Most automobile accidents will result in some kind of injuries to drivers and passengers inside the cars, along with property damage to the vehicles and other structures nearby. However, determining who is responsible for causing those problems may not always be easy, especially in single car accidents or other situations where limited information is available to investigators at the scene.

The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene of a crash where a car went into a home, causing injuries and property damage.

Driver crashes into a home in suburban Charleston

Police received an emergency call and responded to a home at the 1800 block of Raoul Wallenberg Boulevard in the West Ashley neighborhood of Charleston.

When rescue crews arrived, they found the driver still inside the car with injuries that were not life threatening. In the area where the car was found, there was significant property damage to a wall and window area that borders the driveway, but no one was inside the house at the time of the collision. The driver of the car was the only victim to be transported to a local hospital for treatment. Emergency personnel also needed to stop traffic while a tow truck extracted the vehicle from the debris with the assistance of law enforcement.

Local police are still trying to determine what caused the accident, especially considering the traffic in the area was light on a Monday afternoon. No criminal charges were filed at the time of the report, and it is unknown whether any other drivers or road conditions contributed to the accident.

What do personal injury lawyers do?

After any kind of accident, the victim is usually urged to get help from a personal injury attorney. There are a number of good reasons for this, and an overview of personal injury law will help prospective clients understand exactly what their lawyer does and how they win cases.

Automobile accidents result in a number of unexpected costs to victims. This usually includes medical and hospitalization costs, repairs for property damage, missed time from work and lost wages, and other related expenses. The main reason to retain a personal injury lawyer is to get help paying for these problems. Injury cases that involve permanent disabilities, significant amounts of lost income,and other serious problems can potentially award plaintiffs thousands or even millions of dollars. An attorney will use any evidence available to show that the defendant should be held responsible, and they must compensate the plaintiff for these problems.

How is the value of a lawsuit determined?

Personal injury lawyers mostly file negligence cases against the person or business who they believe is responsible for the victim’s condition. Negligence is the legal term for when someone does not take reasonable care to drive, operate machinery, or engage in any number of other dangerous activities. A crucial element of a negligence case is the calculation of damages. The plaintiff’s lawyer can use things like medical records, hospital bills, and the victim’s salary to calculate total losses related to health problems and lost wages. All of these costs can be added up to determine the total value of the lawsuit. If someone experiences a permanent injury and can no longer work or requires constant medical care, the damages may be large enough to compensate them for the rest of their life.

Who will have to pay for this accident?

Determining fault can be a complex legal inquiry based on the facts of each individual accident. An investigation from the police and testimony from any witnesses at the scene will normally be crucial, especially in cases like the news story above where only one vehicle is found at the scene. The driver may have simply made a mistake and lost control of the vehicle, or other factors such as weather and road conditions might be relevant.

South Carolina’s negligence standard

All motor vehicle accidents in the Charleston area are governed by South Carolina’s negligence laws. Comparative negligence is a form of this law that allows fault to be divided between everyone involved to equal 100%. Under the state’s civil code, any party injured in a car accident can collect money from any or all defendants involved, as long as their own fault is less than 51%.

Dividing fault can become complex depending on the number of vehicles involved and the factors that led up to the collision, so it is best to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer before making any assumptions about how the state’s comparative negligence standards may apply to your case.

Get help from a personal injury attorney in Charleston

To learn more about the possibility of filing a lawsuit and receiving compensation for your injuries after an accident, contact the Clekis Law Firm. You will receive professional advice from a team of world class lawyers.