Force the Insurance Company to Pay

Texting-while-driving accidents are crashes caused when a driver diverts attention from the road to read, compose, or send text messages. When you take your eyes off the road for just five seconds to text, at 55 mph, you’re effectively driving the length of a football field blindfolded. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving crashes killed 3,275 people and injured an estimated 324,819 more nationwide in 2023.

Under South Carolina law, it’s illegal to compose, send, or read text-based messages while operating a vehicle, and violations are enforceable by police. Texting-while-driving accidents happen when this dangerous behavior leads to a crash, resulting in serious injuries, financial loss, and legal consequences for the negligent driver. If you’ve been harmed, our texting and driving accident lawyer in Charleston can help you pursue full compensation.

Types of Texting-While-Driving Accident Injuries

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Sudden, high-impact crashes caused by distracted drivers often result in traumatic brain injuries. These can affect memory, concentration, mood, and decision-making, permanently changing how you work, communicate, and function day to day.

Spinal Cord and Back Injuries

Texting-while-driving crashes frequently involve rear-end or high-speed collisions that damage the spine. Herniated discs, nerve compression, and spinal cord trauma can lead to chronic pain, limited mobility, and, in severe cases, partial or permanent paralysis.

Broken Bones and Orthopedic Injuries

The force of an unexpected impact can fracture arms, legs, ribs, hips, or facial bones. These injuries often require surgery, physical therapy, and long recovery periods, thus disrupting employment, independence, and basic daily activities.

Internal Injuries and Organ Damage

Blunt-force trauma from distracted driving accidents can cause internal bleeding or damage to organs like the liver, spleen, or lungs. These injuries are especially serious because symptoms may be delayed, increasing the risk of life-threatening complications.

Neck and Soft Tissue Injuries

Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries are common in texting-related crashes. While often dismissed by insurers, these injuries can cause long-term pain, reduced range of motion, headaches, and ongoing treatment needs that interfere with normal life.

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Common Reasons for Texting-While-Driving Accidents

Texting-while-driving accidents don’t happen by chance: they happen when drivers make avoidable decisions that pull their attention off the road. In most cases, these crashes are caused by the same reckless behaviors repeated over and over:

  • Reading or responding to text messages while in motion
  • Checking social media notifications behind the wheel
  • Sending quick replies at traffic lights or stop signs
  • Using messaging apps while driving at highway speeds
  • Taking one or both hands off the wheel to use a phone
  • Ignoring traffic conditions while focused on a device

Why Choose Gus Anastopoulo Law Firm for Texting-While-Driving Accidents?

You’re not just hiring a law firm: you’re choosing how hard the other side is going to get pushed. Gus Anastopoulo Law Firm was founded to take control of cases that insurers try to downplay. We move fast to preserve evidence, dig into phone usage, lock down timelines, and expose distractions before the defense can rewrite the story.

That intensity comes straight from Gus Anastopoulo himself. Gus built this firm from the ground up with no safety net: just grit and a refusal to back down. That mindset drives how we handle texting-while-driving cases today. Every case is pushed forward with urgency to make the other side take responsibility. If you want a team that stays on the offense from day one, this is it.

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Who Can Be Held Liable for Texting-While-Driving Accidents?

Liability in texting-while-driving accidents isn’t assumed. We start by breaking down how the crash happened, when the distraction occurred, and who made the decisions that led to the impact.

That means analyzing phone activity, crash data, witness statements, vehicle damage, and the timeline leading up to the collision. Insurance companies love to muddy the waters, but we cut through that noise and identify every party whose negligence played a role. Depending on the facts, liable parties may include:

  • The at-fault driver who was texting or using a device
  • An employer, if the driver was texting while working
  • A vehicle owner who allowed a known distracted driver to use their car
  • A company or contractor that encouraged phone use while driving
  • Multiple drivers, when distraction combines with other negligent conduct
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What Are the Types of Compensation Available for Texting-While-Driving Accidents?

When a distracted driver causes a crash, the damage goes far beyond vehicle repairs. Medical bills pile up. Work gets missed. And insurance companies immediately start looking for ways to pay less than what the crash truly costs you. Compensation in texting-while-driving accidents is about restoring what was taken and accounting for what this injury will continue to affect in your life. A texting and driving accident lawyer in Charleston looks at the full picture. Depending on your injuries and losses, compensation may include:

  • Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, and future care
  • Lost wages and reduced earning capacity from missed work or long-term limitations
  • Pain and suffering tied to physical injuries and daily discomfort
  • Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life after the crash
  • Property damage, including vehicle repair or replacement
  • Out-of-pocket expenses related to your recovery
  • Punitive damages in cases involving extreme or reckless conduct
  • Wrongful death damages when a texting-related crash results in loss of life

Steps to Take Immediately After Texting-While-Driving Accidents

The moments after a texting-while-driving crash matter more than most people realize. What you do next can protect your health, preserve evidence, and prevent insurance companies from twisting the story later. If you’re able, take these steps as soon as possible:

  • Seek medical evaluation, even if injuries seem minor
  • Call law enforcement to document the crash and distraction
  • Photograph vehicle damage, injuries, and the accident scene
  • Collect contact and insurance information from all drivers
  • Identify and record witness names and contact details
  • Avoid discussing fault with insurance adjusters
  • Preserve messages, call logs, and related evidence
  • Contact a texting and driving accident lawyer in Charleston immediately
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Client Testimonials

"Working with this law firm was an absolute breeze. They run their business efficiently, communicate clearly, and make every step quick and easy. The team is professional, reliable...

"Working with this law firm was an absolute breeze. They run their business efficiently, communicate clearly, and make every step quick and easy. The team is professional, reliable, and genuinely focused on helping their clients. I definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a smooth and stress-free legal experience."

—Tyana Canty

Gus Law Firm did an outstanding job handling my case! Jotavia was amazing; she went above and beyond to make sure everything was taken care of and kept me informed every step of th...

Gus Law Firm did an outstanding job handling my case! Jotavia was amazing; she went above and beyond to make sure everything was taken care of and kept me informed every step of the way. I truly appreciate her dedication and professionalism. Highly recommended!

—SaNya Grant Paul

Gus and his team kept me informed every step of the way. They truly take the time to understand your case and what you’re going through. Every team member was professional an...

Gus and his team kept me informed every step of the way. They truly take the time to understand your case and what you’re going through. Every team member was professional and responsive, and made the process simple and stress-free. If you’re looking for a personal injury law firm in Charleston that actually listens and delivers results, this is the one.

—Rebecca Gates

Gus and his team were excellent. My family was affected by a horrible accident, and his firm stood beside me every step of the way. He and his team went above and beyond expectatio...

Gus and his team were excellent. My family was affected by a horrible accident, and his firm stood beside me every step of the way. He and his team went above and beyond expectations. He and his team were very supportive and sympathetic to what this accident did to me and my family. He fought for me till the end, which was a successful end. I would strongly recommend him and his team for your needs.

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I was recently injured in a serious car accident and didn’t know where to turn. After researching personal injury law firms near me, I found Gus's law firm, and I’m so ...

I was recently injured in a serious car accident and didn’t know where to turn. After researching personal injury law firms near me, I found Gus's law firm, and I’m so grateful I did. From the very first consultation, their team was professional, compassionate, and incredibly knowledgeable about car accident and injury law.

My attorney walked me through every step of the process—from dealing with the insurance company to securing top-notch medical care. They fought hard to get me the maximum compensation for my injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. What stood out most was how responsive and dedicated they were—I always felt heard and supported.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident and need a personal injury lawyer who truly cares and delivers results, I highly recommend Gus Anastopoulo Law Firm. They turned a stressful situation into a manageable one and helped me get the justice I deserved.

—Michael

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I was very pleased with Gus representing me for something that happened suddenly. It was definitely a situation that had me stressed and not knowing what to do, but they were there...

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I'm very pleased with Gus and his representation. He definitely dotted all the I's and crossed all T's in my case. He's very kind and Hannah is the sweetest assistant as well. I wo...

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—Lora Edwards

Outstanding Car Accident Representation – Highly Recommend! I was recently injured in a serious car accident and didn’t know where to turn. After researching personal i...

Outstanding Car Accident Representation – Highly Recommend!

I was recently injured in a serious car accident and didn’t know where to turn. After researching personal injury law firms near me, I found Gus's law firm, and I’m so grateful I did. From the very first consultation, their team was professional, compassionate, and incredibly knowledgeable about car accident and injury law.

My attorney walked me through every step of the process — from dealing with the insurance company to securing top-notch medical care. They fought hard to get me the maximum compensation for my injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. What stood out most was how responsive and dedicated they were — I always felt heard and supported.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident and need a personal injury lawyer who truly cares and delivers results, I highly recommend Gus Anastopoulo Law firm. They turned a stressful situation into a manageable one and helped me get the justice I deserved.

—Michael

Why Hire a Texting-While-Driving Accident Lawyer in Charleston

Texting-while-driving cases aren’t simple, and insurance companies know it. They move fast to deny distraction, shift blame, and minimize payouts. A skilled texting and driving accident lawyer in Charleston knows how to prove phone use, preserve evidence, and cut off those tactics early. With texting and driving in South Carolina clearly prohibited by law, the right lawyer can turn that violation into leverage, forcing accountability and pushing your claim toward the strongest possible outcome instead of a lowball settlement.

Texting-While-Driving Accidents Frequently Asked Questions

Is texting while driving illegal in South Carolina?

Yes. South Carolina law makes it illegal to compose, send, or read text-based messages while operating a motor vehicle on public roads. This is a primary enforcement law, meaning a law enforcement officer can stop a driver solely for texting. That violation matters in injury cases because it helps establish negligence from the start.

How do you prove the driver was texting?

Insurance companies rarely admit distraction voluntarily. Proving texting often requires phone records, app usage data, crash timing, witness statements, and vehicle evidence. We build timelines that show when the phone was used and how it lines up with the moment of impact.

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. Any recovery may be reduced by your percentage of fault, which is why insurers aggressively try to shift blame, and why we push back hard.

Does a traffic ticket automatically win my case?

A citation for texting while driving is strong evidence, but it’s not required. Civil injury claims have a lower burden of proof than criminal or traffic cases. Even without a ticket, phone data and crash analysis are often sufficient to establish liability.

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