What is an unsafe vehicle in Pickens County?
Pickens County, SC – There are traffic laws in South Carolina that allow police to give out citations for various offenses. One of the less obvious infractions is related to driving an unsafe vehicle anywhere on the government’s roads. This offense is relevant to accidents because unsafe vehicles are much more likely to have debris and parts that get on the road, or the driver can possibly lose control and hit vehicles nearby.
South Carolina unsafe vehicle law
The South Carolina Code Title 56 contains provisions related to the definition of an unsafe vehicle. The relevant provisions say that it is illegal to operate a vehicle or combination of vehicles that may be unsafe due to missing parts such as lights, brakes, steering, or extremely poor condition. There are also different definitions for the condition of farming equipment such as tractors to be maintained in a safe condition.
This law essentially gives police discretion to stop drivers if it seems like their car is missing lights, mirrors, or seems to be not functioning properly due to any combination of factors. This gives drivers an incentive to make sure that their vehicle is not in a state of disrepair, and that it does not have any issues that may result in damage or harm to others. It is also possible that someone driving an unsafe vehicle may be sued in civil court for negligence if they are involved in an accident.
Negligence lawsuits and unsafe vehicles
A negligence lawsuit that is related to a car accident will argue that the driver breached their duty of care on the road and caused some kinds of injuries and losses to others. Traffic violations are especially relevant, as they can conclusively prove that the driver was negligent if the doctrine of negligence per se is used in the case.
The negligence lawsuit has four elements. These are a duty of care on the roads, a breach of that duty, causation of losses for the plaintiff, and damages. All of the elements must be shown for the victim to collect damages. When it is time to calculate damages, they are based on specific losses tied to the collision such as medical bills, lost income and wages, and non-economic losses related to the victim’s trauma, pain, and mental health.
Accident lawyers in South Carolina
There are attorneys who can help anyone who has been involved in an accident, as well as those who were struck by a driver who may have been operating an unsafe vehicle. The Clekis Law Firm is dedicated to helping their clients in Pickens County receive the maximum amount of compensation allowed by law.
Firm contact info:
171 Church St., Charleston SC, 29401
843-900-0000
clekis.com
