South Carolina is a notoriously dangerous state for drunk driving accidents. One study found the Palmetto State had the second-highest rate of DUI fatalities in the nation, and more than 3,500 people were injured in drunk driving crashes in South Carolina in a recent year.

When a person chooses to get behind the wheel while impaired, they can be held liable for any injuries they cause in an accident. If you were hurt or a loved one was killed by an intoxicated driver in Indian Land, you need to find an experienced attorney who will handle your case with compassion and demand maximum compensation on your behalf.

Reach out to the Indian Land drunk driving accident attorneys at David Blackwell Law today. We’ll arrange a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss the circumstances of your case and outline all of your legal options.

Call (803) 272-7702 or fill out our contact form to get started.

We serve clients across South Carolina, including Lancaster, Fort Mill, and Rock Hill.

Call our Indian Land car accident attorneys at 803-886-9789 for help

Who Can Be Held Liable in an Indian Land Drunk Driving Accident?

Drunk drivers may be held liable for any injuries they cause in an accident if it can be proven that their intoxication caused the wreck. In many cases, there is little evidence to show that the drunk driver took active measures to prevent the accident (like hitting the brakes), so determining liability is not overly complicated. But there are exceptions.

Some states have dram shop laws that allow victims of drunk driving accidents to sue establishments (e.g., restaurants, bars, stores, etc.) or individuals who served alcohol to a driver who later caused a DUI accident. South Carolina has no official dram shop law, but the state’s laws governing the sale of alcohol do allow victims to seek compensation from establishments or people that overserved the driver.

It’s essential to have a knowledgeable attorney review your case to investigate whether someone else beyond the drunk driver can be held liable for your accident. That’s because individual insurance policy limits may not be enough to recover full and fair compensation for the serious injuries that often accompany a drunk driving accident. However, if any third parties are held accountable, victims have the chance to recover a greater amount of compensation.

Proving a Drunk Driving Accident Claim

There are several sources of evidence that can back up a drunk driving accident claim, including:

  • Police reports: Law enforcement officers will document the accident scene, including the conditions of everyone involved in the crash. If they suspect that a driver is drunk, they can conduct a field sobriety test or measure the person’s BAC through a breathalyzer or blood test.
  • Physical evidence: Open containers of alcohol in the car or receipts from places where alcohol was purchased before the accident can show that a driver was intoxicated when the crash occurred.
  • Witness testimony: Anyone who observed the accident or the driver’s behavior prior to the crash can testify about their driving behavior or degree of impairment when they got behind the wheel.
  • Photographs/videos: Any footage showing the driver operating the vehicle erratically before the accident will bolster a drunk driving claim.

What Kinds of Compensation Can I Receive After a Drunk Driving Accident?

Accident victims can obtain compensation to replace monetary losses that they have incurred as well as anticipated future expenses. This could include money for:

  • Medical bills, hospitalizations, and prescription medications
  • Lost income
  • Lost earning potential

In addition, people injured in drunk driving accidents in South Carolina may be entitled to compensation for less easily calculated damages, such as pain and suffering and mental distress. In the most egregious drunk driving cases, the courts could also choose to award the victims punitive damages to punish the driver for such willful misconduct and deter future misbehavior.

Drunk Driving in South Carolina

In South Carolina, anyone caught driving with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher can be charged with driving under the influence. At that level of intoxication, drivers are seven times more likely to be involved in a car accident. At 0.15 or higher, the chances of an accident are 25 times greater.

Alcohol suppresses brain function, impairing physical and mental abilities that are essential for safe driving. Even though 0.08 is the legal threshold for drunk driving, impairments can begin with even small amounts of alcohol in the system.

Consider these facts from the S.C. Department of Public Safety:

  • People with BACs of 0.01 to 0.06 experience changes in thought, judgment, coordination and control.
  • At 0.06 to 0.10, reflexes are impaired and reasoning, judgment, coordination and concentration are compromised.
  • From 0.11 to 0.20, drivers may have delayed reaction time, impaired gross motor control and slurred speech.
  • At 0.21 to 0.29, most people experience severe motor impairment, memory loss, and lose consciousness.
  • Anything over 0.30 could lead to loss of vital body functions and death.

Every 28 hours in South Carolina, one person is killed in a drunk driving accident where the driver has a BAC of 0.08 or higher.

Get in touch with our car accident attorneys for a Free Case Review

Contact Our Expert Car Accident Attorneys in Indian Land Today

One of the most frustrating aspects of recovering from a drunk driving accident is listening to insurance companies try to diminish the at-fault driver’s responsibility for the wreck. The car accident attorneys at David Blackwell Law don’t let insurers get away with that.

For years, our battle-tested lawyers have helped injured victims and their families receive the compensation they need — and deserve — as they begin to rebuild their lives. Although money is only a small part of what it takes to heal from a drunk driving crash, it can help restore your financial security and prepare for the future.

Our Indian Land personal injury attorneys pledge to treat you with compassion, provide quality legal services and respond promptly to all of your phone calls and emails.

Arrange a free consultation with one of our Indian Land drunk driving attorneys today. There’s no risk — we only collect a fee if we win compensation for you.

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