If you or someone you love was hurt or killed in a DUI accident, it’s important that the responsible parties be held accountable. Criminal charges may be filed, but often, that’s little comfort to the victims. Some drivers may never even face jail time, just a fine and temporary license suspension. What about the survivors and their families, who are left facing medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation, or even funeral costs?

Our law firm exclusively handles catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. We're honored to work with our clients, offering them support, guidance, and quality legal representation to ensure the responsible party is held legally and financially accountable for the harm they caused. We offer free consultations and would be happy to answer your questions. Contact us online by starting a live chat or calling 864-501-5619. We focus solely on catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, and we are here to help you.

Liability and Seeking Compensation in South Carolina DUI Accident Cases

In order for victims to see any sort of financial restitution, it’s important that every party responsible is pursued. That doesn’t just include the drunk driver, either. In South Carolina, there are several cases where other parties may be held accountable for a DUI accident injury or death, including:

  • Bars, restaurants, or other establishments that served (or continued to serve) alcohol to the driver while he or she was noticeably intoxicated can be held liable for a drunk driving accident
  • Passengers may be held responsible if they participated in or encouraged the driver’s alcohol consumption, or if they invited another passenger into the vehicle while aware that the driver was drunk
  • Homeowners or hosts of a party, event or other gatherings could be held accountable for a crash if they provided alcohol to a minor

There may be other liable parties, as well. Your South Carolina drunk driving accident lawyer can help you find the evidence that you need to seek compensation from every liable party, and decide if a lawsuit is necessary.

Collecting Evidence After a Drunk Driving Wreck in SC

To find all parties that may owe you restitution, it’s important to gather evidence for your lawsuit. Luckily, your attorney can take care of this process for you. Some of the evidence that your lawyer will look at about the defendant includes:

  • Police reports
  • Police dash or body camera videos
  • BAC test results, drug screenings, and other medical records from the defendant
  • Breathalyzer test room video footage
  • Photographs from police, insurance, victims, or witnesses
  • Statements from witnesses
  • Any records related to the activities of the defendant prior to the accident, including items like receipts, witnesses, cellular phone or GPS records, and social media activity

As the lawsuit gets underway, your lawyer will also seek a deposition not from only the defendant, but also from any other witnesses who may have known that the defendant driver was drunk or intoxicated when the crash happened.

Filing Insurance Claims Against Drunk Drivers

Sometimes, our personal injury attorney says, survivors of DUI wrecks express reluctance or guilt about filing a claim against a drunk driver’s insurance policy. Never feel shame about seeking compensation from insurance! That’s what insurance companies are there for, and why every driver is required to carry an insurance policy. That said, when dealing with insurance companies, it’s best to minimize your contact, and watch what you say. Keep the below tips in mind when speaking with the insurance company:

  1. Insurance companies don’t make money by paying out claims, and they will use any excuse to minimize the amount of your claim. It’s wise to avoid giving recorded statements.
  2. It's recommended to consult with your car accident attorney before speaking to an insurance company to ensure you're not taken advantage of.
  3. If the company tries to offer you a settlement right away, don’t be pressured into accepting it. Take your time to think it over, and if you’re not satisfied with the amount or are worried that it might not be enough, discuss your options with your attorney.

Drunk Driving and Wrongful Death Lawsuits

Unfortunately, many times DUI accidents don’t just result in injuries. When alcohol is a factor in an accident that costs the life of a loved one, family members may be able to press a wrongful death lawsuit in civil court against the driver. Any bar or restaurant that served the intoxicated driver, if he or she was visibly intoxicated, may be held liable in civil court, too.

In some cases, criminal DUI charges may not be admissible as evidence in a wrongful death lawsuit. However, the fact that there was enough evidence for a conviction often means that there is enough evidence for a civil case, and may be possible to show that the driver’s alcohol consumption was a factor in the accident. Even if the criminal DUI charges were dropped, though, the family still has the right to file a civil lawsuit, and if a DUI conviction may not be admissible as evidence, the dismissal of charges may not be admissible, either.

South Carolina DUI Facts and Statistics

Red DUI Stamp With Scales of Justice and Gavel

Any driver suspected of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol may be tested by law enforcement as a condition of holding a driver’s license. The testing may be performed by breath, by blood, or by urine analysis. Refusal to take this test can result in an immediate suspension of driving privileges of up to six months. The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) for South Carolina is 0.08 percent, meaning anyone at or above this amount will be found guilty of driving under the influence and face fines, jail time, and losing his or her license.

The numbers show that alcohol is a severe problem in South Carolina. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s statistics on drunk driving in the Palmetto State are nothing short of shocking.

  • Between 2003 and 2012, over 3,800 people were killed on our roads in car accidents involving a drunk driver—that’s over 380 people per year.
  • The average number of DUI deaths in 2012 in South Carolina was 7.6 people out of 100,000, over double the national average.
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records for 2019 show that out of 1,001 traffic fatalities in South Carolina, 28 percent (285 fatalities) were alcohol-related. 
Kenneth Berger
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Columbia and Myrtle Beach car accident and personal injury lawyer dedicated to securing justice for clients.