When a car accident happens, your life may be turned upside down in a matter of seconds. Injuries from car accidents can reduce your enjoyment of life, your ability to earn income, and your ability to care for yourself and your family. Rather than dealing with the aftermath of an accident on your own and leaving your recovery up to chance, we encourage you to hire a skilled, passionate car accident attorney. Attorney Marc Brown is ready to begin work as your personal injury representation in Columbia, so that you can focus on getting better and maintaining your day to day life. Contact us to request a free consultation.
Why Choose Us?
Why should you choose Marc Brown Law Firm as your Columbia auto accident lawyer? These are the core principles that guide our commitment to serving our clients:
- The Right Experience Matters: Attorney Marc Brown brings invaluable experience to car accident cases. Before founding his own firm, Marc spent nearly five years defending major insurance companies and large corporations in personal injury and commercial litigation nationwide.
- We Will Come To You: We understand that recovering from a car accident is difficult, and the last thing you need is added stress. That’s why we’re committed to making the legal process as smooth and convenient as possible. If you’re unable to come to our office, we’ll gladly meet you wherever it’s most comfortable for you.
- Putting Our Clients First: At Marc Brown Law Firm, you’re not just another case. We prioritize your well-being and treat you with the care and respect you deserve. We make sure you fully understand your options and keep you updated every step of the way throughout your car accident claim.
- Available 24/7: We know that car accident cases can raise urgent questions and concerns at any time. That’s why we’re available around the clock to assist you. If we’re unable to respond right away, we guarantee we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
- No Fees Unless We Win: We work on a contingency basis, meaning you don’t pay any attorney fees unless we win your car accident case. Our fees are a percentage of the compensation we secure for you, so our success is directly tied to yours.
Types of Car Accident Claims In Columbia
Columbia is a busy urban mecca with three major roadways that are well-known for traffic congestion. It has many dangerous intersections like the high-volume, multi-lane intersection of I-20 and U.S. 126 where nearly 200 collisions with serious injuries and fatalities have occurred. The types of car accident claims generated by crashes in Columbia include those for accidents such as the following:
- T-bone collisions and other angle collisions in intersections
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Sideswipes
- Rollover accidents
- Car vs. Commercial truck accidents
- Collisions with obstacles
- Roadway departure accidents
- Multi-car pileups or chain reaction car accidents
Car accidents in Columbia range from minor accidents with property damage and a single emergency room bill, to deadly collisions with catastrophic injuries and fatalities.
If a loved one died in a car accident in Columbia caused by another driver’s negligence, a wrongful death attorney from Marc Brown Law Firm can help close family members recover compensation.
How Liability Is Determined In Columbia Car Accidents
Liability claims to recover damages after a car accident are based on the legal duty of care. Under this principle, all drivers owe a duty to others on the road. This duty requires them to follow traffic laws and take all reasonable measures to avoid causing an accident and injury to others. A successful car accident claim depends on the injury victim’s ability to prove an at-fault driver’s liability with evidence demonstrating that they breached their duty of care, the breach of duty caused injuries, and the injury victim suffered significant damages like medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.
In South Carolina car accident claims, the injury victim has the burden of proving the at-fault driver’s negligence and liability through a preponderance of the evidence. One of the benefits of hiring an experienced attorney is the advantage of the skills and resources they have to investigate the accident, document evidence of liability, and make a compelling case on your behalf. A car accident attorney in Columbia will do the following:
- Review the police report and any photos or videos of the accident scene and the damaged cars
- Visits the accident scene to take photos
- Search for any recoverable video evidence of the accident, such as from nearby surveillance cameras or traffic cameras
- Depose eyewitnesses
- Consult with crash forensics experts
Once they have sufficient evidence of liability, the attorney carefully calculates your economic and non-economic damages and presents a demand package to the insurance company. Then they begin negotiating with the insurance adjuster for a settlement while also preparing for court in case the insurance company fails to offer an acceptable settlement. Nearly 95% of car accident claims end with a settlement, especially when the injury victim has experienced representation on their side.
Recoverable Damages in a Columbia Car Accident Claim
It only takes a split second for a crash to occur that leaves you with costly property damage, high medical bills, and serious injuries that impair you and your family’s quality of life moving forward. In addition to the economic costs of a car accident, you may also suffer non-economic losses as well, including psychological harm. Types of damages you may be able to recover include:
- Property Damage
- Medical Expenses, including physical therapy, chiropractic care, and rehabilitation costs
- Physical Pain and Suffering
- Emotional Distress
- Lost Wages
- Loss of Future Earning Potential
- Lost Quality of Life
- Punitive Damages
How Common Are Car Accident Injuries in Columbia, South Carolina?
Car accidents are notably more common in Richland County, South Carolina when compared to the state’s other 46 counties. The following are some significant observations using the latest car accident data from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety:
Top 3 Counties in Injury Collisions (2022)
- Charleston: 3,854 injury collisions
- Greenville: 3,464 injury collisions
- Richland: 2,868 injury collisions
In 2022 alone, Richland County accounted for the third most injury collisions with 2,868 reported within this study. Out of those 2,868 injury collisions, 116 were reported as serious injury collisions. Additionally, Richland County reported the fifth highest serious injury collision total in all of South Carolina.
Top 3 Counties in Fatal Collisions (2022)
- Greenville: 99 fatal collisions
- Horry: 78 fatal collisions
- Richland: 65 fatal collisions
Richland County had a reported 65 fatal collisions in 2022, which was the third highest total of all South Carolina counties behind only Greenville and Horry. In the event a family member or loved one was the victim of a fatal car accident injury due to the negligence of another party, the Columbia wrongful death lawyers at Marc Brown Law Firm can help navigate your right to compensation.
Common Causes of South Carolina Car Accidents
Sometimes car accidents in South Carolina result from a defective car part or tire, a poorly planned intersection, or a negligent road maintenance agency; however, driver negligence is the most common cause of car accidents. Common negligent or reckless actions resulting in car accidents include the following:
- Distracted driving, like texting, setting a GPS, adjusting a sound system, grooming, or eating behind the wheel
- Speeding
- Failing to yield the right of way at an intersection by error or by running a red light or stop sign
- Tailgating, or following too closely
- Left turn accidents
- Making unsafe lane changes
- Improper merging
- Aggressive driving
- Impaired driving
Unfortunately, careless, reckless, or wrongful drivers cause injuries not only to themselves but often to other motorists sharing the roadway.
When Should You Seek Medical Treatment After a Car Accident?
You should seek medical treatment as soon as possible after being involved in a car accident. Although you may not show any signs of injury, symptoms could present days after the accident. It is important for your health and your potential claim that you seek medical treatment after a car accident. You should provide the physician with as much information as you can about the accident and your symptoms so they can make the most thorough assessment possible. Our Columbia car accident lawyer can help you right away.
Steps to Take After a Motor Vehicle Accident In Columbia
After the most devastating car accidents, injury victims may be unable to do anything to help themselves and must depend on emergency services; however, if an injury victim can use a cell phone at the scene or ask an uninjured companion or bystander to do so, they can take steps to begin protecting themselves physically and financially even before seeking immediate medical treatment. While awaiting emergency services at the crash scene, taking the following steps helps strengthen your claim:
- First, call 911 to report the accident and apply reasonable first aid as necessary if you are able
- Use the phone’s camera to snap photos of the accident scene before emergency services move the cars to restore traffic flow
- Photograph the damaged vehicles
- Take photos of anything relevant to the accident, like traffic signs, skid marks, or debris in the road
- Add the other driver’s contact and insurance information
- If any eyewitnesses to the accident are nearby, ask for their contact information
Eyewitnesses are often the key to proving how an accident occurred, especially when the accident isn’t captured on traffic cameras or security videos.
After you’ve had a full medical assessment, ask for a detailed medical report listing your injuries, your doctor’s treatment recommendations, and your prognosis for recovery. This is an important part of determining your future damages.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim In South Carolina?
The South Carolina Legislature allows injury victims up to three years from the date of their injury to go to court. This important deadline means an injury victim must begin the car accident claim process early enough to allow ample time to investigate the claim, calculate damages, and negotiate a settlement. This way, if the case requires litigation, your attorney has time to file a petition for a court case before the statute of limitations expires.
What If the Insurance Company Says I’m Partly at Fault?
South Carolina is a modified comparative negligence car accident state that allows injury victims to recover a portion of their total compensation after an accident even if they contributed to the cause of the accident as long as they were less than 51% at fault. This is known as the South Carolina Contribution Among Tortfeasors Act. While this can be beneficial if your actions contributed to the accident or the severity of your injuries, sometimes insurance companies take advantage of this rule by assigning injury victims unfair blame. This helps them protect their profits at your expense by allowing them to reduce the amount of your settlement by your percentage of fault. For instance, if your compensation amounts to $100,000 dollars but the insurance company assigns you 25% of the fault for the accident, they only have to pay you $75,000. An experienced South Carolina car accident attorney safeguards against this and other common insurance company tactics throughout the process of your claim.
How a Car Accident Attorney Can Help You Secure Compensation
Reckless drivers and their insurance companies often try to shift blame or minimize the value of your claim. A skilled car accident attorney in Columbia ensures that this doesn’t happen, fighting to get you the compensation you deserve. Attorney Marc Brown has extensive experience handling various types of car accidents, injury severities, and insurance companies. He knows how to achieve the outcomes you need. Contact us today at (803) 871-9775 to schedule your free consultation.