When an auto accident happens unexpectedly, anyone can become a victim. One moment you're commuting back home after a long day at the office. The next, your car is totaled, and you're injured in the hospital due to another person's negligence. It's not fair, but it happens every day. Unlike the irresponsible party who caused the accident, personal injury victims often suffer the most in auto accidents. They have to worry about lost days at work, the long road to recovery, and the inability to provide for their family. Sadly, many people injured in car accidents don't have the luxury of worrying about bills because they're fighting for life in the emergency room.
And while modern cars come equipped with safety features like blind spot monitoring and cross-traffic alerts, motor vehicle accidents are still a huge problem in South Carolina. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, in 2020, one person was injured every 11 minutes in a car collision. Even worse, one fatal collision was recorded every 9.1 hours.
Unfortunately, victims of auto accident negligence often don't know what to do when another driver hits them. They have questions like:
These same innocent people provide official statements to insurance agencies without knowing the consequences.
However, if you or your loved ones are victims in a car crash, there's good news. Laws in South Carolina mandate that guilty parties must compensate for pain and suffering. But in order to get the compensation you deserve, it's crucial to work with a personal injury attorney in John’s Island, SC. Experienced personal injury lawyers know how to bolster your case by securing witnesses for questioning, obtaining accident scene information, and documenting vehicle damage. If these tasks aren't completed quickly, you are far less likely to receive the compensation you and your family deserve.
Theos Law Firm exists to fight for your rights and to ensure negligent drivers are held responsible for the damage they do to your family. It's really that simple. We aren't afraid to trade blows with selfish insurance agencies. Because, unlike Theos Law Firm, they couldn't care less about your best interests.
Here are just a few reasons why so many hardworking people choose Theos Law Firm:
When you're involved in a car or truck accident, it can be a life-changing event. Having represented hundreds of personal injury victims, we understand that you may be confused and frightened. You know you need to speak with a lawyer, but you need a calm, cool presence to ease your anxiety. You need someone who understands what you're enduring, and we know how you feel. Unlike other auto accident attorneys, we believe that personal injury claims are more about the people involved and less about money and settlements. When you reach out to Theos Law Firm, you can rest easy knowing our team will treat you with dignity, compassion, and empathy.
With many years of combined personal injury experience, there's nothing that our team hasn't seen in terms of auto accidents. With that said, we understand that there is no "common" type of accident or scenario - no two accidents are the same. We have represented clients involved in DUI accidents, truck rollovers, reckless drivers, interstate pileups, rear-end collisions, and even Uber driver crashes. With such extensive experience, our team has the tools and talent to take care of you, regardless of how complicated your case might be.
The recovery process involved with automobile accidents changes with every person we represent. There are dozens of details to account for, from car repairs to insurance questions and everything in between. These small but necessary details aren't easy to accomplish for injured parties. That's why our team goes the extra mile to help cut through the red tape to ensure your medical bills are paid, and your car gets fixed. The less weight you have on your shoulders to worry about, the faster you can focus on recovering.
Unlike other personal injury law firms, our team is 100% committed to protecting your rights, and we're uniquely positioned to do so with decades of combined experience. We offer robust representation for many types of auto accidents, including:
If you have been the victim of an accident listed above, please understand that time is of the essence. There is limited time to seek compensation for your injuries, hospital bills, lost wages, and more. As such, there is only a short time to obtain experienced representation for your personal injury case.
Our team knows that finding the right attorney to represent you is an important choice. Therefore, we believe that an initial consultation is imperative to understand your needs and identify your goals fully. When we sit down with you to learn the nuances of your accident, we'll cover all aspects of South Carolina law pertaining to your case. That way, you're armed with information and have an idea of the next steps our firm will take to represent you.
Remember - the sooner we can dig into the details of your case, the sooner we can pursue your rightful compensation. As seasoned personal injury attorneys, our team specializes in several types of automobile accidents:
Car accidents are a serious problem in South Carolina. If you're an adult, you probably know someone involved in a bad car crash in our state. When you look at the stats, it seems like car accidents are always on the rise. One person was killed every 8.2 hours in a car collision. Even more sobering is that one teen driver is involved in a fatal or injury-causing collision every 1.6 hours. The unfortunate truth is that many people involved in car crashes were hurt due to the other driver's negligence.
Common car crash injuries in South Carolina include:
Car accident victims in South Carolina are often left to pay their medical bills but can't do so because they're too hurt to go to work or take their car in for repair. These life-changing scenarios can snowball into a series of scary events, leaving victims hopeless and unsure where to turn.
Fortunately, a car accident attorney in John’s Island, SC can help you avoid these pitfalls and obtain the money you need to survive. At Theos Law Firm, our team has a deep understanding of the rules that dictate fault in South Carolina. We know that thorough representation is needed to receive maximum compensation, and we're well-prepared to achieve that goal for you.
Our car accident lawyers in South Carolina can recover compensation for injuries and damages:
The moments following the crash are often a blur when you're involved in a car accident. However, per South Carolina law, those on the scene must adhere to legal responsibilities and obligations.
First, try to stop your car and ensure it is positioned safely near the scene of the crash. Then, call 911 to report the accident. While most folks go into full-blown panic mode, you need to stay calm so you can process the situation. If you notice that there are injured people, give them "reasonable assistance." Per South Carolina Code of Laws, that could include transporting hurt people to a hospital or calling an ambulance for them.
If you're in a car crash, you need to be prepared to exchange contact information with other drivers at the accident scene. If the person who caused the collision is present, make sure to get their name, phone number, address, and insurance info. If witnesses are present, get their contact info, too, in case our team needs to obtain their account later.
Next, try to piece together how the car crash happened. This is an appropriate time to take photos of the cars, wreckage, and debris. Ask yourself if you think a vehicle failed to follow the rules of the road, like speeding or failing to stop at a stop sign.
Regardless of how minor your injuries may appear and who may be to blame for the accident, get legal advice from Theos Law Firm first before giving any recorded statements or refusing medical care.
Tractor-trailer and semi-truck crashes are often more complicated than two car crashing. Because these cases are more complex and nuanced, it's imperative that you contact a truck accident attorney in John’s Island, SC to help you through the recovery process and win the compensation you deserve.
After a semi-truck crash, you must take steps quickly to preserve evidence so that the crash may be recreated. In serious semi-truck accidents where people are injured or killed, trucking companies usually send a team of investigators to the accident site immediately. These investigators will do their best to obtain evidence that can hurt you in court or even attempt to hide or destroy evidence. The last thing a trucking company wants is for you to win a settlement against them.
That's especially true since various entities may be liable for your truck accident injury, not just the driver. The trucking company, the trucking manufacturer, and the team responsible for truck maintenance could also be responsible. Additionally, if dangerous or inadequate road conditions factor into your accident, you could actually sue some government departments. For those reasons, it's critical to retain quality representation ASAP after a truck accident in South Carolina.
At Theos Law Firm, our team has experience winning compensation in many types of truck accidents, such as:
As your truck accident lawyer in South Carolina, we work hard to fight for your rights and win your case. In order to do so, our team will:
We'll arrive on-scene to notate skid mark length and the locations of vehicles involved. We will also capture detailed pictures and measurements pertinent to your crash.
Obtaining the trucking company's records and discovering the info they have on the semi-truck driver involved is an important part of our process. We will also secure access to the trucker's driving log notes, which they must maintain according to law.
Like airplanes and helicopters, big rigs have a "black box" that records real-time truck data, like speeds, changes in direction, and brake application.
We'll arrive on-scene to notate skid mark length and the locations of vehicles involved. We will also capture detailed pictures and measurements pertinent to your crash.
Sometimes an expert is needed to digest all the evidence and provide an expert opinion on the cause of the semi-truck collision. When needed, our team will hire such an expert to ensure your case is robust and air-tight.
We will obtain the police's investigation report and any accident photos, measurements, or other documentation taken by officers while investigating your semi-truck crash.
It's imperative to find all the witnesses of your accident and interview them to get recorded statements in a timely manner. Doing otherwise may result in faded memories and inaccurate facts.
Time and again, auto accident victims agree to early settlements provided by insurance companies because the offer seems like a lot. But what if you return to work after recovering from an accident, only for your pain to return?
With adjusters, lawyers, and investigators at their disposal, insurance agencies will do everything in their power to minimize the compensation you deserve. Don't let them pick on you or silence your voice. If you or a loved are victims of a negligent car or truck accident in South Carolina, contact Theos Law Firm today. We have the team, tools, and experience to fight back on your behalf, no matter how complicated your case may seem.
To schedule an appointment for your free consultation, contact Theos Law Firm in John’s Island today.
A new island café and bar on Johns Island is now open daily serving those who need a quick morning caffeine kick or an evening snack on the patio.The Heyday is a new eatery born from a love of the sea island lifestyle, embodying quintessential Lowcountry culture, said owner James Groetzinger.Open seven days a week, ...
A new island café and bar on Johns Island is now open daily serving those who need a quick morning caffeine kick or an evening snack on the patio.
The Heyday is a new eatery born from a love of the sea island lifestyle, embodying quintessential Lowcountry culture, said owner James Groetzinger.
Open seven days a week, The Heyday offers a brunch and supper menu centered on farm-to-table produce, fresh seafood and local purveyors. The counter-serve restaurant will have a full bar with cocktails on tap, along with a wraparound porch and fire pit.
“The design and feel of the space is that of a classic Charleston café with modern coastal touches, an ode to the historic farmlands of Johns Island with a fresh perspective,” said Groetzinger, owner of Island Provisions, a daytime café with locations on Johns Island and in downtown Charleston.
Menu highlights include the asparagus and goat cheese frittata for brunch and the grits and creamed collards with crispy flounder for supper.
“We got our she crab recipe from an old cookbook from some church ladies on Wadmalaw,” Groetzinger said, and guests can’t go wrong with the baked clams and spring salad specials.
The new restaurant, which Groetzinger designed and constructed, opened Jan. 24 in the 16-acre Hayes Park mixed-use development, joining Somm Wine Bar, High Steaks Butcher Shop and others.
“Hayes Park has several new businesses that are locally owned, as well as 56 townhomes for sale,” he said. “So we have actual homeowners on-property. It is meant to be a little village.”
Traffic relief in sight for Highway 17 and Main Road, pedestrian bridge on hold (WCIV)0CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Limehouse Bridge on Johns Island will soon have bike and pedestrian access.Charleston County Council approved a multi-million-dollar project Tuesday night to widen the existing bridge and build a nearly three-mile multi-use path.A proposed standalone bike and pedestrian bridge was removed from the project last year because the county didn’t have the resources to maintain it long term,...
Traffic relief in sight for Highway 17 and Main Road, pedestrian bridge on hold (WCIV)
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CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Limehouse Bridge on Johns Island will soon have bike and pedestrian access.
Charleston County Council approved a multi-million-dollar project Tuesday night to widen the existing bridge and build a nearly three-mile multi-use path.
A proposed standalone bike and pedestrian bridge was removed from the project last year because the county didn’t have the resources to maintain it long term, according to Herbert Nimz, engineering manager with Charleston County.
The nearly 10-foot-wide path for walkers and bikers won’t just get them from Johns Island to West Ashley. Officials said it will easily take people as far as downtown Charleston.
“It will also connect to the existing Glenn McConnell multi-use path, it'll connect to the West Ashley Greenway and ultimately take folks all the way to the planned connections to the Maryville Bikeway and then the Ashley River bicycle and pedestrian bridge,” said Katie Zimmerman, executive director of Charleston Moves.
READ MORE | "Chas. County to vote on alternative bike and pedestrian options for Main Road project."
After six months of brainstorming options, Charleston County engineers say they’re using Wonders Way on the Ravenel Bridge as inspiration.
The path will have eight-foot-tall barriers alongside traffic and the edge of the bridge, and officials say the number of travel lanes for cars will stay the same.
“It was never our intent to reduce vehicular traffic on the bridge. It was only to also accommodate cyclists and pedestrians,” Nimz said.
Funding for the widening of the bridge is coming from the county’s transportation sales tax.
READ MORE | "Traffic relief in sight for Highway 17 and Main Road, pedestrian bridge on hold."
Nimz said the project’s price tag is a fraction of the original cost.
“This option we're looking at is anywhere from $8 to $10 million,” he shared. “The standalone bridge itself was going to cost $40 million.”
Zimmerman said the county and South Carolina Department of Transportation’s move from a stand-alone bridge to the lane widening makes her hopeful about other stalled projects across the area.
“We've been having conversations for a long time around the North Bridge. We're still working with the county and the cities and the state a little bit on that,” she explained.
A construction timeline for Limehouse Bridge is still unknown, but Nimz said crews can likely be seen in the area as soon as this week.
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He said they hope to complete the project in four years.
JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - A plan to highlight the beloved 400-year-old Angel Oak Tree and its surrounding land on Johns Island is being brought to city officials for approval to move forward.The Lowcountry Land Trust has been working on its initiative called the Angel Oak Preserve to unite the nine-acre City of Charleston property, where the Angel Oak Tree sits, with the surrounding 35 acres that the land trust owns.The goal is to create a community gathering space where visitors can learn more about the significance of the A...
JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - A plan to highlight the beloved 400-year-old Angel Oak Tree and its surrounding land on Johns Island is being brought to city officials for approval to move forward.
The Lowcountry Land Trust has been working on its initiative called the Angel Oak Preserve to unite the nine-acre City of Charleston property, where the Angel Oak Tree sits, with the surrounding 35 acres that the land trust owns.
The goal is to create a community gathering space where visitors can learn more about the significance of the Angel Oak Tree and the history of the site, all while preserving the land that was once threatened by development.
The land trust is proposing the addition of a welcome center on the property it owns, which would be placed at a safe distance away from the Angel Oak to protect the tree’s root system.
Liollio Architecture Principal Jay White says that their goal is to build as little as possible, as the importance of this initiative lies in preserving the Angel Oak Tree.
“When you drive up into the parking lot, you’ll be parking amongst the forestry landscape and if you come through the welcome center, which is really very modest, it’s about the size of a modest house and it provides restrooms, and offices for the staff, a gift shop of course and a gathering space for interpretive exhibits,” White says.
The project is estimated to cost $12 million. The land trust is about halfway to its goal and plans to continue to receive support through public and private donations.
“The Angel Oak is such a powerful symbol, so we envision this project as hopefully an ambassador site where other local communities can learn from it and replicate it, so it really stands as that deep connection between people and conservation and the community and the efforts to protect this tree. Also speak to the resilience of the communities who have lived for so long in relationship to this land,” Angel Oak Preserve Director at the Lowcountry Land Trust, Samantha Siegel, says.
Currently, there is a gift shop located on the nine-acre property that the city owns. The proposed plan includes tearing that down and moving it into the new welcome center, as it is located on top of the roots of the Angel Oak Tree.
Visitors also currently use Angel Oak Road to drive down and park to see the tree, but White says they plan to move parking further away and have guests approach the tree on foot, ensuring the preservation and well-being of the tree.
White says they plan to add walking trails for visitors to follow as they exit the welcome center, which will take them through the forested area before reaching the Angel Oak Tree.
White says once visitors reach the tree they plan to have an elevated wooden boardwalk surrounding it that will keep people off the tree to protect it.
He says that they will also highlight ecological footprints that archaeologists have found near the tree that were once the location of slave cabins. Plans also include a nature play area for children as well as outdoor classrooms where guests who come for tours can learn more about the tree and the site.
“It’s just going to be a really special, sacred place. It already is, but it’s going to be even more special, and we will really be able to honor the tree the way it should be. I think it’s a perfect example of a place where the culture and the ecology work together to create this magic,” Siegel says.
The public will still be able to access the Angel Oak Tree for free. There may be times when visitor traffic is busy and they might do a time slot system, but it would still remain free to guests.
White says once they get final approval they expect it will take about a year to build the welcome center and its features.
The City of Charleston’s Design Review Board will meet on Monday to vote on conceptual approval of the welcome center. If approved, it will have to move forward for preliminary and final approval.
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Charleston County is set to begin construction on a project that will alleviate traffic for West Ashley and Johns Island residents, officials told residents at the first quarterly update meeting for the road improvements March 13.The project encompasses a number of improvements to help with traffic including construction of flyovers at the intersection of Main Road and U.S. Highway 17, an interchange at Main Road and Highway 17 for drivers who want to avoid the intersection, a bridge over CSX Railroad, a roundabout at the intersection...
Charleston County is set to begin construction on a project that will alleviate traffic for West Ashley and Johns Island residents, officials told residents at the first quarterly update meeting for the road improvements March 13.
The project encompasses a number of improvements to help with traffic including construction of flyovers at the intersection of Main Road and U.S. Highway 17, an interchange at Main Road and Highway 17 for drivers who want to avoid the intersection, a bridge over CSX Railroad, a roundabout at the intersection of Main, Chisholm and River roads, and a widening of Main Road from River and Chisholm roads to the interchange ramps.
The improvements were originally part of a bigger project for Main Road, from Bees Ferry Road to Betsy Kerrison Parkway. The project was then split into three segments, with this segment first estimated to cost $130 million in 2020.
This now $354 million project — the largest infrastructure project in Charleston County history — is funded by the 2016 half-cent transportation sales tax.
Herb Nimz, county project manager, said during the county's quarterly project meeting on March 13 that they're still in the permitting process, but have worked on securing right-of-way acquisition. They're also currently doing test piles, or assessing the strength and stability of the columns that will support the interchange and flyovers. Plans are in the works to relocate utilities, like Charleston Water System and Dominion Energy, before construction starts in May, he said.
Most of the road work on Main Road and Highway 17 will take place at night, but residents should still expect some backup during construction, Nimz said.
"It's going to get worse before it gets better," Nimz said.
Residents in West Ashley and on Johns Island who live around the roads slated for changes have mixed feelings.
Jacob Andrew, a Johns Island resident, said he's excited about how the road project will help with traffic.
"It’s going to work," he said. "They could get it 50 percent right, and it would be better than the way it is now."
However, he worries about how traffic volume will only continue to increase around where he lives off Main Road as more people continue to move to the Lowcountry.
Census data shows the population of Johns Island's specifically surged from roughly 15,100 people in 2010 to almost 22,900 in 2021. More than 25,000 people are estimated to live on the island today.
The county will most likely be back to the drawing board in 10 years to come up with another solution, Andrew said.
Andrew is also unhappy the county cut plans for a bike and pedestrian bridge adjacent to the Limehouse Bridge that was previously included in the project. Nimz said he's met with the state Department of Transportation and is working to add at least a sidewalk to the bridge.
West Ashley resident Jamie Jacobs is looking forward to the changes, but worries congestion may remain as Main Road and Highway 17 are highly trafficked roads for people coming from West Ashley, Ravenel and Johns Island.
Ultimately, she said if the flyovers and interchange allow for commuters to no longer wait at the red light at the intersection of Main Road and Highway 17 for an hour, residents will be much happier.
Officials expect the project to be complete late September 2028.
JOHNS ISLAND—The 120-foot Navy vessel that locals call a blight on the landscape has remained stuck in the marshy waters of Wadmalaw Island for nearly four years since it first crossed into state waters. Agencies working to remove the ship say it will likely remain there as talks with the owner to secure the vessel's title continue.Despite a now yearsl...
JOHNS ISLAND—The 120-foot Navy vessel that locals call a blight on the landscape has remained stuck in the marshy waters of Wadmalaw Island for nearly four years since it first crossed into state waters. Agencies working to remove the ship say it will likely remain there as talks with the owner to secure the vessel's title continue.
Despite a now yearslong effort from two state environmental agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard, and cries from residents and leaders from the small coastal towns nearby, officials say their hands are essentially tied when it comes to getting the steel-hulled ship out of the water.
Captain Dennetta Dawson, a law enforcement officer with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, said DNR has had several conversations with the owner, Sam Kodaimati, to gain the title to the ship.
The vessel, renamed HAZAR once the owner purchased it at auction in 2021, is several hundred feet from an active boat launch, lurching in the bank of Bohicket Creek. However, it's technically not abandoned, according to the state's definition.
This July will mark four years since the ship got stuck in S.C. waters. A Coast Guard order prohibits Kodaimati from moving it somewhere else, though it's unlikely the 1980s-era vessel is in good working condition.
HAZAR needed over $2 million in repairs, including two engine overhauls, and mechanical and electrical work, when Kodaimati bought the vessel in March 2021.
Derelict seems a better word to fit the ship’s description. It's rusted, damaged and until recently, had evidence of oily water aboard, posing a serious risk to the surrounding water quality and ecosystem.
For a ship to be officially declared abandoned by SCDNR, the last known owner must not return to it or acknowledge any communication from the agency for 45 days. Then, the state can take possession of the abandoned property and start raising money to pay for its removal.
"When we have a boat that we deem or think is derelict or abandoned, we are able to tag it. Within that time, we are sending information out to the owner, trying to find the owner and within that 45 days, that owner has to lay claim or has to say that it's not a derelict boat," Dawson said.
But because SCDNR knows who owns the ship, and regularly interacts with him, the ship can't be considered abandoned. Dawson said these conversations have not been productive.
"Mr. Kodaimati has not relinquished the title to the boat yet," Dawson said. "Until we get title to that, or until it is really an abandoned boat, there's not much that we can do about it."
Removing the ship would prove expensive.
Dawson said Kodaimati has indicated that he doesn't have the money to salvage the ship. She added that even if the agency did take ownership of the vessel, they wouldn't have much money to remove it either.
There is no state funding available to assist SCDNR or the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services to pay for retrieving abandoned and derelict vessels. A bill recently introduced by the state Senate, the Waterways Protection Act, seeks to change that by requiring all South Carolina boat owners to pay a small tax to help fund derelict vessel removals.
In the meantime, the agency will partner with volunteer groups like Wounded Nature to pull the backlog of abandoned boats from Lowcountry waters.
Wounded Nature is funded solely through donations, partnering with salvage companies to complete the work at little to no cost. The nonprofit recently towed and demolished two sailboats left behind in the Stono and Ashley Rivers.
The retrieval and demolition would have cost around $12,000 without the donated time and manpower.
Rudy Socha, CEO of Wounded Nature, said in HAZAR's case, it could cost tens of thousands of dollars to tow, remove and salvage the hulking ship—and more if it falls further into disrepair.
"If it deteriorates much more, it's going to be a half-million-dollar job to get rid of that boat," Socha said.
Last year, nearby residents raised alarm over the ship, telling The Post and Courier that HAZAR was an "ecological disaster" waiting to happen.
Steve Redman of Seabrook Island said he's called on the Department of Natural Resources, the Coast Guard, Department of Environmental Services and even the governor's office to hasten the ship's removal.
"When I saw this thing, I know that a 110 feet to 125 feet steel boat, there's no way it's supposed to be implanted in any ecological important area," Redman said.
His fears were validated last September. The U.S. Coast Guard deployed its oil-spill mitigation response in the fall, after evidence of water intrusion and oil on board the boat was confirmed.
All told, crews removed 3,500 gallons of oil and oily water from the vessel, USCG Lt. Michael Allen said.
With the mitigation complete, SCDES spokesperson Laura Renwick said the agency is continuing to work with the Coast Guard and DNR on vessel removal options, though the question of how long that may take has yet to be answered.