Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
It’s a crime to drive while intoxicated, yet alcohol remains an all-too-common factor in traffic accidents across the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control, American drivers who’d had too much to drink got behind the wheel as many as 112 million times in 2010.
The results are no surprise. The federal government estimates that alcohol-impaired drivers are involved in one in three car crash deaths. In South Carolina alone, which Mothers Against Drunk Driving ranks as the 49th worst state in the nation for deaths related to driving-under-the-influence (DUI), there were over 350 fatal car accidents in 2009 in which at least one driver was alcohol-impaired.
In many cases the victims of DUI car crashes include the innocent driver of another vehicle or a passenger in the impaired driver’s vehicle. These victims suffer the unnecessary consequences of another person’s poor decision to drive while under the influence of alcohol or some other intoxicating substance. The consequences can be severe, leaving accident survivors injured and out of work, at the same time dealing with insurance companies, mounting medical bills, and all the other complications of recovering from a serious auto accident.
Joye Law Firm’s Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys Can Help
If you’ve been hurt in a drunk driving accident, Joye Law Firm’s knowledgeable, experienced, and compassionate personal injury attorneys are ready to help. We understand the economic pressures and emotional strain that can result from a DUI car accident in Charleston, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, or anywhere in South Carolina. Our team of DUI accident attorneys have over four decades of experience in helping accident victims just like you. Every one of our clients receives our respect, compassion, and care, along with the knowledge that we are striving to recover the money and benefits which the client needs, and deserves, to put his or her life back together.
We can help you, too. Just Call Joye, and let us help you recover the compensation that you deserve. You can reach us at (888) 324-3100, or fill out an online form for a free case review.
Joye Law Firm’s drunk driving accident attorneys serve clients in Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Goose Creek, Moncks Corner and Summerville. We’re also ready to take on your case anywhere in South Carolina.
Put Our Experience To Work For You
At Joye Law Firm, our highly qualified and experienced personal injury lawyers are committed to each and every one of our clients. The Charleston drunk driving accident attorneys at Joye Law Firm have more than 110 years of collective litigation experience. Several of the auto accident attorneys at Joye Law Firm have received an AV rating from the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell peer review, and several have been recognized as Super Lawyers.
Our auto and drunk driving accident attorneys are proud of their record of securing positive outcomes for our clients. These include a $3.5 million dollar settlement in a dram shop action (a case against a store which negligently sold alcohol to a minor) for a woman who sustained severe head injuries in a car crash caused by the minor; a $5.9 million settlement for a client who suffered brain injuries in a wreck; a $1.15 million settlement for the family of a man killed in a car accident; a $1.9 million settlement for family whose child was struck and killed by a car; and a $500,000 verdict for a man whose back was injured in a collision.
All cases are unique, and past results do not guarantee that a similar result can be obtained in a future case. However, our firm’s previous results do show the extent of the firm’s experience when it comes to serious injury and wrongful death cases. Simply click on the Results tab on our home page for more details about the results obtained for previous Joye Law Firm clients.
About Impaired and Drunk Driving Accidents
It’s an unfortunate truth for car accident victims in Charleston and throughout the state of South Carolina: as found in a Mothers Against Drunk Driving study, South Carolina ranks 49th in the nation when it comes to DUI-related vehicle accidents. This means that in any car accident in Charleston, Mount Pleasant, or elsewhere in South Carolina, there’s a significant chance that an impaired driver was a factor in the wreck.
Alcohol isn’t the only substance that leads to impaired driving. Accidents can result when drivers get behind the wheel under the influence of many types of drugs, whether in the form of prescription or over-the-counter medications, or illegal narcotics.
Drunk driving wrecks can be horrific and devastating for the accident victims. Accidents involving impaired drivers can result in severe injuries, including permanent disability and death. In such cases, a DUI accident victim’s damages can surpass the insurance policy limits of the driver at fault.
That’s when it’s more important than ever to have a qualified, experienced, and determined South Carolina DUI accident attorney on your side. The motor vehicle crash attorneys at Joye Law Firm are ready to advocate on your behalf, protecting your rights and seeking all the damages and benefits to which you’re entitled under the law.
Our attorneys will examine your case and explain every option available that might reasonably lead to a recovery in your favor.
In South Carolina, for example, in some instances the victims of DUI accidents may be able to recover damage awards against responsible third parties, above and beyond damages that may be awarded against an impaired driver who was at fault in the crash. Known as a “dram shop” claim, this type of action looks to the restaurant, bar, or store that sold alcohol to the at-fault driver. At the Joye Law Firm, we have extensive experience in handling dram shop claims. Among other cases, our attorneys recovered a $3.5 million settlement for a woman injured after a store improperly sold alcohol to a minor, who then caused a car accident while alcohol-impaired.
South Carolina DUI accident victims also may be able to recover money under their own insurance if they have uninsured (UM) or underinsured (UIM) coverage on their auto policy. The experienced vehicle accident attorneys at Joye Law Firm can help Charleston accident victims, as well as auto accident victims throughout South Carolina, explore their options and seek recovery under all forms of insurance coverage that may be available.
In South Carolina, it’s against the law to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) that exceeds 0.08. But a driver still may be impaired even if his or her BAC is less than 0.08. This means that drinking may have been a factor in your accident even if the at-fault driver was not charged with DUI.
The qualified motor vehicle crash lawyers at Joye Law Firm know how to investigate all aspects of your car accident case, including whether alcohol or another substance impaired the at-fault driver and thus played a role in the accident. It’s our job to protect your rights and maximize your recovery so that you can move forward with your life.
Key Things To Remember After A Drunk Driving Accident
Your first priority after being involved in an accident with a drunk driver should be obtaining medical treatment for any injuries that you, or others hurt in the accident, have suffered. Even if it’s not clear that you have been hurt, it’s important to have a medical examination and to tell your doctor about the accident. Some types of serious injuries do not become evident until hours, days or even weeks later.
You should report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible. A delayed report could result in complications with your insurer, including the insurer’s rejection of your claim. However, do not give a recorded or written statement about the accident to the insurance company until you have consulted with a qualified Charleston DUI accident attorney like the ones at Joye Law Firm.
It’s a good idea to make daily notes about your accident recovery and how your injuries have affected your life. Details like the ones in your daily notes are easy to forget, so keeping notes will help ensure that you can recall details later. You should also keep all receipts and other documents that relate to the accident and your treatment.
If an insurance adjustor approaches you with a settlement offer, do not sign any agreements without first talking to an experienced Charleston DUI accident attorney. You could relinquish your rights to the full compensation you deserve.
Contact Our Charleston Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Today
If you are the victim of a drunk driving accident, remember: Just Call Joye! Our experienced attorneys will work to get you the money and benefits you are entitled to if you’ve been seriously injured.
You can reach Joye Law Firm at (888) 324-3100, or fill out our free online case evaluation form.
