Every year dozens of people are injured or killed by drunk drivers and Myrtle Beach DUI Related Deaths are very common. Drunk driving is defined as driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, or driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a reckless choice, and results in thousands of deaths every year in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 32,885 people died in traffic crashes in 2010, including approximately 10,228 people who died in drunk driving crashes. This accounts for 31% of traffic fatalities. In 2011, there were 314 alcohol-related deaths in South Carolina.
It is difficult to comprehend the amount of emotional grief that families of the victims killed in drunk driving accidents have to endure. They are also left with a tremendous financial burden. Compensation for DUI wrongful death claims varies depending on the injury. Of course, the type and amount of compensation requested in such a case depend on the circumstances of each individual case. If you were injured in a DUI accident, damages may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc. However, if you are the family member of a wrongful death victim, the damages will usually be more substantial. The damages ordinarily include funeral and burial costs, loss of income, pain and suffering, etc. There is also a possibility for punitive damages in South Carolina due to the egregious nature of the crime.
Our South Carolina personal injury lawyers are aware of what evidence is required and how to gather evidence of drunk driving. This can be vital in establishing the liability of a drunk driver. We conduct a thorough investigation, interview witnesses, review physical evidence, and gather expert witnesses if necessary. While the criminal court system can punish a drunk driver who caused the accident, it fails to compensate the victims. In some circumstances, the persons or businesses that furnished the alcohol may be held liable as well. This is possible under something known as a dram shop law. Dram shop liability laws hold alcohol servers responsible for harm that intoxicated or underage patrons cause to other people, and in some cases, themselves. We want to ease the financial burden of our clients, and also bring the family some closure. While we cannot change the past, we can help with the future.
If you have been injured or a family member has died as a result of a drunk driving accident, you may have the right to recover. Our South Carolina wrongful death attorneys at The Mace Firm care about their clients and do everything possible to ease the financial difficulties associated with the harm caused from a drunk driving accident. While we understand the emotional turmoil and grief an accident like this causes, the drunk driver’s insurance company will try to compensate you and your family as little as possible despite the drunk driver’s clear wrongdoing. This is why we emphasize the importance of contacting a qualified DUI wrongful death lawyer in this field in order to ensure that you are compensated for that which you are entitled. Our attorneys have handled hundreds of cases from the minor injury to the wrongful death case and have a great deal of knowledge and experience handling cases in this area. If you or someone you know needs a DUI accident lawyer, contact one of our Myrtle Beach or Charleston lawyers today for a free consultation or contact us online. Our lawyers know how to handle Myrtle Beach DUI Related Deaths. We have attorneys that have passed the bar in several states, including South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida if you need a DUI wrongful death lawyer in one of these jurisdictions.
