Who Is Responsible for a Road Defect Accident?

In South Carolina, responsibility for a road defect accident can lie with:

  1. Government Entities: If the defect is due to poor maintenance or failure to repair.
  2. Construction Companies/Contractors: For defects caused by poor design or construction.
  3. Engineers/Designers: If the defect is related to unsafe road planning.
  4. Private Property Owners: If the defect is on private property and not maintained.
  5. Other Drivers: If their actions worsened the defect's impact.
  6. Vehicle Manufacturers: In rare cases, if a vehicle’s failure contributed to the accident.

South Carolina follows comparative negligence so that multiple parties may share responsibility. 

Whether it was a single-car crash or a highway pile-up, if the drivers did nothing wrong, and an accident was caused by a road hazard that should not have existed, injured victims will need an experienced attorney to take on the public entity or private corporation responsible for the defect. At Pracht Injury Lawyers, we are always on the side of the victim, and we will take on any party whose negligence caused serious injuries in South Carolina. defective highway injury

Serious Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries Can Have a Lifelong Impact

The kinds of injuries that can be suffered in a crash caused by a road hazard or defect are numerous and could be life-altering or fatal. Some of the more serious injuries we see include:

  • Traumatic brain injuries. An impact to the head or jolting of the body—common in vehicle collisions—can cause permanent brain damage that affects cognitive and motor abilities for the rest of the victim’s life.
  • Broken bones. A compound leg or arm fracture, broken pelvis, crushed vertebrae, or another serious bone break can require surgery and ongoing physical therapy to heal. Broken bones are common in motor vehicle crashes. 
  • Spinal cord and paralysis injuries. When the spinal cord is damaged in a collision, the victim could be partially or totally paralyzed. This kind of injury requires life-long rehabilitation, therapy, and care and can cost millions of dollars.
  • Back and neck injuries. Chronic and debilitating pain can be the result of a back or neck injury. Car crashes can cause strained tendons and ligaments and even broken vertebrae that can require months of rehabilitation.

These kinds of injuries can require immediate intensive care and ongoing rehabilitation, adding up to significant costs. If a negligent road commission or construction company is at fault for your crash, you should not have to pay these damages

We Will Fight for What You Deserve

With unmatched experience in motor vehicle injury claims and a culture that focuses on providing responsive, compassionate service to our clients, Pracht Injury Lawyers is here for you. Our mission is to use our hearts and our heads to help our clients pursue all of the compensation to which they are entitled. Reach out to our team as soon as you can. We will answer all of your questions and be candid about your options. You have suffered in uncertainty long enough. Get the answers you need now.