In the mid-2010s, many media organizations and government units began replacing the phrase “car accident” with “car crash.” The latter phrase better describes these incidents.
The A-word implies the incident was inevitable and unavoidable. But driver error causes over 98 percent of the vehicle collisions in South Carolina. This error is usually aggressive driving, like speeding, or impaired driving, like driving under the influence of alcohol. In most cases, speeding and alcohol consumption are personal choices. There is nothing unavoidable or inevitable about these things.
Furthermore, “accident” implies that the wreck was completely unintentional. People accidentally misplace their car keys. They don’t accidentally drive recklessly and cause crashes. Car accidents are not malicious, at least in most cases. However, they are certainly intentional in the sense that they’re preventable.
Evidence in Car Crash Claims
When few details about a car wreck are available, the police accident report, which is often the most important bit of evidence in a car crash claim, might be practically worthless. So, a Columbia personal injury lawyer must look elsewhere for the evidence needed to establish liability by a preponderance of the evidence, or more likely than not.
That process usually begins with locating additional witnesses. Frequently, only a handful of witnesses come forward immediately. For various reasons, most people don’t loiter at accident scenes, especially freeway accident scenes, so they can give official statements to police officers.
A Columbia personal injury attorney often works with a private investigator to locate additional witnesses. It doesn’t matter if the witness gives testimony that hurts the victim’s claim or if the witness only saw part of the crash.
Talking to potential adverse witnesses early on helps an attorney prepare for insurance company defenses. The better prepared attorneys are, the more likely it is that they can refute these defenses in court and obtain maximum compensation for victims.
As for witnesses who didn’t see the whole crash, these individuals might provide vital missing pieces to the puzzle.
Speaking of puzzle pieces, Event Data Recorder information often serves the same purpose. Almost all passenger vehicles have these gadgets, which resemble the black box flight data recorders in commercial jets.
Depending on the make and model, EDRs measure and record information like vehicle speed and steering angle. This vital evidence is often bulletproof in court. If the machine was working properly, a computer is never biased or incorrect. So, unlike people, EDRs always legally qualify to testify and always deliver compelling testimony.
Compensation in a car crash claim usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Partner With a Dedicated Richland County Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Columbia, contact the Marc Brown Law Firm. Attorneys can connect victims with doctors, even if they have no insurance or money.