If you have been injured in a crash caused by a drunk driver in Lancaster, South Carolina, you need trusted legal guidance. You should not be financially responsible for medical bills and vehicle repair bills if an intoxicated driver caused the accident. It is important to understand your legal rights to hold the DUI driver accountable and seek compensation for your injuries and other expenses. Contact our Lancaster drunk driving accident lawyer today.

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

What to Do After a DUI Accident?

In the moments after a crash caused by a drunk driver, you may feel dazed and confused, even if your injuries are minor. There are certain steps that you should take to protect your rights.

  • You should call the police and report the accident. The law enforcement officers who respond will investigate the accident and fill out an accident report. The report will provide a description of how the accident occurred and insurance adjusters will rely upon it. If the at-fault driver was intoxicated, reporting the accident to the police will help establish liability.
  • If the police suspect that a driver was intoxicated, the officer may arrest the motorist for driving under the influence. Having a police report detailing how the DUI accident occurred will be very important to any future accident claim you make.
  • You should assess whether you or anyone else in the accident needs emergency medical treatment. Tell the emergency dispatcher or police officer if you need an ambulance.
  • You should take photographs of your injuries and the accident before the vehicles are moved, if you are able and can do so without putting yourself in danger.
  • You should make a point to inform yourself of your legal options related to the DUI accident. Have a knowledgeable Lancaster car accident lawyer review the details of the accident and discuss whether you have a valid personal injury claim. At David Blackwell Law, we offer a free consultation to review your accident and discuss your best options to move forward. Not all attorneys represent accident victims. It is important to work with a lawyer experienced in this area of South Carolina law.
  • You should not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company or allow them access to your medical records. You should first seek advice from a personal injury lawyer.

Experienced Lancaster, SC DUI Accident Lawyer

Our dedicated team at David Blackwell Law has experience handling DUI accident cases and representing individuals seriously injured by intoxicated drivers. Attorney David Blackwell focuses on helping good folks in Lancaster whose lives have been turned upside down by drunk drivers. Our law firm helps you seek compensation to move beyond a serious injury. The drunk driver’s auto insurance should be held accountable for your medical bills and related losses.

If an intoxicated driver caused your injuries, the driver may face criminal prosecution. But a criminal conviction will not pay your medical bills. You will need to file a separate civil lawsuit against the DUI driver and his or her insurer to seek compensation for your injuries and pain and suffering caused by the drunk driver’s willful and irresponsible conduct. An experienced Lancaster car accident lawyer at David Blackwell Law can offer trusted legal advice about your best avenues for pursuing a DUI injury lawsuit.

Were You Injured in a Lancaster Drunk Driving Accident?

If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident, you need to address your medical needs first. If you have been seriously injured, you may require hospitalization, rehabilitation, and weeks off work.

If you did not require emergency treatment, you should still go to the doctor within 24 to 48 hours of the accident and have a medical evaluation. Tell the doctor you were in a car crash. A doctor’s report documenting your accident-related injuries will be important if you need to file an injury claim. Some injuries are not apparent at the time of the accident, but cause pain and soreness in the days afterward.

You can quickly accumulate tens of thousands of dollars of medical debt after a serious accident. You may find yourself coping with both physical pain and financial stress, if you are unable to work.

If David Blackwell Law represents you, we will assess your present and future medical costs related to the drunk driver and demand full compensation from the driver’s insurer. We can shield you from bill collectors and aggressive insurance companies. We will notify healthcare providers and those seeking payment related to the accident that you have a pending injury claim.

What Is South Carolina Drunk Driver Third-Party Liability?

After some drunk driving accidents in South Carolina, the bar or restaurant that served alcohol to a minor or a visibly impaired adult may be held legally responsible if the intoxicated individual then gets in a car and causes an accident.

The bartender or server should have foreseen that the intoxicated adult or minor could drive drunk and could injure others.

A person who is injured by a drunk driver may have a third-party injury claim against the bar or restaurant that served alcohol to someone underage or already visibility-intoxicated. The bar or restaurant may be required to pay compensation to the accident victims.

An experienced car accident attorney at David Blackwell Law can investigate and determine whether a bar or restaurant may be liable for contributing to your drunk driving accident.

South Carolina DUI Accident Statistics

Alcohol-related collisions are responsible for a significant portion of reported collisions each year in South Carolina.

There were 5,840 crashes involving a drunk driver in South Carolina in 2016, according to the S.C. Office of Highway Safety. That total includes 451 alcohol-related accidents in Lancaster County.

One person is killed in a drunk driving accident every 26.5 hours according to the South Carolina Department of Highway Safety.

A driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 is seven times more likely to have a collision than if he or she had not consumed alcohol.

The portion of collisions that involve impaired drivers increases as the severity of injuries increases.

Call Our Lancaster Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers for Help Today

You need a car accident attorney in Lancaster, SC who genuinely cares about you and your future after a drunk driving accident. At David Blackwell Law, we treat each client with compassion and respect. We understand you are going through a difficult time if your life has been turned upside down. We will handle your case on a contingency fee basis, so you will not owe any legal fee unless we obtain money for you through an insurance settlement or jury award.

Contact us today for a free consultation. We want to help, and our door remains open if you have questions.