If you or a loved one have been injured in a wreck caused by a drunk driver, you may suspect that the driver had previously been drinking at a bar or restaurant before the accident. In South Carolina, our “dram shop laws” allow victims who have been injured by a drunk driver to sue the bar or restaurant who overserved the negligent driver.
Here’s what you need to know about determining whether a business may be held accountable for your injuries after a drunk driving accident in South Carolina.
Is a Bar Responsible for a Drunk Driver in Myrtle Beach, SC?
After a wreck caused by a drunk driver, you may be faced with serious injuries and a mountain of medical bills, lost wages, and other financial damages. Filing a personal injury lawsuit in civil court against the drunk driver as an individual is one way you can seek compensation for your losses. However, there may be more than one responsible party involved in a drunk driving wreck.
In South Carolina, dram shop liability laws apply when an establishment serves a person too much alcohol and then allows them to drive, resulting in a drunk driving crash. If a bar or restaurant overserved the driver who caused your injuries, the establishment may be responsible for paying your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other financial damages caused by the drunk driver.
Our experienced legal team can help investigate the collision and determine if dram shop liability applies to your case. If our attorneys discover that the drunk driver was overserved at an establishment before your accident, we can help you recover a full, fair settlement for your injuries through South Carolina’s dram shop laws.
Why Should I Sue a Bar For My Injuries After a Drunk Driving Crash?
When dram shop liability applies, an injured person can pursue financial recovery from both the drunk driver’s insurance policy and the bar or restaurant’s commercial insurance policy. Drivers in South Carolina are only required to carry a minimum of $25,000 in liability insurance, which means suing the individual drunk driver may not provide you with enough compensation to cover all of your financial losses, especially if you’ve suffered severe or life-changing injuries that come with significant medical bills.
When a bar or restaurant is involved, their commercial insurance policy usually covers a much greater amount. This means that you may be able to receive a higher recovery amount to help fully cover all the financial losses from the accident. However, because there is more money on the line in dram shop cases, the bar’s insurance company will often fight to defend the case much more vigorously. Our experienced drunk driving injury attorneys know how to take on the insurance company to help you seek a full, fair recovery.
How Our Myrtle Beach Drunk Driving Lawyers Can Prove a Bar’s Liability
Our knowledgeable and compassionate legal team can help investigate how your accident happened and whether dram shop liability may apply. If you’ve been injured by a drunk driver, let us help you hold both the negligent driver and establishment accountable.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth Berger have years of experience handling Myrtle Beach drunk driving crash cases, and would be honored to help you and your family with the legal recovery process while you focus on healing. We offer free consultations and would be happy to answer your questions. Contact us online today or call us at (843) 427-2800 (Myrtle Beach, SC) or (803) 790-2800 (Columbia, SC).
