Highway Accidents Attorney in Charleston

Name: Highway Accidents
Brand: Gus Anastopoulo Law Firm
Rating: 5 (255 reviews)

Highway accidents can turn your life upside down in seconds. At highway speeds, even a brief mistake can cause devastating injuries and overwhelming medical bills. In Charleston, busy corridors like I-26 and I-526 see constant traffic, which increases both risk and severity when crashes occur. At Gus Anastopoulo Law Firm, our lawyers stay on the offense from day one to help you pursue the strongest possible outcome.

Push for Every Dollar You’re Owed

Highway accidents are not rare anomalies: they are a massive public safety issue. In the United States, traffic crashes claimed 40,901 lives in 2023, according to the latest federal data, with highways accounting for a significant share of those fatalities and injuries. In the Charleston area, major corridors such as I-26, I-526, and US-17 see heavy traffic and elevated crash activity; for example, US-17 has been linked to over 1,800 accidents in 2021.

Highway accidents occur when vehicles collide at high speeds on limited-access roads, often resulting in severe injuries, significant property damage, and lasting trauma. These may involve rear-end impacts, rollovers, or multi-car pileups, and the forces at highway speeds dramatically increase the risk of catastrophic injury. For anyone injured on a state highway, hiring a Charleston car accident lawyer is essential to securing full and fair compensation.

Types of Highway Accidents

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end crashes on highways often cause violent whiplash, spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries due to sudden deceleration at high speeds. Even when the vehicles remain upright, the force transferred through the body can result in herniated discs, nerve damage, and long-term mobility issues that don’t always show up immediately after the crash.

Head-On Collisions

Head-on highway collisions are among the most devastating and frequently fatal. These crashes typically cause catastrophic injuries such as severe brain trauma, crushed limbs, internal organ damage, and massive blood loss. Survivors often face permanent disability, multiple surgeries, and prolonged rehabilitation due to the extreme force.

Multi-Vehicle Pileups

Multi-vehicle pileups create chaotic crash scenes involving repeated impacts from multiple directions. Victims often suffer compounded injuries, including fractures, spinal trauma, burns, and internal injuries. These crashes increase injury severity because occupants may be struck several times before vehicles come to rest, magnifying physical and psychological harm.

Rollover Accidents

Rollover accidents commonly result in roof crush injuries, spinal cord damage, and traumatic brain injuries, especially when occupants are partially ejected from the vehicle. The violent rotation places extreme stress on the neck and spine, which can often lead to paralysis or fatal injuries. Rollovers also significantly increase the risk of wrongful death.

Common Reasons for Highway Accidents

Highway crashes rarely happen without warning. In most cases, they’re the result of preventable decisions or dangerous conditions that spiral out of control at high speeds, leaving drivers and passengers with little chance to react. Some of the most common reasons include:

Distracted driving at highway speeds
Excessive speeding and reckless lane changes
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Aggressive behavior, such as tailgating or road rage
Sudden weather changes, reducing visibility or traction
Mechanical failures, such as brake or tire malfunctions
Poor road design, maintenance issues, or debris on the roadway

Why Choose Gus Anastopoulo Law Firm for Highway Accidents?

When you’re hurt in a highway crash, delay costs you leverage. That’s why our firm moves immediately. Gus Anastopoulo built his practice the hard way: starting from zero, cold-calling, earning referrals, and winning cases by outworking the defense. That background matters. It means your case gets attacked early, evidence gets locked down fast, and the insurance company knows they’re not dealing with a passive firm that waits for permission.

Gus stays engaged through every stage of your case, backed by a team that includes former prosecutors and former insurance defense lawyers who know exactly how the other side thinks. We dig into crash data, highway design issues, vehicle failures, and every angle the defense hopes you’ll miss. We also ensure you’re always kept in the loop. You’ll always know what’s happening, what’s coming next, and why it matters.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Highway Accidents?

Highway accident cases are rarely as simple as blaming one driver and moving on. At highway speeds, crashes often involve multiple vehicles, outside factors, and overlapping failures that all contribute to the outcome. That’s why liability has to be assessed aggressively and from every angle. We dig into how the crash actually happened by reviewing driver behavior, vehicle condition, roadway design, and maintenance issues to identify every liable party. Depending on the facts of the case, liability may rest with:

Negligent drivers who were speeding, distracted, impaired, or driving aggressively
Commercial drivers and trucking companies responsible for unsafe operations
Vehicle manufacturers that produced defective or dangerous components
Maintenance or repair companies that failed to service a vehicle properly
Government agencies responsible for unsafe road design or poor roadway maintenance

What Are the Types of Compensation Available for Highway Accidents?

Highway accidents often leave you dealing with far more than a damaged vehicle. Serious injuries can derail your ability to work, drain your savings, and permanently change how you live day to day. When someone else’s negligence causes that kind of harm, the law allows you to pursue compensation that reflects the full scope of what the crash took from you.

Depending on the circumstances of your case, compensation may include:

Medical expenses for emergency care, surgeries, hospitalization, and rehabilitation
Future medical costs for ongoing treatment, therapy, or long-term care
Lost wages for time missed from work during recovery
Loss of earning capacity due to permanent or disabling injuries
Pain and suffering for physical pain and emotional distress
Property damage for vehicle repair or replacement
Out-of-pocket expenses related to recovery and daily needs
Punitive damages in cases involving extreme negligence, such as drunk driving
Wrongful death damages for surviving family members, when applicable

Steps to Take Immediately After Highway Accidents

What you do in the moments and days after a highway crash can directly affect your health, your safety, and your ability to recover compensation. When everything feels chaotic, focusing on the next steps helps protect both you and your case.

Seek immediate medical attention, even if injuries seem minor
Call law enforcement and ensure an official crash report is filed
Move to a safe location if possible and activate hazard lights
Document the scene with photos, videos, and notes
Collect contact and insurance information from all involved drivers
Identify and speak with witnesses while details are fresh
Avoid discussing fault or giving recorded statements to insurers
Preserve medical records, receipts, and accident-related documents
Contact an experienced highway accident attorney in Charleston as soon as possible

Why Hire a Highway Accidents Lawyer in Charleston

Highway accident cases move fast, and insurance companies start protecting themselves immediately. Having an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer in Charleston levels the field and protects your ability to recover the full compensation you’re owed because they understand how local highways, traffic patterns, and South Carolina law affect liability. More importantly, you gain someone who investigates aggressively, handles insurers for you, and pushes back when the defense tries to minimize your injuries.

Highway Accidents Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a highway accident claim in South Carolina?

In most highway accident cases, South Carolina law gives you three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. That can change if a government entity is involved, such as a claim tied to highway design, which may fall under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act and carry shorter notice requirements. Waiting too long can cost you leverage or your case entirely. That’s why you must contact a motor vehicle accident attorney in Charleston promptly.

What if I was partially at fault for the crash?

South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can recover compensation as long as you are less than 51% at fault for the accident. However, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies often try to exaggerate your role to reduce payouts, but we take all possible measures to counter their claims.

Can I recover compensation if the other driver was uninsured or underinsured?

Possibly. South Carolina requires insurers to offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, which may apply if the at-fault driver lacks sufficient insurance. These claims still require proof of fault and damages, and insurers often fight them just as hard as third-party claims.

Highway Accidents Attorney in Charleston

Push for Every Dollar You’re Owed