Recently, a multivehicle wreck on Interstate 95 left several people injured. According to WCIV, the multivehicle accident happened in Colleton County. The crash involved three vehicles and happened in the southbound lanes of I-95 near mile marker 63.
Colleton County Fire-Rescue responded to the scene. There were several people hurt in the multivehicle collision, including one woman who had to be taken to the Colleton Medical Center and later flown to the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) for treatment.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol was still investigating this incident at the time of this report.
What to Do If You’re in a Multivehicle Accident in South Carolina
A multivehicle wreck can be one of the scariest and most chaotic accident scenes you will ever encounter. There are generally several damaged vehicles of all shapes and sizes. More importantly, there are usually multiple injured people, with many suffering severe injuries.
It can be tough to tell what to do, because most people have never been in a multivehicle pileup before. The following are tips for what to do if you’re in a multivehicle accident:
- Stay in your car at first – Your first instinct may be to exit your car. However, if possible, wait until you are sure the accident is over before you unbuckle your seat belt or exit your vehicle. In some cases, a three-vehicle wreck can turn into a five, seven, or ten-vehicle crash before it’s over. Your car may be able to protect you from getting hurt because of those additional collisions.
- Exit your car when it’s safe – In some instances, you may have to exit your car because it’s too dangerous to stay in it, such as if your vehicle catches fire. However, if possible, don’t exit your car until you are sure the accident is over. When you exit, try to avoid the shoulder or standing near guardrails, because vehicles that are trying to avoid the pileup may swerve onto the shoulder or toward the guardrails to avoid hitting other vehicles. Also, do not stand between the cars because if someone crashes into the pileup, it could begin a chain-reaction that results in you being trapped between two vehicles.
- Call 911 – Call 911 and report the accident. This will ensure that police and EMS are on the way to the accident scene.
- Seek immediate medical attention – If you or anyone else is hurt, seek immediate medical attention. This can include calling 911 and having the 911 operator talk you through treating the injured person until medical personnel arrive at the scene.
- Gather information – Take pictures of your injuries, the damage to your vehicle, and the accident scene. Get the contact information of the other drivers, passengers, and witnesses. Exchange insurance information with the other drivers.
- Don’t talk to other drivers’ insurance providers – Wait until after you have spoken with an experienced car accident attorney before speaking with any of the other drivers’ insurance companies. They may try to trick you into taking blame for the accident.
- Talk to an experienced car accident lawyer – As soon as possible, meet with a car accident lawyer about the incident. An experienced attorney will be able to examine your situation, determine if you have a valid claim, and help you hold those at fault for the accident accountable, including helping you recover compensation for damage to your vehicle, hospital bills, rehabilitation expenses, loss of income, pain and suffering, and more.
To learn more about multivehicle accidents, or to discuss your situation with our experienced multivehicle accident attorneys in Charleston, give Pierce, Sloan, Kennedy & Early LLC a call at (843) 968-0886 or reach out to us online today.