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Hi, my name is Kenneth Berger. I'm an attorney here in Myrtle Beach and handle cases throughout South Carolina. I made this video to help answer some of the common questions we get about car accidents. If you've been to Myrtle Beach, you know that the roads are getting more and more congested. In fact, US 17, which runs along the Grand Strand, is the most dangerous road in South Carolina. And 501, which brings you in from Columbia, is not much safer. One of the reasons our roads around Myrtle Beach are getting so unsafe, so dangerous, is because we have more and more people traveling. Congestion is a real issue. We also have people traveling from all over the Eastern Seaboard and throughout the United States who aren't always familiar with traffic. On top of that, we've got bars and restaurants that continue to over-serve drunk drivers and let those drunk drivers get out on the road with residents and visitors to Myrtle Beach.
So, if you are a long-term resident of the Grand Strand, or if you are visiting Myrtle Beach, know that if someone else caused a car accident, we're here to help you. One of the things I like talking about is what a lawyer can do for you in these situations. If you've been in a crash, you've probably heard from your insurance company and the other driver's insurance company. People might've been talking to you about recorded statements, medical bills, and getting you to sign blanket health care authorizations that give them the right to find all medical evidence since your date of birth. We want to take some of that pressure off of you and remove some of that confusion. What we want to do is go out and secure the evidence, deal with the insurance folks, make sure all your medical bills are collected, and ensure medical providers are taken care of. The big thing is we want you to be able to focus on your health while we focus on your case. I tell clients all the time, "If we do what's absolutely best for your health, I can make sure that the legal side is taken care of."
So, if you've been in a car crash in the Myrtle Beach area, know that we're here to answer your questions and help you. Consultations are 100% free, so you've got no risk and nothing to concern yourself with. If you'd like to speak with us and get answers to some of your questions and hopefully take some of the pressure off, you can reach us either with the live chat right here on the website, call our office, or send us an email. Whichever means you choose, know that we're here to help you. We want you to be able to move forward with life and focus on getting well while we take some of that weight off your shoulders and deal with the insurance and legal issues. We very much look forward to hearing from you and we wish you the very best.
Frequent Causes of Car Accidents in South Carolina
South Carolina has ranked among the top three worst driving states in the country six times based on fatality rates, failure to obey traffic laws, careless driving, drunk driving, and speeding. When handling a car accident claim, it’s important to understand not only the details of what happened, but also why it happened. Below are some of the most common causes of motor vehicle collisions in Columbia, Richland County, and other parts of South Carolina.
- Distracted Driving: More than 3,400 people were killed in the U.S. last year due to distracted driving. Common distractions include eating, listening to loud music, and talking with passengers, but the most common culprit is texting and driving. While it may seem challenging, our experienced car accident lawyers can help prove whether the other driver was distracted at the time of your wreck.
- Drunk Driving: Driving under the influence is a reckless act that puts thousands of innocent people at risk every day across the country, especially in South Carolina. We’ve witnessed the effects of DUI accidents, and know they often leave victims and their families with life-changing injuries and devastating financial loss. If you’ve been the victim of a drunk driver, know that you have options and a right to civil justice.
- Speeding and Reckless Driving: The rules of the road are in place for a reason - to help keep our roads and interstates safe. When people choose to violate these rules and drive faster than the speed limit or fly through red lights, they are violating South Carolinians’ right to safety. Drivers who cause car wrecks by excessive speeding, tailgating, and illegal passing should be held accountable.
No matter the cause of your accident, whether it was texting and driving, or a reckless driver who chose to drive after consuming multiple drinks at a bar, our team at the Law Office of Kenneth Berger will put forth every effort to hold the at-fault driver accountable.
What You Should Do After a Car Accident
Let's be honest - there are a lot of entities that see dollar signs after someone gets injured. Medical providers are prone to run up big bills, loan companies want to exploit you, and lawyer billboards all over Columbia and Richland County are constantly pushing you to call for fast cash.
I do not have commercials or billboards. I write books and pride myself on keeping clients informed. Regardless of whether we ever meet for a free consultation, I want to make sure you - and all auto accident victims - are also aware of a few key points so that your rights are protected in the wake of a crash:
1. You do not have to provide the at-fault driver's insurance company with recorded statements or records authorizations.
Following a collision, the negligent driver's insurer may try to convince you that providing a statement or signing a HIPAA release is in your best interest. That is rarely the case and is one of several common mistakes people make after a car accident in South Carolina.
More often, they will use your recorded statement to minimize your degree of injury, then request your entire medical history in hopes of finding some remote record from years ago that lets them argue you had "pre-existing conditions." One benefit of having an auto accident attorney is not having to deal with insurance adjusters or their gimmicks.
2. If you have health insurance, all medical bills from your wreck should be submitted to your insurer.
Hospitals and other medical groups in the Columbia area frequently tell patients they cannot use health insurance to pay for treatment related to a car accident. That is simply untrue, and borders on illegality. Likewise, if your own health insurance company tries to convince you not to submit a claim, and rather pay it with money recovered from the wreck, do not listen.
3. You only need an auto accident lawyer in certain situations.
Not every car crash warrants legal representation. Simply put, if hiring a car accident lawyer is going to result in less money and more hardship for you, then don't do it. On the other hand, if you have sustained a significant injury, missed time from work, have concerns over the wreck's impact on your future health, are being mistreated by the insurance companies, or have medical bills greater than the negligent driver's insurance limits, then I certainly recommend consulting with a car accident attorney before entering into any negotiations or settlement.
4. The negligent driver's insurance policy may not be your only source of recovery after a wreck.
This is extremely important. Many of the catastrophic auto accidents my law firm has handled involved situations where the negligent driver only had minimum limits coverage. In South Carolina, that means $25,000.00. So, what do you do if your medical expenses or lost earnings exceed that figure?
First, we want to make sure there aren't any other insurance policies applicable to the driver. For instance, the driver may have been operating someone else's car at the time of the collision, allowing us to recover the coverage on that vehicle, plus the negligent driver's own car. Another example would be if the at-fault person was working when the wreck happened. In those situations, we may be able to seek recovery not only from the individual, but from the business for whom he was working.
Second, we need to check whether you have "underinsured motorist" coverage through your insurer. South Carolina law requires insurance carriers to offer it to you. If you have it, and your damages exceed the amount of money available from the negligent driver who hurt you, then an underinsured claim may be necessary. Additionally, there are some situations where you can "stack" your underinsured policies following a car wreck.
Third, if the car accident was caused by a drunk driver, the facts may permit a claim against the bar or restaurant that overserved him. This is known as a dram shop action, and we are currently handling several such cases in Columbia and other parts of South Carolina.
5. Personal injury settlements are tax free and should factor in every loss - past and future.
The money you receive in relation to your injuries is 100% tax free. The only exception is money specifically paid for punitive damages. Furthermore, South Carolina's auto accident laws are intended to place all your damages on one side of the scale, then ask how much a reasonable person would accept in return for what you have experienced. Some lawyers say you can't put a dollar figure on pain or mental anguish, but that is untrue. We assign dollar amounts to medical treatment, baseball tickets, or a piece of art because we recognize it has value. As people, we also recognize there is value in being pain-free or unburdened by trauma.
People who have been involved in car wrecks - including my own stepmother - often experience problems many years later. I have watched her undergo multiple surgeries that would not have been necessary but for an auto accident when she was in college. I make this point as a reminder that any settlement or verdict must factor in not only what you have been through, but what you are more likely than not to endure in the future. We work with a number of experts in this area to help make sure clients are fully compensated for anticipated future hardships.
For more answers and guidance, call me today at 803-790-2800 or start a live chat with us right now. You are also welcome to request a free copy of my book, Safety First, Justice Always: Your Guide to South Carolina Auto Accident Law.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a South Carolina Auto Accident Lawyer
The attorneys at the Law Office of Kenneth E. Berger have years of experience handling South Carolina auto accident cases, and would be honored to help you and your family with the legal recovery process while you focus on healing. We offer free consultations and would be happy to answer your questions.
Our offices are conveniently located in Columbia and Myrtle Beach, and we have been proudly servicing clients throughout the surrounding areas. Contact us online today or call us at 803-790-2800 (Columbia, SC) / 843-427-2800 (Myrtle Beach, SC).