Car and Truck Accident Lawyer Serving St. George and Dorchester County

St. George sits at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Highway 78, making it one of the most heavily traveled corridors in Dorchester County. This combination of interstate traffic, commercial trucks, and local drivers creates dangerous conditions that lead to serious car and truck accidents throughout the area. If you’ve been injured in an accident near St. George, you need an experienced attorney who understands the unique challenges of accident cases in rural Dorchester County.

Why St. George Sees So Many Serious Accidents

Interstate 95 carries massive volumes of commercial truck traffic through Dorchester County every day. Tractor-trailers traveling between Florida and the Northeast pass through at high speeds, and fatigued drivers who have been on the road for hours create extreme danger for local residents. The I-95 and Highway 78 interchange is a known accident hotspot where merging traffic, speed differentials, and driver inattention cause frequent collisions.

Highway 78 between St. George and Summerville is a two-lane road that carries far more traffic than it was designed to handle. Limited passing zones, sharp curves, poor lighting, and a lack of turn lanes at rural intersections make this stretch particularly dangerous. Rear-end collisions, head-on crashes from failed passing attempts, and intersection T-bone accidents are all too common.

Rural roads throughout Dorchester County present additional hazards. Narrow roads without shoulders, unmarked intersections, farm equipment sharing the road, and wildlife crossings contribute to accidents that often result in severe injuries because emergency response times are longer than in urban areas.

Types of Accidents Common in Dorchester County

• I-95 truck accidents — Commercial trucks traveling at highway speeds cause catastrophic injuries when they collide with passenger vehicles. Jackknife accidents, tire blowouts, and rear-end crashes at highway speeds are frequently fatal.
• Highway 78 head-on collisions — Failed passing attempts on this two-lane highway result in devastating head-on crashes, especially at night when visibility is limited.
• Rural intersection crashes — Stop signs at high-speed rural intersections are frequently ignored or missed, causing violent T-bone collisions.
• Deer and wildlife collisions — Dorchester County’s rural areas have high deer populations, and drivers who swerve to avoid animals often cause multi-vehicle accidents.
• DUI accidents — The rural bar-to-home commute on dark, winding roads contributes to a high rate of impaired driving accidents in the county.

Challenges with Rural Accident Claims in Dorchester County

Accident cases in rural areas like St. George present unique challenges. Evidence can be harder to preserve when accidents happen on remote roads. Surveillance footage may not exist, and witness availability can be limited. Emergency response times are longer, meaning injuries are often more severe by the time victims reach a hospital.

Law enforcement resources in rural Dorchester County are stretched thin, and accident reports may lack the detail found in urban investigations. Having an attorney who can conduct an independent investigation, hire accident reconstruction experts, and preserve evidence before it disappears is critical to building a strong case.

Insurance companies know that juries in rural areas can be unpredictable, and they use this uncertainty to lowball settlement offers. An attorney who understands the local courts and has experience trying cases in Dorchester County can push back effectively against these tactics.

Recovering Compensation After a Dorchester County Accident

South Carolina law allows accident victims to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving egregious conduct like drunk driving or reckless trucking company practices, punitive damages may also be available.

The three-year statute of limitations applies, but acting quickly is especially important in rural accident cases where evidence degrades faster. Skid marks fade, road conditions change, and witnesses become harder to locate.

Understanding how to maximize your accident settlement requires experienced legal representation that knows how to properly value claims involving serious injuries.

Why Choose Crantford Meehan for Your Dorchester County Accident

Crantford Meehan has served injured people across the Lowcountry since 1995. Our Summerville office at 136 W. Richardson Ave is centrally located to serve all of Dorchester County, including St. George, Ridgeville, Reevesville, Harleyville, and the surrounding communities. Both Jerry Meehan and William Crantford are graduates of the Trial Lawyers College and have recovered significant settlements for accident victims throughout the region.

We handle all accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no fees unless we recover money for your injuries. Contact us today or call (843) 376-4030 for a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

I was in an accident on I-95 near St. George. Which state’s laws apply?

If the accident happened in South Carolina, South Carolina law applies regardless of where the drivers are from. This includes South Carolina’s three-year statute of limitations and comparative negligence rules.

Can I sue a trucking company if their driver caused my accident on I-95?

Yes. Trucking companies are often liable for their drivers’ negligence under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior. They can also be independently liable for negligent hiring, inadequate training, failure to maintain vehicles, or pushing drivers to violate hours-of-service regulations.

What if the accident happened on a poorly maintained county road?

If dangerous road conditions contributed to your accident, the government entity responsible for maintaining the road may be liable. These claims have special rules and shorter deadlines under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act, so consulting an attorney quickly is essential.