Sioux Falls Car Accident Lawyers Serving All Of South Dakota

Last updated on May 21, 2026

Alvine Law Firm, LLP, is a Sioux Falls law firm with more than 25 years of trial experience representing people injured in car accidents and other serious crashes. After a crash, the pressure starts immediately: medical appointments, time off work, calls from insurance adjusters and uncertainty about what you should say or do next. We step in to protect your rights from day one, help you understand your options and build a case designed to pursue the full value of what you’ve lost.

Our job is to make sure you’re not left paying the price for someone else’s negligence. We work to connect the dots between the collision and the real impact on your life so the insurance company can’t minimize your claim. Call now for a free case review.

What To Do Right After A Car Accident

If you have just been in a crash, your next few decisions can affect your health and your claim. If you can, take these steps:

• Get medical help: Adrenaline may hide the true extent of the harm you suffered in a crash. You may not notice the signs of back and spinal injuries, neck injuries like whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones or other injuries for hours or days after the crash, but a doctor can help you identify and treat them earlier.
• Call law enforcement: They can document the scene. Be sure to get a copy of the incident report.
• Take photos and videos: Images of the vehicles, damage, skid marks, road conditions, license plates and injuries can all help your claim.
• Get the other driver’s contact and insurance details: Information about the people involved, your cars and your insurance policies are the foundation of insurance claims.
• Get witness info: Witness testimonies can support your claim later, but it can be difficult to contact them if you do not collect their information right away.
• Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company: Unfortunately, an insurance company may use a recorded statement to lock you into details before you know the facts, minimize your injuries or shift blame to you.
• Call an attorney: The guidance of an attorney can help you avoid mistakes. At Alvine Law Firm, LLP, we handle communication with insurers and protect your claim.

What If The Other Driver Doesn’t Have Enough Insurance Coverage?

Not every driver on South Dakota roads carries enough insurance or any at all. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, your claim may rely on your own uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. In many situations, using UM/UIM is not like “causing an accident.” It is coverage you paid for to protect yourself. We can review your policy and explain how the claim works.

If that coverage still does not offer enough support, we can also help you explore other ways to hold the other driver responsible. By pursuing all available sources of recovery, we will fight for full compensation.

Common Types Of Car Accidents We Handle

South Dakota weather and road conditions create risks for a wide variety of reasons. In our decades of experience, we have represented people injured by:

Rear-end Collisions

These are some of the most common crashes on South Dakota roads, often happening in Sioux Falls and other busy areas when traffic slows unexpectedly. Distracted driving, following too closely and slick winter roads can turn a routine stop into a serious impact, especially at higher speeds or when a larger vehicle hits a smaller one.

T-bone Crashes

Side-impact crashes frequently occur at intersections when a driver runs a red light, blows through a stop sign or misjudges another vehicle’s speed. T-bone accidents can cause severe injuries, particularly to drivers and passengers closest to the point of impact.

Head-on Collisions

Head-on crashes are less common but often catastrophic, and they tend to happen on rural highways and two-lane roads. Passing in unsafe conditions, drifting across the center line, fatigue, impairment and poor visibility during storms can all lead to a high-speed impact with life-changing consequences.

Multi-vehicle Pileups

Chain-reaction collisions are common during sudden weather changes, especially on interstates. A single loss of control can quickly become a pileup when vehicles can’t stop in time, and determining fault may involve multiple drivers and insurance companies.

Truck And Semi Collisions

Commercial truck crashes can happen anywhere, but they are especially dangerous on highways and interstates where speed and weight differences are extreme. These cases often involve complex issues like driver fatigue, improper loading, maintenance failures and corporate safety policies.

Rollover Accidents

Rollovers can occur when a vehicle hits ice, a soft shoulder, a curb or a ditch at speed, or when a driver makes a sudden steering correction. South Dakota’s rural ditches, gravel roads and winter slick spots can make rollovers more likely and injuries can be severe.

Lane-change And Merging Crashes

These wrecks happen when a driver fails to check blind spots, misjudges space or merges aggressively, often on multi-lane roads and interstate on-ramps. Even at moderate speeds, sideswipes and forced-off-road collisions can cause significant injuries and can be difficult to sort out without strong evidence.

Understanding The Role Of Fault In A South Dakota Claim

Many people hesitate to call a lawyer because they think, “I was partly at fault.” Thankfully, in South Dakota, you may still recover damages even if you share some blame. Your compensation can be reduced by your percentage of fault, but being partially responsible does not automatically end your case.

Why The Sioux Falls Community Has Trusted Alvine Law Firm, LLP, Since 1995

When you’re stressed and trying to figure out how you will get to work tomorrow, you need someone to take the legal pressure off fast. Our team can help by:

• Dealing with insurance adjusters and paperwork
• Preserving evidence and building the liability case
• Documenting your injuries and future care needs
• Pursuing full compensation, not a quick low offer
• Preparing every case like it may go to trial

With more than 25 years of trial experience, we are ready to fight.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accidents

What if I was partially at fault for a car accident in South Dakota?

South Dakota is the only state that uses a slight‑comparative‑negligence rule. You may recover compensation only if your share of fault is considered slight when compared to the other driver’s negligence. Insurance carriers often argue that an injured person’s conduct was more than slight to reduce or eliminate payment. A lawyer can evaluate the facts, gather evidence and challenge any unfair fault assessments that could limit your recovery.

How will I pay my bills if a severe car crash leaves me unable to work?

A serious injury can interrupt your income and create immediate financial strain. You may pursue damages for lost wages, reduced earning capacity and medical expenses through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Some may also qualify for short‑term disability benefits or employment leave to fill the economic gaps left in the wake of a car accident.

What should I do if the driver who hit me does not have car insurance?

South Dakota requires motorists to obtain uninsured motorist coverage. This can help cover medical costs, lost income and other damages when the at‑fault driver has no insurance. Your mandatory underinsured motorist coverage may apply if the driver’s policy limits are too low to cover your losses. Since claims can still be contested by your own insurer, legal guidance can help ensure the company honors its obligations.

Should I give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance adjuster?

No. You are not required by law to provide a recorded statement to the opposing insurer and doing so is risky. Adjusters may use your words to minimize liability or dispute the severity of your injuries. You can share basic information like your name and contact details, but avoid making recorded or written statements until you have spoken with a lawyer.

What if the insurance company is delaying or denying my medical treatments?

To reduce their costs, insurers may question the necessity of treatment, request repeated documentation or delay approvals. You can challenge these tactics by providing medical records, physician recommendations and proof of ongoing symptoms. Our attorneys can step in and address improper delays and pursue legal action if the company fails to meet its obligations.

Free Case Review – No Win, No Fee

If you were injured in a car accident in Sioux Falls or anywhere in South Dakota, do not wait and do not face the insurance company alone. Call Alvine Law Firm, LLP, now at 605-275-0808 or contact our office online for a free consultation.