Proving Liability After a Multi-Vehicle Crash in Charleston, SC
Multi-vehicle collisions, especially at major crossroads such as I-26 and Route 17, often result in significant injuries and complex liability determinations. Unfortunately, available insurance is limited when one negligent driver causes a dangerous pileup accident in Charleston, S.C.
Immediately contact the experienced motor vehicle accident attorney at the Law Office of Mark C. Tanenbaum if you were injured in a mass casualty motor vehicle accident. Discuss your right to demand your fair share of available compensation with his multi-vehicle crash team today.
Damages Available After Charleston Chain-Reaction Crashes
South Carolina law permits injured plaintiffs to hold all liable parties responsible for their fair share of damages in certain circumstances. Available car accident compensation may include:
- Emergency room and ambulance expenses
- Surgical and hospitalization costs
- Medications and medical equipment
- Additional reasonable and necessary medical expenses
- Lost income and workplace benefits
- Physical pain
- Emotional suffering
- Inconvenience
- Lost enjoyment of life
Eligible plaintiffs may recover these costs for their past expenses and future anticipated losses. However, the amount of damages you can recover from each liable driver depends on how the insurers or the judge apportion fault.
Understanding South Carolina’s Shared Fault System
South Carolina has a fair but complex way of determining fault after multi-vehicle collisions under the Uniform Contribution Among Tortfeasors Act. You may generally recover damages from each liable driver, provided you are less than 51% liable for the crash and less liable than the other drivers.
If one driver, such as the initial driver who lost control and caused the chain-reaction accident, is more than 51% liable for the crash, you could demand all your personal injury damages from that driver alone. This shifts responsibility to the primarily negligent driver to recover a portion of the payout from other careless drivers. An experienced mass casualty accident lawyer might also calculate the full value of your damages and demand an appropriate portion of those damages based on each defendant’s liability.
Proving Shared Liability After Multi-Vehicle Collisions
Chain-reaction crashes often happen so quickly that even the drivers are not entirely sure who is to blame. Testimonies will vary, and proving fault in such cases requires a substantial body of evidence obtained by your personal injury law firm’s dedicated accident investigator. Acting quickly to contact legal counsel and preserve essential evidence is critical in these cases, as it allows investigators to gather the following:
- Police reports
- Witness testimonies
- CCTV footage
- Black box vehicle data
- Dashcam footage
- Photographs
Reputable car accident law firms in Charleston will work with experienced accident reconstruction specialists who can use this evidence to determine fault. Act quickly to preserve dash cam and black box footage after multi-vehicle collisions, as this is available for a short window in most newer and electric vehicles.
Charleston Chain-Reaction Car Crash Attorney
Do not wait to contact dedicated multi-vehicle accident lawyer Mark C. Tanenbaum immediately after a crash. Insurance reimbursement may be limited in mass casualty events, but you will face a fight for your right to fair financial compensation. Call (843) 577-5100 or connect with him online to schedule a free and confidential accident injury consultation.