South Carolina aggressively prosecutes drunk drivers and for good reason. Intoxicated motorists cause thousands of accidents in the state each year, and Irmo is not exempt. We have seen friends and family struck down by intoxicated or high motorists, suffering major injuries in the process.

Hart Law is here to help. Our legal team believes that accident victims deserve compassion but also fair treatment. Contact us to discuss your wreck with an Irmo DUI accident attorney. We can seek financial compensation for your medical bills and other expenses.

What is a DUI Accident Claim?

Car accident victims can seek financial compensation from the person responsible for their crash. This same principle applies when a driver is drunk. Although DUI is a crime, it is also a civil wrong, which makes drunk drivers liable to the people they injure.

We can file an injury claim against the drunk driver for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. The defendant’s insurer might negotiate a settlement, but we are also prepared to sue the defendant in court.

Work with a lawyer. Many insurance companies unfairly deny that their insured was responsible for the crash, or they try to offer a small settlement.

Why DUI Accidents Are Dangerous

We often see more serious injuries when a driver is drunk, usually because they have engaged in riskier behavior:

  • Excessive speeding. Many intoxicated motorists are going 30 or 40 miles per hour over the speed limit. They can cause more serious injuries when they crash.
  • Running a red light. Drunk drivers often fly through an intersection at high speeds, catching other motorists by surprise.
  • Head-on collisions. Drunk drivers can also drive on the wrong side of the road, either because they cannot see clearly or because they fall asleep. Head-on collisions are serious accidents.
  • Failure to stop. After crashing, some intoxicated motorists flee the scene, leaving injured people to fend for themselves.

Our clients have suffered the full range of injuries, from fractures and whiplash to organ damage and serious brain injuries. You deserve a sense of justice. We can hold a drunk driver accountable for crashing into you.

Proving Drunk Driving

To receive compensation, we must show the driver failed to drive with reasonable care. Getting behind the wheel with a high blood alcohol concentration is one way to do this.

We often rely on the same evidence the state would use if it brought criminal charges. Our firm can request access to any toxicology results or the police video showing the driver acting in a drunk manner. We might also ask witnesses to testify that the driver was stumbling when they exited the vehicle.

Seeking Compensation after an Irmo DUI Accident

Hart Law is relentless in seeking the maximum compensation for our clients. We might bring a claim against the following:

  • Drunk driver. The driver is always the focus of the defense. They should be held accountable for driving while intoxicated, and they should have a liability policy as required by the state.
  • Bars, taverns, or restaurants. South Carolina has a dram shop law, which allows victims to sue any establishment that provided alcohol to a drunk driver.
  • Vehicle owner. If the driver borrowed a car, then the owner might be liable for the crash.

Our firm is passionate about defending our clients’ rights to compensation. We prepare extensively for negotiation and have sat across from most of the state’s largest law firms.

FAQs: Irmo DUI Accidents

How much time do I get to sue?

The statute of limitations for personal injuries is three years in South Carolina. (S.C. Code § 15-3-530(5).) If you miss this deadline, then you will lose the ability to sue, which can mean no compensation for your injuries. Contact Hart Law. We can file a lawsuit before the relevant deadline. That provides protection and strengthens your negotiating hand.

Can I request punitive damages?

Possibly. Punitive damages are reserved for only certain personal injury accidents. Under the law, you can request them if the defendant’s conduct was reprehensible, above mere negligence. Drunk driving often qualifies. Let us analyze whether you can request punitive damages and how to go about it.

Will my own negligence matter in a DUI case?

It might. South Carolina’s comparative negligence law can reduce the compensation you receive. Let us review the facts.  

Connect with an Experienced DUI Accident Lawyer in Irmo

Hart Law is rapidly establishing a reputation for aggressive representation of accident victims in Irmo and the surrounding areas. Call us at (803) 771-7701 to schedule a free consultation to review your injuries and the details of the accident.