Berkeley County Car Accident Attorneys

Personal Injury Lawyers Serving Moncks Corners, Goose Creek and Hanahan

Berkeley County is north of the Charleston metropolitan area. Despite its proximity to Charleston, Berkeley County is a sparsely populated area known for its beautiful wildlife and the Francis Marion National Forest. However, Berkeley County has experienced tremendous growth in the past few years.

From 2010 to 2020, the county’s population grew 30 percent, from 177,843 to 229,861. As a result, the rate of Berkeley County car accidents has also increased significantly. According to Insurify’s 2022 study, it was determined that South Carolina has the highest crash fatality rate and the highest at-fault accident rate in the nation.

At the Steinberg Law Firm, our Berkeley County car accident lawyers help accident victims and their families obtain meaningful compensation after a collision. We understand what you are going through and how a serious accident can suddenly change your life, and we are committed to helping you heal and recover your life. Our personal injury lawyers represent accident victims throughout Berkeley County, including those in Moncks Corner, Hanahan, Goose Creek, Jamestown, Summerville, St. Stephen, Bonneau, and Daniel Island.

Causes of Berkeley County Car Accidents

According to data from car insurance applications collected by Insurify, several cities in Berkeley County have a high rate of drivers with an at-fault accident on their record. Goose Creek and Summerville are listed as some of the most accident-prone areas in the country. For example, 12.4 percent of drivers nationwide have an at-fault accident on their record; however, out of those cities with the most accidents, six South Carolina towns rank in the top twenty, and two are in Berkeley County. In Goose Creek, 18.14 percent of drivers caused a traffic accident, and in Summerville, 17.5 percent of drivers were previously cited for an accident.

Each year, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety reviews all traffic accidents in the state and releases comprehensive traffic accident data. According to the recent report, the following are the most common causes of Berkeley County car accidents:

• Speeding and driving too fast for the conditions;
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
• Failing to yield the right of way;
• Aggressive driving;
• Distracted driving;
• Improper lane change; and
• Following too closely.

Regardless of the cause of an accident resulting in your injuries, the Steinberg Law Firm can help. For more than 90 years, our dedicated Berkeley County personal injury lawyers have helped countless clients recover the compensation they need and deserve after a severe motor vehicle collision.

Can Berkeley County Car Accident Victims Recover Money After an Accident?

Anyone injured in a Berkeley County car accident can pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for the collision. To succeed in a car accident lawsuit, an accident victim or their attorney must prove that the other driver was legally negligent. Under South Carolina personal injury law, there are four elements an accident victim must prove to establish another driver’s negligence:

1. Duty – As another driver on the road or highway, they owed you a duty of care.
2. Breach – A driver violated the duty of care they owed to you.
3. Causation – If another driver’s actions caused the accident.
4. Damages – If you suffer economic or non-economic damages due to the accident, you may have a solid claim.

If you can establish each of these elements, you may be entitled to recover compensation from the at-fault driver. Bringing a personal injury lawsuit after a Berkeley County car accident often presents challenges for accident victims. This is usually because the at-fault driver’s insurance company will contest the car accident claim.

Dealing with an Insurance Company after a Berkeley County Car Accident

Under South Carolina law, drivers are required to purchase car insurance. Because of this, insurance companies often get involved in Berkeley County auto accidents. Under the terms of an insurance policy, the insurance company may agree to cover some of the costs associated with an accident. Although another driver may have caused the accident, their insurance company will certainly be the party defending the case. Insurance companies can be incredibly challenging to work with, especially if you are in pain and have sustained serious injuries.

Insurance companies are for-profit businesses that rely on taking in more premiums then they are paying out in claims. An insurance company’s sole objective in any Berkeley County car accident case is to pay as little as possible. For example, insurance companies may approach an accident victim with a low settlement offer shortly after an accident or while they are still recovering, hoping to catch them in a moment of weakness or desperation. Of course, these initial settlement offers are often significantly less. The amount may not be enough for existing and upcoming medical expenses. For this reason, it is crucial that you only accept an insurance company’s offer after speaking with an experienced car accident attorney. Studies have shown that accident victims who work with a personal injury attorney are more likely to obtain fair compensation for their bodily injuries.

At the Steinberg Law Firm, our lawyers can assist you in preparing a compelling case to obtain total and fair compensation for the injuries you sustained. Our car accident attorneys also:

• Gather all necessary evidence and documentation;
• File the appropriate pleadings with the Berkeley County court;
• Negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf;
• Connect you with the medical care that you need to recover from your injuries; and
• Help you understand the legal system, your rights, and what to expect from the recovery process.

Since 1927, the Steinberg Law Firm has helped countless clients obtain the money they need to move on with their lives after a serious accident. Often, our skilled negotiators can secure a favorable settlement offer without needing an expensive and drawn-out trial. Given our significant litigation experience, we are prepared to take your case to trial if the insurance company is unwilling to extend a fair settlement offer.

What Types of Compensation Can Berkeley County Car Accident Victims Recover?

South Carolina law permits accident victims to recover two main compensatory damages through a personal injury lawsuit. The two categories of damages are economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages consist of those accident-related costs that require you to spend or miss the opportunity to make money. For example, the following are common types of economic damages:

• Current medical bills;
• Future medical expenses;
• Property damages; and
• Wages you were unable to earn since you were still recovering.

Non-economic damages compensate you for the emotional and psychological effect an accident had on your life. Non-economic damages are very case-specific and can make up a substantial portion of your total damages award. A few examples of non-economic damages in a Berkeley County car accident case include:

• Emotional anguish;
• Disfigurement or scars;
• Loss of the ability to complete daily tasks;
• Loss of companionship;
• Loss of the enjoyment of life;
• Physical or mental disability; and
• Pain and suffering.

At the Steinberg Law Firm, we diligently review all evidence and medical documentation to identify the full extent of your economic damages. From there, we sit down to discuss how the accident impacted your life. Are there things you used to enjoy that your injuries prevented you from doing? Are you left with lingering pain that affects your overall quality of life? Are you suffering from anxiety or depression due to your injuries or physical limitations? We will review these questions to help determine the appropriate amount of non-economic damages.

Schedule a Free Consultation with an Experienced Berkeley County Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one was recently injured in a Berkeley County car accident, you have rights and must understand them. By bringing a personal injury lawsuit, you can recover meaningful compensation that can allow you to start moving on with your life. At the Steinberg Law Firm, our compassionate car accident lawyers take a unique approach to every case we handle, focusing on your individual needs. We take the time to listen to you before developing any recovery strategy. That way, we are always on the same page. To learn more and schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced Berkeley County car accident lawyers, give the Steinberg Law Firm a call at 843-720-2800 today. You can also connect with us through our online form.