If you have suffered an injury at work, you may be experiencing numerous hardships in life, physical and financial alike. When facing a potential loss of income, along with the extensive cost of medical expenses, you might find yourself in dire need of financial assistance.
When taking in the scenery poses a threat to your health
Myrtle Beach is a hotspot for many travelers, some of whom may choose to walk from place to place to take in the scenery. Perhaps you are visiting South Carolina and wish to move around via the sidewalk, but you may have concerns about your safety, especially in areas of dense traffic.
How Long Does an Auto Accident Case Take?
It is impossible to tell you how your case will take, but we can let you know what to expect. Some cases may be settled within a few months, while others could take years to resolve. It depends on many factors including the nature and severity of the injuries, whether liability is disputed, whether damages are disputed, and whether the at-fault driver's insurance company agrees to pay full compensation for your injuries, denies your claim, or delays payment. Below is an explanation of some of the stages of an auto accident case.
Common Auto Accident Injuries
The auto accident lawyers at Axelrod & Associates, P.A. have seen a broad range of injuries that people have suffered because of car crashes.
Technology and Auto Accident Cases
Modern technology has made our cars safer and, at the same time, has become a leading cause of auto accidents by encouraging distracted driving. Advances in technology have also made it easier to identify the cause of a car crash and who was at fault.
How is Liability Determined in a Car Accident?
Under South Carolina law, the driver who is at fault in an auto accident is liable for all damages that were proximately caused by their negligence. Auto accident lawyers often look at this as the three-legged chair approach to whether you have a case. You must be able prove:
Causes of Myrtle Beach Auto Accidents
Many different factors can contribute to auto accidents, and each car crash carries its own set of facts and challenges. Weather conditions, inexperienced drivers, drunk drivers, distracted drivers, speeding, and drivers who disregard traffic signals are just a few of the many potential causes of traffic accidents in the Grand Strand Area. No two car crashes are the same, and the auto accident lawyers at Axelrod & Associates, P.A. have just about seen them all.
South Carolina and Horry County Auto Accident Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), South Carolina had 977 traffic fatalities in 2015, the most recent year with available data. Horry County and the Myrtle Beach area have led the state in traffic fatalities since at least 2011 with the number of fatalities increasingly each year. Drunk driving has contributed significantly to the death toll on our state's highways, with 309 of the 977 total deaths in 2015 attributed to alcohol impairment.
Auto Accident Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries such as whiplash are common in auto accidents. Although they can result in extreme pain that may last for years, insurance companies will often refuse to pay full compensation for these injuries because of the difficulty in proving them. If you have suffered soft tissue neck or back injuries following a car crash in the Myrtle Beach or Horry County area, your auto accident lawyer at Axelrod & Associates, P.A. will fight to help you recover full compensation from the at-fault driver.
Self-Driving Cars and Auto Accident Law
Self-driving cars are here and it is widely predicted that they will be the transportation of the future. Several companies have received permits to test their self-driving vehicles on public roads, and the results thus far have been promising but not without incident. An Uber self-driving car was involved in an accident in Arizona this year although the other driver was cited for failure to yield. The driver of a Tesla self-driving car was killed last year in Florida when it collided with a truck, and one of Google's self-driving cars crashed with a bus last year as it attempted to maneuver around an obstacle.
Can I Afford a Myrtle Beach Auto Accident Lawyer?
In most cases, you do not have to pay anything to retain your personal injury lawyer at Axelrod & Associates, P.A. We will provide a free consultation to review your case. If we accept your case, it will ordinarily be on a contingency fee basis, and you do not pay any attorney fees unless we win your case through a settlement or jury verdict.
Bad Weather and Auto Accidents - Who is at Fault?
If you are involved in a car crash during bad weather conditions, the insurance company may attempt to deny your claim by blaming the accident on the inclement weather. In most cases, weather does not cause accidents. People cause auto accidents by failing to take proper care to drive safely regardless of the weather conditions, and, most likely, at least one party to the accident was guilty of negligence.
Reducing the stress of a collision while on vacation
The beach is a popular destination for many families who are on break from school and/or work. Perhaps you and your family recently set out to enjoy the view of the ocean in South Carolina only to have an accident interrupt your vacation time.
Auto Accidents and Traffic Tickets
When the police respond to an auto accident, they will often cite one or both parties with traffic violations such as speeding, following too close, or failure to yield. Sometimes a driver will be arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) following a car wreck.
After a Myrtle Beach car accident
Millions of visitors come to Myrtle Beach every year. Unfortunately, some are injured in accidents involving motor vehicles.
Protect yourself from distracted drivers
South Carolina distracted driving laws are among the weakest in the nation. As a result, visitors to Myrtle Beach and other South Carolina destinations need to be especially vigilant for drivers who may not have their eyes on the road.
Are field sobriety tests required in South Carolina?
A field sobriety test can provide devastating evidence against you in a DUI case. Witness Tiger Woods’ recent field sobriety test in Florida.
Protect your license if you are stopped for DUI
Do you live in South Carolina full time? Perhaps, you don't, but visit here annually to vacation at Myrtle Beach or another popular tourist location every summer. Either way, if you're enjoying fun in the sun or some other adventure with family and friends, chances are you're going to either ride in a car or drive one to get there. That said, many summer gatherings include alcoholic beverages, which can be a real game changer if you do plan operate a motor vehicle.
Auto Accidents and Punitive Damages
When you are injured because of another driver's negligent actions, the at-fault driver is required to fully compensate you for the losses that are attributable to the at-fault driver's negligence. They or their insurance company must pay for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and any other losses that are compensable under South Carolina law.
Obtaining guidance when accused of drunk driving on vacation
Facing allegations for driving under the influence of alcohol can be an intimidating process, especially if your arrest occurs in an unfamiliar setting. Perhaps while vacationing at the beach, authorities arrest you and charge you with a DUI, potentially leaving you to wonder what happens next.
