INJURED IN A MYRTLE BEACH AUTO ACCIDENT? KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Whether you live in the Myrtle Beach area as a full-time resident, or you are one of millions of annual visitors to the area, it’s no secret that Myrtle Beach’s highways can get crowded and at times dangerous. In today’s world, distractions abound more than ever – drivers are texting or looking at their phones for maps, directions, attractions or places to eat. Combine distracted drivers with being a tourist town and you’ll find mopeds, golf carts, other non-traditional vehicles and pedestrians on the roadways which present an additional risk for car accidents. Typical accidents range from rear-end collisions, T-bone types of accidents at intersections or improper and sudden lane changes that can cause a vehicle to leave the roadway. Unfortunately, injuries can range from whiplash to more serious trauma, including death.
The Stanley Law Firm – Myrtle Beach Auto Accident Attorneys
If you are injured in a Myrtle Beach accident or anywhere along the communities of the Grand Strand, it is important to seek aid and also follow important steps to protect your rights. For example, many people consider whiplash a minor effect of being hit from behind that doesn’t cause permanent damage. The truth is whiplash can cause significant long term damage and a rear-ended accident victim should go to the nearest hospital to get an accurate diagnosis which could include tissue damage or broken bones. Be aware that defects in automobile components or the highway itself can cause accidents. Even if you are in a single vehicle wreck, it is important to realize you may not be at fault.
The Myrtle Beach car accident attorneys at Stanley Law Firm have tried or settled cases from rear-end crashes to head-on collisions to tire failure resulting in a rollover accident, wrecks caused by defective roadways not constructed to proper standards, and accidents caused by DUI drivers.
While insurance companies try to make it seem like they are on your side, it’s no secret they will look to settle quick and pay you as little as possible. At the Stanley Law Firm, we fight for our client’s rights for fair compensation that will cover medical expenses, future health related issues and the long-term damage and effects an auto accident can cause. Since 2000, we have helped both tourists and local residents settle six figure and multi-million dollar auto accident claims to rightfully compensate them for their injuries.
What to do when you are injured
There are several steps you need to take when involved in an accident:
Immediate Steps
- Call 911
- Check on all drivers and passengers and provide immediate medical aid if necessary until help arrives
- Look for witnesses and ask for their information and, if possible, have them stay on site to report what they saw to police
- Get a full accident report and note the name and badge number of any police officers you speak with
- If possible, take pictures or video of the accident scene
- Preserve any dash or rear-cam video you may have
Secondary Steps
- Contact your insurance company to inform them of the accident and relative facts such as injuries and damage and turn-in the initial accident report (FR-10)
- Take pictures of the damage to your vehicle in the immediate aftermath
- Preserve any potential evidence related to the crash
- You may not feel immediate pain, especially in a rear-end crash but you should be seen by a physician. If you begin to feel pain, immediately go to the ER for a full post-crash evaluation
- Be sure to keep track of all medical records and payment receipts
- Keep track of how any injuries you have sustained have impacted your daily life. (Examples – time missed from work, activities you are unable to participate in, daily struggles with family life and any other negative effects compared to how you were before the crash)
Next Step – Contact an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney
Contact the Stanley Law Firm for a free case evaluation by phone at 843-390-9111 or through our secure online contact form.
What Not to Do
- Do not discuss the accident with anyone other than your attorney or your own insurance company
- Do not talk to the other party’s insurance company; refer them to your attorney
- Beware of the quick settlement offer from any insurance company. This can prohibit future claims from being made, especially when medical conditions can sometimes take weeks or months to be resolved or an initially non-diagnosed accident injury starts to flare-up
