The Accident
On November 21, 2015, Simon Maple has a drink. He continues drinking beyond the point of intoxication, and then chooses to get behind the wheel of an old, uninsured automobile. Mr. Maple gets on Sumter Highway. He begins driving erratically. Mr. Maple attempts to pass another car and veers into the oncoming lane of traffic where he collides with multiple vehicles, including a Jeep, before going off the side of the road and into a ditch.
The Harm
“Sarah,” a college student from Sumter, SC, is a passenger in the Jeep that the drunk driver crashes into. Sarah’s thigh bone and kneecap are fractured. Her heel is crushed. She is taken to Palmetto Richland’s trauma unit where multiple surgeries are performed. Doctors inform Sarah that she will likely require months of outpatient care. Her medical bills climb as she remains unable to walk.
At the time of the wreck, Sarah was on the way to do some early Christmas shopping with a family friend. She was also looking forward to finishing her first semester of college. Her grades were good, and she had enjoyed being a member of the school’s marching band. The accident forced Sarah to seek a medical withdrawal, delaying her studies and thus her earnings.
The Silver Lining
The saving grace was that the family friend with whom Sarah was riding had a six-figure uninsured motorist policy. We were able to obtain the policy limits, and as importantly, get Sarah's medical liens reduced to optimize her net recovery.
Throughout her hospitalization, surgeries, and therapy, Sarah remained grateful to be alive and optimistic about her future. I’m happy to report that she started back at college in the fall, and that we’ve been promised graduation invites.
This young, DUI victim's story is all too familiar in South Carolina. From Sumter Highway to interstates and back roads, intoxicated drivers are a threat to all of us. They have no regard for others' safety, and often times, no insurance either.
Get Legal Help After a DUI Accident
If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to a drunk driver, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth E. Berger are here for you. We believe in protecting the legal rights of those who have been harmed, and we want to help you and your family begin the recovery process today. Even if you’re not sure that you have a case, contacting a drunk driving accident lawyer sooner rather than later can ensure that your legal right to pursue compensation in a court of law is protected.
To talk about your situation with an experienced, caring legal professional, call us today at 803-790-2800 (Columbia, SC) / 843-427-2800 (Myrtle Beach, SC), or start a live chat 24/7 with a real, live person to arrange a free and confidential consultation.
