Driving a car is a regular part of many people’s everyday lives, but it carries a certain amount of risk. The prevalence of distracting cell phones and electronic devices in vehicles increases the chances of a wreck.
Potential harm from distracted driving car accidents in Columbia can threaten your livelihood and your family. If you have been in a crash, our dedicated car collision attorneys at Whetstone Perkins & Fulda could help you make a claim for compensation.
How Distractions Cause Car Accidents
Automobiles can cause significant damage to surrounding property and severe injury to pedestrians. A driver’s attention on the road in Columbia is crucial, and any distraction can risk a car collision. Several forms of distractions can take place, including:
- Reading or sending a text
- Eating
- Putting on makeup
- Talking on the phone
- Changing the station
A driver could also move their attention to something happening outside, such as another accident or construction. Each of these distractions can contribute to a wreck.
Common Types of Car Crash Injuries
Typical injuries from automobile accidents can seriously affect your health and quality of life. Collisions can lead to several forms of harm, such as:
- Broken bones
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Nerve damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Organ damage or failure
- Traumatic brain injuries
When you are left with any of these injuries and damage to your vehicle or property, you should consider your legal options for obtaining compensation. A seasoned personal injury attorney from Whetstone Perkins & Fulda could evaluate your case and fight on your behalf.
Claims Based on Distracted Driving Accidents
If a distracted driver caused your car collision in Columbia, your claim for compensation will likely be based on negligence. This legal concept creates responsibility for injuries caused by someone’s unreasonable behavior, even if unintentional.
Proving a negligence claim requires showing that there was a duty of care, that duty was breached, and that the breach caused your injuries. Your losses must include damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
In a case involving an inattentive driving car crash in Columbia, you would need to show that the driver breached their duty to operate their vehicle safely through their distraction, which caused the accident that led to your injuries. With all these elements fulfilled, you can make your claim with the assistance of a hardworking attorney.
South Carolina law creates a statute of limitations of three years for personal injury lawsuits, pursuant to the South Carolina Code of Laws § 15-3-530. Three years after the date of the wreck, you lose the ability to sue, making it imperative to partner with a lawyer who can file your claim on time.
Working with an attorney from the beginning could also aid in maximizing your claim, as South Carolina’s system of negligence can go against you, too. Pursuant to S.C. Code of Laws § 15-1-300, the fault for an accident gets assigned to all involved, including the hurt party, if they partly caused their own injuries.
The total compensation can decrease in proportion to that fault, and an injured person who is 50 percent or more liable can lose the ability to recover. A lawyer could argue in court that you did not contribute to the collision and preserve your recovery.
Talk to an Attorney About Your Columbia Distracted Driving Car Accident
The first thing you should do after an automobile crash is to seek medical attention and legal counsel. You deserve total compensation for the physical and emotional harm you endured due to someone’s breach in standard of care.
Our professional attorneys at Whetstone Perkins & Fulda can help you obtain damages for claims based on distracted driving car accidents in Columbia. We can give your case the personal attention you deserve; call today for a consultation.
