shotglasses showing 1 in 3 fatal SC car accidents caused by drunk driver stats

I got hit by a drunk driver – can the bar that overserved them be held responsible?

According to South Carolina’s dram shop laws, responsibility for a drunk driving accident doesn’t just fall on the person who chose to drive under the influence. Bars, restaurants, and other businesses that overserve customers and allow them to drive away can be held liable for the destruction caused by the intoxicated person. For example, if a person who is served 10 beers at a local pub tries to drive home and injures a family of four, the pub (in addition to the driver) and its insurance company may be responsible for compensating the family for their losses.

Dram Shop Laws & Overserving Alcohol in South Carolina

In South Carolina, “dram shop liability” refers to the idea that if an establishment is responsible for getting a person drunk, they are responsible for that person’s actions after the person leaves the establishment. This means that bars and restaurants have a responsibility to not over serve alcohol to their patrons. If a drunk driver injures or kills another person after leaving an establishment that served them alcohol, both the establishment that served them and the drunk driver can be held responsible.

Our South Carolina drunk driving attorneys work hard to help the victims of drunk driving accidents hold all the at-fault parties accountable. Our goal is to help injured people receive full compensation for their losses. If you believe the South Carolina dram shop laws may be applicable to your case, don’t hesitate to reach out to our attorneys with questions or to schedule a free consultation. We are dedicated to serving as a resource for drunk driving related incidents in our community.

 

infographic showing 1 in 10 people in SC don't have car insuranceI was in a wreck with an uninsured drunk driver, what should I do?

If you were hit by an uninsured drunk driver, fortunately you have a couple options. First of all, all car insurance policies in South Carolina include uninsured motorist coverage, which protects you from anyone that may be driving on our roads without insurance. If you were hit by an uninsured driver, you should file an uninsured coverage claim with your auto insurance provider.

Furthermore, if you have multiple cars at your household that are covered on your insurance policy, you can “stack” your insurance policies to help ensure you receive fair compensation. For example, if you have two insured vehicles at your home, each with a $25,000 uninsured policy, you can stack them to receive $50,000 in coverage.  

 

What is considered driving under the influence in South Carolina?

South Carolina blood alcohol content limit lawsIn South Carolina, driving under the influence is defined as operating a vehicle while under the influence of:

  • Alcohol;
  • Narcotics;
  • Prescription pain killers; or
  • Marijuana

It is illegal to drive in our state if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08 or higher. However, if you are under the age of 21, the limit is 0.02 percent or higher, and if you are driving a commercial vehicle, the limit is 0.04 percent or higher. 

 

How can a personal injury attorney help me after a crash with a drunk driver?

The right accident lawyer will allow you to focus on healing while they take care of all the other factors of your case, such as dealing with the insurance companies, securing evidence, uncovering all potential defendants and insurance policies, identifying skilled doctors to provide medical treatment, and negotiating with healthcare providers to reduce your medical bills. 

Additionally, our law firm handles all cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay anything unless we recover money for you.

 

Talk with Our Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Today

Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Kenneth BergerAll too often South Carolina is on the list of deadliest states for drunk driving. In 2018, nearly 30 percent of traffic fatalities in South Carolina involved people driving under the influence of alcohol. This is unacceptable. 

At the Law Office of Kenneth Berger, our accident lawyers work on life-altering injury and wrongful death cases day in and day out. Our clients become family, and our top priority is protecting their legal rights and holding the responsible parties accountable. For us, that means not backing down against stubborn insurance adjusters, spending hours conducting research, locating witnesses, securing experts, and making sure our clients are informed every step of the way.

When innocent people are injured by drunk drivers, we are here to help. To speak with one of our skilled drunk driving accident attorneys, call our Columbia, South Carolina office at (803) 790-2800 or reach out to us by using the live chat box below. Our offices are conveniently located in Columbia and Myrtle Beach, and we have been proudly servicing clients throughout the surrounding areas. We have helped many people across our state, and we would be honored to help you as well.

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Helpful Resources 

  1. What to Do After Being Hit by a Drunk Driver
  2. DUI Accidents and Wrongful Death Lawsuits
  3. What Makes a DUI Crash Legally Different?
  4. How Long Do I Have To File A DUI Accident Lawsuit?
  5. Our Drunk Driving Case Results
Kenneth Berger
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Columbia and Myrtle Beach car accident and personal injury lawyer dedicated to securing justice for clients.