Staying Safe While Driving in Winter Weather

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While snow is rare in South Carolina, sometimes, snowfall does occur. Snow, slush, and ice can make winter driving extremely dangerous, especially for drivers who have little experience in these conditions. The safest option, of course, is to stay off of the roads in winter weather. However, you can easily increase your safety on the roads by:

  • Slowing down
  • Keeping extra distance between yourself and other cars
  • Signaling early
  • Taking turns and lane changes slowly and steadily
  • Braking early and slowly
  • Keeping a safety kit in your vehicle in case of an accident
  • Ensuring that vehicle tires and fluids are properly filled

If you are involved in an accident due to snowy conditions, it is imperative that you reach out to our experienced car accident attorneys right away for legal guidance on what steps you need to take.

What to Do in a Charleston Car Accident

No matter how careful you are, winter weather accidents still happen. If you find yourself involved in an accident, first ensure that you and your passengers are safe and contact emergency services if needed, then:

  • Exchange information with any other involved drivers, including driver’s license numbers and insurance contracts
  • Photograph all injuries and damage to vehicles
  • Contact your insurance agent and provide as much information as possible
  • Report the accident to the police or Department of Motor Vehicles, as required by law.
  • Contact an experienced Charleston Car attorney to help you collect the compensation you deserve

Your primary concern after an accident should be safety, so do not exit your vehicle if you are not in a safe place to do so. Instead, wait for emergency services to arrive before attempting to gather information from other drivers involved.

 

Collecting Compensation

South Carolina utilizes modified comparative negligence in vehicle accident cases. This means that you cannot collect damages from another party involved in the accident unless you are determined to be 50 percent or less at fault for the accident.

In order to sue for personal injury and physical damages, you must be able to prove that the defendant caused the damages you are suing for. You will also need to provide proof to support the costs you used to help you calculate the number of damages, which can include:

  • Medical bills, including required future medical care
  • Lost wages, including future loss of wages
  • Repair or replacement costs for damaged property

The number of damages you can collect will vary depending on the degrees of fault assigned to the defendants. If, for example, you sue another driver involved in the accident and the courts find that driver to be 75 percent at fault, then you will collect 75 percent of the damages you are seeking from that defendant.

You can name multiple parties in your suit if the accident had multiple causes. Another driver’s lack of attention may have caused the accident, but if their vehicle malfunctioned in such a way that it contributed to the crash due to a manufacturer’s error, you can also name the manufacturer as a defendant.

 

Contact a Charleston Car Accident Attorney

South Carolina requires that suits related to vehicle accident injuries and damages must be filed within three years of the incident. Therefore, it is best to contact the experienced attorneys at David Aylor Law Offices right away to begin the process of claiming compensation for your injuries and property damage.

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