Hurt in a Car Accident? Let Us Handle What Comes Next.
A crash can leave you with more than a damaged vehicle. You may be dealing with pain, medical appointments, missed work, mounting expenses, and calls from an insurance adjuster before you fully understand how the accident will affect you.
Sharpe & Leventis, LLC represents people injured in car accidents throughout Columbia and surrounding South Carolina communities. We investigate how the crash happened, identify who may be responsible, deal with insurance companies, document your losses, and build your claim around the facts.
When you hire our firm, Pat and Joe stay involved. Your case does not simply get passed down the line after you sign.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident in South Carolina?
01
Get Medical Attention
Your health comes first. Some injuries are obvious immediately, while others may become more noticeable hours or days later. Follow the treatment recommendations you receive and keep records related to your care.
02
Report the Crash
If someone is injured, contact law enforcement. South Carolina law requires immediate notice to law enforcement for crashes involving injury or death. Certain crashes that were not investigated by law enforcement may also require a written report to the state.
03
Preserve What You Can
If it is safe to do so, collect:
- Photos and videos of the vehicles and scene
- Contact and insurance information
- Names of witnesses
- The location and time of the crash
- Medical records and bills
- Receipts for accident-related expenses
- Records showing missed work
An official collision report can later be requested through the South Carolina DMV.
04
Be Careful With the Insurance Company
An adjuster may contact you quickly for a statement, medical authorization, or settlement discussion. You do not need to guess about what your claim is worth simply because the insurer wants an early answer.
05
Get Legal Advice Before Making Major Decisions
A free consultation can help you understand who may be responsible, which insurance coverage may apply, and what steps make sense based on your circumstances.
How Sharpe & Leventis Can Help After a Car Accident
A car accident claim can involve much more than exchanging insurance information.
Investigate the Crash
We review available police reports, photographs, video, witness information, vehicle evidence, and other relevant records to understand how the collision happened.
Identify Who Is Responsible
The other driver may be responsible, but some crashes involve additional parties. Determining liability is an important part of building the claim.
Document Your Losses
We look beyond the repair bill to understand how the crash affected your medical care, income, daily activities, and future needs.
Deal With the Insurance Companies
We handle communications related to the injury claim and respond when liability or the value of the claim is disputed.
Negotiate From the Evidence
A settlement demand should be supported by the facts of the collision and evidence of the losses caused by it.
Prepare for Litigation When Necessary
Not every case needs to go to court. But if a reasonable resolution cannot be reached, the case should be prepared with that possibility in mind.
Who May Be Responsible for a Car Accident?
The answer depends on what caused the crash. Potentially responsible parties can include:
Another Driver
For conduct such as speeding, distraction, impairment, following too closely, or failing to yield.
An Employer or Company
When a driver causes a crash while acting within the scope of employment, additional legal issues may arise.
A Vehicle or Parts Manufacturer
If a defective vehicle or component contributed to the accident or injuries.
Another Responsible Person or Entity
Some collisions involve several contributing causes, making a thorough investigation particularly important.
Claims involving governmental entities can follow different procedures and deadlines, so those cases should be evaluated individually.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Many collisions are preventable. Common causes include:
- Distracted driving
- Texting or using a phone behind the wheel
- Speeding
- Driving too fast for conditions
- Drunk or drug-impaired driving
- Following too closely
- Failure to yield
- Unsafe lane changes
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Fatigued driving
- Reckless or aggressive driving
The cause of a crash is not always obvious from the damage alone. Evidence from the scene, witnesses, reports, video, and other sources can become important when fault is disputed.
Types of Car Accidents We Handle
Sharpe & Leventis can represent people injured in crashes including:
- Rear-End Collisions
- Intersection Accidents
- T-Bone Collisions
- Head-On Crashes
- Multi-Vehicle Accidents
- Sideswipe Accidents
- Hit-and-Run Accidents
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Distracted Driving Accidents
- Rollover Accidents
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Car Accident?
The compensation available depends on factors such as the severity of the injuries, the cost of treatment, the effect on your ability to work, the strength of the liability evidence, and available insurance coverage. Depending on the circumstances, damages may include:
Medical Expenses
Past treatment as well as reasonably anticipated future medical care related to the injuries.
Lost Income
Wages or other earnings lost because the injuries prevented you from working.
Reduced Earning Ability
Serious injuries can sometimes affect a person's ability to perform the same work or earn the same income in the future.
Property Damage
Damage to the vehicle and other personal property involved in the collision.
Pain and Suffering
Compensation may also address physical pain and other non-economic effects of the injuries.
Other Accident-Related Losses
Additional damages may be available depending on the facts of the case.
What If the Other Driver Does Not Have Enough Insurance?
South Carolina requires drivers to carry liability insurance and uninsured motorist coverage. Current minimum limits are:
$25,000
for bodily injury to one person
$50,000
per accident
$25,000
for property damage
Uninsured motorist coverage may apply when the responsible driver has no insurance or in certain hit-and-run situations. Insurers must also offer underinsured motorist coverage, although South Carolina drivers are not required to purchase it.
Underinsured coverage can become important when the at-fault driver's policy is not enough to cover the losses caused by a serious accident.
South Carolina Is an At-Fault State
The At-Fault Driver May Be Responsible for Your Losses
South Carolina uses a tort-based automobile insurance system. In general, a person injured because of another driver's fault may pursue a claim against the responsible party.
Fault can still become one of the most disputed parts of a car accident claim, especially when drivers give conflicting accounts of what happened.
Comparative Fault Can Affect Your Claim
South Carolina also applies comparative-fault principles, and state law governing how responsibility is allocated was amended for claims arising after January 1, 2026.
Fault involving multiple parties can therefore have a significant effect on a case and should be evaluated based on the particular accident.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in South Carolina?
For many South Carolina personal injury actions, the statute of limitations is three years.
That does not mean waiting three years is a good idea. Evidence can disappear. Video can be overwritten. Witnesses can become harder to locate. Vehicles may be repaired or destroyed.
Different deadlines can also apply in certain circumstances, including some claims involving governmental entities. The safest approach is to determine the applicable deadline based on the facts of your particular case rather than assuming you have a full three years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer after every car accident?
Not every minor collision requires an attorney. However, legal advice can be particularly useful when someone has been injured, liability is disputed, multiple parties are involved, treatment is ongoing, the insurer is denying or undervaluing the claim, or the available insurance coverage is unclear.
What if the other driver says the accident was my fault?
You do not have to accept another driver's version of what happened. Liability can be evaluated using police reports, photographs, witnesses, video, physical evidence, and other information. South Carolina's comparative-fault rules make an accurate investigation especially important.
What if I was hit by an uninsured driver?
South Carolina requires uninsured motorist coverage. Depending on the circumstances and the applicable policy, this coverage may provide compensation when the responsible driver is uninsured or involved in a qualifying hit-and-run.
How much is my car accident case worth?
It depends on the evidence and the losses caused by the collision. Important factors can include medical expenses, future treatment, lost income, the seriousness of the injuries, available insurance coverage, and disputed fault. No lawyer can responsibly determine the value of a case without learning the facts.
Should I speak with the insurance adjuster after a car accident?
Be careful when speaking with an insurance adjuster after a crash. The insurer may ask for a recorded statement, medical authorization, or other information before you know the full extent of your injuries or how the accident may affect you.
Avoid guessing about fault, speed, distance, or your medical condition, and do not feel pressured to sign documents or accept a settlement before you understand what you are agreeing to. An attorney can explain your rights and handle communications with the insurance company on your behalf.
Contact Our Columbia Law Firm for a Free Consultation Today.
A car accident can leave you with a lot of questions. Tell
Sharpe & Leventis, LLC what happened, and we’ll help you understand what options may be available.