South Carolina is one of the most dangerous states in all of the United States when it comes to drunk driving fatalities, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving. South Carolina ranks 46th out of 50 states, and 38 percent of all car accident deaths in the state in 2011 were caused by drunk drivers, according to MADD. While this is a slight decline from 2010 when 44 percent of all accident deaths were caused by intoxicated drivers, it is still far too many deaths resulting from completely preventable behaviors.

Drunk driving accidents can be extremely dangerous for many reasons, including the fact that an intoxicated driver may be less able to slow down or swerve to avoid a head-on collision or a high-speed collision due to his or her impaired state. If you or a loved one has been injured in a drunk driving crash in South Carolina, you have legal rights, and you can hold the driver responsible for his bad choices. A Columbia auto accident lawyer at the Louthian Law Firm can help you get the compensation you deserve after a drunk driving crash.

South Carolina Drunk Driving Statistics

Throughout South Carolina and the United States, extensive efforts are in place to educate drivers on the dangers of drunk driving and to enforce laws that make drunk driving a crime. In South Carolina, even a first-time offender faces 48 hours of jail time or community service, as well as a license suspension and fines. Repeat offenders face longer jail terms, longer license suspensions and larger fines. Yet, even these penalties are not enough to deter drivers from making the dangerous choice to drive drunk.

In fact, as MADD reports, drivers in South Carolina have a high rate of alcohol and drug use and a high rate of driving while intoxicated. According to MADD:

• A report to Congress on the Prevention of Drunk driving revealed that there were 14,148 offenders in South Carolina who had been convicted of driving drunk three times.
• There were 1,968 five-time DUI offenders in South Carolina.
• There were 315 DUI fatalities in South Carolina in 2011 and another 353 DUI fatalities in the state in 2010.
• 22.3 percent of survey respondents ages 12-20 indicated they had used alcohol in the past month. This means 120,000 people within this group of underaged individuals had consumed alcohol.
• Among those survey respondents ages 12-20, 13.30 percent, or 72,000 people, reported engaging in binge drinking in the past month. Binge drinking is defined as drinking five or more alcoholic beverages in one sitting or within a few hours.
• In the past five years, there were 1,905 DUI fatalities in South Carolina.

Holding Drunk Drivers Responsible for Accidents

Drunk drivers can injure not only themselves but also innocent people who just happen to be sharing the road with them. If a drunk driver causes a crash and injures you, you can take legal action and file a lawsuit against the intoxicated driver. If you can establish that the driver was drunk and caused the crash, then you could be entitled to recover damages for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other losses. In the event that the drunk driver caused a death, the surviving family members of the person who was killed could be able obtain compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit.

The drunk driver should have insurance, and the insurer should pay for your losses. If the drunk driver was not insured or had too little insurance, then you may be able to recover compensation from your own insurer instead, if you carry uninsured motorist / underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). An experienced South Carolina drunk driving attorney can assist you in obtaining compensation either from your own insurer or from the insurer of the intoxicated driver or both.

Hurt in a Drunk Driving Crash in S.C.? A Lawyer Can Help You Get Compensation

At the Louthian Law Firm, our dedicated lawyers will do everything it takes to compile a compelling case on your behalf — visit the scene of the accident, interview witnesses and experts and collect medical records. Throughout the process, we will keep you informed. South Carolina defense attorneys and insurance companies know our reputation. As fierce advocates for our clients, we will do everything we can to get you the settlement you need.

For more than 50 years the Louthian Law Firm, P.A. has been recovering fair compensation for accident victims in South Carolina. The firm’s attorneys are licensed to practice in all courts in South Carolina. For a confidential case evaluation, call us toll free at 888-829-1809 or locally in Columbia at 803-454-1200. You can also fill out our online contact form.