Report: Summerville Ranks Among 20 Most Dangerous Cities for Car Accidents in the United States

Summerville, S.C., a city of about 53,000 people 24 miles north of Charleston, has been cited as one of the cities with the highest number of car accidents in the nation.

The list of most dangerous cities for traffic accidents was compiled by online car insurance broker Insurify based on its database of more than 2.5 million car insurance applications. Insurify ranked cities according to the number of local drivers who reported one or more car accidents on their record for which they were at fault.

The company says the list depicts “the cities with the highest share of accident-prone drivers,” and that “the 20 cities with the highest proportion of those drivers were identified as the cities with the most accidents.”

Summerville is one of seven South Carolina municipalities ranked among U.S. cities with the most car crashes in 2020.

Further, Insurify says, national statistics show that drivers have been driving more recklessly during the COVID-19 pandemic and that this has caused the rate of fatal crashes to increase between the first and second quarter of 2020 from 1.10 to 1.42 deaths per million vehicle miles traveled.

“Each time a driver gets on the road, they risk being involved in a car crash, no matter how slim the chances seem,” Insurify says. “It follows that the more vehicle miles traveled, the more likely a driver is to be involved in an accident – and in 2020, that susceptibility (was) higher, due to the increase in dangerous behavior on the roads.”

Based on that methodology, Summerville ranks No. 16 in the nation among cities with the most car accidents. About Summerville, the report says:

• “Percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident: 17.50%
• “Driving levels compared to January 2020 (Dorchester County): +21%”

Seven South Carolina Cities on List of Car Accident Threats

The seven South Carolina cities on the Insurify list of drivers with a prior at-fault accident are:

• No. 1: Johns Island – Percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident: 21.6%
• No. 5: Rock Hill – Percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident: 18.70%
• No. 10: Goose Creek – Percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident: 18.14%
• No. 12: Charleston – Percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident: 18.06%
• No. 13: Greer – Percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident: 17.83%
• No. 16: Summerville – Percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident: 17.50%
• No. 18: Spartanburg – Percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident: 17.42%

Across all U.S. cities, 12.40% of motorists have an at-fault accident on their record, Insurify says. Compared to the national average, the 20 cities with the most accidents have at least 40% more accident-prone drivers than the national average.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety maintains a daily count of all South Carolina traffic fatalities. For all of 2020, there were 1,018 people killed in motor vehicle accidents of all kinds in South Carolina. 

From January 1 to January 12, 2021 – less than two weeks – 27 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents in South Carolina, more than two a day. In 2020, 20 people had died in motor vehicle accidents by January 12.

The state’s database shows 20 fatalities in the Summerville area from January 1, 2020 through January 12, 2021, all occurring in 2020. In October, an 18-year-old man was charged in a fatal crash that killed three members of a Summerville family at the corner of Nexton Parkway and Brighton Park Boulevard in Summerville, an intersection that local residents call dangerous.

Causes of Car Accidents in South Carolina

Sometimes, fatal car accidents can be properly blamed on road design. According to The Post and Courier, a median full of trees makes it difficult for drivers to see oncoming traffic at the intersection at Nexton Parkway and Brighton Park Boulevard in Summerville, and there is no traffic signal. But State Highway Patrol troopers also said the driver arrested for the fatal accident there in October was speeding, traveling about 70 mph in a 40 mph zone, at the time of the crash.

Car accident studies have for decades indicated that speeding, whether exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for conditions, is a contributing factor in about one third of all car accidents.

Our car accident attorneys represent people injured by negligent drivers in Summerville and across South Carolina. We investigate car accidents of all kinds. The most common causes of car accidents in addition to speeding are:

• Distracted driving, particularly texting while driving, talking on a phone, eating, talking to people in the vehicle, and other activities that take attention away from the task of driving.
• Impaired driving, including drunk driving, drugged driving and drowsy or fatigued driving.
• Aggressive driving, which includes speeding, tailgating, disregarding traffic signals, unsafe passing, etc., and shouting at other drivers.
• Inexperienced driving among teens, who have a higher rate of fatal crashes than older drivers, mainly because of immaturity, lack of skills, and lack of experience, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says. They make mistakes, and they get distracted easily – especially if their friends are in the car. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens.

Contact a Summerville, SC, Car Accident Attorney

If your life has been shattered by an auto accident, our Summerville car accident lawyers can help you put the pieces back together. We can work to make sure you receive all of the compensation you are due for losses caused by a negligent or reckless driver.

Joye Law Firm serves Summerville, SC, from offices in Charleston and accepts cases from across South Carolina at our offices in Columbia, Clinton and Myrtle Beach. Contact Joye Law Firm today. Contact us at 888-324-3100 or use this online contact form to schedule your free case review.

 

 

The post Report: Summerville Ranks Among 20 Most Dangerous Cities for Car Accidents in the United States appeared first on Joye Law Firm.

from Joye Law Firm https://www.joyelawfirm.com/2021/02/summerville-ranks-among-20-most-dangerous-cities-for-car-accidents-in-the-united-states/
via https://www.joyelawfirm.com

Drivers Let Their Focus Wander as They Get Used to Partial Automation

As drivers get used to automation features such as adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology, they become more likely to let their focus slip or take their hands off the wheel, according to a new study.

Researchers from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Massachusetts Institute of Technology evaluated the driving behavior of 20 volunteers over a month as they became accustomed to advanced driver assistance features.

One group of 10 volunteers drove a Land Rover Range Rover Evoque equipped with adaptive cruise control (ACC), which automatically keeps the vehicle traveling at a speed chosen by the driver and maintains a pre-established following distance. Another 10 drove a Volvo S90 with both ACC and Pilot Assist, which combines cruise control with lane-centering technology that keeps the vehicle positioned laterally in the travel lane.

After a month, the drivers’ focus began to slip, and they were more likely to fidget with the car’s other electronics or pick up / look at a cell phone, the researchers reported. The impact of the Volvo’s system, which by assisting with two tasks offers the highest level of automation available in production vehicles today, was more dramatic than that of ACC alone.

“Drivers were more than twice as likely to show signs of disengagement after a month of using Pilot Assist compared with the beginning of the study,” IIHS Senior Research Scientist Ian Reagan, the lead author of the study, said. “Compared with driving manually, they were more than 12 times as likely to take both hands off the wheel after they’d gotten used to how the lane centering worked.”

This is a real problem because today’s automated driving doesn’t do as much as some people may assume. The state-of-the-art systems used in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study “have trouble negotiating many common road features, so the driver must be in control at all times,” the IIHS says.

Driver Automation Demonstrates Potential for Danger

Systems similar to Volvo’s Pilot Assist are available from Cadillac (Super Cruise), Mercedes-Benz (Intelligent Drive) and Tesla (Autopilot), the IIHS says. They are on our nation’s highways, maybe here in South Carolina, cruising alongside you with a driver whose mind could be elsewhere.

Early one morning in August, a man in North Carolina had Tesla’s Autopilot engaged as his car drove U.S. 64 east of Raleigh and he watched a movie on his cellphone. His car almost hit a deputy sheriff standing outside his cruiser on the side of the highway before crashing into patrol cars from the Nash County Sheriff’s Office and State Highway Patrol, which, fortunately, no one was in.

“Luckily, the state trooper pushed our deputy out of the way when he heard the tires squall (or), in an instant, we could have lost a life or several lives. It could have been very horrific,” Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone told local media.

The driver, a Raleigh physician, was charged with a move-over law violation and viewing a television device while driving.

As media reports about that accident say, Tesla’s website states, “Current Autopilot features require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle autonomous.” Further, Tesla’s site refers to “full self-driving capabilities in the future” – not today.

Automation in vehicles is classified according to a system developed by SAE International, with a range from 0 (no automation) to 5 (fully self-driving). Level 1 systems can assist the driver with one driving task, such as having adaptive cruise control. Level 2 systems, such as Pilot Assist, can assist with two tasks. Level 2 is the highest level of automation available in production vehicles today.

At Levels 3 and 4, vehicles will be able to drive themselves in most situations and may instruct a human driver to take over when necessary (Level 3) or not operate unless conditions allow. These types of vehicles may operate over pre-programmed routes or require perfect weather conditions, for example.

Driver Automation Demonstrates Potential for Safety

With proper driver attention, today’s driver assistance technologies are reducing crashes, the IIHS says. Front crash prevention systems have been shown to reduce front-to-rear crashes. Lane departure warning, blind spot detection and rear crash prevention also show real-world benefits.

In April 2010, the IIHS said in another study that insurance claims data involving various BMW models with collision avoidance systems show that these types of systems, as the technology improves, are preventing more crashes. This was a study of four different BMW crash avoidance packages. The first one combined forward collision warning and lane departure warning. A second included those features as well as front automatic emergency braking. The Driving Assistance package added adaptive cruise control. Driving Assistance Plus includes all those features as well as lane centering and front cross-traffic alert.

Three of the four crash avoidance packages were associated with reductions in collision, property damage and bodily injury claim rates. For example, the Driving Assistance package reduced collision, property damage and bodily injury claim rates by 6 percent, 27 percent and 37 percent, respectively.

However, BMW’s most basic package, with only forward collision and lane departure warning, was associated with a 2 percent increase in the frequency of collision claims, a 5 percent increase in the frequency of property damage claims and an 11 percent increase in the frequency of bodily injury claims. 

“The crash claim frequency reductions for BMW’s Driving Assistance package are the largest we’ve seen from advanced driver assistance systems, which suggests crash avoidance may be delivering bigger benefits as the technology improves,” said Matt Moore, senior vice president of the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).

Negligent Drivers Will Still Be Held Accountable for Car Accidents

While driver assistance technology advances each year, we expect there will be drivers at the wheels of cars on South Carolina roads and highways for many years to come. And they must stay focused on the task of driving. Unfortunately, some drivers will fail to pay adequate attention to the road or drive carelessly and cause crashes. Drivers who cause collisions as a result of negligence should be held liable for the harm they cause others.

After a car accident in South Carolina involving injuries due to others’ negligence, the car accident lawyers of Joye Law Firm can guide you through the claims process and help you pursue a full financial recovery from the at-fault driver.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, fill out our free, no-obligation accident questionnaire or phone us at 888-324-3100 today to find out how we can help you.

 

 

The post Drivers Let Their Focus Wander as They Get Used to Partial Automation appeared first on Joye Law Firm.

from Joye Law Firm https://www.joyelawfirm.com/2021/01/drivers-let-their-focus-wander-as-they-get-used-to-partial-automation/
via https://www.joyelawfirm.com

Can I Choose My Own Body Shop After an Auto Wreck?

After a crash, your auto insurance (or the other driver’s insurance, if they caused the crash) will pay for your vehicle to be repaired. However, the insurer will often also supply you with a list of ‘preferred’ auto shops, leading many accident victims to wonder, “do I have to pick from this list?”

Thankfully, the answer is “no.” You have the legal right to take your vehicle to any repair shop of your choice. Even if the repair shop you prefer isn’t on the list provided by the insurer, the insurer cannot refuse to pay for repairs made at that shop.

Why You Might Want to Choose a Shop of Your Own

Insurance companies are in the business of making money, not spending it. So, when they need to pay to have your vehicle repaired, they may be more interested in doing so cheaply rather than safely.

The insurance company’s ‘preferred’ shops have an established relationship with that insurer, so they may be more inclined to do what the insurer asks to ensure repeat business from the company, even if that isn’t what’s best for you or your vehicle.

One common practice employed by auto insurers to lower repair costs is requiring their preferred repair shops to use refurbished and used parts, which may have been taken off vehicles that were damaged in other crashes. Another method is asking shops to take shortcuts to reduce the time and skill level of technicians needed to complete a repair.

Unfortunately, using potentially damaged parts and not taking proper time and care when making repairs means your vehicle may not be completely safe or roadworthy when you get it back. Although this scenario is unlikely to occur, it has happened.

Why You Might Want to Choose an Insurer’s Preferred Shop

The unfortunate truth is that if you decide to use an auto shop that is outside of your insurance company’s preferred network, you may end up paying some of your repair costs out-of-pocket. The insurer can’t refuse to work with your chosen shop, but they can, and almost always do, disagree with repair shops on the price of a repair.

Preferred shops have agreements with the insurance company to work within the scope of the insurance company’s estimate of how long it will take to complete a repair and how much it will cost, while shops outside the network haven’t. For example, the repair shop may quote you $1,500 to repair your vehicle while the insurance adjuster argues it should only cost $1,000.

Auto repair shops and insurance companies can usually come to a compromise on the cost of repairs, but if they don’t, the insurance company is only responsible for paying up to their estimate of the cost.

What to Consider When Choosing a Collision Center to Repair Your Car

1. Does the auto shop have good reviews? Make sure to check multiple sources, such as Yelp, Google reviews, Carwise, and Better Business Bureau, or ask for recommendations from people you trust.
2. Do they offer a lifetime warranty on repairs? The insurance company must pay to re-repair your vehicle if the repairs were made incorrectly at one of their preferred shops. However, they may refuse to pay for re-repairs if you used a shop outside their network. However, most reputable shops will offer a lifetime warranty on repairs regardless.
3. Do they use OEM parts in their repairs? Ask whether the shop uses OEM, aftermarket, or reconditioned parts. OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts are genuine parts from the auto manufacturer, aftermarket parts are generic parts, and reconditioned parts are used parts. Aftermarket and reconditioned parts are typically cheaper than OEM parts, but they are not always as trustworthy.
4. Do they plan to follow manufacturer guidelines in their repairs? Some auto repair shops use shortcuts to repair vehicles, rather than taking all the steps recommended by the manufacturer, because it saves times and money. But these quick repairs are usually less safe and less effective.

When Crashes Cause Injuries, Count on Joye Law Firm to Have Your Back

Getting your car fixed after a crash can be frustrating. When you are also injured, it’s an extra stressor you really don’t need on top of trying to argue with insurance about how much of your medical bills they will pay.

If you were injured in a crash that wasn’t your fault, we believe you shouldn’t be responsible for any of your medical expenses. Furthermore, you deserve to be compensated for any income you lost while unable to work due to your injuries, and for the pain and suffering you endured. When you hire our experienced South Carolina car accident attorneys, we’ll work to get you the full compensation you deserve.

Call today for a free consultation.

The post Can I Choose My Own Body Shop After an Auto Wreck? appeared first on Joye Law Firm.

from Joye Law Firm https://www.joyelawfirm.com/2021/01/choose-body-shop-after-crash/
via https://www.joyelawfirm.com

If the Other Driver Was Drunk But Not Convicted, Can I Still Sue?

Drunk driving is illegal in all 50 states, although drivers who make a habit of driving while drunk or tipsy may not get caught until they cause an accident. Unfortunately, sometimes drunk drivers are not convicted of driving under the influence, even when they cause accidents.

This may be because:

• A breathalyzer test was never taken or was there was a problem with the equipment.
• A field sobriety test was never given or was conducted inappropriately.
• The officer waited too long to conduct a breathalyzer or field sobriety test.
• Witness testimony was inadequate to prove impairment.
• The offender pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, such as reckless driving.

If they aren’t charged with a DUI, what does that mean for their liability in an accident? If law enforcement fails to prove the other driver was drunk at the time of the accident, does that mean you can’t prove the accident was their fault?

No. Rest assured, even if the person who hit you was never charged with DUI, that doesn’t mean you can’t still sue them if you were injured when they hit you. Here’s why.

Criminal and Civil Cases Are Different Proceedings

It’s possible for someone to be put on trial for a drunk driving accident in both criminal court and in civil court and get different outcomes. Both outcomes are valid without affecting the other. This is because criminal court and civil court, despite both being “courts of law,” are different legal systems that exist for different purposes.

Criminal court wants to prove that the offender harmed society by breaking the law, even if no one was actually injured. That’s why people can be arrested for drunk driving even if no one else was on the road.

Civil court wants to prove that the offender harmed someone specific by acting negligently, even if no law was broken. That’s why you can file a personal injury lawsuit even if the other person wasn’t criminally charged for their negligence or recklessness.

Furthermore, criminal court punishes guilty parties for crimes against society with fines paid to the state or with imprisonment. That means the people harmed by the guilty parties’ actions typically don’t get anything except the knowledge that the offender won’t be able to hurt anyone else. Civil court requires liable parties to make good on harm caused with financial compensation equal to the amount they suffered or lost paid to the person harmed.

In summary: you only need to prove the other person was being negligent when they hurt you and not that they broke the law. There are more ways to be negligent than driving while intoxicated.

How Can I Prove Negligence Without a Criminal Charge?

It is true that it is far easier to prove negligence for a civil lawsuit when the driver is charged with driving under the influence. However, a civil lawsuit doesn’t care why the other driver was driving reckless, only that they were.

Our team of experienced South Carolina auto accident attorneys can use accident scene reconstruction, witness testimony, skid marks, security camera footage, and other evidence to prove that the other driver was at fault, especially if they were driving under the influence of alcohol, even if they were never charged with that crime.

Call Joye Law Firm for a Free Case Consultation

If you or someone you love was injured in a crash caused by someone else, especially a drunk driver, you deserve compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact our team today to learn how we can make that happen.

The post If the Other Driver Was Drunk But Not Convicted, Can I Still Sue? appeared first on Joye Law Firm.

from Joye Law Firm https://www.joyelawfirm.com/2021/01/suing-drunk-driver/
via https://www.joyelawfirm.com

Basic South Carolina Traffic Laws Every Driver Needs to Know

In the state of South Carolina, driving is a privilege that the state bestows upon its citizens. In order to be eligible, potential drivers are required to prove their skills through both written and in-vehicle tests before receiving a license. Unfortunately, these tests do not ensure that drivers will be, or stay, masters of South Carolina driving laws. Further, serious – or even deadly – car accidents can occur if drivers purposefully or accidentally break traffic laws.

 South Carolina Driving Laws You Need To Know

 Being familiar with  South Carolina’s many driving-related laws before getting behind the wheel is extremely important. Those who follow traffic laws, of course, make much safer drivers than those who break the “rules of the road” due to ignorance, being distracted, being in a rush, or whatever the reason may be. Whether you’ve been driving in South Carolina for a long time or just recently got your SC license, it is important to refresh yourself on these basic rules:

• Just because you were “waved” onto a roadway or lane of travel does not mean you are given the legal right of way. In some instances where you may not have the right of way to accomplish a maneuver, such as switching lanes, another driver may give you a hand signal indicating that they are making room or letting you go ahead. Even in these instances, if you end up getting in an accident with another driver, you most likely would still be considered at fault for not yielding to the legal right of way.
• Seatbelts are mandatory in South Carolina. No matter where you are in South Carolina, wearing a seatbelt is required, and for good reason: Seatbelts save lives. Whether you are in Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Clinton, Columbia, or anywhere in between, drivers can drastically reduce the chances that they or their passengers will suffer serious injuries in an accident by simply wearing their seatbelts. Wearing a seatbelt, and requiring passengers to do so as well, can also protect drivers from traffic fines and fees.
• Drinking alcohol is prohibited for anyone inside a moving vehicle. Many people are under the misconception that it is only illegal for the driver of a vehicle to drink alcohol. In reality, it is illegal for both passengers and drivers to drink while inside a moving car. This is meant to protect drivers from passengers becoming intoxicated or disruptive, something that could possibly lead to a crash.
• If your windshield wipers are on, your headlights must be on as well. Even if you are only turning on your wipers to clear a light mist, you are also legally required to turn on your headlights. This law is intended to protect drivers from auto accidents in low visibility conditions by making it easier to see other vehicles.
• You must turn on your turn signal (or make an appropriate hand signal) before you reach your turn. Some drivers do not use their turn signals at all, and others only turn on their signals when they have reached the place where they intend to turn. According to South Carolina law, however, it is mandatory that drivers make a signal 100 feet before their actual turn. This is meant to give other drivers on the roads enough time to react or adjust around the turning driver.
• Bicyclists have just as many rights on the roads as motorists. Keep in mind that on South Carolina roads, bicyclists have equal right to make use of the roadway as vehicle drivers. In keeping with these equal rights, bicyclists are required to follow the same traffic laws as everyone else on the roads.
• All districted driving is a bad idea, even if it is not illegal. There are no South Carolina traffic laws that prohibit a driver from activities such as listening to music through headphones while driving. However, just because you are not legally prohibited from doing so does not mean you should. Things like listening to music through headphones or ear buds can be distracting and can increase the odds of you causing an accident with another vehicle as they make you less aware of your surroundings. Thus, even though a distracting activity may be legal while driving, being distracted while behind the wheel is always a bad idea and can be very dangerous. Other forms of distracted driving –  such as texting and/ or watching a movie or television show on a device while the vehicle is moving – are against the law and can lead to terrible accidents, fines and fees, as well as civil liability for any injuries or damage that may result from a collision.
• Whenever you are leaving a parking lot and entering a roadway, you must stop and yield to those on the roadway. Even if the parking lot does not have a stop sign posted where the parking lot meets the roadway, drivers are always required to stop. They must also yield the right of way to any to any drivers that are on the roadway before joining traffic themselves.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a car crash in Myrtle Beach, Clinton, Columbia, Charleston, or elsewhere in South Carolina, contact the Joye Law Firm by phone or through our website as soon as possible. We will help you recover the compensation you deserve for any injuries caused by the reckless actions of an unsafe driver who failed to follow the state’s traffic laws.

The post Basic South Carolina Traffic Laws Every Driver Needs to Know appeared first on Joye Law Firm.

from Joye Law Firm https://www.joyelawfirm.com/2021/01/basic-south-carolina-traffic-laws-every-driver-needs-know/
via https://www.joyelawfirm.com

Bed Sores Are a Sign of Neglect

Some of the most common, and most painful, injuries people suffer in nursing homes and assisted living facilities aren’t broken bones or medication errors: they’re bed sores. Unlike other forms of injury that nursing home residents suffer, bed sores aren’t as well-known, so family members often don’t know how to look for them when visiting their loved ones in the nursing home.

However, it’s important to learn how to recognize a bed sore, because these injuries can be a tell-tale sign of long-term neglect. When left uncaught and untreated, they can result in a variety of dangerous complications, including deadly infection in the worst stages.

What Is a Bed Sore?

A bed sore is a type of ulcer caused by prolonged pressure against the skin – usually from a bed, which is where the name comes from. They can happen when a nursing home resident can’t move themselves from their bed or wheelchair, and the resident is neglected by a nursing home’s staff.

Bed sores can start to form over the course of hours, or over days.

Where Should You Look for Bed Sores?

Unfortunately, because bed sores form where the elderly or disabled person has extended contact with their bed or wheelchair, they are usually not immediately visible, and may be hidden under clothing.

Bed-bound patients often develop bedsores in the following locations:

• Back of the head
• Shoulder blades
• Hips and tailbone
• Heels and ankles

Wheelchair-bound patients often develop bedsores in the following locations:

• Tailbone and buttocks
• Shoulder blades and spine
• Back of arms and legs

The Four Stages of Bed Sores

Bed sores, also called pressure sores, can be categorized into four stages. When a bed sore is left untreated for too long, it can progress through the stages until it may never be able to heal completely.

• Stage I: The skin appears red and doesn’t change color or whiten when pressed.
• Stage II: A blister forms, and the surrounding tissue looks red and irritated.
• Stage III: The injured area sinks in and becomes an open wound.
• Stave IV: The sore deepens to encompass muscle and bone, which may become visible through the wound.

Without treatment, bed sores can become severely infected and even life-threatening.

Bed Sores as Evidence of Neglect

Bed sores may be evidence that a resident in a nursing home isn’t getting the care they need. Nursing home staff members are trained to identify and treat pressure ulcers before they present a significant risk to patients. If they aren’t caught, it’s likely because the staff isn’t looking. If you’ve noticed that a loved one has developed bed sores, make sure to speak to the person or people in charge of providing their care.

However, if your loved one developed bed sores because nursing home staff were failing to help move them from their bed or wheelchair, they should be held accountable for the bed sores that formed.

Your loved one deserves better, and they deserve compensation for any costs related to treating injuries caused by negligent care.

Has Your Loved One Been Neglected? Contact Joye Law Firm Today

If you need a nursing home abuse or neglect lawyer in South Carolina, contact Joye Law Firm. We know how devastating it can be to learn your loved one has been experiencing abuse or neglect while they are in the care of someone else. When they experience painful injuries because of that abuse and neglect, the nursing home should be held accountable for their pain and suffering, as well as the cost of their treatment.

Contact our firm today for a free consultation.

The post Bed Sores Are a Sign of Neglect appeared first on Joye Law Firm.

from Joye Law Firm https://www.joyelawfirm.com/2021/01/bed-sores-are-a-sign-of-neglect/
via https://www.joyelawfirm.com

Goose Creek Ranks 10th Nationally in Number of Car Accidents

Just a couple of months after being named one of Money Magazine’s “Best Places to Live in the United States,” the City of Goose Creek, situated in Berkeley County, South Carolina, and the 17^th fastest-growing county in the country last year according to the U.S. Census Bureau, has been called the home of the 10th highest number of car accidents in the nation.

The list of U.S. cities with the most car accidents in 2020 was compiled by Insurify, an online car insurance broker, from its database of more than 2.5 million car insurance applications. The premise of the list is that national statistics show that drivers have been driving more recklessly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to the rate of fatal crashes increasing between the first and second quarter of 2020.  The South Carolina Department of Public Safety maintains a daily count of all South Carolina traffic fatalities.  From January 1, 2020 to January 6, 2021 there were 1,028 traffic fatalities in South Carolina. (S.C. Dept. of Public Safety Daily Traffic Fatality Count, https://fatality-count-scdps.hub.arcgis.com/).

“Certain cities seem to be home to a greater share of accident-prone drivers,” Insurify says.

7 South Carolina Cities with ‘Bad’ Car Accident Records

According to Insurify, out of the top 20 cities in the United States with the most accidents, 7 are in South Carolina. The Insurify list is based on drivers who reported one or more car accidents on their record for which they were at fault. The company says the list depicts “the cities with the highest share of accident-prone drivers,” and “the 20 cities with the highest proportion of those drivers were identified as the cities with the most accidents.”

Insurify’s conclusion relies on the assumption that accidents on a driver’s record occurred in the city where the driver currently lives.  Nonetheless, the statistics are noteworthy and indicative of a state-wide problem.  Seven of the top South Carolina cities on the Insurify list of drivers with a prior at-fault accident are as follows:

• No. 1: Johns Island – Percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident: 21.6%
• No. 5: Rock Hill – Percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident: 18.70%
• No. 10: Goose Creek – Percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident: 18.14%
• No. 12: Charleston – Percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident: 18.06%
• No. 13: Greer – Percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident: 17.83%
• No. 16: Summerville – Percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident: 17.50%
• No. 18: Spartanburg – Percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident: 17.42%

The Berkeley Observer says, “A whopping seven out of the 20 cities with the most accidents are located in South Carolina. Goose Creek ranked No. 10 on the list, the study found.”  The City of Charleston came in 12^th.

Across all U.S. cities, 12.40% of motorists have an at-fault accident on their record, Insurify says.

Compared to the national average, the 20 cities with the most accidents have at least 40 percent more accident-prone drivers than the national average.

The list also cites a percentage for each city that it says depicts “relative driving levels for each city, compared to January 2020 … gathered from Apple Maps’ Covid Mobility Data as of November 13, 2020.” Insurify says that the more vehicle miles traveled, the more likely a driver is to be involved in an accident.

But Apple says its reports “reflect requests for directions in Apple Maps,” not that all the requests are specifically made for driving. Insurify says its numbers depict an increase in driving which, for example, is +36% for No. 1 St. Johns, +17% for No. 10 Goose Creek and +24% for No. 18 Spartanburg. Seeking directions from a mapping app does not necessarily equal driving.

Consider the other list we mentioned that features Goose Creek. Money magazine’s rankings of the best places to live for 2020 were derived from 115 separate types of data in nine categories, such as the economy, housing market, cost of living, diversity and public education.

“Our team of reporters then researched every location to ensure that the statistics were a true representation of each place, and that other negative factors weren’t at play,” Money’s editors explain.

About Goose Creek, No. 23 on Money’s list, the magazine says, “Life in Goose Creek is pretty sweet” and cites its “lovely verandas and tree-lined streets (that) help it keep a small-town feel.”

“Meanwhile, Berkeley County’s economy is growing at a steady clip, thanks to industry giants like Google, Volvo Cars North America and DuPont building outposts in the area,” the profile says.

Car Crash Attorneys in Goose Creek, SC

Money magazine more accurately describes the town we know as  Goose Creek, S.C. That is not to say that there aren’t negligent and reckless drivers in Goose Creek who cause car accidents and injuries.

South Carolina sees more than 800 deaths in car accidents every year on average and thousands more injuries. Goose Creek and Berkeley County have their share of accidents. At Joye Law Firm, each car accident case we assist a client with is a singular event that affects that client and his or her family. Our goal with each client we serve is to achieve results from a car accident claim that meet the client’s specific needs.

If you have been seriously injured in a car accident in Goose Creek, or throughout South Carolina, Joye Law Firm may be able to help you pursue just compensation to rebuild your life. We can help make sure you get the medical care you need and we can deal with the insurance company on your behalf. We can help get your car repaired and line up a rental vehicle while your car is in the shop.

We know insurance and personal injury law in South Carolina, and we are here to advocate for your rights and interests after you have been unjustly injured. We’ve been helping injured people in communities across South Carolina for more than 50 years.

If you have been injured in a car accident in Goose Creek, Johns Island, Charleston or Summerville because someone else acted negligently, contact an experienced South Carolina car accident lawyer at Joye Law Firm. We offer a free consultation to discuss your case, and if we pursue a claim for you, you will only pay for our services if we recover compensation for you. Contact us now at (888) 324-3100 or online.

The post Goose Creek Ranks 10th Nationally in Number of Car Accidents appeared first on Joye Law Firm.

from Joye Law Firm https://www.joyelawfirm.com/2021/01/goose-creek-ranks-10th-nationally-in-number-of-car-accidents/
via https://www.joyelawfirm.com

The 7 Top Factors Causing Car Accidents in South Carolina

Unfortunately, car accidents are a common occurrence. They happen each and every day. Car accidents can also have a huge, negative impact on your life, especially if they involve you or someone you love. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in a single recent year, there were 5.7 million car accidents in the United States. In those accidents, 32,719 people lost their lives and 2.3 million people were injured. In that same year, 767 South Carolinians were killed and thousands more were injured in car accidents. There are many different factors that can lead to car accidents. Sadly, almost all of them are rooted in driver negligence. Here are the seven leading causes of car accidents in South Carolina:

1. Distracted driving

Not paying attention while driving is incredibly dangerous. Distracted driving practices can include things such as texting, talking on a cellphone, eating, or even watching a movie while behind the wheel. According to the NHTSA, in a typical year, distracted driving causes 3,200 deaths and 424,000 injuries. Tragically, distracted driving causes 16 percent of all crashes, 18 percent of injury-causing crashes, and 10 percent of all fatal crashes.

2. Drunk driving

Even though everyone knows that drunk driving is reckless, dangerous, and selfish, people still do it. In 2018, drunk driving caused nearly 300 deaths in South Carolina alone. These deaths accounted for 30 percent of traffic deaths in the state. South Carolina consistently ranks amongst the worst in the nation for drunk driving prevalence and high rate of deadly rate of drunk driving fatalities.

3. Reckless driving

Reckless driving often leads to accidents and can include actions such as: excessive speeding, road rage, breaking suddenly, weaving in and out of traffic, or other aggressive maneuvers.

Notably, driving far over the speed limit is particularly dangerous. According to the NHTSA, in just one year, 306 deaths in South Carolina and 9,613 deaths across the country occurred due to speeding-related accidents.  Moreover, the government estimates that each year, speeding-related crashes cost around $40.4 billion.

4. Driver fatigue

Driving while drowsy is becoming a major issue in the United States. Not being alert leads to inattention and delayed reflexes behind the wheel. Needless to say, falling completely asleep while manning a vehicle is incredibly dangerous. According to research done by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s Traffic Safety Culture Index, 21 percent of deadly car crashes involve a drowsy driver, and one-third of all drivers admitted that they had previously fallen asleep while driving.

5. Tailgating

Tailgating, or driving too closely behind the car in front of you, is a form of aggressive driving. Tailgating is also a leading factor in rear-end collisions. Rear-end accidents is one of the most common types collision and are a major cause of injuries. When getting behind the wheel, it is important to always leave enough space between you and the car in front of you to allow enough time to break or respond if there is a sudden change. It is recommended that you leave at least 2 to 3 seconds between your car and the vehicle you are following. However, conditions such as bad weather or heavy traffic, may require longer following distances.

6. Teen drivers

Unsurprisingly, as young drivers have the least experience and are the least mature of drivers on the road, they have the most accidents. As reported by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the crash rate per mile is three times higher for teen drivers than it is for drivers age 20 and older. Further, the IIHS found that 2,524 teenagers were killed in car accidents in a single, recent year.

7. Failure to yield right-of-way

Ignoring the legal right-of-way, as defined by South Carolina traffic laws, is not only illegal but also extremely dangerous. This can include maneuvers such as aggressive lane changes, running a red light, or not stopping at or “rolling through” a stop sign. Nearly 50 percent of accidents that involve someone running a red light result in injuries.

If you, or someone you love, has been involved in a car accident in South Carolina, it is imperative that you contact an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. If someone else’s negligence caused the accident, you may be entitled to significant compensation for your injuries and damages.

Sources:

• NHTSA – 2013 Crash Overview
• NHTSA – Traffic Safety Performance Measures for South Carolina
• IIHS – Teenagers: Driving carries extra risk for them
• NHTSA – Quick Facts 2013
• AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety – More than One-in-Five Fatal Crashes Involve Drowsy Drivers

The post The 7 Top Factors Causing Car Accidents in South Carolina appeared first on Joye Law Firm.

from Joye Law Firm https://www.joyelawfirm.com/2021/01/7-top-factors-causing-car-accidents-in-south-carolina/
via https://www.joyelawfirm.com

Ever Think ‘My Insurance Company is Ripping Me Off’?

Many clients who have been injured in car accidents turn to Joye Law Firm for help because they are disappointed at the insurance company’s response to their needs. Some are more blunt, complaining that “My insurance company is ripping me off!”

When we review these cases, we usually find that the insurer has acted to protect its own profits.

Insurance companies are in business to make money, and this is accomplished by paying as little as possible to resolve claims. Insurance adjusters work every day to make payouts that are within defined company guidelines, no matter the validity of the claim.

Through training and experience, insurance adjusters and even customer reps learn how to stop claims or get by with offering low-ball settlements. There are many tactics that insurers use to limit their liability and protect their profits. It’s particularly difficult to receive fair compensation when making a claim against someone else’s insurance. Our experienced personal injury lawyers at Joye Law Firm know the tactics that insurance adjusters use and South Carolina law pertaining to personal injury accidents. We fight for our clients to receive the full compensation available by law.

If you are dealing with an injury someone else caused, call Joye Law Firm. Reach us at 888-324-3100 or through our online form for a free consultation about how to stop an insurance company from ripping you off.

5 Ways Insurance Companies Rip You Off and What to Do About Them

1. Making a Low-Ball Cash Offer After an Auto Accident

After a serious car or truck accident, you and your vehicle will be sidelined with injuries and damage. This is a major disruption to anyone’s life. A single person who cannot go to work or a family with a parent or child in the hospital and one less vehicle available is in difficult circumstances. This makes it easier for the insurer to take advantage of the situation.

The insurance company may make a settlement offer based on previous settlements for your type of injury, and data about your age, sex, education, job and where you live. The offer has nothing to do with the actual costs and losses that you are facing.

As your attorneys, we carefully consider all of your present and future losses and expenses related to the accident. We seek to recover compensation for all of your losses. If an insurance company offers you a settlement, don’t accept it or sign anything until you have an experienced personal injury lawyer at Joye Law Firm review the offer and discuss whether it is a reasonable amount. If you accept an offer that doesn’t cover all your losses, you will be on the hook for the rest of the expenses.

2. Denying Responsibility for Medical Bills

If you’ve ever read an insurance policy, you may find that it promises to pay medical bills that are “necessary and appropriate.” Makes perfect sense. Of course, they shouldn’t pay for procedures that are unnecessary. But who decide what is medically necessary? When reviewing claims, the insurance company does!

They may rule out paying for certain treatments or at some point say you have been under care long enough to have recovered. Their doctor will review your medical records and agree.

It’s not as easy for an insurer to tell an experienced personal injury lawyer what they will and won’t pay for. They know we can have court-authorized medical experts review your records and take the witness stand if necessary.

Denying valid medical expenses is a common insurance company tactic. But you’ll be at a disadvantage if you try to challenge the insurance company’s decision on your own. An experienced personal injury lawyer can hold an insurance company accountable for valid medical expenses.

3. Using Your Words Against You

“We’re calling about your claim; but first, how are you doing?”

“Oh, I’m OK.”

You’re just answering the phone, but the insurance company is building a case against your claim. They may be recording the conversation.

Be careful when talking to any insurance company representative. They may try to get you to admit fault, say you were not badly hurt, agree to their version of events or agree to figures or costs they suggest. Look out for statements that end with expressions like “… right?” or “… you know?”

Do not agree to give a recorded statement to an insurance company without first consulting a personal injury lawyer. Without legal counsel, it is easy to say something that undermines your claim.

Once you engage Joye Law Firm, we will handle all communications and negotiations with the insurance companies on your behalf.

4. Attempting to Scare You

A serious injury means life-altering medical bills as well as other losses. Insurers know they have you over a barrel. They may tell you things to frighten you so you’ll accept their low-ball offer. They might say they can prove you caused the accident. We’ve heard of adjustors threatening people by picking out specific medical charges and calling them fraudulent.

You may be told the insurer has made their “final offer” and will close your claim as “unresponsive” if you don’t accept. Sometimes they’ll challenge you to sue and say they’ll just drag it out forever to make sure you get nothing.

An insurer may face penalties for acting in bad faith if they disregard a policy’s legal agreements. An insurance policy is a contract between the policy holder and the insurance company. The insurer has to honor the terms of the contract when presented with a valid claim.

5. Pressuring You to Sign a Medical Authorization Form or Other Paperwork

Be wary of anything you are asked to sign.

You may be told you must sign a medical authorization form, allowing the insurer to obtain your medical records. Never agree to this. They are looking for reasons to deny your claim. A medical authorization allows an insurance company to rifle through your medical file, looking for pre-existing conditions. The insurer may then argue that the pre-existing condition is the true cause of your medical problems and you don’t deserve an insurance payout.

If our attorneys at Joye Law Firm are representing you, we can respond to any requests from an insurance company and protect your rights to seek full compensation for your injuries.

Call Our Injury Lawyers at Joye Law

Joye Law Firm has been helping accident victims in South Carolina deal with insurance companies and seek full and fair compensation since 1968. Our attorneys have represented injured people all over the state, including Florence, Richland County, Orangeburg, Horry County (Conway and North Myrtle Beach), North Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Summerville. If you are dealing with an insurance company after an accident, chances are we’ve dealt with them many times before.

Save yourself the hassle and the chance you’ll be ripped off. Call Joye Law Firm at 888-324-3100 or fill out our online form for a free consultation and experienced representation that will protect you and your rights.

The post Ever Think ‘My Insurance Company is Ripping Me Off’? appeared first on Joye Law Firm.

from Joye Law Firm https://www.joyelawfirm.com/2021/01/ever-think-my-insurance-company-is-ripping-me-off/
via https://www.joyelawfirm.com

How to Follow Through on Your New Year’s Resolution

A new year is the perfect time to shed old, bad habits and pick up new healthy ones, which is why many people make “resolutions” at the start of the new year. Resolutions can vary from working out more, to eating healthier, to spending less money, to spending more time with family. However, one thing all resolutions have in common, is that they’re hard to keep.

According to one survey, an average of 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by the second week of February. However, that isn’t how it has to be. We’ve prepared several tips to help you keep to your resolution, starting with how to pick a good resolution.

7 Tips to Finding a Resolution You Can Keep

1. Choose something that motivates you. It may seem obvious, but it’s easier to keep a resolution you are excited about than one you are forcing yourself into simply because you believe you should.
2. Try something different. The trick to following through on a resolution is believing you can. If you attempt the same resolution every year without success, your memory of past failures can influence your ability to keep your resolution this time around as well.
3. Make it specific. When resolutions are too vague, there’s no way to chart your progress, and that makes it easier to slip in meeting your goal. Rather than say “I want to get in shape,” say, “I want to lose 15 pounds,” or “I want to complete in a marathon in six months’ time.”
4. Plan it out in reasonable steps. Resolutions that are too daunting or difficult to accomplish can make anyone balk. Instead, break it out into steps. For example, if you want to stop smoking, instead of trying to quit cold turkey, create a plan to gradually smoke less. Instead of a pack a day, try to make each pack last two days, then a week, and so on.
5. Don’t try to do too much at once. We all likely have many ways we’d like to improve ourselves, but if we are trying to eat healthier, spend less, exercise more, learn a new language, and call our parents more often on top of our usual activities, we can become stretched too thin. Concentrate your efforts on a single goal.
6. Tell people what you are doing. When your friends and family know what you are trying to accomplish, they can help hold you accountable, keep you from slipping, and act as your biggest cheerleaders at succeeding at your goals.
7. Reward successes, and don’t punish failures. If you slip up, it’s not worth beating yourself up over, and it’s definitely not a reason to give up on completing your resolution altogether. This is true whether you slipped up once, twice, five times, or even more. Get back on that horse!

Rewarding yourself for meeting partial goals can also keep your motivation high – just make sure your self-rewards don’t contradict your goal. For example, if your plan was to lose 15 pounds in three months (5 pounds per month), if you successfully lost five pounds by the end of the first month, reward yourself with some of that new fitness gear you’ve been eyeing rather than with a cheat day.

About Us

Joye Law Firm is a personal injury law firm dedicated to helping victims of accidents across South Carolina, whether they were harmed in an auto wreck, at work, in a fall, by a healthcare professional, or in any other accident caused by someone else’s negligence.

It’s an unfortunate fact that many injury victims often find their insurance will refuse to pay all or even any of their medical expenses after an accident that wasn’t their fault. We’re here to tell you that you deserve compensation not just for your medical bills, but also for any paychecks you missed while recovering and for your pain and suffering, and we want to make sure you get it.

Contact us today for a FREE case consultation.

The post How to Follow Through on Your New Year’s Resolution appeared first on Joye Law Firm.

from Joye Law Firm https://www.joyelawfirm.com/2021/01/follow-new-years-resolution/
via https://www.joyelawfirm.com