Highway car accidents are especially dangerous. From our experienced Greenville car accident lawyer at Bobby Jones Law, here’s why highway collisions can be especially catastrophic and what you can recover in your Greenville, SC claim.
Why Are Highway Car Accidents More Dangerous Than Surface Road Crashes in SC?
There are several reasons that car accidents on highways are especially dangerous.
High forces. Highway accidents tend to involve higher speeds. The forces of a crash don’t correlate 1:1 with speed. Instead, forces increase greatly as speed increases. Speeds may only double as speeds increase, but kinetic energy may quadruple. These higher forces mean more trauma to the body and more vehicle destruction.
Vehicle size differentials. Commercial trucks travel on highways more often than on back roads. That means highway car accidents are more likely to involve differences in vehicle size. When a semitruck strikes a passenger vehicle, the car is likely to sustain significant damage.
Crash physics. Highway collisions may be especially likely to result in a rollover or multiple-vehicle crash. The result can be severe injuries.
Safety features. Today’s vehicles have sophisticated safety features. Airbags, crumple zones, seat belt designs, safety cages, and other safety features are less effective at preventing injury in high-speed collisions.
What Are the Most Dangerous Highways in Greenville, SC for Car Accidents?
Here are some of the most dangerous highways in Greenville, SC, for car accidents:
Interstate 85. A popular commuting corridor and freight route in the Greenville-Spartanburg area.
Interstate 185. Including the South Connector Toll Road.
Interstate 385. An auxiliary spur of I-85 that terminates on the edge of downtown Greenville.
U.S. 25. Runs through Greenville, SC, and Greenville County.
U.S. 276. A Greenville route that reduces to two lanes in Travelers Rest, with significant elevation changes.
U.S. 29. A north-south highway that reaches a six-lane configuration in places.
U.S. 276. Through downtown Greenville, on Laurens Road to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Any highway can be dangerous. Speed, heavy traffic, road design, and poor vehicle maintenance are just some of the factors that can make highways risky.
What Catastrophic Injuries Are Most Common in Greenville Highway Car Accidents?
Common catastrophic injuries in Greenville highway car accidents include:
- Brain trauma
- Paralysis
- Mobility impairment
- Disfigurement
- Broken bones
- Major organ damage
- Whiplash
- Mental health injury
- Loss of sight or hearing
- Wrongful death
Because highway crashes are often severe, it’s common for a victim to have co-occurring serious injuries.
Who Is Liable for a Car Accident on a Highway in South Carolina?
Liability for a car accident on a highway in South Carolina is based on negligence. Driving is serious business. If it’s not done carefully, it can be dangerous. Everyone involved in motor vehicle travel has a duty to be careful on the roads.
The duty starts with motor vehicle operators. Drivers must follow traffic laws and obey the speed limit. They must adjust their driving to road conditions and traffic levels. Many car crashes on highways are caused by driving errors. For example, a driver may not leave enough following distance or may change lanes when it’s unsafe.
Fault doesn’t stop with vehicle drivers. A trucking company may be liable for hiring unqualified drivers. They may be liable for improperly shipping dangerous goods. Hours violations for drivers could also create liability.
Even a government agency could be liable for road maintenance. A motor vehicle manufacturer could be liable for a manufacturing defect.
Fault may be shared. It might not be obvious right after the crash. The police report may not accurately determine fault in a highway accident. You should conduct your own investigation. An experienced highway car accident attorney can help.
How Is Fault Proven in a High-Speed Highway Accident in Greenville, SC?
You may rely on a combination of witness testimony, accident reconstruction, vehicle inspection, vehicle design analysis, images, and photographs to prove fault in a highway accident. Most of the work in winning a highway accident claim takes place long before the trial date. You must prove fault and prepare evidence for your case.
Bobby Jones Law is a law firm that handles high-speed highway accident claims. We handle all the steps to prove the case.
How Do Multi-Vehicle Highway Pileups Affect Liability in SC?
Multi-vehicle highway accidents can be especially complex. Fault may be shared. Damages may be high, and there may be multiple victims.
The same principles of negligence apply to a factual scenario that can be complex. You must sort out fault by applying South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence system.
More from Bobby Jones Law: South Carolina Comparative Negligence and Injury Claims
Why Highway Car Accident Cases Involve Higher Settlement Values in South Carolina
Highway accident cases generally involve higher settlement values in South Carolina for two reasons. First, they tend to be more serious accidents, meaning more severe injuries, financial losses, and suffering. Second, highway collisions are more likely to involve commercial drivers. That means larger insurance policies and a greater likelihood of having personal resources to pay compensation.
What To Do Immediately After a Highway Car Accident in Greenville, SC
When a highway accident occurs in Greenville, SC, start with your immediate safety. Stay away from traffic hazards. Call emergency responders if there is a possibility of injury. Help the injured first. Everything else can wait.
Injuries may be severe, even if you think you’re ok. The stress of a crash can mask injuries at first, even when they are serious.
Make sure the police respond to document the accident. If you’re a driver, you’re required to call the police. If you’re not a driver, make sure someone calls the police, even if you have to call yourself.
Ask someone to document the scene if you can’t. Take photographs and videos of everything. Get driver, vehicle, and company information. Get witness contact information.
Why Greenville Highway Car Accident Victims Need Experienced Legal Representation
Greenville highway car accidents can be serious. Victims need financial help and compensation for pain and suffering.
Having a lawyer can give you a level playing field in your claim.
Bobby Jones Law is a Greenville highway car accident lawyer. Call or message us now.
