Sideswipe crashes are a common type of car accident that can have serious consequences. Significant personal injury or even death could result from a sideswipe crash, depending on the circumstances. A sideswipe car accident occurs when one vehicle strikes another vehicle at a glancing angle. A sideswipe crash can happen in several different ways, including when:
- Two cars are traveling side by side in the same direction, and one makes an improper turn, such as a left turn from the right lane.
- Two cars are traveling side by side in the same direction, and one drifts from its lane, coming into contact with the side of the other vehicle.
- Two cars are traveling in opposite directions, and one drifts over the center line and comes into contact with the side of the vehicle in the oncoming lane.
Sideswipe accidents can also be called “lane departure” crashes or “lane drifting crashes.” A sideswipe accident can happen when a driver intentionally changes lanes, or when a driver simply drifts into the wrong lane unaware. The driver might change lanes without looking or might miss a car in the blind spot.
If you have been injured or a loved one has been injured or killed in a sideswipe accident in South Carolina, it is very important that you take action right away to protect your legal rights.
At Joye Law Firm, our North Charleston car crash lawyers have nearly 250 years of combined experience representing car accident victims. Respect, compassion and care are what you can expect from our lawyers and staff. Since 1968, we have helped injured people like you not only to recover the money they are entitled to but also to regain their lives.
Let us help you, too. Call Joye Law Firm. You can reach us at (888) 324-3100 or fill out an online form for a free case review.
About Sideswipe Collisions in South Carolina
Sideswipe and other side-impact collisions can be especially dangerous because the sides of most vehicles provide less protection, particularly on older cars that lack side-impact air bags or reinforced steel beams in the doors. With just a thin piece of metal and glass between the occupant and the oncoming vehicle, there is little to reduce the impact of a crash.
The inability of the vehicle’s sides to crumple and absorb energy is one of the major reasons why side-impact crashes are so dangerous. Unfortunately, even vehicles with side air bags may provide only minimal protection in sideswipe crashes. Seatbelts also often provide little protection.
When a sideswipe crash occurs, South Carolina’s fault rules mandate that the driver who caused the crash be held responsible for paying for the resulting damages. Sometimes it can be difficult to demonstrate who was at fault in a sideswipe accident. In some cases, it can be hard to show which car departed its lane and struck the other.
Our South Carolina car accident lawyers at Joye Law Firm can help you to gather the evidence you need to show fault in these situations. We can assist you by working with an accident reconstruction expert to review the accident scene and evidence to make a determination about what occurred. We can also help you to track down and interview witnesses to the accident and otherwise gather the evidence you need.
In some cases, the sideswipe may have occurred as a result of a specific dangerous behavior that the other driver was engaged in. For example, the other driver may have been:
- Texting, talking on the phone or otherwise distracted, and veered into the wrong lane as a result.
- Failed to check blind spots before changing lanes.
- Drowsy and nodding off, causing him or her to drift into your lane.
- Intoxicated.
- Driving too fast for road conditions.
If the other driver exhibited these or other negligent behaviors leading to your crash, you might be able to use this information to help bolster your case that the other driver was at fault and should be considered legally responsible for paying your damages.
Contact Our South Carolina Sideswipe Accident Lawyers Today
If you’ve been seriously injured in a sideswipe crash in South Carolina, you need lawyers you can trust to obtain the money and benefits you deserve. For a no-cost consultation, call Joye Law Firm at (888) 324-3100 or fill out our online case evaluation form.
