Have you been injured in a drunk driving accident in South Carolina, or have you lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident? Call us at the Ty Robinson Law Firm today and schedule a time to talk to us.
Drunk driving is responsible for 37 deaths across the country every day, with one person dying in a drunk driving accident every 39 minutes, according to the NHTSA.
In South Carolina, drunk driving is a factor in approximately 30% of fatal accidents, causing around 300 deaths every year. In addition, DUI (driving under the influence, which includes drugs as well as alcohol) is a factor in over 5,000 non-fatal collisions in South Carolina annually.
Every one of those deaths is preventable. Every collision caused by driving while impaired is preventable. That’s part of what makes these types of accidents so painful for the victim or victim’s surviving family in the aftermath. Had the other driver not chosen to get behind the wheel of a car while impaired, the accident would not have happened.
Driving under the influence is a crime in South Carolina that may be a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the driver’s history and other factors. While the state moves forward with criminal proceedings, which can lead to jail time, fines, and a suspended license, the victim or (in the case of a fatal collision) the victim’s personal representative may also decide to file a personal injury lawsuit, too. At the Ty Robinson Law Firm, we represent victims of drunk driving accidents with the goal of getting them the compensation they deserve.
Drunk driving accident cases are different from other car accident cases in a couple of ways. First, because the drunk driver was reckless and broke the law when they decided to drive drunk, it’s more likely that punitive damages could be awarded. Punitive damages are different from compensatory damages (economic and noneconomic damages) that are intended to make the victim “whole.” Instead, punitive damages are intended to punish the drunk driver for their reckless behavior and to deter such behavior in the future.
Another way in which drunk driving accidents are different is that fault may lie not just with the drunk driver, but with the bar or other establishment that overserved the driver. If the person providing the alcohol knew or should reasonably have known that the driver was impaired, yet continued to serve alcohol, they may also be sued for damages, as they also bear part of the responsibility for the accident.
Getting full and fair compensation after a drunk driving accident is difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing. Before you speak directly with the drunk driver’s auto insurance company or accept any settlement offer, give us a call at the Ty Robinson Law Firm. We have experience negotiating full and fair settlements with insurance companies in drunk driving accident cases, and if negotiations fall through, we are ready to litigate and take the matter to court. We’re ready to fight to get you what you deserve.
Have you been injured in a drunk driving accident in South Carolina, or have you lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident? Call us at the Ty Robinson Law Firm today and schedule a time to talk to us.
Have you been injured in a drunk driving accident in South Carolina, or have you lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident? Call us at the Ty Robinson Law Firm today and schedule a time to talk to us.
