Suffering a Myrtle Beach car accident can be a life-changing experience.
Many people come to relax and have fun, but no one expects it to end in tragedy. If you have been injured in an accident because of someone else’s negligence, it may be wise to speak with a Myrtle Beach head-on collision lawyer to discuss your eligibility for compensation.
Recovering from a car accident costs time, money, and emotional bandwidth. If you are recovering from an accident, contacting an experienced Myrtle Beach car accident lawyer with Shelly Leeke Law Firm can take some of that off your plate. For over a decade, we have been a fixture of the South Carolina community, dedicated to serving our community and its residents.
Causes of a Myrtle Beach Head-On Collision
Sometimes, accidents just happen, even when both parties are acting appropriately. However, when negligence is the cause of an accident, it may be one of many behaviors. Contact a Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyer to help prove liability.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a concern in every state, and South Carolina is no different. At its core, distracted driving is anything that takes attention away from the act of driving, but the South Carolina Department of Public Safety explains what may be legally classified as distracted driving. The distracted driving law primarily addresses electronic-based distractions but may also include things like talking, eating, or trying to manage an unsecured pet.
Unfamiliar with Roads
Traveling to Myrtle Beach, some may be unfamiliar with the roads. This unfamiliarity can lead to unpredictable and, therefore, dangerous driving, as drivers make last-minute turns or find themselves going the wrong way down a one-way road or divided highway.
Driving While Tired
We all know that we should be getting seven to eight hours of sleep per night. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that only more than one-third of drivers achieve that. The NHTSA also reports that in recent years, drowsy driving has been related to about 1.8% of all accidents.
Driving While Intoxicated
When it comes to having a hard time maintaining your lane or traveling the wrong way, drugs and alcohol have a heavy influence. The NHTSA reports that alcohol-impaired driving is responsible for over 13,000 fatalities in recent years. According to the article, Emerging Issues, the legal blood alcohol level in South Carolina is .08, so intoxicated driving refers to those who meet or exceed this blood alcohol level.
Passing in Unsafe Conditions
A behavior that begs for a head-on collision is passing when it is not legal or safe to do so. This may happen when someone is impatient and chooses to pass someone in an area with double lines and low visibility. It may also happen when someone chooses to pass without fully checking to ensure there is no oncoming traffic.
Myrtle Beach Head-On Collision Injuries
Any car accident can be lethal, but a head-on collision can be more dangerous than most. The Federal Highway Administration reports that a head-on crash is the most harmful event in the more than 57,000 roadway departure fatalities in the most recent reporting year. While wrongful death is a very real possibility in an accident like this, some of the many other injuries seen include:
- Whiplash
- Concussion
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Disfigurement
Many of these injuries require a significant recovery time. Some may be resolved with an initial hospital stay, while others may require many follow-up appointments or surgical interventions. Some injuries like a TBI or spinal cord injury may be considered catastrophic injuries, never completely healing.
Qualifying Circumstances
If someone else’s negligence has caused your head-on collision and injuries, you are likely eligible for compensation. When you speak with a Myrtle Beach head-on collision attorney with Shelly Leeke, we can determine if you meet the criteria for a case. This is done based on a few criteria:
- Establishing the other party has a legal duty of care.
- Establishing the other party violated that duty.
- Establish that their action caused your injuries.
- Show that your injuries would not have happened if it weren’t for the other party’s violation of their duty of care.
While the legal requirements may look complicated, this can usually be determined in consultation with a head-on collision lawyer in Myrtle Beach. People have a basic duty of care when driving to follow the laws set to keep others safe. This can be neglected by violating traffic laws and causing an accident. In most cases, it can be easily shown that your injuries would not have been sustained had the other party not violated those laws.
Damages
Damages in a personal injury case are determined by evaluating the overall costs of the accident and injuries. The damages you claim can be both tangible and intangible in nature, known as economic and noneconomic damages. These may consist of:
- Current and future medical costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
In some cases, if the case makes it to trial, the jury may determine that punitive damages are appropriate. In Article 5 of the South Carolina code, the amount of punitive damages is not specified in the complaint but determined by the jury. These damages are awarded as a type of punishment for evidence that the accident was caused with malice or by willful, wanton, or reckless conduct.
Call Us Today
If you have suffered injuries in a head-on collision caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. You can contact us at Shelly Leeke Law for a free case consultation to discuss your legal options. Retaining a head-on collision attorney in Myrtle Beach may be what you need to ensure you recover the maximum possible compensation.
Recovery can be hard, and the stress of increasing medical bills, missed time off work, and dealing with the insurance company only makes it harder. When you retain a Myrtle Beach head-on collision lawyer with Shelly Leeke Law, you are retaining experience, dedication, and compassion to fight for you. Let us do the legal work while you focus on healing.
