Read The South Carolina Personal Injury And Car Accident Blog To Stay Up To Date On The Latest Accident Information

Safe Driving In The Heat of Summer

Memorial Day marked the beginning of this year's 100 Deadliest Days of Summer. The 100 Deadliest Days of Summer is a campaign promoted by South Carolina police departments to keep people safe during the Summer. The campaign runs from Memorial Day until Labor Day. This year, like previous years, troopers and police officers will be cracking down on drunk driving and promoting the importance of wearing a seat belt.

Oprah Declares April 30 "No Phone Zone Day"

The National Highway Traffic Administration reports that an estimated 6,000 people die each year in accidents caused by distracted driving. And, testing drivers are 20 times more likely to have a car accident than those who are not distracted. Oprah has teamed up with American transportation officials to launch a public service announcement informing Americans of the fatal consequences of distracted driving. Oprah's has officially declared April 30 as "No Phone Zone Day."

"You Weren't Wearing A Seatbelt": Another Meritless Argument by Insurance Companies

A violation of the South Carolina seatbelt law cannot be used as evidence of negligence in a civil action. Shelly Leeke Law Firm offers free reports and information for Charleston, South Carolina Accident victims and car accident victims throughout the state. Call 843-277-6061 today.

Not Every Accident Warrants Punitive Damages

If you suffer an injury by a drunk driver or a driver that is distracted by texting or talking on the phone you may be entitled to punitive damages in addition to payment for pain and suffering, medical bills and lost wages. Shelly Leeke Law Firm, Charleston South Carolina's personal injury law firm. Representing Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Goose Creek, West Ashley and surrounding areas. Call 843-277-6061 today.

Could Facebook and Twitter Make Your Car Insurance Premiums Rise?

Shelly Leeke Law Firm offers free reports, book and information for South Carolina accident victims. Call for a free case evaluation today. 843-277-6061. Don't forget to order your free copy of the South Carolina Accident Book today!!!

North Charleston Police Officer Forced to Face The Music

North Charleston Police Officer Christine Phinney is Forced to Face The Music.But, it won't be this week. Shelly Leeke Law Firm offers free case evaluations to personal injury and auto accident victims in South Carolina. Call Shelly Leeke Law Firm today, 843-277-6061.

I Settled My Case on My Own, Can I Change My Mind?

Once you settle your injury case with the insurance company for responsible party, your case is over. Shelly Leeke Law Firm offers free case evaluations for Charleston and all South Carolina residents. Call 843-277-6061 today.

Sober Worker Crashes Forklift In to $150k Vodka Aisle

Incredibly, a warehouse worker walks away with just a few scratches after wheeling his forklift in to an entire aisle of Vodka and Cognac. Although the forklift crash mishap resulted in the loss of an estimated $150,000 worth of vodka and cognac.Shelly Leeke Personal Injury Law Firm Offers Free Information to victims of auto accidents in South Carolina, call today for a complimentary case evaluation. Contact us at 843-277-6061 today.

How To Choose The Attorney For Your Accident Case

Choosing the right attorney for your accident case can be a difficult and stressful task. Knowing what to look for in a personal injury attorney can really help your decision. That's why Shelly Leeke Law Firm offers free reports and information for South Carolina residents. We believe that the road to justice starts with knowledge and understanding of your legal rights.

South Carolina Officials Prepare for Winter Weather Road Emergencies

With the winter temperatures lingering in South Carolina, state emergency officials prepare for roadway emergencies caused by snow, icy roads and other inclement weather conditions. Shelly Leeke Law Firm is a personal injury law firm in Charleston, South Carolina. Focusing on Auto, Truck accidents and wrongful death accidents. Call 843-277-6061 today.

SC Highway Patrol Offers Free Chic-Fil-A For Buckling Up

the SC Department of Highway Patrol launched a new incentive to encourage drivers to buckle up. Highway Patrol offered free chicken for those caught breaking the law while wearing their seat belt. Shelly Leeke Law Firm offers free a free book, reports and more to help South Carolina Accident victims. Call 843-277-6061 today!

What Documents to Take to An Attorney Consultation for Your Accident

If you have been in an accident and have scheduled a consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney, there are several items of information that will help your attorney to better assist you when evaluating your accident case. Shelly Leeke Law Firm, offices in Mt. Pleasant and Goose Creek, Call us today, 843-277-6061.

A Quick Way To Destroy Your Accident Case

Medical treatment is one of the best ways to prove your injuries from an accident. Seeking prompt medical treating and adhering to the medical treatment recommended by your doctor will significantly decrease the insurance companies' arguments that you were not seriously injured in the accident. Shelly Leeke Law Firm offers free information for Charleston South Carolina accident victims.

Protect Your Life and Save Yourself a Ticket During the Holidays- Wear Your Seat Belt

Safe travels are made safer by taking one simple step, fasten your seat belt. South Carolina motorists and passengers can be ticketed for not wearing their seat belt. Nearly half of all fatal car accidents could have been prevented with the use of a seat belt. Shelly Leeke Law Firm offers free consultations for Charleston and South Carolina accident victims. Charleston, Goose Creek, Mt. Pleasant, Summerville, North Charleston, Moncks Corner, Awendaw, McClellanville.

What You Do on Facebook Will be Used Against You--- Charleston South Carolina Accident Lawyer

You could make a serious mistake in your accident case if you leave your social media accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, or another number of sites, open to the public for anyone to view.

What you may not know is that if you are injured in an accident and have an injury case, it is almost guaranteed that the insurance company, their agent or attorney will search these sites to find your profile. They will view your page, including your friend’s posts, your posts, your pictures and pictures other people post of you. They will gather all information they can to build their case against you. The insurance company will use the information they find to devalue your case.

They may use pictures to say that your injuries are not as serious as you claim, or use them to paint a negative picture of you. Even if your case eventually settles before court, you can bet that the insurance company will use all information it gathers from your social accounts in its effort to discount the value of your case. You may even find yourself settling for less than you would if you had NOT given them full access to your private information on your Facebook and/or social accounts. With millions of users on Facebook alone, it pays for accident and injury victims to protect their personal information by privatizing all social accounts.

The Insurance Company Offered Me Money To Settle My Accident Case, What Should I Do?

I received this question again today, one that is not uncommon in my practice of personal injury law.

A few days ago the caller was injured in an auto accident that was not his fault. Just a few days after the wreck, he got a call from the at fault driver's insurance company offering to pay his medical bills. The adjustor was very polite and told him she would pay the "reasonable" medical expenses and even give him a few hundred dollars to settle the case. Luckily, this caller had read The South Carolina Accident Book, and knew the tricks that insurance adjustor's will pull to entice injury victims to take a quick settlement. He called me to get an honest evaluation of whether or not he needed an attorney.

My opinion is this... you may not need a lawyer for your case if you are involved in a car wreck where there is little property damage and you are not hurt. However, if you are injured in an auto accident and your phone starts ringing a few days later with the adjustor offering you money, you can bet it is not because she really wants to take care of you. One of the first signs that you should look seriously at hiring an experienced injury attorney for your accident case is when the insurance company calls and offers you money.

The adjustor's job is to save the insurance company money. Adjustors get raises and bonuses based on how much money they save the insurance company by paying LESS than a case is worth. This caller did the right thing. He did not accept the quick settlement, and turns out, not surprisingly, his case is probably worth a lot more than the few hundred dollars he was offered by the adjustor.

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Learn more about what to do if you are in a car accident!

• Order your Free copy of The South Carolina Accident Book: Avoid the Mistakes that Can Wreck Your Accident Case today!

• Contact Shelly Leeke Law Firm for a Free Consultation.

Bad Driver? Maybe You Were Born With It…

A New Study Correlates Genetics With Poor Driving Skills.

The study was published in the Cerebral Cortex Journal and says people with a certain gene variant related to activity perform far worse on driving tests than those without the gene variant.

Ordinarily, when a person performs a task, a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is secreted to the part of the brain that is associated with that activity. But, in people who have the gene variation, BDNF secretion is limited, which slows communication among brain cells and decreases memory retention.

Turns out, 30% of Americans have the gene variant. Does this explain the high number of traffic collisions in the US?

Well, maybe, but there is no data available to show whether the accident rate is higher for drivers with the gene variant. So bad driving skills,  while perhaps linked to genetics, is still no excuse for causing a car accident.

Increase Your Automobile Coverage To Protect Your Family

As discussed in yesterday's post, it is completely legal to drive uninsured in South Carolina if you qualify by paying the $550 fee to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.

So, with job losses and cutbacks abound, it is likely that there will be an increase in motorists opting out of carrying automobile insurance. This means it is even more important to carry as much automobile insurance as you can afford during the tough economic times. If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist, you may be left without a vehicle and with extensive medical bills if you or your family members are injured. To protect your family, you should review your current policy and increase your coverage and add additional protection of PIP and Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM). Add as much coverage as you can afford. At the very minimum, you owe it to yourself to make certain that you carry collision coverage, (which covers your vehicle only).

One in ten drivers in South Carolina is uninsured, according to a recent estimate by the Insurance Research Council (IRC).  For more information on the automobile insurance coverage you should have to adequately protect your family, order our Guide to Buying Automobile Insurance In South Carolina, offered FREE to South Carolina residents and motorists.

Learn More About Buying Car Insurance in South Carolina!
Get a Free Report "Buying Car Insurance In South Carolina
Visit our car accident library
Contact Shelly Leeke Law Firm For a Free Insurance Policy Evaluation.

When the Economy is Down, You Should Increase Your Auto Insurance Coverage

Why Shelly Leeke Encourages You to Increase Automobile Insurance Coverage During Tough Economic Times!

Did you know that you may be hit by an uninsured driver that is legally driving on the roads without carrying automobile insurance coverage? That is correct. If you are a SouthCarolina motorist, you probably already know that South Carolina law requires motorists to provide proof of financial responsibility. Most drivers meet this requirement by buying automobile insurance. However, South Carolina drivers may qualify to legally drive without automobile insurance by paying a $550 fee to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV). That fee does not provide insurance coverage, and the driver is still responsible for damages caused by their fault in an accident. But, the downside is that if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, it will be extremely difficult to make them pay for your damages, especially if they do not have any assets or money to pay for your damages. Stayed tuned for tomorrow's post on the most important thing you can do right now to protect your family from an uninsured motorist.

Learn More About Buying Car Insurance in South Carolina!
Get a Free Report "Buying Car Insurance In South Carolina
Visit our car accident library
Contact Shelly Leeke Law Firm For a Free Insurance Policy Evaluation.

Health Insurance May Pay Your Medical Bills, Then Claim A Stake In Your Settlement

Sometimes your health insurance does not actually protect your family. If you are injured in an accident in South Carolina, your own health insurance may stake a claim to your accident and injury settlement recovery. Protect your legal rights after an auto accident by speaking with an experienced personal injury law firm today. Call 843-277-6061.

Four Friends Killed in Fatal Airplane Crash Near Summerville

Four Friends Remembered After Summerville Plane Crash

Peter Radding of North Charleston, Edwin Steeble and James Randolph Hargenrader of Summerville, and  Dallas Carter of Dealaware, were four friends brought together out of their mutual love for ham radios. The were  headed to a radio convention in the Bahamas on Wednesday morning when their small plane crashed shortly after takeoff in a wooded area close to the Summerville airport. All four men were killed in the crash.

Investigators are still looking in to what could have caused the plane to crash, while friends and family of the four friends endure the tragic loss. Radding was a pilot who was known for flying children whose families could not afford airfare to distant hospitals for medical treatment.

Shelly Leeke Law Firm extends its’ sincere condolences to the families of the four men.

Five Things The Insurance Companies Don’t Tell You About Car Insurance

1.    “Young Drivers Will Pay More, Guaranteed.”

Drivers under age 25 pay significantly higher rates than older drivers on average, and it usually takes around three years of driving to qualify for a lower insurance rate. What can you do?
Read the Full Report.

2.    Your Car is Worth Less After an Accident, Even After Repairs.

Once your vehicle is involved in an auto accident, more than likely, it will be worth less than it was immediately before the accident happened. What can you do?

For more information on settling your property damage claim, download our full Report, The Do It Yourself Guide to Settling Your Property Damage Claim.

3.    “I May Encourage You To Buy The Policy That Gives Me The Highest Commission.”

Many insurance companies offer commissions to agents who sell their policies, which may lead to an agent suggesting the policy that provides the agent with the best return. What can you do?

For more information on types of coverage you need, download our full report on Purchasing Automobile Insurance in South Carolina.

4.    If your car is Totaled, You May Not Get Full Value for the Vehicle.

Although most consumers are familiar with Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds, many insurance companies do not use these values in determining the total loss value of a vehicle. Many hire claims service companies to assess the value of the vehicle based on local comps. What can you do?

For more information on settling your property damage claim, download our full Report, The Do It Yourself Guide to Settling Your Property Damage Claim.

5.    "We Own The Repair Shop."

Most insurance companies each have their list of preferred repair facilities, which helps them to cut costs and could mean shortcuts in repairs for your vehicle. Allstate went so far as to announce it was buying a chain of repair shops in 2001. What can you do?

For more information on settling your property damage claim, download our full Report, The Do It Yourself Guide to Settling Your Property Damage Claim.

Woman Killed in Car Crash with Wild Hog

Fatal accident involving SUV and a wild hog. The woman was propelled out of her vehicle after striking a wild hog in the roadway. Shelly Leeke Law Firm is a personal injury firm representing accident victims. We offer free books and information to Charleston and South Carolina accident victims. Call 843-277-6061.