Code § 56-5-1270, the operator or owner of a vehicle involved in a crash resulting in injury must forward a written report to the Department of Motor Vehicles within 15 days if the crash was not investigated by law enforcement. A police report, however, is your best evidence, so request that officers respond to the scene.

Get medical attention right away, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline masks pain. Injuries like whiplash, internal bleeding, and traumatic brain injuries often do not show full symptoms for hours or days. A gap in medical treatment gives the at-fault driver’s insurance company ammunition to argue your injuries were not serious, or that they were caused by something other than the crash.

Document everything you can at the scene. Photograph the vehicles, the road, any skid marks, traffic signals, and your injuries. Get the names and contact information of all witnesses. Write down what you remember as soon as possible, because memories fade quickly.

Do not speak to any insurance company, including your own, before you talk to an attorney. Insurance adjusters are trained to get recorded statements and admissions that can be used to reduce or deny your claim. A car accident attorney at Steinberg Law Firm can handle all communications with the insurance company on your behalf, protecting your rights from the very start. Call us at 843-720-2800 as soon as possible after your crash.

Why Crash Victims in Spartanburg Choose Steinberg Law Firm

For nearly 100 years the firm has stood up for injured people across South Carolina. Steinberg Law Firm has deep roots in the Lowcountry and a long track record of results for clients injured in car crashes, truck wrecks, and commercial vehicle collisions throughout the state, including in Spartanburg County.

Our attorneys understand how serious these cases are. A wreck on I-85 near the Spartanburg/Cherokee County line or a rear-end crash on Business 85 through downtown can cause injuries that require surgery, long-term rehabilitation, and time away from your family and your job. We work to recover full and fair compensation from settlement proceeds, including all past and future medical costs, lost income, and damages for your pain and suffering.

We handle the investigation, gather the evidence, work with accident reconstruction professionals when needed, and deal with the insurance companies so you can focus on getting better. Whether your case settles or goes to trial at the Spartanburg County Courthouse on North Church Street, we are prepared to fight for you every step of the way.

Our firm has over 1,000 Google reviews from clients across South Carolina who trusted us during some of the hardest moments of their lives. We offer free consultations, and you pay nothing unless we recover for you. If you were hurt in a crash anywhere in Spartanburg County, or if you are looking for a car accident lawyer who handles cases statewide from the Charleston area, call Steinberg Law Firm today at 843-720-2800.

We also serve clients injured in crashes in communities across the Upstate and throughout South Carolina. Whether your crash happened near the car accident lawyer territory we cover in Goose Creek or in Spartanburg, our team is ready to help.

Steinberg Law Firm’s Car Accident Case Results in South Carolina

Steinberg Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for people injured in car accidents across South Carolina, with a long history of results in serious and fatal crash cases throughout the state. These representative car accident results show the firm’s commitment to fighting for full and fair compensation for every client.

• $10,000,000 in a fatal large vehicle accident case
• $3,150,000 in a large vehicle accident case involving an 18-wheeler
• $2,500,000 in a commercial vehicle crash on Highway 52
• $2,000,000 in a large vehicle accident case caused by an improperly trained driver
• $1,600,000 rear-ended by a pickup on Hwy. 61
• $1,500,000 in a large vehicle accident
• $1,450,000 in a fatal automobile collision
• $1,300,000 in a car crash case caused by a drunk driver overserved at a restaurant
• $1,200,000 in a collision between two large vehicles
• $1,150,000 in an I-26 commercial large vehicle accident case
• $1,000,000 in a commercial large vehicle accident on I-26 where our client was initially cited at-fault
• $1,000,000 in a case where a pedestrian was run over by an 18-wheeler
• $1,000,000 in a pedestrian hit by a large vehicle accident
• $925,000 in a motorcycle t-bone collision
• $835,000 settlement for a rear-end car accident during work

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case. Every case is different, and the value of your claim depends on the specific facts and circumstances involved.

FAQs About Spartanburg Car Accident Lawyers

Do I need a lawyer if the other driver’s insurance company already offered me a settlement?

You should speak with an attorney before accepting any settlement offer. Insurance companies typically make early offers that are far below what your case is actually worth. Once you accept a settlement, you generally give up your right to seek any additional compensation, even if your injuries turn out to be more serious than they first appeared. An attorney can review the offer, assess the full value of your claim, and negotiate for a better outcome before you sign anything.

What if the driver who hit me was uninsured?

South Carolina requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage, which can provide compensation when the at-fault driver has no insurance. Your own policy may cover your medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering in that situation. The rules around uninsured motorist claims can be complicated, and an attorney can help you understand what coverage is available and how to pursue it properly.

How is fault determined in a Spartanburg car crash case?

Fault is determined by looking at all available evidence, including the police report, witness statements, photos from the scene, traffic camera footage, and in some cases the opinions of accident reconstruction professionals. South Carolina uses a modified comparative fault system, which means you can recover damages as long as you were not more than 50% at fault. The amount you recover is reduced by your percentage of fault, so proving the other driver’s negligence is critical to maximizing your recovery.

How long does a car crash case in Spartanburg take to resolve?

The timeline varies depending on the severity of your injuries, the complexity of the liability issues, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Many cases resolve within several months to a year through negotiation. Cases involving serious injuries, disputed liability, or multiple parties can take longer. Your attorney’s goal is to reach the best possible outcome in the most efficient timeframe, while making sure your injuries have stabilized so that all future medical costs are accounted for before any settlement is finalized.

Does Steinberg Law Firm handle cases for people injured in Spartanburg even though the firm is based in Charleston?

Yes. Steinberg Law Firm handles car crash cases throughout South Carolina, including in Spartanburg County. Distance is not a barrier. Our attorneys are familiar with South Carolina courts and the laws that govern personal injury claims statewide. We offer free consultations by phone, and we can handle the majority of your case without requiring you to travel to our offices. Call us at 843-720-2800 to discuss your situation at no cost and with no obligation.

Attorney responsible for this content: Steinberg Law Firm, 1 Carriage Lane, Suite A, Charleston, SC 29407. This advertisement is made on behalf of Steinberg Law Firm. Results may vary depending on the facts and circumstances of your case. Past case results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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