Car Accident Attorney Near Me

According to the Department of Transportation, over 40,000 people are killed in car crashes each year, with millions more suffering life-altering injuries.  South Carolina has one of the highest accident death rates in the country, and motor vehicle collisions alone cost the state over $4 billion each year. 

As a former U.S. congressman for South Carolina, Joe Cunningham has spent years fighting to hold negligent drivers responsible for car accidents in the Charleston area. He’s recovered millions for his clients, often without charging them any upfront legal fees or out-of-pocket costs.

If you’re looking for a car accident attorney near me law firm, look no further than the client-first team at Joe Cunningham Law. Schedule a free and confidential auto accident consultation today by calling (843) 633-3360 or contacting us online. 

Most Dangerous Charleston Roadways 

Charleston is one of the nation’s leading destinations for domestic tourism. With a dedicated airport and mild climate, the streets are filled with both tourists and residents all year long. The most accident-prone roadways and intersections in Charleston include the following: 

• Route 17 (Savannah Highway) 
• Rivers Avenue 
• I-26
• Folly Road
• Dorchester Road 
• Ashley Phosphate Road 
• King Street and Calhoun Street Intersection 
• I-526
• Route 7 (Sam Rittenberg Blvd.) 

Accident rates are often higher at night and in tourist areas. While residents are familiar with local traffic rules and dangerous intersections, confused tourists looking for parking or attractions frequently contribute to devastating car crashes and pedestrian injuries in the French Quarter. 

The Benefits of Retaining a Local Car Accident Attorney

Clients maximize their financial recovery when they work with local counsel. Our law office has strong community ties and a better understanding of the local court system. We can immediately send accident investigators to the scene and have often handled similar crash cases on known dangerous roadways.

At Joe Cunningham Law, we’ve handled the following car accident cases in the Charleston area: 

• Rear-end collisions 
• Hit-and-runs 
• Intersection (T-bone) crashes 
• Highway merging accidents 
• Head-on collisions 
• Drunk driving accidents 
• Mass casualty crashes 
• Rental car collisions 
• Rideshare accidents 

Our recent motor vehicle accident cases have resulted in six-figure and seven-figure settlements. Don’t trust out-of-state attorneys or big-name inland law firms. Trust a car accident lawyer near you with proven results for Charleston residents. 

Injuries Commonly Associated with Motor Vehicle Collisions 

Car accidents are a leading cause of preventable injuries, especially among young people. Our local legal team works with clients suffering from the following accident-related injuries and conditions: 

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Motor vehicle accidents account for approximately 30% of all traumatic brain injuries in the United States, which includes everything from mild concussions to brain death. Car crash TBIs often have higher fatality rates. 
• Paralysis: Significant damage to the spine and central nervous system impairs the brain’s ability to send commands to the rest of your body. Depending on the damaged area, this can result in paraplegia or quadriplegia. 
• Slipped Discs/Back Pain: Back and neck pain, often from herniated discs and whiplash, are common auto accident injuries. Multiple herniations often result in mobility limitations, as many patients struggle to perform activities of daily living. We often work with car accident victims suffering from debilitating back and neck pain at Joe Cunningham Law. 
• Burns: Car fires burn hot and quick, often leaving innocent victims trapped in burning vehicles. Third-degree burns and smoke inhalation injuries after high-speed accidents on I-526 and I-26 may necessitate expensive hospital care, skin grafts, and reconstructive surgery. 
• Amputations/Fractures: Many car accidents result in serious fractures, depending on the striking vehicle’s speed and weight. Complex broken bones, especially in the arms and legs, might necessitate amputation because the limb is too damaged to save. 
• Miscarriage/Fetal Damage: The force associated with rear-end and high-speed motor vehicle collisions can trigger late-term miscarriages or early labor. Both mothers and their injured unborn children might be entitled to significant damages for their physical and emotional wounds. 

Our dedicated car accident attorney near you can recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering following a life-altering motor vehicle accident in Charleston, SC. 

Holding Liable Parties Accountable for Car Accidents in Charleston 

More than one party may be held accountable for your car accident injuries. At Joe Cunningham Law, we thoroughly investigate every aspect of your case to uncover fault and maximize available damages. Consider which of the following individuals or entities may bear responsibility for your car accident injuries: 

The Other Driver 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that human error (especially distracted driving) causes between 80-94% of all car crashes. Most car accident claims involve driver negligence, which often includes: 

• Cell phone use 
• Speeding 
• Unsafe lane changes 
• Following too closely 
• Drunk driving 
• Drowsy driving 
• Failure to yield 
• Running red lights and stop signs 

A car accident lawyer near you can file an insurance claim for damages with the liable driver’s auto insurance company or sue the driver for negligence in civil court. 

The Vehicle Owner/Driver’s Employer 

Under South Carolina liability laws, vehicle owners and employers of “on duty” drivers are automatically liable for injuries the driver negligently causes. Vehicle owners are ultimately responsible for maintaining mandatory bodily injury insurance ($25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident). Employers often carry higher commercial insurance and umbrella liability policies, increasing the value of your car accident injury claims in appropriate cases. 

Rental Car Companies 

Confused and intoxicated tourists visiting Charleston contribute to a significant number of car accidents in the city. If the other driver was operating a rental vehicle, the rental car company may be liable for your injuries. 

Bars, Restaurants, and Party Boat Operators 

Because of Charleston’s thriving nightlife, an experienced drunk driving accident lawyer might hold local bars, restaurants, and booze cruise operators liable for certain car accidents.

South Carolina Code § 61-4-580 prohibits establishments from knowingly serving alcohol to persons under 21 or to intoxicated individuals. For example, say that party yacht employees continuously serve drinks to a patron over a three-hour river tour. If that drunk patron causes an auto accident while returning to the hotel, the boat ownership and management companies may be held partially accountable. 

Rideshare Companies (Uber and Lyft) 

Complicated liability laws apply to accidents involving an Uber or Lyft. If you were struck by a rideshare driver or injured during a rideshare, discuss recovering damages under South Carolina’s Transportation Network Company Act, S.C. Code §§ 58-23-1610, et seq., with our car accident attorney near you. 

Damages Available to Car Crash Victims and Families in South Carolina 

At Joe Cunningham Law, we fight to hold every liable party accountable for car crashes in Charleston. This requires a detailed understanding of your personal injury recovery rights after a motor vehicle accident. In most cases, eligible claimants (or their family members) may request the lifetime value of the following direct and indirect damages: 

• Medical Expenses: These include all reasonable and necessary past and future medical costs, including doctors’ bills, hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation expenses, nursing fees, medications, medical transportation, and medical equipment. 
• Lost Wages and Benefits: Eligible claimants are entitled to the value of their direct lost wages, such as missed work, as well as lost earning capacity. These awards may include damages for lost overtime, healthcare benefits, pension contributions, and even paid vacations.
• Pain and Suffering: Car accident victims may demand the estimated value of the emotional suffering, physical pain, lost enjoyment of life, frustration, and inconvenience associated with their injuries. 
• Loss of Spousal Companionship: Spouses of accident victims might demand compensation for lost spousal privileges and loss of companionship. 
• Punitive Damages: Though rarely available in car accident cases, some drunk driving crashes or those involving serious criminal conduct might support an additional financial judgment directly from the defendant (not insurers). 

Joe Cunningham’s background as a former U.S. congressman drives him to fight for every penny for car accident victims throughout Charleston. This is especially true when taking on high-value insurance companies and powerful corporations. Discuss the value of your claim with a trusted car accident lawyer near you today. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accident Cases 

Our experienced team often receives the following common questions from car accident clients in the Charleston area. 

Who is responsible for my car accident injuries, including medical bills and lost wages? 

This depends on who is at fault for the crash. Liability can be shared between multiple parties, and reputable local attorneys will fight to hold dangerous drivers accountable for their actions. In most cases, the negligent driver’s auto insurance company eventually settles your medical, lost wage, and physical suffering claims. Your personal health or disability insurer may cover the initial expenses while litigation proceeds.  

How much can I get after my car accident? 

This depends on liability, your injury, and available insurance. Serious injuries, such as TBIs and paralysis, often result in higher medical and lost wage claims. However, most cases are practically limited to the defendant’s available resources and insurance coverage. You can schedule a free case evaluation with Joe Cunningham Law to discuss the estimated value of your case. 

Can I still recover damages if I was partially at fault for the crash? 

Yes, South Carolina law allows car accident victims to recover financial damages from at-fault parties even if they were partially at fault for the crash. You must generally have been less than 50% responsible for the accident to demand compensation in such cases. Your overall financial recovery may be reduced, but this depends on the specific facts of your case. A local personal injury attorney might help Charleston accident victims untangle liability and recover compensation even if they shared some responsibility for the crash.    

How long does it take to settle car accident claims in South Carolina? 

It’s very difficult to determine how long it will take to settle a car accident claim in the Charleston area. This depends on various factors, including the nature of the accident, available insurance, injuries, and contested liability. 

It might take years to settle challenging pile-up accident cases or those involving contested liability. However, our attorneys can settle small claims early in the recovery process or demand quick full policy payouts a few months after the crash. We can provide you with a more detailed settlement timeline during your free consultation. 

What should I do if the negligent driver fled the scene? 

Contacting the police and then legal counsel immediately after a hit-and-run accident can give officers and law firm investigators a better chance of tracking down the criminal driver. Dash cam footage, doorbell cameras, cell phone videos, and local security cameras might all have captured the license plate. If the driver fled the scene and cannot be located quickly, a hit-and-run car crash lawyer near you can recover comparable damages from your uninsured motorist policy. These rights may extend to pedestrians, cyclists, and immediate family members. 

How much does it cost to retain a car accident attorney near me? 

It costs you nothing out of pocket to retain a dedicated personal injury lawyer from Joe Cunningham Law. His experienced auto accident team accepts most viable cases on a contingency fee basis. This means he takes a minority portion of any eventual financial recovery as his fee only after your claim settles or he wins at trial. 

Further, his firm leverages its resources to fight powerful insurers on behalf of innocent car crash victims. This allows his legal team to maximize the financial recovery rights of clients without significant resources. 

Contact Our Experienced Charleston Car Accident Attorney Near Me Law Firm

No case is too small at Joe Cunningham Law. Whether you need help filing a claim for vehicle damage, understanding South Carolina liability laws, or demanding financial compensation after major car crash, you can trust the legal team with a proven history of public service. 

Schedule a free and confidential case evaluation with our local car accident attorney near me law firm. Call our Charleston office at (843) 633-3360 or connect with us online.