Proving That You Didn’t Cause An Accident Might Be Harder Than You Think

Recently, we wrote about how data from your vehicle’s safety systems can provide critical information regarding your accident. While that data is important, it’s only one piece of the puzzle considered by accident reconstruction teams. These teams use a variety of tools to evaluate a crash scene and compare that data with the logs recovered from safety systems. When multiple vehicles are involved, the reports don’t always agree; when the answer isn’t clear, there is no substitute for experienced legal counsel.

How data can hurt

South Carolina is comparative negligence state; it means that you can pursue damages even if you were partially at fault in an accident. However, when the data comes in and a jury is asked to determine fault, the difference of a few percentage points could mean the difference between recovering your damages and losing your shirt.

 

Comparative negligence means that a plaintiff’s negligence cannot exceed a defendant’s negligence; in other words, if you were fully responsible for an accident, you can’t sue the person you hit. When more than two parties are involved, each party can be found to share some or none of the fault. This can and does get complicated quickly, but the short version means that you can recover damages from any party responsible for a greater degree of negligence than your own.

Accident reconstruction has come a long way; so long, in fact, that it is now routinely used in traffic court. Getting your car inspected immediately after an accident is vital; it can protect you and your family in court. However, the results aren’t infallible. Numbers are impartial, and can be interpreted in different ways depending on intention; an experienced South Carolina auto accident attorney can help you tell the real version of what happened and get you the compensation you need.

Auto accidents can lead to long-term injuries and suffering. We know how to build a successful case for clients who have sustained injuries in a collision. For a free consultation with the South Carolina auto accident attorney at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, call 803-327-7800 or contact us today.

 

 

 

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