Multiple Car Accidents on I-85 Leave Several Injured, One Dead in Greenville

Last Wednesday marked a fatal day on the I-85 corridor in Greenville County. In the early hours of February 1, the first of two wrecks left a pedestrian dead. Around 6:40 a.m., David Lee Evans, 48, from Laurens, was struck and killed on the southbound side of I-85. According to Greenville Highway Patrol, Fletcher Thao, 53, from Wellford, struck Evans with his Toyota SUV. Greenville County Coroner Barry Wright said that Evans was walking along the side of the interstate with his back to traffic when he was hit. Thao was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the auto accident and came away unscathed.

The second car accident, which occurred around 8 a.m. on the northbound side of I-85 near Laurens, included at least five vehicles. There were no major injuries reported from the second auto accident.

Authorities have asked that witnesses of the first collision come forward with details. Criminal charges have yet to be filed.

The South Carolina judicial system often does not file charges in wrongful death cases like this one, and, should criminal charges be filed, guilty parties often only receive minimum penalties. The reason being, negligence can often be difficult to prove in criminal court. For the victims of car accidents, this outcome can be very confusing. Why should guilty parties walk away with a light slap on the wrist, while victims are left with incredible pain and suffering, not to mention extensive medical bills?

However, South Carolina gives victims of auto accidents another option: pursue justice in civil court. South Carolina allows victims to seek damages for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, funeral costs, and potentially punitive damages. South Carolina accident lawyers work within the complex civil court system to seek justice for victims of auto accidents.

Harris & Graves, P.A. is a South Carolina law firm comprised of accident lawyers and personal injury attorneys. They have restricted their practice to wrongful death and personal injury litigation for many years in the Columbia, Greenville, Anderson, Spartanburg, Rock Hill, Sumter, Orangeburg, Florence, Conway, and Myrtle Beach areas.

Although filing a wrongful death or personal injury case in South Carolina cannot erase the pain and suffering that occurred as a result of an auto accident, it can help to begin the healing process. Often, just knowing that guilty parties have been held accountable for their actions can provide victims with peace of mind. As personal injury attorneys serving South Carolina, Harris & Graves, P.A. specializes in getting this peace of mind for victims.

If you or a loved one is the victim of an auto accident in South Carolina where another driver could be at fault, it is imperative that you contact a personal injury attorney immediately. To reach the accident lawyers at Harris & Graves, P.A. for free legal advice, call 1-800-273-HELP or click here to contact us.