A drunk driver hit you, and now you’re dealing with injuries, medical bills, missed work, and an insurance company that isn’t offering what your case is worth. Drunk driving cases aren’t just emotionally heavy. They carry a specific legal structure, unique insurance issues, and more than one potential defendant.
You need an attorney who knows how to build these cases, pursue every responsible party, and push back when insurers undervalue your losses. At Ty Robinson Personal Injury & Car Accident Law Firm, our Charleston drunk driving accident lawyers represent injured victims and grieving families throughout the tri-county area.
Call us now at (843) 278-2222 for a free consultation.
What Makes Drunk Driving Cases Different in South Carolina
Drunk driving accidents don’t work exactly like standard car accident claims, and the differences affect how much compensation you can recover.
South Carolina allows injury victims to pursue punitive damages in drunk driving cases when the at-fault driver’s conduct showed reckless disregard for human life. That’s a category of damages you won’t find in most fender-benders.
Beyond the driver, South Carolina’s dram shop law opens the door to claims against bars, restaurants, and other alcohol vendors. If an establishment served a visibly intoxicated person who then got behind the wheel and hurt you, that business may share legal responsibility.
Proving that requires evidence, including surveillance footage, receipts, witness accounts, and staff statements, that disappears fast if it isn’t preserved quickly.
A few things set these cases apart:
- Punitive damages may apply when the driver’s behavior rises above ordinary negligence to willful misconduct.
- Dram shop claims allow you to pursue alcohol vendors who over-served the at-fault driver, giving you access to additional insurance coverage.
- The criminal DUI case against the driver runs separately from your civil claim. A reduced charge or acquittal in criminal court doesn’t prevent you from recovering in a civil case, because civil cases require a lower standard of proof.
- South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence rule means your compensation reduces if you’re found partially at fault, and eliminates recovery entirely if you’re 51% or more responsible.
- The criminal proceedings can produce evidence useful in your civil case, including breathalyzer records, police reports, and witness testimony.
Do You Need a Lawyer After a Drunk Driving Accident?
The short answer is yes, and here’s why it matters. Insurance companies treat drunk driving claims differently than other accident claims. They know these cases carry the potential for punitive damages, so adjusters are often trained to settle fast and low before injured victims understand what their case is actually worth.
Without legal representation, you may not know to pursue a dram shop claim. You may not know how to preserve surveillance footage from a bar before it’s overwritten. You may not understand that accepting an early settlement closes off your right to future compensation, even if your injuries worsen.
We work on contingency, meaning you don’t pay us unless we recover money for you. There’s no upfront cost to hire us, and no fee for the initial consultation. What we offer is the ability to build your full claim while you concentrate on recovering, and the experience to know where all the money in your case actually lives.
Where These Accidents Happen in Charleston
Drunk driving accidents happen across Charleston County, but certain areas see consistent patterns.
- Rivers Avenue in North Charleston sees heavy bar and restaurant traffic, and the stretch of road late at night carries real risk.
- The interchange areas along I-26 connecting North Charleston to the rest of the metro area are high-speed zones where impaired driving becomes especially deadly.
- Meeting Street running through downtown Charleston into North Charleston has seen its share of late-night crashes near entertainment corridors.
- The West Ashley area along Sam Rittenberg Boulevard has dense commercial development with bars and restaurants that feed into fast-moving roads. Folly Road on James Island, Savannah Highway through West Ashley, and the heavily traveled US-17 corridor all appear in accident reports involving drunk or impaired drivers.
Wherever the crash happened, if a drunk driver caused your injuries, South Carolina law gives you the right to hold them accountable.
Injuries That Often Follow These Crashes
High-speed drunk driving crashes frequently produce serious, life-altering injuries. Impaired drivers often fail to brake at all before impact, which means these collisions carry full-force energy into other vehicles.
Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, internal bleeding, and severe lacerations are common outcomes. In the worst cases, these crashes are fatal.
Victims treated at MUSC Health in Charleston, Trident Medical Center in North Charleston, or Roper St. Francis on Bon Secours Parkway face long recovery timelines, sometimes months of physical therapy, surgery, and follow-up care.
Medical expenses accumulate steadily over time, and lost income adds pressure on top of physical pain. The financial weight of a serious injury can strain a family’s entire budget before a claim even resolves.
We help you document all of it, present your damages clearly, and pursue every dollar you’re owed.
What We Do That Other Firms Don’t
Our firm handles property damage differently than most personal injury practices. While your injury claim develops, our dedicated team works separately on your vehicle.
That means coordinating repairs, negotiating total loss value if your car was destroyed, securing rental car coverage, and pursuing diminished value claims if your repaired vehicle loses resale value because of the accident history.
Most firms don’t offer this. Clients handle property damage on their own while managing medical appointments, insurance calls, and financial stress at the same time. We take that off your plate.
A Firm Built to Serve the North Charleston Community
Our firm also reflects a specific commitment to this community. Ty Robinson grew up understanding what it means to work hard and face a system that doesn’t always make room for you.
Our firm’s focus on North Charleston and the I-26 corridor isn’t a marketing choice. It’s a reflection of where we work, who we serve, and what we know about this area. The results page on our website shows case outcomes for real clients with real injuries, and the testimonials there speak to how the firm handles clients, not just cases.
What Clients Say
One client, Chenita K, described working with our firm: “I was in a car accident, and this firm made a stressful situation so much easier to navigate. They were professional, timely, and kept me informed every step of the way.”
Another client, Jimetta R., had this to say: “I had the BEST experience with this team! They were with me every step of the way and checked in on me to see how my pt sessions were going and how my overall health was.”
We’ve recovered substantial settlements and awards for our injured clients, including:
- $490,000 for a rear-end car wreck
- $410,000 for a T-bone crash
- $325,000 for an auto accident
Talk to a North Charleston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Today
After a serious crash, you need more than legal representation. You need a team that understands the challenges you’re facing, keeps you informed throughout the process, and works to maximize every aspect of your claim.
From handling your injuries to resolving property damage issues, Ty Robinson Personal Injury & Car Accident Law Firm is prepared to help you move forward and pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact us now at (843) 278-2222 for a free consultation.
How the Claims Process Works
After a drunk driving crash, the legal process moves in stages. First, we gather evidence, including police reports, toxicology results, DUI arrest records, and any documentation from the location where the driver was drinking. We preserve surveillance footage and interview witnesses before that evidence disappears.
Next, we build the full picture of your damages. That includes current medical bills, projected future treatment costs, lost wages, and the non-economic losses like pain, suffering, and impact on your daily life.
If a wrongful death claim applies, we account for the losses your family faces, including lost financial support and companionship.
We then present a demand to the insurance company. Drunk driving cases often involve multiple insurers, including the driver’s auto policy and, when a dram shop claim exists, the alcohol vendor’s commercial liability coverage.
We manage all of it. If a fair settlement isn’t offered, we take the case to court. Ty Robinson is a trial-ready attorney, not a settlement-only firm, and insurance companies know that.
South Carolina’s Deadline for Filing a Lawsuit
South Carolina generally gives injury victims three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. For wrongful death cases, the three-year period typically runs from the date of death.
Missing that window means losing the right to pursue compensation, regardless of how strong the case is. The sooner you contact us, the more time we have to build the strongest possible claim on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions About Drunk Driving Accident Claims in SC
What if the drunk driver’s insurance doesn’t fully cover my injuries?
When the at-fault driver carries only South Carolina’s minimum coverage, $25,000 per person, that amount often falls short of what serious injuries cost. Your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may close the gap.
Can I still recover if the drunk driver wasn’t criminally convicted?
Yes. Criminal and civil cases operate under different standards of proof. A criminal DUI charge requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Your civil claim only requires a preponderance of the evidence, meaning it’s more likely than not that the driver’s intoxication caused your injuries.
Reduced charges, plea deals, or even acquittals in criminal court don’t prevent you from winning a civil case.
How do I know if the bar or restaurant is liable for my injuries?
South Carolina’s dram shop law holds alcohol vendors liable when they served a visibly intoxicated person who then caused an injury. Proving vendor liability requires evidence of what was served, how much, and the driver’s observable condition at the time.
Surveillance footage, receipts, and staff statements are key. That evidence vanishes quickly, which is why contacting us soon after the crash gives us the best chance to preserve it.
What if I was a passenger in the drunk driver’s car?
Passengers injured in a vehicle driven by someone who was drunk can pursue a claim against that driver. You didn’t cause the crash. The driver made a choice, and you have the right to hold them accountable for the injuries that resulted.
We handle passenger injury claims, including situations where the passenger knew the driver had been drinking.
How long does a drunk driving injury case take to resolve?
Timelines vary depending on the severity of injuries, the number of defendants, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Cases involving serious injuries often take longer because we wait for your medical picture to stabilize before finalizing damages.
Settling too early risks locking in a number that doesn’t reflect your full losses. We’ll keep you informed about timing as the case develops and be honest about what to expect.
Call Ty Now After a Drunk Driving Accident in Charleston
If a drunk driver injured you or killed someone in your family, the law gives you options for accountability and justice. We’re here to help you pursue them.
The Charleston drunk driving accident attorney at Ty Robinson Personal Injury & Car Accident Law Firm handles every part of your claim, from the first call through resolution. We pursue every responsible party, every available dollar, and we don’t stop when insurers push back.
Ty Robinson built this firm around one idea: people in crisis deserve immediate, honest, and aggressive representation. 89% of the cases we handle start as emergencies. We know what that moment feels like for our clients, and we respond accordingly.
If you’re searching for drunk driving accident lawyers in Charleston because you’re trying to figure out your next move, this is it. Call (843) 278-2222 for a free case evaluation. You pay nothing unless we recover for you.
Office location: Ty Robinson Personal Injury & Car Accident Law Firm 28 Broad St, Suite 204-2, Charleston, SC 29401