​Columbia Car Accident Lawyer

Columbia, South Carolina, is a vibrant city filled with entertainment, events, and opportunities for residents and visitors. Unfortunately, getting around often means relying on busy roads, increasing the risk of car accidents. 

Highways like I-20, I-95, and I-85, along with city streets such as Broad River Road, Two Notch Road, Huger Street, and Killian Road, see heavy traffic and frequent crashes. Many result from reckless driving, including speeding, distracted driving, and impaired motorists. 

If someone else's negligence caused your injuries, you have the right to pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. The legal process can help injury victims recover the financial support they need to move forward. A Columbia car accident lawyer at Morris Law Accident Injury Lawyers can guide you through every step, ensuring you receive fair compensation for your losses. 

Why Choose Morris Law Accident Injury Lawyers With Your Columbia Car Accident Claim?

At Morris Law Accident Injury Lawyers, we believe that our success comes from our client's success. We have built a team of legal professionals with a shared mission of providing our clients with the best possible customer service and legal representation.

While most clients will likely receive compensation through a negotiated settlement, we are prepared to fight for the best possible outcome, even if that means going to court.

We are proud of the case results we secured for our clients throughout South Carolina, including:

• A $675,000 settlement for a DUI car accident in which our client sustained a broken leg.
• A $675,000 settlement for a client recommended back surgery after being injured in an automobile accident caused by a negligent driver.
• A $600,000 award for a client who sustained crashed ribs in a rear-end collision.

The experienced auto accident attorneys at Morris Law Accident Injury Lawyers don't believe in offering empty promises.

From your initial case evaluation to the conclusion of your case through either a negotiated settlement or a court award, keeping you in the loop and providing the information you need to make decisions about your case is a crucial part of the process.

We provide the resources necessary to get you the results you need.

The experienced car accident lawyers at Morris Law Accident Injury Lawyers understand the importance of having access to your lawyer.

Having a local lawyer means having the ability to meet with them at a location that is convenient for you.

We are pleased to offer our services in Columbia, providing local assistance and representation to car accident victims. Contact us today to learn more about our firm and to receive a free case evaluation with our lawyers in Columbia, SC.

Columbia Car Accident Statistics

Columbia has one of the highest accident rates in South Carolina. According to the latest crash facts from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS): 

• Over 10,000 crashes occur in Columbia each year. 
• In a recent year, 1,093 people died in fatal traffic collisions.
• More than 50,000 people suffered injuries in car accidents throughout the state.
• Neighboring Lexington County sees 6,700+ accidents annually. 
• Common causes include speeding, failure to yield, and distracted driving. 

These numbers illustrate the alarming number of people affected by auto accidents. They also emphasize the importance of working with an experienced car accident attorney to obtain compensation.

How Much Is a Columbia Car Accident Case Worth?

When a driver's recklessness or carelessness—commonly called negligence—causes an accident in which others sustain physical injury and/or property damage, the injured party can file a claim against the at-fault driver's auto liability insurance policy.

As noted by the state Department of Insurance (SCDOI), drivers of vehicles registered in Columbia are required to maintain an insurance policy that provides at least $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 per accident, as well as property damage coverage of at least $25,000 per accident.

If the at-fault party's insurance provider fails to fairly compensate the claim, we can file a lawsuit in civil court within three years of the accident.

The lawsuit's purpose is to allow a judge or jury to hear the details of the claim and make binding decisions on liability and the amount of compensation owed to the claimant.

One of the most common questions from those injured in a motor vehicle accident is: "How much is my claim worth?"

No standard value applies to a car accident claim or lawsuit; each case is unique.

However, several things commonly impact the value of a claim, such as:

The amount of insurance the at-fault party has.

Insurance is how most car accident injury claims are paid, and insurance policies have policy limits, which refer to the maximum compensation available for the claim. This is why attorneys investigate all sources of liability and all insurance resources available to compensate the claim, including coverages that you have with your own policies, such as an underinsured motorist policy.

The severity of the injury.

More severe car accident injuries will almost always be valued higher, as they typically result in higher medical costs, more time lost from work, and even permanent disabilities that will impair the claimant's ability to earn an income and live independently in the future.

Permanent injuries will also generally result in compensation for estimated medical expenses, as these injuries often require continued treatment and a higher level of medical care throughout the remainder of the claimant's life.

The clarity of liability.

When a personal injury claim is filed against a policyholder's auto liability coverage, the insurance company hires a claims adjuster to evaluate the claim and determine if the insured is liable for the accident that caused the injury. If the insurer disputes the insured's liability, they often offer a lower settlement or refuse to settle the claim.

The claimant's patience during the process.

The personal injury claims process can take far longer than anyone wants. There are many potential delays, including the time needed for the claimant to reach maximum medical improvement, delays in filing the police report, and lengthy settlement negotiations.

While you may receive a settlement offer very quickly, obtaining an offer that offers fair compensation often takes time.

Additionally, should the insurance company be unwilling to offer reasonable financial compensation, your lawyer may advise you to pursue further action in the form of a car accident lawsuit; this could require more time and patience in order to achieve the positive results we desire for your case.

How a Columbia Car Accident Lawyer Can Help You Seek Compensation

A personal injury lawyer serves as your advocate, handling every aspect of your case while you focus on recovery. The legal process can feel overwhelming, especially when dealing with insurance companies that try to minimize payouts. An experienced attorney ensures you receive the full compensation you deserve by building a strong case, negotiating aggressively, and taking legal action if necessary. 

Investigating Your Accident and Gathering Evidence 

A successful personal injury lawsuit starts with a thorough investigation. Your attorney will: 

• Collect police reports, witness statements, and accident scene photos. 
• Analyze medical records to document injuries and treatment costs. 
• Work with accident reconstruction experts to establish liability. 
• Obtain surveillance footage or traffic camera recordings if available. 

Strong evidence is critical to proving fault and securing fair compensation. 

Dealing With Insurance Companies 

Insurance adjusters often try to reduce settlements by disputing liability or downplaying injuries. A personal injury lawyer handles all communications, preventing insurers from using tactics that harm your claim. Your attorney will: 

• Negotiate aggressively to maximize your settlement. 
• Reject lowball offers that don’t cover your losses. 
• File a lawsuit if the insurer refuses to offer fair compensation. 

Without legal representation, injury victims may settle for far less than they deserve. 

Calculating Your Full Compensation 

Car accident victims may be entitled to compensation for: 

• Medical expenses – hospital bills, surgeries, rehabilitation, and future treatments. 
• Lost wages – income lost during recovery and reduced future earning capacity. 
• Property damage – repairs or replacement of your vehicle. 
• Pain and suffering – physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. 

An attorney ensures every damage is accounted for in your claim. 

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit if Necessary 

Most cases settle through negotiations, but some require litigation. If the insurance company refuses a reasonable offer, your lawyer can: 

• File a personal injury lawsuit in civil court. 
• Present evidence to a judge or jury. 
• Fight for the maximum compensation you’re entitled to receive. 

With an experienced attorney on your side, you won’t have to face insurers or the legal system alone. 

How Do Car Accidents Happen in Columbia?

Most motor vehicle accidents in Columbia and elsewhere result from human error.

According to SCDPS, some of the most common primary reasons for car accidents in South Carolina include:

• Driving too fast for the traffic and weather conditions of the roadway accounts for around 34,000 accidents a year.
• Failure to yield the right-of-way resulted in around 24,000 accidents on South Carolina roadways each year.
• Improper lane changes cause more than 10,000 accidents in the state every year.
• Following another vehicle too closely (tailgating) accounts for more than 8,000 accidents a year.
• Distracted driving is a primary factor in more than 7,400 South Carolina traffic collisions a year.
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a primary factor in around 5,200 accidents a year. Columbia has at least 11 colleges that serve the area. According to American Addiction Centers, around 80 percent of college students consume alcohol, and about half of all college students binge drink. Drunk driving accidents can happen when this populace of less-experienced drivers gets behind the wheel while impaired.

The Types of Accidents That Can Result in the Need for Compensation

There are many reasons why car accidents occur on Columbia roadways; there are also many types of accidents.

While some of these accidents are more likely to result in serious injuries, any collision between two or more motor vehicles places the occupants in danger.

The injuries sustained in car accidents include:

• Catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) or spinal cord injuries. Catastrophic injuries are injuries that present a high likelihood of permanent disability that will prevent the sufferer from being able to earn an income or live independently. The brain and the spinal cord have a limited ability to heal from damage, meaning that the impacts of the injury can be life-long and require additional compensation to account for permanent income loss and other impacts.
• Broken bones will often heal within weeks or months but can result in chronic pain, loss of mobility, and other long-term issues.
• Internal injuries, which can lead to dangerous bleeding.
• Burns are caused by contact with the caustic chemicals used in motor vehicles or from contact with heat or flames resulting from the accident.
• Traumatic limb damage, including amputations or permanent loss of use.
• Soft tissue damage, including damage to ligaments, muscles, and joints. One common type of soft tissue damage to be sustained in many types of accidents is whiplash, which is a neck injury that results from the head snapping back and forth due to the force of the crash.

Here is a look at the accidents that most commonly require an injured party to seek compensation through the personal injury claims process.

Rear-End Accidents

Rear-end accidents occur when the front of one vehicle impacts the rear of another.

Despite their reputation as minor fender-benders, the National Safety Council (NSC) reports that around 3,000 people in the U.S. die yearly due to rear-end crashes, accounting for 17 percent of all fatal accidents involving two or more vehicles.

In addition, rear-end accidents result in around 1.36 million injuries.

Rear-end accidents are commonly the result of tailgating, which involves one vehicle following another vehicle so closely that they do not have time to come to a safe stop if the lead vehicle suddenly stops or slows.

Another common cause of rear-end crashes is a distracted driver in the following vehicle who fails to notice that traffic has stopped in front of them.

While rear-ends are usually the fault of the driver in the following vehicle, the lead vehicle's driver can be liable for the accident in certain circumstances, such as if the lead vehicle traveled in reverse when the accident occurred or their vehicle's brake lights were out.

Head-On Collisions

Head-on collisions involve the front of two vehicles traveling from opposing directions crashing into each other.

This is a particularly deadly type of accident due to the increased collision force created by the forward motion of both vehicles when they collide.

While head-on crashes are far less common than most other accident types, they account for around 5,000 deaths a year and 228,000 injuries, the NSC reports.

Broadside (T-bone) Accidents

According to the NSC, broadside accidents, also known as T-bone accidents or angle collisions, are the most common cause of motor vehicle accident injuries, resulting in around 1.695 million medically consulted injuries and 8,000 deaths.

These accidents, where the front of one vehicle collides with the side of another, usually result from a driver's failure to yield the right-of-way at an intersection, causing one vehicle to enter another vehicle's path.

The increased hazard of this type of car crash involves the lack of protective features in the doors of vehicles that can cause more severe injuries to the occupants sitting on the side of the struck vehicle.

Additionally, a large discrepancy between vehicle sizes means a greater chance of injury or death for the smaller vehicle's occupants.

Sideswipes

Sideswipes involve the sides of two vehicles colliding. The vehicles can travel in the same direction or the opposite direction. These accidents are usually the result of one driver failing to maintain a single lane of travel. This can result from several driver behaviors, including aggressive driving, distracted driving, impairment by alcohol, or driver fatigue.

These accidents grow more serious at highway speeds, where one or both vehicles can lose control, striking objects along the roadside and other vehicles.

Chain Reaction Crashes

A chain reaction crash is a series of accidents involving three or more vehicles, typically starting when two vehicles collide. The force of that collision can cause one of the vehicles to collide with other vehicles in the area.

Additionally, vehicles coming up on the initial crash scene can collide with disabled cars in the roadway, adding to the wreckage and the potential for injury and death.

You will need a car accident lawyer to sort out liability in chain reaction accidents, as the crash involved the actions of many drivers. While the driver who caused the initial accident is generally at fault, you can also hold other drivers at fault.

An experienced Columbia auto accident attorney from Morris Law Accident Injury Lawyers will take a deep look at the accident to determine all sources of liability and the insurance policies they have that can be accessed to compensate your claim.

Rollovers

The force of a crash may cause the vehicle to roll over once or even multiple times, commonly causing severe injuries or death.

While this type of accident is often the result of a single vehicle running off the road, it can also be part of an accident involving multiple vehicles.

Some of the common causes of rollovers include:

• The tires of the vehicle tripping over an object such as a curb.
• A vehicle traveling too fast for the road conditions, causing the tires to lose their grip on the road and a rollover to occur. This is more likely in vehicles with a higher center of gravity, such as SUVs or pickup trucks.
• The force of an accident is great enough to cause the car to tip over.
• Wet roads make it easier to roll over at high speeds or during risky maneuvers.

Insurance Companies Make the Car Accident Claims Process Difficult

Many people believe that the accident that caused their injury was so clearly the other driver's fault that it is an open-and-shut case for which they can quickly receive compensation.

Unfortunately, because insurance companies are involved, personal injury cases are typically far more complex than that. Insurance companies are in the business of making money by selling premiums.

They attempt to hang on to as much of that money as possible by hiring claims adjusters to evaluate claims and pay as little as possible to resolve these claims.

When a claimant attempts to navigate the claims process without the assistance of an experienced car accident attorney, the insurance company will commonly use tactics to devalue the claim or even eliminate the claimant's right to compensation.

Some of those tactics include:

• Offering a ridiculously low settlement with a short deadline and warning the claimant that they must accept the offer by that deadline or their claim won't be compensated.
• Getting the claimant to agree to a recorded statement and then asking leading questions to get the claimant to admit fault or give information that contradicts the information they gave to the police at the scene.
• Convincing the claimant that they need to release their entire medical history for the adjuster to evaluate the claim when the adjuster is just looking for pre-existing conditions they can use to reduce the claim's value.

How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help Me if Insurance Refuses to Pay?

If the insurance company refuses to pay, a qualified auto accident lawyer can help you fight for your rightful compensation by reviewing and building your case, dealing directly with insurance adjusters, and taking your case to court if necessary. They can use their resources and negotiation skills to stand up against the insurer's tactics, ensuring you aren't taken advantage of in an already stressful situation.

What To Do After a Car Accident in Columbia, SC

Immediately after being involved in a car accident, assure the safety of yourself and others if possible, and avoid leaving the scene. If the accident is serious, call 911. If not, call the Columbia Police Department to report the incident. It is wise to seek medical attention after a car wreck even if you feel fine. Some injuries, such as whiplash and more serious internal injuries, can worsen over hours or days if not properly treated. The pain of many car accident injuries may also be masked by adrenaline following a crash.

Document the accident scene by taking pictures of your car and the other vehicles involved, as well as the circumstances of the accident.

Gather eyewitnesses' information and their accounts of what occurred. Seek prompt medical attention, even if you think your injuries are minor.

Once you have received medical care, you should contact an experienced car accident attorney in Columbia as soon as possible. The at-fault party's insurance company will likely try to contact you directly after the accident to offer you a quick settlement. It is best not to engage with these insurance adjusters directly. Instead, refer them to your lawyer.

An experienced attorney with Morris Law Accident Injury Lawyers will protect your rights and safeguard the value of your personal injury claim. We make sure that all of your current and future damages are covered, including your medical expenses, lost wages or income, pain and suffering, and more. We will work with insurance adjusters to obtain the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Lastly, do not discuss the accident with anyone except your attorney and your doctor and avoid posting anything on social media that could potentially jeopardize your car accident case.

What You Can Do to Protect the Value of Your Columbia Car Accident Claim

Hire an experienced Columbia car accident attorney to manage communication with your and the other driver's insurance company and handle the process.

That will protect your claim's value.

Additionally, you can:

• Seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
• Follow your doctor's treatment plan.
• Retain all injury-related receipts and medical bills.
• Promptly respond to your attorney's requests for information.
• Journal about your pain level daily, the types of treatments you receive, and the impacts of your injury on your life.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim for a Car Accident in South Carolina?

South Carolina law allows you three years from the date of the accident to file an injury lawsuit in civil court. If you fail to do so within this time, you may lose your right to legal recourse.

The clock on the statute of limitations begins ticking on the date of the accident or, in some cases, from the date you discovered the injury.

For instance, if you were in a South Carolina car accident but didn't realize you had suffered an injury until weeks or even months later, you would generally have three years from the date of discovery to file a claim.

This is known as the "discovery rule."

There are certain exceptions to these rules, though. For example, if the victim is a minor or if the defendant leaves the state for a period of time, the statute of limitations may be extended. It can also vary depending on the type of claim being made, such as property damage or wrongful death.

For these reasons, you must consult a Columbia car accident lawyer as soon as possible after your car accident.

Our auto accident attorneys will ensure that your case is handled expediently and begin preparing you for what's in store from the moment you turn to us for a free consultation.

Morris Law Accident Injury Lawyers Stands By Injured Victims in Columbia

At Morris Law Accident Injury Lawyers, we take immense pride in our deep-rooted connections to Columbia, South Carolina.

Our team is composed of seasoned attorneys who not only work in this city but also live here and are a part of the community. This extensive local knowledge gives us a unique advantage in serving our clients' needs, specifically in the area of auto accidents and personal injury law.

Our local knowledge allows us to understand the specifics of Columbia's roads, traffic patterns, and common accident hotspots.

Familiarity with local law enforcement agencies and court systems also helps us navigate the complex web of legal proceedings more efficiently, which can significantly impact the outcomes of our clients' cases.

Our Columbia car accident lawyers are not just your legal representatives; we are your neighbors, friends, and advocates who deeply care about the welfare of our community.

We are committed to using our wealth of experience and passion for justice to help you navigate through difficult times and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Our Columbia Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You

The experienced legal team at Morris Law Accident Injury Lawyers is committed to providing compassionate and aggressive legal counsel for car accident victims. We will fight the insurance company for the compensation you need.

For your free case evaluation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Columbia, contact us at (843) 232 0944 or message us via our online form.

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