The Myrtle Beach, SC, metropolitan area is home to almost 400,000 residents, with millions of tourists visiting Myrtle Beach annually. As one of the nation’s fastest-growing areas, Myrtle Beach is a prime destination, and more visitors mean more drivers on the roads
Unfortunately, distracted driving accidents are all too common, leaving those injured facing medical treatment and mounting bills while unable to work during their recovery. Most of these accidents could be avoided if the driver were paying attention. If you were hurt in a distracted driving accident, you may qualify for compensation. Our Myrtle Beach distracted driving car accident lawyers can help.
What Are Driving Distractions?
Anything that prevents drivers from keeping their eyes on the road, both hands on the steering wheel, and their minds focused on driving is a distraction. These can be visual, manual, or cognitive distractions; some things fall under all three categories.
Common distractions include:
- Hands-on use of cell phones or other electronic devices (e.g. texting)
- Interacting with passengers or pets
- Eating, drinking, or smoking
- Daydreaming or mentally rehearsing or reliving conversations
- Searching for loose objects in the vehicle
South Carolina also considers driving while fatigued to be distracted driving. Any of these actions increase the likelihood of causing an accident.
Your distracted driving accident attorney can investigate your crash and help you prove that the driver who caused your accident was distracted.
Why Is Distracted Driving So Dangerous?
The dangers of distracted driving are due primarily to delayed driver reactions and vehicle stopping distances. Distracted drivers aren’t prepared to make split-second decisions, but situations on the road can change in the blink of an eye, requiring drivers to take immediate action. With the possibility of pedestrians or animals darting into the road, brake lights ahead, and large potholes, drivers must be ready to react quickly to avoid accidents.
Driving reactions involve several steps. First, the driver must realize something is happening that requires action. Next, they must decide which action to take, such as braking or making steering adjustments. After deciding on an action, drivers have to initiate the action.
While all of these steps might only take a few seconds, it also takes more time for the vehicle to respond. Seconds count when trying to avoid a collision.
Traveling at 65 mph, an average car typically needs 316 feet and around five seconds to come to a complete stop. Large trucks at the same speed need 525 feet.
To put this in context, reading or sending a text takes approximately five seconds. Would you drive the length of a football field with your eyes closed? Most people wouldn’t, but drivers who text are essentially doing so. A lot can happen during that time and in that space, including causing accidents.
Does Myrtle Beach Have Texting While Driving Laws?
Particularly among teen drivers, texting is a constant temptation. However, states around the country, including South Carolina, have cracked down on texting while driving. SC laws make it illegal to type, send, or read text-based communications while driving in most circumstances.
A law enforcement officer responding to a distracted accident scene may issue a citation to the distracted driver. If this distracted driver caused an accident and you were injured as a result, you could pursue compensation with the assistance of a distracted driving accident lawyer from the Maguire Law Firm.
Do Distracted Driving Accidents Happen Often in Myrtle Beach?
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Traffic Collision Fact Book for 2021, there were 4,612 crashes in Horry County. Distracted driving was a listed contributing factor in 11 serious injury collisions, 159 other injury crashes, and 477 property damage-only accidents. Distracted driving that went unnoted likely played a part in additional accidents as well.
As more people move to and visit the Myrtle Beach metro area, the dangers of distracted driving accidents continue to mount. Finding a competent distracted driving lawyer is important to boost your chances of a favorable outcome to your claim.
Was Your Myrtle Beach Car Accident Caused by Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving is a form of negligence, and negligence is the basis for most personal injury claims. In the legal context, negligence means acting differently than reasonable people would act in the same situation.
To hold a distracted driver financially accountable for their negligent behavior, you need concrete evidence proving that:
- Someone owed you a duty of care. When someone drives a motor vehicle, they have a legal responsibility to take reasonable precautions and follow safe driving practices to reduce the likelihood of causing an accident.
- That party breached their duty of care. By driving with distractions, the person wasn’t driving safely.
- You sustained injuries in the accident.
- The breach directly caused your injuries and associated damages. The distracted driver caused an accident, and your injuries, financial damages, and impacts on your quality of life were a direct result of that accident.
You may not have the resources necessary to conduct an investigation to uncover the evidence you’ll need to make the liable driver pay. Your Maguire Law Firm distracted driving accident lawyer does.
What If You Share Responsibility With the Distracted Driver?
Multiple parties can share fault for a car accident, and every state in the U.S. has laws to cover these situations.
Negligence laws determine whether you can seek compensation and how much you can receive. State laws vary significantly, but you must follow the laws of the state where your distracted driving accident happened.
In South Carolina, you are eligible to file a personal injury claim as long as you aren’t more than 51% at fault, but there’s a catch. You should expect a reduction in your payout by the same percentage of fault.
For example, if you are 20% at fault, the maximum amount of compensation you might obtain is 80% of the total.
An accurate fault assessment is crucial to protect your right to reasonable compensation. You may not know how to counter an insurance company’s allegation that you bear an undeserved degree of fault, and that can cost you money.
How Can a Myrtle Beach Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer Help?
There are many intricacies in handling personal injury claims effectively. When you hire the Maguire Law Firm to represent you, your legal team will make the process as easy as possible for you while fighting to obtain a maximum payout for you.
We will explain vital information and your legal options during your free consultation. We will complete and submit case-related paperwork, handle all communications with insurance companies on your behalf, investigate your accident, gather evidence to support your claim and work toward negotiating a fair settlement offer. If necessary, we may recommend filing a civil lawsuit and taking your case to trial.
Did you know that people with legal representation usually receive substantially higher payouts? That’s because we know all the applicable laws and how they affect your case. We also understand the many ways in which insurance companies may attempt to avoid paying you and how to overcome these obstacles.
Why Should You Contact a Distracted Driving Accident Lawyer From the Maguire Law Firm?
Ian D. Maguire, the founder of our personal injury law firm, has decades of experience handling cases like yours.
Our attorneys have helped other personal injury claimants obtain millions of dollars through our persistence, extensive legal knowledge, and dedication to advocating for your rights.
We don’t charge any upfront fees, and you won’t pay fees if we don’t recover compensation on your behalf. Contact an award-winning distracted driving accident lawyer from the Maguire Law Firm 24/7 to request your confidential case review. We will discuss your case, explain your options, and help you decide what to do. When you’re injured in Myrtle Beach, hire Maguire.
