What to do if Someone Hits Your Boat While You’re on the Water

A boating accident can be a traumatic and dangerous event with severe consequences. In 2020, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) reported 153 boating accidents in South Carolina, of which 21 were fatal.

Serious accidents often have long-term repercussions, including physical injuries and emotional distress. Your boat is also likely to sustain damage after a collision, costing you thousands in repairs or replacement.

If you enjoy recreational boating in South Carolina, you should know what steps to take in case of a boating collision. These actions include obtaining medical attention and contacting a team of skilled South Carolina boating accident lawyers to explore your legal options.

What to do after an incident

Boating accident safety procedures begin long before a collision occurs. Anyone who intends to take a boat trip in South Carolina should familiarize themselves with accident protocols. If another vessel hits your boat, take the following actions to ensure you obtain necessary medical attention and protect your rights to compensation.

Stop the boat

If you’re operating the boat when an accident occurs, immediately bring it to a stop. Stopping your vessel makes it easier to control, reducing the risk of injuring an overboard passenger or colliding with a nearby vessel.

Check on the safety of all passengers

The next step is to check on passengers’ well-being. Take a headcount, determine whether anyone has fallen overboard, and assess injuries that require emergency treatment.

If anyone falls into the water, avoid jumping in to help unless their life is in danger. Use rope, a buoy, or flotation equipment to help them return to safety instead. If you must enter the water, wear a life jacket.

Once you account for all passengers, consider dropping anchor to stabilize the boat. Dropping your anchor helps keep the boat from shifting, allowing you to focus on tending to the needs of injured passengers.

Contact emergency services

Call 911 to report the accident and request assistance as soon as possible. If your cell phone becomes inaccessible, use your very high frequency (VHF) radio to notify the nearest emergency service of your situation. Use your VHF to contact the coast guard, marine police, or fire department to obtain emergency aid for yourself or your passengers.

Record details about the boating accident

Although it may be difficult, given the stressful circumstances, it’s critical to collect as much information as possible following an accident. This information is necessary to build your case against the party responsible for the incident. Record the following details:

• Name and address of any other boat operators involved in the collision
• Make and model of any other boats involved
• Registration number of any other boats involved
• Photos and videos of all vessels involved
• Photos and videos of boat damage
• Eyewitness contact information

Report the accident

Reporting an accident is essential to ensure the safety of those involved in an accident. In addition, federal law requires you to report boating accidents if they result in:

• A death
• Someone is injured and needs medical assistance beyond first aid care
• A passenger disappears
• Boat and property damage reaches or exceeds $2,000
• A vessel is totaled

In South Carolina, you must report boating accidents to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). For all boating collisions that result in death, serious injury, or disappearance, you must report the incident within 48 hours. You must report the accident within 10 days for all other required reporting circumstances.

Visit a doctor

Schedule a doctor’s appointment to diagnose potential injuries. Some injuries may not be noticeable immediately but could cause a long-term disability. For example, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) may take days or weeks to show symptoms, so receiving immediate care can reduce an injury’s impact on your life.

Your legal team can use your medical records and recommended treatment plans as evidence in a personal injury case. These documents can prove the extent of your injuries and help you pursue maximum compensation for your medical expenses.

Filing for Compensation

All boaters are responsible for the safe operation of their vessel. If you’re injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. If you sustained injuries in any of the following circumstances, schedule a free consultation with Joye Law Firm today:

• Another boat operator was piloting while intoxicated
• A negligent boat operator caused the accident
• Your boating accident was a result of defective parts
• Faulty maintenance played a role in your boating collision
• Negligent boat operations resulted in the death of a loved one

Proving negligence can be challenging, particularly if you are still recovering from the accident. Hiring the services of a professional accident lawyer can help you build a strong case and maximize the compensation you receive for your injuries. The attorneys at Joye Law Firm have nearly 250 years of combined experience representing personal injury clients across South Carolina.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

Our no-hassle, no-obligation consultation policy ensures that you can meet with a qualified lawyer about your case without worrying about upfront fees. Let us put our legal experience to work for you; contact Joye Law Firm today for your free initial case evaluation.

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Who Is Liable for a Semi-Truck Crash?

When a commercial semi-truck crash occurs, many parties might be at fault. However, this can also make it challenging to determine who is liable for damages in a semi-truck crash.

In the event of a truck crash in South Carolina, an experienced personal injury lawyer from Joye Law Firm can determine liability. A lawyer can ensure you receive adequate compensation to pay for injuries, property damages, and other losses.

Who Are the Liable Parties in a Semi-Truck Crash?

There may be multiple parties to blame for an accident involving a truck. These parties include, but are not limited to:

Truck driver

All commercial truck drivers must follow the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) federal trucking regulations. These regulations govern truck drivers’ safety on interstate highways and roadways.

They include the number of service hours they should work and a ban on drinking alcohol four hours before they begin work. An at-fault truck driver is liable if their negligence, such as fatigued driving or alcohol intoxication, led to a collision.

Truck employer

Truck companies handle training their drivers, conducting background checks on their drivers, and screening them for drugs and alcohol. If the truck driver is an employee of a trucking company, the company is liable because the driver acted as their representative on the road.

If they don’t have driver safety, training, and truck maintenance policies, the company can also be liable. A trucking company may be held directly liable for damages if it hires, retains, or supervises a negligent driver.

Truck owner

A trucking company may lease the trucks from another company rather than own them. If a leasing company fails to inspect, repair, or maintain the truck and the failure leads to an accident, the leasing company may be held liable.

Cargo shipper

Besides the truck driver, the cargo shipper may be the party responsible for loading cargo into the truck and must ensure all cargo is in place. These regulations are important, especially for securing hazardous materials in the truck.

A truck loaded with goods might become uncontrollable and roll because of its unbalanced weight. The shippers or owners of hazardous goods may be held liable for injuries caused by the shipment.

Truck manufacturer

Like all manufacturers, truck manufacturers must ensure their products are safe. Their failure to do so could result in serious crashes. For instance, a faulty steering mechanism can cause the driver to lose control and cause an accident. The manufacturer of a defective steering wheel may be held responsible for damages if the steering wheel fails because of the defect.

Drivers on the road

It is possible that other drivers on the road contributed to the truck collision. Drowsy driving, distracted driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or speeding are all potential risks that can cause truck accidents. One of our experienced South Carolina truck crash lawyers can analyze the facts of the case to determine if the driver caused the collision due to negligence.

How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Determine Liability in a Semi-Truck Accident?

Your attorney can determine the number of multiple parties in a truck crash in a few ways:

Ask witnesses for their testimonies

A lawyer may strengthen your case with testimonies from onlookers who witnessed the semi-truck crash. Their testimonies can significantly affect your case by having your attorney ask them for details about the accident.

Review photos and videos from the accident scene

The crash may have been captured on traffic cameras, dash cams, or private surveillance cameras. You can have your lawyer obtain the footage so that they can review it and decide on the liable parties.

The lawyer may also use photos of the accident scene to determine liability by observing the extent of any injuries, skid marks, and the point of impact on the vehicles in the accident.

If it is clear who is at fault in a semi-truck crash, your lawyer can help you pursue a claim against one or more insurance companies to recover the costs of medical care and vehicle replacement or repair.

Contact a South Carolina Truck Lawyer for Legal Help

It is difficult to determine all of the liability parties in a semi-truck accident without the help of a lawyer. Joye Law Firm’s experienced truck accident lawyers are ready to work with you and represent you in court, if necessary. Call us today for a free consultation with a member of our team.

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Does Motorcycle Gear Really Help in a Crash?

As a motorcyclist, you have a higher risk of injury or death if you’re in an accident. There are about 58 motorcycle fatalities annually in the United States for every 100,000 registered motorcycles. This is over four times higher than the 12.4 death per 100,000 for car drivers.

Despite most motorcyclists being careful riders, your safety often depends on others’ behavior. This includes car drivers, pedestrians, other motorcycle riders, and even road maintenance (or lack thereof). Many states have mandatory helmet laws for motorcycle riders to prevent injury. But some riders may wonder if wearing protective gear is actually helpful in a crash?

Essential Protective Gear for Motorcyclists

There are several items of protective gear that have been proven effective at reducing the severity of injuries due to motorcycle accidents, including:

Helmets

The most essential piece of protective gear you can wear while riding your motorcycle is a helmet. If you’re ejected from your motorcycle during a crash, injuring your head has the potential to cause the most severe injuries and death. With head injuries being the leading cause of death in motorcycle crashes, wearing a helmet reduces your risk of head injury by 69%, while your risk of death goes down by 42%.

South Carolina does not have universal helmet laws. Only riders 20 years old and younger are required by law to wear a helmet.

Gloves

Even minor motorcycle accidents can cause painful injuries. Riders who fall off their motorcycles can land on their hands or use them to break the fall. This can cause road rash as well as broken fingers and knuckles. Some armored riding gloves even come with wrist armor that can save you from a break.

With broken wrists taking up to eight weeks or more to heal, investing in a pair of high-quality armored riding gloves can prevent a debilitating injury that could result in significant financial losses due to medical costs and loss of income.

Boots

Riding boots play a similar protective role as gloves, protecting your ankles and feet from breaks and scrapes. Steel-toed riding boots can help you avoid broken toes, and their reinforced structure can prevent cuts and painful twists.

Jacket and pants

Opting to wear a jacket and pants specially made for motorcyclists can save you some serious pain and anguish from road rash and lacerations. Jackets with armor plating and leather pants will keep you from sustaining injuries to your skin and bones. Research supports that riders wearing protective clothing have shorter hospital stays, and their overall recovery is shorter.

Common Injuries

Injuries from a motorcycle accident can range from a minor sprain or bruised limb to broken bones and traumatic brain injury. Other common motorcycle accident injuries include:

Road rash

Road rash is an abrasion caused by friction between your skin and the road. In some cases, road rash can cause an infection that requires immediate medical attention by a doctor. Signs that the abrasion is infected include swelling, increased pain, pus, warmth, foul-smelling drainage, and flu-like symptoms.

Broken bones

Statistics show that over a third of all fractures in motorcycle accidents are to the tibia or fibula, two major bones in the leg. With a broken leg taking anywhere from six weeks to several months to completely heal, taking all necessary precautions should be a priority for all motorcyclists.

Head injuries

With 21% of unhelmeted riders suffering a traumatic brain injury from their accidents, being proactive about head safety will help you safeguard your brain. Concussions are also a concern in motorcycle accidents as the brain can swell, causing anything from slurred speech to blurred vision and memory loss.

You Deserve Compensation

Ensuring your well-being when riding a motorcycle starts with taking all the necessary precautions and careful, defensive driving. If you’re proactive about safety and still get into an accident, it’s likely that another party was careless or broke the law.

If you find yourself with a damaged motorcycle and serious injuries, the person at fault should be held accountable for any expenses you incur and for the pain you suffer from the event.

Contact our law firm for a complimentary consultation if you’re looking for a South Carolina motorcycle accident lawyer due to sustaining injuries and property damage from someone else’s reckless behavior.

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Can Passengers of Drunk Drivers Get Compensation in Crashes?

Sustaining injuries in a car accident is a frightening experience regardless of whether you are the driver or the passenger. According to the CDC, someone dies in a drunk driving accident every 50 minutes in the U.S. Impaired driving accounts for 33% of all fatal crashes and leaves thousands of people injured and disabled per year.

If you suffer injuries in a drunk driving accident as a passenger, you have a right to seek compensation from the driver. Explore your options as an injured passenger in an impaired driving accident by contacting the experienced South Carolina car crash lawyers at Joye Law Firm.

Your Rights to Compensation as an Injured Passenger

As a passenger in a car crash, you have a right to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, physical pain, and mental and emotional distress caused by the negligent actions of a drunk driver. You may be able to file a claim with the insurance company of the driver of the vehicle you were in or the driver of the other vehicle’s insurance company, depending on who was at fault.

However, the insurance companies for each driver involved in a collision may argue that the other driver was completely, or at least partially, at fault. Therefore, each insurance company will claim that it is the other driver’s responsibility to compensate you.

Even if the driver of the car you were riding in was intoxicated, this may not mean they are completely at fault for causing the accident. Your claim will not be settled until the insurance companies involved agree on who is liable, and each driver’s percentage of fault.

To negotiate claims with multiple insurance companies, you need a qualified and knowledgeable attorney.

Factors that May Affect Your Compensation

Every drunk driving accident is different. Several factors affect your compensation, such as the details leading up to the collision and each person’s role.

South Carolina is a tort state, which means it uses a fault-based system for determining- liability in car accidents. Under a fault-based system, drunk drivers can be held liable for the costs others incur from crashes the drunk driver causes.

However, the circumstances of the accident are important in determining the comparative fault of each party. Comparative fault is the percentage of negligence or fault of each person involved in the collision.

Modified comparative fault states that you must not be more than 50% at fault for your injuries to receive compensation. If anything about your behavior contributed to the accident, your compensation is reduced by the percentage you were at fault.

While passengers are usually not at fault for a crash, the other side may argue that you might be partially responsible for your own injuries, because you got in a car with someone you knew was drunk, and thus who was more likely to get into a wreck. They may examine your ability to have taken different transportation. Furthermore, if you were not wearing a seatbelt or were behaving in a way that distracted the driver to the point that it may have contributed to them losing control of the vehicle, the other side will try to emphasize your contributions to the crash.

Carefully considering all aspects of the accident with an experienced lawyer can help you avoid pitfalls.

Importance of Obtaining Legal Counsel

A drunk driving accident can be complicated, and your right to be fully compensated can get lost in the process. If multiple parties are making claims, things can get even more complex.

Additionally, the three-year statute of limitations that applies in most cases means you will have to act promptly. The sooner you get legal counsel, the better you will be able to gather evidence and witness accounts.  

Hire an Attorney Who Really Knows Drunk Driving Cases

There are many variables in an accident where the driver is drunk. If you are a passenger and sustain injuries, you deserve compensation from the driver’s insurance. Passengers are rarely at fault for a crash, but the other side can build an argument to support otherwise if you don’t have an equally savvy lawyer defending you.

Navigating a complicated case where multiple vehicles and multiple passengers are involved requires a highly qualified attorney that can reduce or eliminate your percentage of fault, and identify who is liable for your injuries and how much you’re owed. If you are looking for the best South Carolina drunk driving crash lawyers, contact Joye Law Firm today to receive a free consultation.

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What is “Dooring” When Talking About Bicycle Crashes?

Bicyclists face potentially dangerous situations when sharing the road with motor vehicles. One of these situations is dooring, where a driver or passenger opens a car door into the path of another road user, such as a bicyclist, without checking to make sure the way is clear.

If you were hit by an open car door while riding your bicycle, ‌seek immediate medical care for your injuries. After that, contact a South Carolina bike injury attorney who can help you protect your rights and recover your damages.

How Common Are Dooring Accidents?

In many major cities throughout the country, dooring accidents have become commonplace over the past decade.

• According to Boston’s 2013 Cyclist Safety Report, dooring accidents make up 11% of bicycle accidents.
• Chicago reported 300 incidents of dooring in 2015, an increase of 50% over the previous year.
• In San Francisco, dooring accidents accounted for 16% of all bicycle crashes resulting in injuries in 2015.

Although South Carolina does not track dooring incidents, there were 4,570 recorded bicycle crashes on state roads, an average of 508 a year, from 2009 to 2017. During this time, 90.7% of all bike crashes resulted in injuries, 6.1% caused property damage, and 3.2% of the crashes were fatal.

Common Injuries from Dooring Accidents

If a bicyclist is struck by a door or swerves to avoid a door and crashes, it can cause serious injury. Common injuries from dooring include:

• Traumatic brain injuries: People who ride bikes frequently wear helmets for extra protection, but ‌head injuries such as traumatic brain injuries can occur in dooring accidents. These injuries can have lifelong consequences and sometimes result in the victim’s death.
• Neck injuries: Bicyclists may be thrown from their bikes when hit by a car door. The sudden impact can cause severe damage to their necks and spinal cords.
• Broken bones: A vehicle door can hit a bicyclist hard enough to cause broken bones, particularly in the arm or hand, if they fall off their bike.
• Emotional distress: Bicycle accidents can be distressing experiences that cause victims to have anxiety, depression, and insomnia. If you suffered emotional distress as a result of the accident, you may be able to obtain compensation.

Why is Opening a Car Door Without Looking Considered Negligence in South Carolina?

Drivers in South Carolina owe a duty of care to avoid colliding with anyone using a human-powered vehicle, like a bicycle or scooter. If a driver fails to meet their legal duty of care by not looking out for other road users and injures you, you may have a claim for damages.

In South Carolina, vehicle occupants must wait to open a car door unless it is reasonably safe to do so. They also shouldn’t leave a door facing moving traffic open for longer than necessary for loading or unloading people.

As a result, the driver or passenger of the car who opens the door without checking whether anyone is approaching may be held financially liable for the bicyclist’s injuries and expenses, such as medical bills. Our South Carolina bike injury lawyers can help you with your claim against the driver and passenger.

You must prove the driver violated the duty of care and that breach of duty resulted in your injuries and damages, which can include your medical bills, the cost to repair or replace your bike, and even lost wages if you were severely injured and needed time off work to recover.

Damages for Dooring Accidents

Many injuries from dooring accidents require medical treatment and time off work for recovery. That means bills are piling up, but no paychecks are coming in. You may also have long-term pain and emotional distress from your injuries and the accident.

If you were hurt in a dooring bicycle accident in South Carolina, you may be entitled to compensation. Compensation often includes the following:

• Medical expenses
• Property damage
• Lost wages and earning capacity
• Pain and suffering

Your attorney can review your claim and advise you on how to recover the compensation you need to cover your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses.

Reach out to Joye Law Firm After a Dooring Accident

The South Carolina bike injury attorneys at Joye Law Firm can help you or a family member who has been injured due to someone opening a door into the path of their bicycle. We’ve been guiding clients through difficult times since 1968. Contact us today for a free consultation and get started on your claim.

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How Long Does It Take to Settle a Motorcycle Lawsuit?

You have the right to file a lawsuit after a motorcycle accident. The length of time to settle a motorcycle lawsuit and receive damages depends on several factors.

The evidence, facts of your case, and the cooperation of the at-fault party’s insurance company can affect the timeline of your motorcycle accident lawsuit. Here’s what to expect when filing a claim for compensation after a motorcycle accident.

What Are the Steps in Motorcycle Accident Claim?

A South Carolina motorcycle crash attorney can discuss your legal options and how long it will take to reach a settlement based on the unique factors of your case. The duration of your lawsuit and how long it takes to receive a payout from an insurance company or a third party depends on the specific elements of your accident.

Diagnosis and treatment of your injuries

The doctor must first examine and treat your injuries before settling a lawsuit. If you suffered severe injuries from your accident and required surgery, you may need more time to recover.

Save the receipts from every doctor’s visit, correspondence for taking time off work, and every payment related to the motorcycle accident. This evidence shows the extent of your injuries and how they affect your quality of life and financial situation. The more proof you have of expenses and hardship incurred, the higher your settlement amount may be.

Evaluation of your damages

Your motorcycle accident lawyer can review evidence such as the police report, surveillance footage, pictures and videos of the crash, and witness statements. This evidence can help your lawyer assess your damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages.

The length of time gathering evidence and evaluating your damages depends on its source. The lawyer may need to work with you to obtain your medical records from your doctor. Your attorney must also visit local businesses with security cameras to ask for the surveillance footage.

Filing a claim

In South Carolina, you can only receive compensation for your injuries and property damage if you are less than 50% to blame for the accident. If you are 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover any damages. Since most cases in South Carolina have a three-year statute of limitations for filing your motorcycle accident claim, your attorney can help gather and preserve the evidence needed to file within the deadline.

Negotiations with the insurance company

After gathering all the evidence, your lawyer will send a formal demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurance company. An insurance adjuster may take their time examining the letter and supporting documentation to decide on a settlement. The settlement process between your lawyer and the insurance company can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

An experienced motorcycle lawyer knows there is often room for negotiation if the insurance company offers you an inadequate settlement for your losses. Your lawyer can negotiate on your behalf and help you fight to gain fair compensation for the value of your damages and the extent of your injuries.

Should You Take a Settlement or Go to Court?

Once you’ve received an offer, you must decide if the sum is sufficient. You and your personal injury attorney must analyze the offer, considering your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. When you accept the offer, this means you’ve closed your case. You cannot take any further legal actions because of this accident.

Otherwise, your lawyer may bring a lawsuit against the at-fault party and their insurance company. Remember that if you need to go to trial, the process typically takes longer than settling out-of-court.

A lawsuit involves many steps that may take several weeks, months, or even years to complete, from filing a complaint to discovery and depositions to mediation with a third-party lawyer for negotiations. These processes extend the time it takes to receive compensation.

Talk to a Motorcycle Crash Attorney in South Carolina

The length of time it takes to resolve a motorcycle accident claim depends on the specific details of your case. How long it takes your injuries to heal, whether they affect your quality of life, and the amount of time you take off work for recovery all factor into the value of your claim and how long the proceedings take.

The best way to settle for reasonable compensation is to work with a motorcycle crash lawyer at Joye Law Firm. Call our law office today for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn how we can help you receive a fair settlement as quickly as possible.

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Traffic Signs in School Zone and What They Mean

School zones are a flurry of activity at certain hours. Every day, thousands of children and adults walk, bike, and drive through school zones in South Carolina. School buses load and unload children. School crossing officers raise signs to stop traffic and direct children across crosswalks. On the best days, everything runs like a well-directed symphony.

To keep everyone safe, there are traffic signs that are specific to school zones in South Carolina. Motorists should slow down and proceed with caution when school children are present or a school bus is loading or unloading students.

If your child has been injured in a school zone accident caused by a motorist who disregarded school zone signs, you may be entitled to hold the driver accountable and claim compensation for your child’s medical bills and other expenses. Unfortunately, school zone accidents do occur. Our knowledgeable and compassionate attorneys at Joye Law Firm are available to review the accident and help you understand your legal options. Contact us today!

What Is the Use of the School Zone Sign?

The South Carolina Department of Transportation defines school zones as the portion of roadway located within 300 feet of a school’s property line. Signs announcing School Zone Ahead and Reduced School Speed Limit Ahead warn motorists when they are approaching a school zone.

A school zone speed limit of 15 mph or 25 mph will be posted if a speed reduction is required.

Flashing lights accompanying some school zone signs call attention to a reduction in the speed limit. The lights typically flash for 45 minutes around the time school begins and ends.

What Is the Purpose of the School Zone Sign?

In South Carolina, special laws govern driving in school zones to prevent accidents. The laws also include additional penalties for traffic infractions such as speeding in a school zone.

School zone signs warn drivers that a school is nearby and that children may be crossing the street in the vicinity. School zone signs and school crossing signs may be fluorescent yellow or fluorescent yellow-green to make them more visible. They may also be equipped with lights. When lights are flashing or children are present in a school zone, drivers must obey a slower speed limit.

According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, most accidents involving children occur between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Surprisingly, accidents are more likely to occur during fair weather conditions than during inclement conditions.

Different Road Safety Signs You Should Expect in School Zones

A Reduced Speed Ahead sign may precede a school zone. Depending on the posted speed of the street, a School Speed Limit sign may indicate a reduced speed during certain hours and/or days of the week.

A School Advanced Warning sign will indicate the first crosswalk in a school zone. An End School Zone sign may mark the edge of a school zone.

Signs You Will See in a School Zone and Why They Are Important

Other signs you may encounter include:

• Children Playing sign – This sign warns the driver that children may be playing in the vicinity and that the driver should be on alert and prepared to stop quickly.
• Stop for Pedestrian sign – Not all crosswalks in a school zone use typical traffic control signs. A Stop for Pedestrian sign indicates that drivers must stop anytime there is a pedestrian in the crosswalk.
• Slow Down Watch for Children sign –This sign reminds drivers that in a school zone, they must always be vigilant and look out for children. Sometimes students need to arrive or leave school early or may be staying late for after-school activities.
• Stop signs – Intersections and crosswalks often have stop signs. School zones also employ a handheld version of stop signs to help children cross unmarked crosswalks or travel through high-traffic areas. Be on the lookout for crossing guards holding these handheld stop signs. If a school crossing officer is present at a crosswalk, drivers should stop and yield if directed to do so by the officer.
• School Bus Loading Zone sign – Many accidents involving children occur as they are boarding or getting off school buses. Children are often not paying attention when they are getting off the school bus. It is important for drivers to pay attention to the lights on the school bus and notice whether the stop arm is activated. Motorists are required to stop for a school bus on a two-lane road and on any highway if traveling behind the bus. Drivers must wait until the bus moves or its red or amber lights stop flashing and the stop arm is no longer visible.

Being familiar with the signs can prevent accidents and help determine who was at fault if an accident does occur.

Contact a South Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer Today

If you or your child has been injured in an accident within a school zone due to someone else’s negligence, you may have a right to seek compensation for your injuries. Parents should not have to worry about their children’s safety when traveling to and from school, but school zone accidents do occur.

An experienced South Carolina child injury attorney can help you understand which school zone laws are applicable in your situation and discuss your legal options. If you have a valid claim, our attorneys can help you build a strong case for compensation. We will take the time to listen to your story to understand the details of the accident and how the injuries have affected you on a daily basis.

The attorneys at Joye Law Firm have been helping injured people in South Carolina for more than 50 years. Our results and client testimonials demonstrate the experience we have handling personal injury cases and the effort we make to assist people who turn to us for help. We would be honored to help your family through this difficult time.

Beyond providing exceptional legal services, our firm is committed to serving the local community by awarding annual scholarships, supporting animal shelters, and making many other charitable contributions. We serve people in communities across South Carolina.

Contact us today online or call us for a free consultation.

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