Greenville Sideswipe Accident Lawyer

If another driver sideswiped your car in Greenville, you may wonder whether you need a lawyer. In many cases, the answer is yes, you do need a personal injury attorney after a sideswipe crash. A Greenville sideswipe accident lawyer from The Melonakos Law Firm can make a real difference in your claim, especially if the other driver denies fault, which happens often in sideswipe cases.

Sideswipe crashes create some of the most contested fault disputes in South Carolina crashes, and insurance companies use the confusion to shrink payouts. Our sideswipe accident attorney in Greenville can gather evidence and fight for the compensation you deserve.

The Melonakos Law Firm has helped injured drivers in Greenville and across the Upstate since 2018. We are ready to put our resources to work for you now.

Contact us today for a free consultation about your legal options after a sideswipe crash in Greenville.

Common Causes of Sideswipe Accidents in Greenville, SC

Sideswipe crashes happen when the sides of two vehicles collide, often while one driver merges or changes lanes without checking if the way is clear. Some sideswipe collisions cause only minor vehicle damage, but others push a vehicle into another lane, off the road, or into a second crash that leaves people seriously hurt.

Some common causes of sideswipe accidents in Greenville include the following:

• Failing to check blind spots – Some drivers change lanes without looking first, so they never see a car already there.
• Distracted driving – A driver who glances at a phone, for example, can drift out of their lane without realizing it.
• Driving under the influence – Alcohol and drugs make a driver’s reaction time slower and make it harder to stay centered in a lane.
• Failing to signal – Drivers who change lanes without signaling give others no warning of the move.
• Bad weather – Rain, fog, and glare can make it harder to judge distance and stay inside the lines. All motorists have a duty to take extra precautions in adverse conditions.

Our lane change accident lawyers in Greenville can analyze the facts of a crash to pinpoint which factor caused the collision.

Who Is at Fault in a Sideswipe Accident in South Carolina?

The driver who left their lane or failed to check for other traffic is usually the one at fault for a sideswipe accident. South Carolina law also allows both drivers to share fault when the evidence shows both contributed to the crash.

South Carolina follows a rule called modified comparative negligence, sometimes known as the 51 percent bar. Negligence means a failure to act with reasonable care, such as changing lanes without signaling or checking blind spots. Under modified comparative negligence, an injured driver can still recover compensation as long as they were 50 percent or less at fault. A driver who is 51 percent or more at fault cannot recover anything.

Comparative negligence matters in many sideswipe cases because both drivers often blame each other. Investigators and your attorney typically look at several sources of evidence to sort out what happened, such as:

• Point of impact – The location of the damage on each vehicle could show which car left its lane first.
• Witness statements – Drivers nearby may have seen the crash and can describe what they observed.
• Police reports – The responding officer’s notes and diagram of the crash scene often carry weight with insurers.

Our Greenville sideswipe collision lawyer can gather evidence quickly, before it disappears, and build a case that holds up.

Injuries and Compensation After a Greenville Sideswipe Crash

While some sideswipe crashes are minor fender benders, others can sometimes be violent collisions, especially when they happen at highway speeds. Injured drivers and passengers may experience serious injuries, such as:

• Broken bones – The force of a sideswipe collision can fracture arms, legs, ribs, or the pelvis.
• Head and brain injuries – A sudden jolt or impact with the window can cause a concussion or a more serious traumatic brain injury.
• Back and neck injuries – Whiplash and spinal injuries are common in sideswipe crashes, even at moderate speeds.

An injured driver in South Carolina may be able to recover compensation for several types of losses, including:

• Medical bills – This covers emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and any future treatment your injury requires.
• Lost income – If your injuries keep you out of work, you may be able to recover your lost wages, plus compensation for your reduced future earning capacity.
• Pain and suffering – This accounts for the physical pain and emotional toll the crash has caused.

Our sideswipe car accident attorney in Greenville, SC, can review your medical records and bills to make sure any settlement offer accounts for the full scope of your losses.

Why Injured Drivers in Greenville Choose The Melonakos Law Firm

Michael Melonakos founded The Melonakos Law Firm on the values his Greek immigrant grandparents passed down to him: hard work and genuine care for the people he serves. Mike personally trains his team, and clients work directly with their attorney instead of a rotating team of paralegals and case managers.

With more than a decade of experience in plaintiff’s personal injury law, Mike has secured favorable verdicts and settlements totaling more than $50 million for injured people. His background in insurance defense law gives him an advantage when dealing with the other side, since he understands what insurance companies do to evaluate and minimize claims from the inside. Mike has tried more than 20 jury trials and 30 to 40 bench trials, and he prepares every case as though it may end up in court.

The firm’s past results demonstrate our commitment to justice. For example, in one recent Greenville case, a client suffered a torn rotator cuff after a sideswipe crash on Spring Forest Road. The client’s first attorney had withdrawn from the case. The Melonakos Law Firm took over and recovered the full $200,000 policy limits available.

While prior results do not guarantee a similar future outcome, they do show the type of experience and resources we bring to each case.

Contact The Melonakos Law Firm for a Free Greenville Sideswipe Accident Consultation

If you suffered injuries in a sideswipe crash in Greenville, you do not have to determine fault or deal with the insurance company alone. The Melonakos Law Firm stands ready to review the details of your crash and build a personal injury claim aimed at seeking the fair compensation you need to recover.

Contact The Melonakos Law Firm today for a free consultation with a Greenville sideswipe accident lawyer who fights for car accident victims.