In South Carolina, pedestrians always have the right of way on sidewalks. They also have the right to safely finish crossing a street if they’ve already started crossing. When walking on a street without a sidewalk, they should stay on the outside edge of the road. Motorists must make every attempt to avoid striking a pedestrian, but many pedestrian accidents occur because negligent drivers ignore these rules. What Rules Must Pedestrians Follow in South Carolina? South Carolina’s Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways contains the laws drivers and pedestr ..read more

It’s annoying when other drivers follow too closely, but slamming on the brakes to make a tailgating driver back off is both illegal and dangerous. This maneuver, commonly called brake checking, can cause severe accidents and have substantial legal consequences in both civil and criminal court. What Is Brake Checking? Brake checking is the act of slamming on the brakes without a legitimate reason to do so, often to irritate or surprise another driver. Typically, drivers brake check when there’s another car close behind them. This sudden action can startle the driver behind, who might have to s ..read more

What are the typical child custody arrangements in South Carolina? Technically, numerous custody configurations can help families meet a child’s needs. Child custody can be sole, joint, shared, or split, depending on what is in the best interest of the children.  Understanding the legal terms is crucial when deciding which child custody arrangements are in your child’s best interests. At McKinney, Tucker & Lemel, LLC, we are committed to helping families understand the types of child custody in South Carolina and working with them to find solutions that meet their child’s needs. What ..read more

South Carolina is not a no-fault state. Like most states in the country, South Carolina uses the at-fault system. You can seek compensation for your losses by filing a claim with the responsible party’s insurance company. That said, factors like whether you purchased certain optional coverages can influence how you may seek compensation. What Are South Carolina’s Minimum Insurance Coverage Requirements? According to the South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI), the minimum liability and uninsured motorist insurance requirements for drivers in the state are: $25,000 in bodily i ..read more

While several forms of child custody are possible after a divorce or separation in South Carolina, joint custody is the most common form couples tend to agree on. In these arrangements, the courts might name a primary and secondary custodian. That said, legal custody of children can be one of the most contentious aspects of divorce proceedings. Working with a skilled South Carolina child custody attorney is essential to protect your rights and your child’s well-being. What Are the Different Types of Child Custody in South Carolina? Child custody can refer to two different parental rights ..read more

Courts must consider various factors when determining which child custody arrangement serves a child’s best interests – including the child’s preferences. Although a child’s choice cannot override the court’s determination, courts may consider their stated preferences if they are old enough to express a reasonable opinion about which parent they prefer to have primary custody. As children age and develop maturity and judgment, courts may give even more weight to a child’s stated preferences in a custody proceeding. Will the Court Give More Weight to the Child’s Wishes If They Are Ove ..read more

South Carolina’s child support guidelines provide a baseline amount for a child support payment ranging from $100 to $4,431, based on the number of children shared by parents and the parents’ combined adjusted monthly gross income. For example, parents who combine to make the state’s median household income of $63,623 and share two children would have a proposed monthly payment of $1,188 under the child support guidelines. However, parents or the court may deviate from the guidelines based on factors such as sharing more than six children, the family’s custody arrangement ..read more

When you want to pursue a claim after a crash, you may consider hiring a car accident lawyer to help. However, you might worry about how much it costs to hire an attorney. Fortunately, most car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means they receive a percentage of the total financial recovery they secure for their client in a case. This percentage can vary depending on how long the case takes. However, clients typically won’t owe any legal fees if their attorney cannot recover compensation. What Is a Contingency Fee? A contingency fee is a contractual arrangement between a c ..read more

South Carolina pedestrians generally have the right of way, especially in crosswalks and on sidewalks. However, there are certain situations where they must yield the right of way to drivers. Pedestrians also have some important responsibilities to ensure everyone’s safety. Do Pedestrians Always Have the Right of Way? Pedestrians do not always have the right of way under South Carolina law. They do have the right of way in crosswalks when indicated by traffic signals, as well as in situations where there aren’t any working signals. However, they must wait for any cars that are already too clos ..read more

If you were injured in an accident caused by someone else and have pre-existing injuries, you may be worried that the insurance company will deny your claim. You may even feel tempted to hide pre-existing conditions from the insurance company. While insurance companies may try to challenge claims involving pre-existing injuries, disclosing accurate and complete medical information is essential to building a solid case in your favor. Individuals with pre-existing conditions have the same legal rights to file personal injury claims as everyone else. An experienced attorney can manage the complex ..read more