Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Can You Still Recover Compensation if You Were Not Wearing a Seatbelt?
You were not buckled in when the crash happened, and now you are wondering whether that single fact just cost you your entire case. It is a fair question, and the honest answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. South Dakota law treats seatbelt non-use differently than a lot of people… Read More »
What Black Box Data Can Reveal After a Truck Accident
A semi truck does not just carry cargo down the highway. It also carries a small, quiet witness to everything that happened in the moments before a crash. That witness is the truck’s black box, and what it records can end up telling a very different story than the one the trucking company hands… Read More »
How Police Reports Impact Your Car Accident Claim in South Dakota
An officer shows up, asks a few questions, hands you a card, and drives off. Does that report actually matter once your car accident claim gets underway? It does, more than most people realize, and South Dakota treats these reports a little differently than many other states do. What Actually Goes Into the Report… Read More »
Why Insurance Companies Request an Independent Medical Examination and What to Expect
A letter arrives asking you to see a doctor you have never heard of, chosen and paid for by the insurance company. Is this normal, and should you be worried about it? Independent medical examinations show up often enough in injury claims that understanding what they actually are, and are not, can keep the… Read More »
Dram Shop and Social Host Liability in South Dakota Drunk Driving Cases
A drunk driver hits you after being served at a bar or at a house party. Can you hold the bar or the host responsible? In many states, yes. In South Dakota, the answer is usually no, and that surprises a lot of injured people. Knowing where the law stands can help you focus… Read More »
How Dashcam Footage Can Strengthen Your Injury Case
When two drivers tell two different stories about a crash, who gets believed? A small camera on your windshield can change that answer. Dashcams record what happened in real time, without memory gaps or second thoughts, and more South Dakota drivers are installing them every year. Here is how footage can help an injury… Read More »
Why Truck Accident Cases Are More Complex Than Car Accidents
A collision with a passenger car and a collision with a fully loaded semi truck might get filed under the same case type on paper, but treating them the same way is a fast way to end up out of your depth. Why do truck accident claims drag on so much longer than a… Read More »
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Semi-Truck Crash Beyond the Driver?
Have you or a loved one been injured in a truck accident in Sioux Falls? It is imperative that you speak to an attorney quickly to determine liability and begin pursuing compensation for your injuries. Beyond the truck driver, liability in a semi-truck crash can extend to the trucking company itself, a cargo loading… Read More »