Life in South Carolina often revolves around our cars. They get us to work, to our families, and to those Friday night lights. But sometimes, things go wrong. A deer jumps out, traffic screeches to a halt, or maybe your attention wanders for just a second. Suddenly, you’re dealing with a car accident.
You’re left feeling rattled, maybe a little sore, and definitely overwhelmed. The insurance calls, the repair shop visits, the time away from work—it all piles up.
The personal injury lawyers at Johnson, Johnson, Whittle, Lancer, & Staggs has been helping people in Aiken and across South Carolina navigate these situations for years. We know the ins and outs of accident law, we deal with insurance companies every day, and we’re here to help you get back on your feet.
This guide will help you understand what steps to take after a car accident, what your rights are, and how to make the best decisions for your situation.
1. Ensure Safety and Call Emergency Services
It isn’t the easiest thing to do, but try to take a deep breath and assess the situation. The most important thing is to make sure everyone’s okay following a car accident. Check yourself for injuries, then check on any passengers in your car. Don’t forget to check on the people in the other vehicle too. If anyone’s hurt, call 911 immediately.
If it looks like a minor accident and everyone seems alright, try to move your cars out of the way of traffic—you don’t want to cause another accident. It’s a good idea to call the police and report it, even if the damage doesn’t seem too bad.
In South Carolina, you’re actually required to report accidents if someone’s injured, if there’s a fatality, or if there’s significant damage to property. Having an official report can be a lifesaver later on. And don’t try to be a hero. Don’t move your car if it seems unsafe, and always wait for the emergency responders if anyone is injured.
2. Gather Necessary Information
So, you’ve checked on everyone and called the police. Now it’s time to swap information with the other driver. Make sure you get their name, phone number, address, driver’s license number, insurance info, and vehicle registration.
And don’t forget about any witnesses. If someone saw what happened, get their name and how to reach them too. Their account of the car accident can really help determine who was at fault.
Before you leave the scene, take a minute to document everything. Grab your phone and snap some photos and videos. Get pictures of the damage to both cars, the area around the accident, any visible injuries, and even the weather conditions. The more evidence you have, the better off you’ll be when you’re dealing with the insurance companies or if you need to take legal action.
3. Seek Medical Attention
You might feel okay right after the car accident, but adrenaline can mask injuries. Something like whiplash might not even show up for a few hours, or even days. That’s why it’s important to get checked out by a doctor as soon as you can, even if you think you’re fine.
It’s not just about your health, it also creates a record of how you were doing right after the accident, which can be really important for insurance and legal procedures.
And remember, seeing a doctor once isn’t always enough. Make sure you follow their recommendations for any treatment or therapy you might need. Keep track of all your appointments, treatments, and medical expenses. Those records are going to be key if you need to build a case and get fair compensation for any injuries you have.
4. Notify Your Insurance Company of the Car Accident
After a car accident, you’ll want to call your insurance company pretty quickly. This isn’t about admitting you did anything wrong or getting into the nitty-gritty of what happened. It’s just letting them know something happened. Think of it as the first step.
You’ll need to give them some basic info like the date, time, and where the accident happened, and the names of everyone involved. But don’t give them a full statement yet until you’ve talked to a lawyer.
Remember, insurance adjusters are pros at gathering information that could help their company avoid paying out as much as possible. It’s always best to have a legal expert on your side to make sure your rights are protected.
5. Understand South Carolina’s Fault-Based Insurance System
You might be thinking, “Okay, so the person who messed up pays for the damages.” Makes sense, right? But it’s not always that clear-cut. Sometimes it’s really hard to say exactly who’s to blame.
This is precisely why you must gather every bit of evidence you can at the scene—pictures, videos, witness statements—you name it. All this can really help show what actually happened and who was responsible for the car accident.
Having a good lawyer for a car accident claim is a real game-changer. They know the ins and outs of this system and can fight to make sure you’re treated fairly and get what you deserve.
6. Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer
Insurance companies aren’t your best friend after a car accident. Bear in mind that they protect their own interests, and those don’t always align with yours. For this reason, it pays to have someone on your side who can level the playing field.
At JJWLS, expect our Aiken personal injury lawyers to double as a translator, helping you decipher the complexities of insurance claims, medical jargon, and legal procedures. We’ll illuminate you about your options and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
And if the need arises, we won’t hesitate to bring your case to court and provide you with nothing but the best legal representation.
7. Avoid Common Mistakes
Car accidents can be really disorienting. You find yourself dealing with shock, maybe some pain, and a whole lot of uncertainty. Making mistakes is almost inevitable, especially when you’re not sure what to do.
One thing to keep in mind is to never admit fault. It doesn’t matter if you think you might be partially to blame. Even a simple “I’m sorry” can come back to bite you later. Leave the task of figuring out who’s responsible in the hands of the insurance adjusters and the court.
Also avoid the temptation of settling quickly. Getting an offer from the insurance company is something you should expect, but remember that this amount is almost always lower than what you actually deserve. You’ll be much better off consulting us first to understand the full extent of your damages.
Lastly, be prudent enough to track everything—medical bills, repair estimates, the police report, witness statements, any notes you take about conversations with the insurance company. All of this documentation plays a role in building a strong case for your car accident injuries.
Call the Best Personal Injury Lawyers in Aiken
Nobody ever wants to be in a car accident, but knowing the best way to respond can make all the difference. Remember to put your safety top of mind at all times, seek medical attention if needed, and collect pertinent information.
Once you’ve done all this, it’s time to call Johnson, Johnson, Whittle, Lancer, & Staggs. Reach out to us at (803) 649-5338 and one of our skilled personal injury lawyers will provide all the legal assistance you need.
