What to Do After a Car Accident in Charleston
If you or a loved one have been hurt in a car accident, you may be entitled to substantial financial compensation. At The Hartman Law Firm, we know the next steps can be daunting and confusing. That’s why we offer free consultations to help you decide how to move forward after an injury.
If you are not sure if you have a case, call us for a 20-minute free consultation, and we can guide you on your next steps. The sooner you speak with an experienced Charleston car accident lawyer after your accident, the better. Your time to pursue compensation is limited, and important evidence can be lost or destroyed as time passes. You can take the first step right now by calling 843-300-7600 or filling out our contact form.
Car Accidents in Charleston, SC
A few years ago, Charleston made a national list of the most dangerous cities for drivers. Though the city’s rating has improved somewhat, a 2025 report from Allstate says motorists in Charleston are 15% more likely to crash than the national average.
Why It Helps to Talk to a Local Charleston Car Accident Lawyer
After a crash, many people feel overwhelmed by medical bills, insurance calls, and uncertainty about what to do next. You do not have to navigate this alone. Attorney Frank Hartman has been representing car accident victims in and around Charleston for decades. He knows the law, understands how a successful car accident case is built, and has extensive experience with the local court system and the insurance company lawyers who routinely practice in this area.
Frank takes time to listen to your story, explain how South Carolina car accident law applies to your situation, and help you understand the best steps to protect yourself. His goal is to give you clarity, confidence, and support during a difficult time.
Types of Charleston Car Accident Cases We Handle
Every crash is different. Understanding the type of accident you were involved in can help identify who may be responsible and what compensation may be available. The Hartman Law Firm handles a wide range of accident types, including:
- Distracted driving accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Rear-end accidents
- Uber and Lyft rideshare accidents
- Speeding-related accidents
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist accidents
If your situation does not fit neatly into one of these categories, that’s okay — Frank can evaluate what happened and help you understand exactly where your case stands under South Carolina law.
Charleston Car Accident Statistics
According to the most recent edition of the South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book, Charleston County had the second-highest number of traffic crashes in the state–16,118. The county also came in at #3 for traffic fatalities, with 70 deaths. And Charleston County had more traffic crashes involving injury than any other county in South Carolina–3,784 in a single year, or more than 10 each day.
Nearly all of these traffic accidents were avoidable. While weather conditions and other external factors can increase the risk, most collisions could be prevented if drivers obeyed speed limits and other traffic laws, refrained from driving under the influence and kept close attention on the road.
If someone else’s wrongful actions caused your injury, you can hold them accountable and pursue financial compensation for your losses. When you hire Frank as your car accident attorney, he will work to get you what you deserve.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Charleston
If you think Charleston streets are more dangerous today than they used to be, it is not your imagination. Drivers are more distracted, rushed, and inattentive than ever.
Contributing factors to car accidents in Charleston include:
- Distracted driving, including cellphone use
- Aggressive driving
- Excessive tailgating
- Fatigued driving
- Inexperienced drivers
- Inclement weather
- Failure to check blind spots
- Illegal turns
- Running stop signs or red lights
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
Common Types of Car Accidents:
- Rideshare accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Hit-and-run accidents
- Rear-end accidents
Common Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents can cause a wide range of injury types, from minor scrapes and bruises to traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury. Some of the most common types of injuries in motor vehicle accidents include:
- Cuts and lacerations from broken glass
- Whiplash
- Other soft tissue injuries, such as sprains and strains
- Broken bones, especially wrists, arms and legs
- Head trauma
- Organ damage and/or internal bleeding
- Back injury
Some car accident injuries are relatively minor and heal in a few weeks. Others are serious, and may cause permanent damage. If you have suffered a car accident injury that prevents you from working or going about your normal daily activities, you should speak with an experienced car accident attorney in Charleston right away. You should never accept a settlement offer from an insurance company before you have a solid understanding of the extent of your injuries and your future accident-related expenses and earning capacity.
A seasoned Charleston car accident attorney like Frank Hartman can help you avoid missteps that could hurt your claim or reduce your compensation.
The Role of Fault in a South Carolina Car Accident
In South Carolina, the driver who was at fault is responsible for paying for the injuries others suffer. The primary way to prove fault is by showing that the driver was negligent.
- The driver owed you a duty of care
- They violated that duty
- You suffered an injury
- The injury would not have occurred without their actions
In South Carolina, all drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles carefully and responsibly, so as to avoid harm to other people or their property. That duty includes following traffic safety laws. So, a driver who has caused or contributed to an accident by speeding, driving under the influence, driving when they are too tired to drive safely, running a stop sign or otherwise taking chances on the road will typically be found at least partly liable. In some cases, there may be more than one responsible party.
To prove fault, you need evidence showing what happened before the crash. Insurance companies may try to blame you to reduce or deny your compensation — another reason to work with an experienced car accident attorney in Charleston from the beginning.
Who Is Liable for a Car Accident in South Carolina?
In most cases, one of the drivers involved in the crash is responsible. However, liability may be more complicated. For example, it may be that two or more people or entities contributed to the crash. For instance, one driver may have run a red light, but the other may have been unable to stop quickly enough to avoid the crash because they were speeding. Sometimes, someone who wasn’t even involved in the collision may be responsible, or share responsibility.
Other potentially responsible parties include:
- The vehicle manufacturer (product defects)
- Government agencies (unsafe road conditions)
- Third parties who caused you to lose control
- Vehicle owners who negligently loaned their cars
- Employers of on-duty drivers
It can be very difficult to assemble the evidence you need to prove liability without an experienced Charleston car accident attorney on your side. When you hire Frank, he will investigate the circumstances of your accident, identify all responsible parties, and gather all available evidence to support your case.
Why Hire Car Accident Attorney Frank Hartman?
The best way to pursue compensation for your injuries is to hire an experienced car wreck attorney in Charleston as early in the process as possible. Frank brings years of experience representing Charleston families and understands how these cases work from start to finish.
Whether you were injured on a major highway or a neighborhood street, your case is personal to us. We are committed to securing justice for you.
The Role of the Insurance Company in a Car Accident Claim
Insurance companies are not judges or juries — they are businesses focused on maximizing profits by minimizing payouts. Their decisions do not control your legal rights.
However, the responsible driver’s insurance carrier will likely be looking for ways to avoid paying your claim, or to reduce the amount of money you receive. That may mean:
- Claiming the accident was your fault when it was not, or was only partly your fault
- Trying to get you to accept a quick, lowball settlement by claiming they want to get the claim wrapped up as quickly as possible for your benefit
- Drawing you into conversation to try to get you to say something they can take out of context and use against you
As your personal injury lawyer, Frank knows how to push back when insurers refuse to do the right thing. He is not afraid to use every legal tool available to secure a fair settlement.
Compensation for Your Car Accident Injuries
When you’ve been injured in a car accident that was someone else’s fault, that person is legally responsible for your damages. Typically, it is the responsible driver’s auto insurance carrier that pays damages. If the driver is uninsured or has insufficient insurance, you may also have a claim directly against the driver. However, many drivers lack the financial resources to pay a claim directly.
If you are unable to recover full compensation due to limited or no auto insurance coverage, you may be entitled to compensation under your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
Some of the most common types of damages awarded in Charleston car accident cases include:
Damages may include:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional distress
The settlement process is a negotiation. Insurance companies rarely offer what victims truly deserve at first. Frank is a skilled negotiator who will fight for a fair outcome.
How Long Does it Take to Settle a Charleston Car Accident Case?
The time required to settle a South Carolina car accident claim depends on a wide variety of factors. It can take as little as a few months, or as long as a few years. Some of the factors that impact the settlement timeline include:
- How long it takes the injured person to complete medical treatment and reach maximum expected recovery
- The amount of money at stake
- How clear liability is and whether the injured person may be partly at fault
- How complicated the medical issues are and how difficult it is to quantify damages
When you meet with auto accident attorney Frank Hartman, he can give you an estimate of how long cases similar to yours have taken to settle in the past and what variables are likely to affect your timeline.
What To Do Immediately after a Charleston Car Accident
What you do right after your car accident can have a big impact on both your health and your car accident claim. Here are some key steps you should take:
- Assess yourself for injuries and make a decision about whether you can safely get out of the car and move to a safer location
- If you are able to move around safely, check to see whether anyone else requires medical assistance
- Call 911 – most South Carolina car accidents must be reported to police, and dialing 911 will allow you to ask for police and medical assistance at the same time
- If you and the other driver are both able to do so, exchange insurance information
- If you can do so safely, take pictures or video of the accident scene and collect contact information from any witnesses
- Seek medical attention right away–if you’re not sure whether your injuries require treatment, err on the side of caution and get checked out
- As soon as you have a chance, write down everything you recall about the accident and how it happened – as the trauma fades, so will your memory
- Consult an experienced auto accident attorney in Charleston as soon as possible – ideally before you speak with the insurance company
When you talk with your Charleston car accident attorney, they will give you more specific information about how to protect your claim as you move forward.
Call Hartman Law: The Trusted & Experienced Highly Rated Car Accident Attorney in Charleston, SC
Call Frank when you need compassionate and committed legal representation. Take the first step by submitting our online form or calling us at 843.300.7600.
During your free consultation, Frank will learn more about your case and help you understand your options. You pay nothing unless we win your case.