If you or a loved one is involved in a head-on vehicle crash, make sure to prioritize your safety and seek any necessary medical attention. You should also file an official police report. After you are safe and have spoken to law enforcement, you should contact a dedicated auto accident attorney.
After a front-end car accident in Orangeburg, your lawyer could work to recover financial damages from negligent and or reckless drivers. Furthermore, as a driver, it is important to know about the common causes and consequences of head-on collisions to take proper steps to avoid them on South Carolina’s roads.
Common Causes of Front-End Car Accidents
A front-end car accident is when the front end of one vehicle crashes into another vehicle. Generally, this happens when one vehicle suddenly veers into the opposite lane of traffic. All drivers have a responsibility to pay attention and remain cautious behind the wheel. Circumstances when a driver’s negligence contributes to head-on crashes include:
- Driving under the influence
- Speeding
- Unsafe lane changes
- Texting while driving
- Fatigued driving
- Eating behind the wheel
Common injuries occurring in front-end car accidents are typically to the upper and lower extremities. This means survivors often experience fractured arms, legs, or necks. These crashes often result in catastrophic injuries like brain trauma and paralysis. Given the fact that two vehicles sustain a massive impact, it is likely that both drivers and their passengers will experience injuries.
Pursuing Compensation After a Font-End Car Crash
A negligent or reckless driver may try to escape responsibility after a front-end car collision, whether at the scene of the incident or in the courtroom. A defendant driver may attempt to point blame at injured plaintiffs. Under South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence law, a party can only recover monetary damages for their injuries if they can prove the other driver is at least 51% responsible. A legal professional could communicate with opposing attorneys, insurance companies, judges, and juries to help injured parties show the other driver was at fault.
If successful, an injury claim could provide an accident survivor with monetary and punitive damages. They could recover monetary damages to cover medical bills, replace lost wages, and help ease emotional and mental distress. Courts use punitive damages to punish a driver who willfully or intentionally caused the collision.
When someone passes away from their injuries after a front-end car accident, an Orangeburg attorney could pursue compensation for surviving family members through a wrongful death claim. While no amount of money can change the devastating reality of losing a loved one, a successful claim could help family members feel they have secured justice and can move forward without financial concerns. A reliable lawyer could further explain the process of recovering damages and work to maximize the overall amount a plaintiff receives.
Contact an Orangeburg Attorney if You or a Loved One Are Involved in a Front-End Car Accident
Few types of collisions are as devastating as front-end car accidents in Orangeburg. These crashes are frequently catastrophic or even fatal. A skilled accident lawyer helps injured parties and their loved ones pursue financial damages to the fullest extent allowable under the law. Call or email Whetstone Perkins & Fulda to speak with an attorney as soon as possible about a potential injury claim.