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 Santee, 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 Santee, 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 Santee, 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 Santee today.
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – For just the second time in the 81-year history of Santee Cooper’s Jefferies Hydroelectric Station, the 80-ton emergency Tainter gate at the Pinopolis Lock is being replaced – with the help of a local company.Santee Cooper has partnered with W International in Goose Creek, South Carolina, to fabricate and assemble a new emergency Tainter gate for the Pinopolis Lock, which connects Lake Moultrie to the Tailrace Canal and the Cooper River. W International, located in the Bushy Park Industrial area...
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – For just the second time in the 81-year history of Santee Cooper’s Jefferies Hydroelectric Station, the 80-ton emergency Tainter gate at the Pinopolis Lock is being replaced – with the help of a local company.
Santee Cooper has partnered with W International in Goose Creek, South Carolina, to fabricate and assemble a new emergency Tainter gate for the Pinopolis Lock, which connects Lake Moultrie to the Tailrace Canal and the Cooper River. W International, located in the Bushy Park Industrial area, is an advanced metal fabricator specializing in large, complex structural fabrications.
“Consistent with our mission, our goal is to work with businesses and industry in the state to help South Carolina thrive,” said Jimmy Staton, Santee Cooper President and CEO. “W International has a strong reputation as an industry leader in large fabrications. We’re proud to be able to say the gate was made right here in the Lowcountry and that we, as South Carolinians, are working together to energize South Carolina.”
“Working hand-in-hand with Santee Cooper on replacing the emergency Tainter gate upstream of the Pinopolis Lock system has been an extraordinary journey,” said Jim Logan, President of W International. “Our team feels honored to have contributed to such a pivotal project, particularly one located a mere 22 miles upriver from our facility – a testament to the local community.”
“Teaming up with Santee Cooper has been nothing short of inspiring,” continued Logan. “Collaborating on critical infrastructure aligns seamlessly with our shared vision of supporting Santee Cooper’s mission to enhance the quality of life for every South Carolinian. Together, we have strived to deliver not just a gate replacement, but a testament to resilience and progress for the region. We are immensely proud to have been part of this milestone achievement.”
The fully assembled Tainter gate was loaded on a barge at W International on Dec. 9 and arrived at the Pinopolis Lock after about a six-hour journey up the West Branch of the Cooper River. Crews with Superior Cranes Inc., which has a Charleston-area location in Moncks Corner, are placing the gate in its final location this week, pending any weather delays. The previous gate was damaged in September 2022 when Hurricane Ian blew through the state. The original Tainter gate, installed in 1942, reached its end-of-life stage in 2003. Those gates now reside next to each other at a permitted fish attractor location in Lake Moultrie.
The Tainter gate allows Santee Cooper to safely perform maintenance on the lock's upper miter gates. The gate also is designed to mitigate an unlikely “free flow” incident and, in the event of such an emergency, it will raise to choke off the flow of water through the lock system.
W International has delivered approximately 50 products weighing as much as 600,000 pounds via barge shipment. Their team is devoted to supporting the nation’s armed forces, and they are especially proud to contribute to U.S. Navy submarines and surface vessels.
W International SC, LLC manufactures large, close-tolerance, complex structures for critical Aerospace, Defense, and Energy projects. W International’s manufacturing facility is located in Goose Creek, South Carolina, on the Cooper River, 12 miles north of Charleston’s port, on 45 acres, with 480,000 square feet of indoor heavy manufacturing space. The facility utilizes large CNC machining centers and sophisticated welding equipment to produce highly technical, complex components.
Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s largest power provider, the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the state, and one of America’s Best Midsize Employers as named by Forbes. Through its low-cost, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and through innovative partnerships and initiatives that attract and retain industry and jobs, Santee Cooper helps power South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.santeecooper.com and follow #PoweringSC on social media.
A fire on Christmas leveled Lone Star Barbecue restaurant in Santee. Now, the owners are left picking up the pieces and hoping for a silver lining.SANTEE, S.C. — Days after a fire destroyed their business, the owners of Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile in Santee say they're holding onto hope this won't be the final chapter of their business.While most families in the Midlands gather together to celebrate, for Corey Henderson and his ...
A fire on Christmas leveled Lone Star Barbecue restaurant in Santee. Now, the owners are left picking up the pieces and hoping for a silver lining.
SANTEE, S.C. — Days after a fire destroyed their business, the owners of Lone Star Barbecue and Mercantile in Santee say they're holding onto hope this won't be the final chapter of their business.
While most families in the Midlands gather together to celebrate, for Corey Henderson and his family, the two days after the holiday were spent cleaning up the remnants of Lone Star Barbeque.
Henderson recalls getting a call on Christmas that the building was on fire.
"It was just engulfed," Henderson said. "We just couldn't believe any of this was happening and what was happening. What was flashing across my mind as it was going, it sounds crazy, is our employees."
Henderson's family has owned Lone Star for three years, continuing centuries of tradition in the Santee community. The business has been in South Carolina for decades, starting in Lone Star, before it moved to Santee.
The property used to house historic buildings, which were over one hundred years old, dating back from 1896 to 1926.
According to Santee Fire Department Chief Edward Barnett, the fire began at some point around 7:30 p.m. on the 25th. He said those old buildings were a complete loss following the fire, which is still under investigation.
"We could see the flames, about tree high tall so we knew we had a working structure fire," Barnett said. "We had a total of 9 fire departments and approximately 50 firefighters, we had plenty of help, plenty of manpower."
Late Wednesday night, we saw firefighters back on the scene putting out some of the hotspots. Henderson says the past two days have been emotional, receiving support from the Santee community and around the country.
"Travelers from New York, Florida, and Texas have been calling. It's been incredible," Henderson said.
Henderson said the focus is getting back up on their feet and helping the employees.
"I don't want to let them down or the community and people who have helped me out throughout the years. I want to prove to them, too, I'm strong. If we can afford it or if we can get it worked out, we can rebuild stronger, and we can get the community and surrounding areas to help put other antiques out and get with, [previous owners] Mr. Williams and Chris, and see anything we have to try to bring this place back to life."
Henderson says Lone Star plans to hold a fundraiser here on January 20th to raise money for the employees who are now out of work.
Legislative leaders are right when they say our state needs an all-of-the-above approach as we transition toward a future beyond fossil fuels: nuclear, solar, wind, battery storage, energy efficiency and, until alternatives become more dependable or until someone figures out how to build more of that nuclear without taking consumers to the cleaners, natural gas.Where they’re not clearly right is in suggesting the state needs to dramatically speed up approval for Dominion South Carolina and Santee Cooper to build as much new gene...
Legislative leaders are right when they say our state needs an all-of-the-above approach as we transition toward a future beyond fossil fuels: nuclear, solar, wind, battery storage, energy efficiency and, until alternatives become more dependable or until someone figures out how to build more of that nuclear without taking consumers to the cleaners, natural gas.
Where they’re not clearly right is in suggesting the state needs to dramatically speed up approval for Dominion South Carolina and Santee Cooper to build as much new generating capacity as the abandoned V.C. Summer nuclear project that they abandoned less than seven years ago because of legislatively blessed cost overruns and because they concluded that was just too much energy for South Carolina’s foreseeable future.
And where they’re flat wrong is in pushing legislation that strips out important consumer protections that were enacted after the V.C. Summer fiasco.
It’s true that H.5118 would not set us up for a repeat of precisely what happened at V.C. Summer; it does not, for instance, restore the roundly discredited Base Load Review Act, which required the S.C. Public Service Commission to rubber stamp multiple rate increases to pay for building two nuclear reactors that never produced a single watt of energy. It’s also true, though, that parts of the bill are reminiscent of other laws that enabled that whole mess. For instance:
• The state consumer advocate would no longer be allowed to represent ratepayers in utility cases.
• The Office of Regulatory Staff would revert to the discredited pre-2018 rules, which required it to balance the interests of ratepayers with economic development and the “financial integrity” of regulated utilities. That balancing act, by the way, is already the job of the PSC.
• The PSC would be required to give testimony of utilities greater weight than the voices of the public or independent analysts in reviewing utilities' long-term plans. Of course we know this already happens; how much worse will it be when it’s a legal requirement?
• If a utility tries to build a “small modular nuclear reactor” but abandons the project mid-construction (a la V.C. Summer), it still could charge ratepayers if it provides a “fulsome accounting” of its decision. (We hope regulators would read “fulsome” to mean abundant, but it has several other definitions, including offensive and excessively flattering.) True, there’s nothing automatic here like there was in the Base Load Review Act, but it’s still heavily weighted toward raising our power bills once again to pay for an abandoned nuclear plant that never generates electricity.
On Tuesday, utility executives told critics not to worry, they will still have to get approval from the PSC for their long-term plans and rate increases, and that’s absolutely true. But the changes in the bill mean what the commissioners hear will be much more one-sided than what they've heard in recent years — and in some ways even more one-sided than it was during the V.C. Summer boondoggle era. There will no longer be a state official arguing for ratepayers’ interests, the utilities will have a statutorily mandated louder voice, and the voices of individual ratepayers, private consumer advocates and conservationists will be statutorily muffled.
That wouldn’t be a problem if ratepayers had the option of shopping around for a different power company. Of course, if ratepayers could shop around, we wouldn’t need all these regulations. We have regulations because our state has granted a monopoly to electricity providers, so our state has an obligation to step in and act as a substitute for the free market to protect ratepayers. These anti-reform provisions make a mockery of that idea. They need to be removed.
More natural gas? Fine. Fewer consumer protections? Absolutely not.
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – Santee Cooper has completed the purchase of Cherokee Cogeneration Partners LLC, a natural gas-generating facility in Cherokee County that will enhance grid reliability and add nearly 100 megawatts to the utility’s combined electric system.As Santee Cooper’s largest customer, Central Electric Power Cooperative supports the purchase, and the boards of Santee Cooper and Central each approved the purchase as a shared resource for the combined electric system. That means the generation will benefit S...
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – Santee Cooper has completed the purchase of Cherokee Cogeneration Partners LLC, a natural gas-generating facility in Cherokee County that will enhance grid reliability and add nearly 100 megawatts to the utility’s combined electric system.
As Santee Cooper’s largest customer, Central Electric Power Cooperative supports the purchase, and the boards of Santee Cooper and Central each approved the purchase as a shared resource for the combined electric system. That means the generation will benefit Santee Cooper’s retail and other wholesale customers, along with Central’s member cooperatives across South Carolina.
“We’ve seen increased customer demand caused by new and expanded industries and a fast-growing residential and commercial base in areas served by Santee Cooper, our municipal wholesale customers, and the state’s electric cooperatives,” said Jimmy Staton, Santee Cooper President and CEO. “That’s a good problem to have, frankly. Adding the Cherokee plant to our portfolio will help Santee Cooper meet that demand in an affordable and reliable way and help us integrate additional renewable power as we bring it online over the next few years.”
“As we performed our due diligence with Santee Cooper, it became clear this resource would provide an immediate boost to the reliability of our system while also helping to keep electric rates competitive,” said Central President and CEO Rob Hochstetler. “We are pleased to work with Santee Cooper on a deal that represents a win for all of our consumers at the end of the line.”
The Cherokee facility has been operating since 1998 and is connected to the existing Transco natural gas pipeline, which runs through western South Carolina. Santee Cooper has purchased power from the facility in the past and continued to do so through the acquisition.
The purchase was approved by the Public Service Commission in September, and the land transaction was approved by the Joint Bond Review Committee in October. In addition to supporting electric cooperatives and municipal customers Santee Cooper serves, the purchase is a cost-effective means for serving direct customers and provides less ratepayer risk while helping maintain safe and reliable electric service.
Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s largest power provider, the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the state, and one of America’s Best Midsize Employers as named by Forbes. Through its low-cost, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and through innovative partnerships and initiatives that attract and retain industry and jobs, Santee Cooper helps power South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.santeecooper.com and follow #PoweringSC on social media.
The business had centuries of history packed into its walls and was a landmark for many traveling through Orangeburg.More VideosSANTEE, S.C. — A month after a fire destroyed a Midlands landmark business, hundreds gathered to donate money and show support for the employees.The last month has been anything but easy for Mike Henderson. He's one of the dozen employees at...
The business had centuries of history packed into its walls and was a landmark for many traveling through Orangeburg.
SANTEE, S.C. — A month after a fire destroyed a Midlands landmark business, hundreds gathered to donate money and show support for the employees.
The last month has been anything but easy for Mike Henderson. He's one of the dozen employees at Lone Star who's been out of work since the Christmas fire.
"It's just been stressful with my bills, and my car, and even diapers," Henderson said. "It's just every financial, or just getting out of the house."
He said he remembers the years of work and, most importantly, the family built in that restaurant.
"I met people that brought me out of the depths that I was in and really turned my life around, just by the coworkers or even the people that would just come in and eat," he said.
A fire in December destroyed centuries of history inside the Santee landmark.
Racheal Henderson and her husband Cory are the current owners of Lone Star, taking it over just a few years ago. They described the last month as stressful.
"It's hard on everybody else, especially our workers, they relied on us to pay the bills," she said.
On Saturday, they hosted a public fundraiser at the Roadway Inn off I-95 to raise money for the employees who are out of work now. On Saturday afternoon, a line stretched from the cafeteria to the front door. Mark McLeod said he showed up to show his support for the Lone Star family.
"My family and I have been going to Lone Star for years to eat. It was one of the best restaurants around," he said.
Throughout the afternoon, hundreds filed in; just two hours after they opened, Racheal Henderson said they'd sold over 300 plates.
"The love that's been shown in the community, we couldn't ask for anything better than that. Today is a perfect example of that; everybody showed up," she said.
The family said they want to rebuild and put the Lone Star back on the map. However, there isn't a timeline for when that might be.
"We're gonna have to come back smaller than what we had, but we'll still have the same food, same great barbeque," Racheal said.