The short answer: A head-on collision settlement in South Carolina can cover your medical bills, future care, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Fault is proven with physical evidence, the point of impact, witness accounts, and any citations. In South Carolina, you generally have three years to bring an action for an injury to your person. Under the state’s modified comparative negligence rule, you can recover as long as your negligence is not greater than 50 %, with your damages reduced in proportion to your share of fault.
Few crashes are as frightening as a head-on collision. One moment you’re driving, and the next you’re facing serious injuries, mounting bills, and hard questions about what comes next. If you or someone you love was hurt in a head-on crash anywhere in South Carolina, you have rights, and you don’t have to sort this out alone.
In this article, our Mauldin car accident lawyers discuss:
– Why head-on collisions are so severe.
– The common causes of head-on crashes.
– The injuries these collisions often cause.
– How fault is determined.
– What a head-on collision settlement can cover.
– How a head-on collision lawyer can help.
Why Are Head-on Collisions So Severe?
Head-on collisions are among the most dangerous crashes because the combined speed of both vehicles multiplies the force of impact. When two cars traveling toward each other collide, their speeds add together, so a wreck between two vehicles going 45 mph can produce forces closer to a 90 mph impact. That tremendous energy is why head-on crashes so often cause life-changing injuries or death, even when both drivers tried to brake.
What Are Common Causes Of Head-on Collisions?
Most head-on collisions happen when a driver ends up in the wrong lane. The most common causes include:
– Wrong-way driving, often onto a highway ramp or a one-way street.
– Drifting across the center line.
– Unsafe or illegal passing on two-lane roads.
– Drunk, drowsy, or distracted driving.
Nearly all of these stem from one driver’s negligence. Pinpointing exactly what went wrong is key to protecting your right to compensation.
Injured in a head-on collision in South Carolina? Contact Smith & Jones Law today for a free consultation. Call 803-784-0730.
What Injuries Do Head-on Collisions Cause?
Because of the force involved, head-on crashes frequently cause catastrophic, life-altering injuries. These often include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, chest and internal organ injuries, and multiple fractures. Tragically, some head-on collisions are fatal. We approach these cases with care and compassion because we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll a crash like this takes on you and your family.
How Is Fault Determined In A South Carolina Head-on Collision?
Fault in a head-on collision is determined by evidence, not by whoever tells the best story. Our attorneys and investigators examine the physical evidence from the scene, the point of impact on each vehicle, witness accounts, and any citations the responding officer issued. Accident reconstruction can also help show which vehicle crossed into the wrong lane.
This matters because of South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence rule. You must be more than 50% at fault to recover, and if you were partly to blame, your damages award is decreased by your degree of fault. Insurance companies know this, so they’ll often try to shift part of the blame onto you to pay less. Building a clear, evidence-based case is how we won’t back down.
What Can A Head-on Collision Settlement Cover?
A head-on collision settlement is meant to cover the full range of losses the crash caused. Depending on your situation, that can include:
– Current and future medical costs.
– Long-term or lifetime care for serious injuries.
– Lost wages and reduced earning capacity.
– Pain and suffering.
Every case is different, and several factors affect a settlement, including the severity of your injuries, the strength of the evidence, the available insurance coverage, and how well your losses are documented. We cannot promise a specific figure. What we can do is work to build the strongest case possible and pursue the full compensation available for your losses.
Not sure what your claim is worth? Call 803-784-0730 for a free consultation, and let our team review your case at no cost.
How A South Carolina Head-on Collision Lawyer Can Help
A head-on collision lawyer levels the playing field with the insurance company. With 55 years of combined experience, the attorneys at Smith & Jones Law, LLC handle car accident and injury cases throughout South Carolina, from our main office in Lexington to our Mauldin office.
Timing matters. In South Carolina, you generally have three years to bring an action for an injury to the person under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530. Shorter time frames apply for governmental actors. If a head-on collision took the life of someone you love, you may have a wrongful death claim, which our team also handles with the sensitivity it deserves. The sooner you reach out, the more we can do to preserve evidence and protect your rights.
Frequently Asked Questions About Head-on Collisions In South Carolina
How long do I have to file a head-on collision claim in South Carolina?
You generally have three years to file an action for a personal injury in South Carolina. You have two years to file an action if a governmental entity or employee is responsible. Waiting can make evidence harder to find and witnesses harder to reach, so it’s best to talk with a lawyer as soon as possible after the crash.
What if I was partly at fault for the head-on collision?
You must not be more than 50% at fault to recover, and if you were partly to blame, your award is reduced by your degree of fault. Because the insurance company may try to pin extra blame on you, having an attorney build your case is important.
How much does it cost to hire a head-on collision lawyer?
Your consultation is free. We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
What can a head-on collision settlement include?
A settlement can include medical bills, future care, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering. The value depends on the specific facts of your case, so no attorney can honestly promise an exact amount.
Talk To Smith & Jones Law Today
Injured in a head-on collision in South Carolina? Contact Smith & Jones Law today for a free consultation. Call 803-784-0730 to reach our Lexington or Mauldin office, and let our experienced team start protecting your rights.