Rapid City Car Accident Attorneys
When you have been seriously injured in a car accident, you need to know that you are in good hands. You are facing extreme personal and financial hardships, and you need the help of an experienced attorney who will take a professional approach to your case and pay close attention to your individual needs.
In Rapid City, the Law Office of Beardsley, Jensen, and Lee, L.L.C., has over 100 years of combined experience in representing injury victims like you. We are recognized as one of the leading trial law firms in South Dakota and we are ready to help you. Please call or email us today.
Car Accident Investigation
You cannot rely on the insurance adjuster and law enforcement to thoroughly investigate your accident. To receive full and fair compensation you must determine the true cause of your accident and you must be able to prove it. Only after you have determined what caused your accident can you determine who can be held liable for your injuries.
Car accidents are not always as simple as they appear. What may initially seem to be caused by a negligent driver could actually have been caused by a defective vehicle or a roadway defect. If a distracted driver caused your accident, it will take more than you word to prove it. You will need evidence. The experienced car accident attorneys of Beardsley, Jensen and Lee will thoroughly investigate your accident claim. When appropriate, we work with experts such as investigators and accident reconstructionists.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Driver negligence is the most common cause of car accidents. Examples of driver negligence include:
- Distractions – anything that takes a driver’s attention from the road from texting to reaching for objects to talking to other passengers
- Drunk driving
- Impairment with prescription, over-the-counter (OTC), or recreational drugs
- Fatigue
- Speeding
- Driving too fast for the conditions, even within the speed limit
- Running a read light or stop sign
- Unsafe passing
- Failure to use turn signal
- Failure to yield
- Following too closely
- Failure to maintain lane
- Inadequately secured cargo
- Aggressive driving
Driver negligence is not always the cause of car accidents. Defective vehicles and defective roadways can cause car crashes. Additionally, defective vehicles and roadway defects can both contribute to the seriousness of injuries in accidents that they do not cause.
Car Accident Liability
The experienced car accident attorneys of Beardsley, Jensen and Lee, will determine the cause of your accident, any factors that contributed to the seriousness of your injuries and who can be held liable. In most car accident lawsuits, the at-fault driver is held liable and we seek compensation from their insurance carrier. If the driver was uninsured or underinsured, or if you were hurt in a hit and run accident, we may seek to recover compensation from your insurance company.
South Dakota requires that all auto insurance policies include uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage. UM/UIM covers passengers and family members who live with the policy holder, so if you did not have your own auto insurance or were injured as a passenger or pedestrian, UM/UIM may till be available to you.
If a defective vehicle caused your accident or contributed to your injuries, one or more of the following may be held liable:
- Auto maker
- Dealership
- Parts maker or seller
- Rental company
- Repair shop
- Another party along the supply chain
When a defective roadway causes or contributes to car accident injuries, the government entity responsible for the design, construction and/or maintenance of the roadway is typically held liable.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a car accident in Rapid City or anywhere in South Dakota, the experienced accident attorneys of the Law Office of Beardsley, Jensen, and Lee, L.L.C., can help. Please call us at (605) 721-2800 or email us today.
