Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can impair judgment, coordination, and reaction time, increasing the risk of serious car accidents. When an impaired driver causes a crash, injured victims may have the right to seek compensation for their losses.
If you were injured by an impaired driver in Columbia, SC, contact Jamie Casino Injury Attorneys for a free consultation, or call (803) 999-5756 to speak with a Columbia DUI accident lawyer. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
How Can Jamie Casino Injury Attorneys Help After a DUI Accident in Columbia, SC?
Driving while impaired is a criminal offense in South Carolina, so evidence in a DUI accident can be gathered from both the civil claim investigation and any related criminal case. Police observations, chemical test results, body-camera footage, witness statements, and the collision report can all help establish what happened before impact.
A Columbia car accident lawyer at Jamie Casino Injury Attorneys can gather that information while developing the civil claim for your injuries.
To build the claim, our work may include:
- Obtaining the collision report
- Reviewing DUI arrest and investigation records
- Preserving photographs and video
- Interviewing witnesses
- Examining available toxicology evidence
- Reviewing medical records
- Calculating lost income and future expenses
- Communicating with insurance companies
These steps can help build a strong claim for compensation while allowing you to focus on recovering from your injuries. Contact our Columbia personal injury lawyers for a free case review.
What Causes DUI Accidents?
South Carolina impaired driving laws address driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It can impair the judgment, coordination, reaction time, and awareness needed to drive safely. These effects then interfere with a driver’s ability to stay in control.
These crashes may result from driving problems such as:
- Slowed reaction time
- Poor judgment
- Reduced coordination
- Failure to maintain a lane
- Excessive speed
- Running red lights
- Following too closely
- Wrong-way driving
- Falling asleep at the wheel
The fact that a driver was arrested can be important evidence, but a civil claim still requires proof connecting the driver’s conduct to the crash. Jamie Casino Injury Attorneys can examine the complete sequence of events rather than relying on the criminal case alone.
What Injuries Commonly Occur in DUI Accidents?
Impaired drivers may fail to brake, swerve, or recognize a hazard until the last moment. This can lead to unusually severe impacts. Victims may be occupants of another vehicle, pedestrians, bicyclists, or passengers riding with the impaired driver.
Common injuries can include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken ribs
- Internal bleeding
- Facial fractures
- Severe lacerations
- Shoulder injuries
- Leg and hip fractures
- Nerve damage
- Permanent mobility limitations
Recovery can involve surgery, rehabilitation, time away from work, and treatment that continues long after the collision. Those consequences should be documented as they develop so the claim reflects the full effect of the injuries rather than only the emergency care provided immediately after the crash.
What Compensation Is Available to Me?
A DUI accident can create both economic losses and personal non-economic losses. The compensation available depends on the severity of the injuries, the financial impact of the crash, the insurance coverage, and other facts specific to the case.
Recoverable damages may include:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Future medical treatment
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent impairment
- Property damage related to the collision
In some DUI accident cases, punitive damages may also be available when the impaired driver’s conduct was willful, wanton, or reckless.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
A pending DUI criminal case does not pause the deadline for bringing a civil injury claim. In South Carolina, most negligence-based personal injury lawsuits must be filed within three years, although different rules can apply in certain situations.
The criminal and civil cases may proceed on separate schedules, so waiting for a DUI case to finish can create unnecessary risk. Our law firm can determine the filing deadline that applies to your claim and take the required legal steps even as the evidence is still being developed.
Contact a Columbia DUI Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
A DUI collision can leave you dealing with injuries while a criminal case is in process. You do not have to depend on the criminal case to address the financial and personal harm you suffered.
Jamie Casino Injury Attorneys can investigate the crash, identify the evidence of impairment, and pursue the compensation available through a civil claim. Contact our firm for a free consultation with a Columbia DUI accident attorney.
