Car accident lawyer for Rapid City, SD

What to do first after a Rapid City crash

Get medical care promptly, even after what seems like a minor collision, and keep records. Ask whether Rapid City police, the Pennington County sheriff or the Highway Patrol responded and get the report number. Photograph the vehicles, the road and conditions such as snow, ice, gravel or wildlife involved. Collect witness details quickly, since many people on the road in summer are visitors who leave within days. Hang on to medical records and a record of missed work. If you were visiting, save your lodging and travel details. A recorded statement to the other driver's side is not urgent; wait until you have talked with an attorney.

Crash situations common in Rapid City

I-90 runs along the north side of Rapid City and carries long-haul freight across the state, with heavy merging at the exits serving the city and the nearby air force base. US 16 climbs southwest into the Black Hills toward Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park, carrying summer tourist traffic, campers and tour buses on curves and grades. Highway 44 and Highway 79 serve the east and south. The Sturgis motorcycle rally each August fills the region with hundreds of thousands of riders. Winters bring blizzards, ice and sudden whiteouts, spring brings heavy wet snow, and deer and other wildlife are a constant hazard on the hill roads.

What the free case review covers

The number (470) 600-0106 is answered by a person at any hour, in English, Spanish or Arabic. A free consultation covers where the crash happened, who responded, what the report says, your injuries and your treatment so far. South Dakota uses a strict version of comparative fault, so we ask how the crash unfolded and what evidence exists. We ask whether you are a resident or a visitor, and whether a commercial truck, tour bus or motorcycle was involved. We ask about lost work and bills as well. Then we explain the usual course of a Pennington County case. The call costs nothing.

Connecting you with a South Dakota attorney

Car Accident Lawyers Agency makes introductions; licensed attorneys make the case. We connect Rapid City residents and visitors with an independent personal injury attorney licensed in South Dakota who handles western South Dakota crashes like theirs, whether an I-90 truck collision, a motorcycle crash during the rally, a tourist crash on Highway 16 or a wildlife-related wreck. Visitors who have gone home can usually work with a South Dakota attorney remotely. We are honest when a case is not one to pursue, for example when injuries are minor or your fault is more than slight under South Dakota's rule, and we explain why.

The usual course once a South Dakota attorney is involved

Your car accident attorney puts the other side on notice that you are represented, then gathers the crash report, medical records, photographs and any video from businesses or dash cameras, and send a preservation letter if a truck or bus was involved. South Dakota's slight versus gross comparative fault rule is unusual, so they document carefully how the crash happened. They keep a running account of medical bills and lost wages during your recovery. When your recovery has reached a point that can be described, they prepare a demand and negotiate. Many Rapid City cases resolve by agreement; others are filed in Pennington County Circuit Court. Whether to take any proposal is your choice alone.