Car accidents occur suddenly, usually without much warning. One minute you’re driving along, going about your day, and the next minute you
find yourself stunned, trying to process what just happened. Your car may be totaled, and you may have sustained injuries, sometime serious
ones. If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s important to know what to do in the immediate aftermath, as well as how to handle the various
issues that will come up in the weeks and months afterwards.
Recovering from a car accident
takes time; even with minor injuries, a car wreck can be a shocking and traumatic event. You may not be thinking clearly, but things you do or
say at this critical time can have lasting impacts.
Injuries Due to Car Accidents
Jump Ahead To
Injuries due to car accidents result in over 2 million hospital emergency room visits each year. These injuries can range from mild or
moderate to severe and life threatening. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) records some sobering
facts about car accident injuries
. Among children and young adults, car accidents are the number one cause of injury-related death, and they are a leading cause of death among
people of all ages. Common injuries sustained in car accidents include:
- Head and neck injuries, including whiplash and traumatic brain injury (TBI);
- Spinal cord injuries, resulting in paralysis;
- Broken bones, especially in the face, arms, legs, and pelvic region;
- Muscle strains and sprains;
- Cuts and lacerations resulting in loss of blood; and
- Damage to internal organs, caused by being thrown or caught between objects.
These types of injuries often require extensive medical treatment, surgery, and physical rehabilitation. Certain injuries can result in a
change in mobility, affecting both your quality of life, as well as how you earn a living.
Do’s and Don’ts After A Car Accident
Things you say and do in the immediate aftermath of a car accident can have a lasting impact and may limit your chances of being able to
recover damages for your injuries. Under South Carolina Law, Section 56, Article 9,
drivers involved in car accidents must do the following
:
- Stop your vehicle. Pull over as close as possible without endangering yourself or others.
- Notify police immediately. If you’re physically able, be prepared to give your name, address, and the registration number of your vehicle to
officers at the scene. - Render aid to any victims, or call for ambulance and medical emergency personnel.
- Report the accident within 15 days to the
SC Department of Motor Vehicles
.
While it’s important to do take the above steps as required by law, it’s also important to heed the following:
- Don’t make any statements regarding fault for the accident, either at the scene of the accident, in the hospital, in the aftermath of the
crash. - Don’t offer to pay for any damages.
- Don’t accept any settlements from an insurance company without first
consulting an attorney
.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury due to a car accident, contact an experienced
personal injury attorney in Greenville SC
;right away. Lauren M. Taylor has
extensive experience handling car accident cases
, and can help you get the compensation you need and deserve for your injuries. Don’t settle with the insurance company; call us today for an
initial consultation.
South Carolina divorce attorney Lauren Taylor practices family law in Charleston and Greenville. She graduated from the Charlotte
School of Law, and has been practicing for more than ten years.
Since the firm’s inception in 2012, Mrs. Taylor has helped hundreds of people navigate the uncertainties surrounding the family and
criminal court process.
She has cultivated a team that ensures each case has a strategy crafted specifically to the clients needs and desires.
Her commitment to top notch service has led her to open two additional offices in the low country where she now resides with her
husband Michael and her golden retriever, Buster.