Everything You Need to Know After a Serious Car Accident
After a serious car accident in Columbia, get medical care, report the crash, document what happened, notify your insurer, keep track of your losses, and learn your legal options before accepting a settlement. What you do in the hours and days afterward can affect both your recovery and any injury claim you may have.
If you were seriously injured in Columbia, our car accident lawyers at Whetstone Perkins & Fulda can help you understand what steps matter now and whether you may have a compensation claim.
Immediate Steps at The Car Accident Scene in Columbia
Get to a Safe Location and Call 911
If you can move safely, get out of the path of traffic and call 911. Ask for police and emergency medical help if required. Don’t leave the scene of a serious crash unless you need emergency treatment or law enforcement directs you to.
Exchange Information Without Arguing About Fault
Get the other driver’s name, contact information, license information, insurance details, and vehicle information. If witnesses saw the crash, ask for their contact information too. Don’t argue with the other driver about who caused the accident or make statements accepting blame.
Document the Scene, But Only If You Can Do So Safely
Take photographs or video of the vehicles, damage, road conditions, traffic signals, debris, and visible injuries. If you can’t document the scene yourself, ask someone you trust to.
Reporting and Documenting the Car Crash in Columbia
South Carolina Requires Certain Crashes to Be Reported
South Carolina law requires a driver involved in a crash resulting in injury or death to notify the appropriate law enforcement agency immediately. Under S.C. Code § 56-5-1260, that means the local police department when the crash occurs within a municipality, or the county sheriff or nearest South Carolina Highway Patrol office outside one. In Columbia, the investigating agency may be the Columbia Police Department, while crashes elsewhere in Richland County may involve the Sheriff’s Department or Highway Patrol.
Keep The Crash Records Together
Save the police report, photographs, insurance information, witness contacts, repair estimates, and other records related to the collision. Don’t assume the police report alone will contain everything that may later be crucial to your claim.
Securing Medical Care and Recovery
Get Medical Care Even If You Feel Relatively Fine
Some injuries may not be obvious immediately after a serious crash. If you develop pain, dizziness, headaches, weakness, or other symptoms, seek medical attention and tell your provider about the accident.
Follow Your Doctor’s Treatment Plan
Keep your medical appointments and follow recommended treatment. Save medical records, bills, prescriptions, therapy records, and receipts for accident-related expenses.
Track How Your Injury Affects Your Life
Keep records of missed work, reduced work hours, transportation costs, assistance you now need, and changes in your ability to perform ordinary activities. Serious injuries may also involve future treatment or reduced earning capacity.
Addressing Legal and Insurance Issues
Notify Your Auto Insurance Company
Report the accident as required by your policy, but don’t assume you need to determine your claim’s full value in your first conversation with an adjuster. Keep copies of communications and documents you provide.
Know How Fault Can Affect Your Claim
South Carolina considers the injured person’s fault when determining recovery in a personal injury case. Under S.C. Code § 15-38-15, the court or jury determines the percentage of fault attributable to the plaintiff and other responsible parties, and the applicable rules affect the amount you can recover. That means an insurer’s claim that you contributed to the crash doesn’t necessarily weaken or end your case.
Talk to a Columbia Car Accident Lawyer
Our car accident attorneys in Columbia can investigate the collision, review available insurance coverage, document your injuries and losses, address fault disputes, and determine whether filing a lawsuit makes sense. Getting advice early can also help you avoid making decisions before you know the full extent of your injuries.
Before You Settle, Know What Your Car Accident Claim in Columbia May Cost
A serious car accident can leave you dealing with medical treatment, missed work, insurance calls, and uncertainty about what comes next. That’s where our Columbia car accident lawyers come in. Arrange your complimentary case assessment by calling Whetstone Perkins & Fulda at 803-799-9400 or submitting our online form.
