What Are the Negative Effects of Drunk Driving?

While many people are aware of the dangers of driving under the influence, not everyone knows about the exact ways that alcohol affects a person’s driving ability. Unfortunately, thousands of drunk driving accidents occur every year, and South Carolina has the tenth-highest number of drunk driving accident fatalities in the country. Have you been injured by an intoxicated driver? Contact an experienced Darlington County, South Carolina Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer for trusted legal counseling.

Why Is Drunk Driving So Dangerous?

The consumption of alcohol directly affects the brain. Almost immediately after drinking alcohol, these effects could take place:

• Impaired vision – Blurred vision or decreased peripheral vision
• Impacted motor skills – Loss of coordination or slowed reaction time
• Poor thinking – Skewed decision-making, inability to concentrate, or desire to take risks

Anyone who’s ever driven a car knows how difficult it would be to operate a motor vehicle with any of those symptoms. Intoxicated driving is the leading cause of car accidents in South Carolina.

What Should I Do After a Drunk Driving Accident?

The big thing is to keep records of everything if you’re planning on filing a personal injury claim. If you’re injured by a drunk driver, the first step is to call the police. Normally, the officers will perform a breathalyzer if they believe the driver to be intoxicated. If the driver’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is over 0.08, they are automatically charged with a DUI. Knowing the driver’s BAC at the time of the accident is crucial in filing a drunk driving claim. Helpful evidence also includes hospital records detailing your injuries, witness statements, surveillance footage of the accident, and of course the official police report. It’s best to hire a seasoned drunk driving accident lawyer who can guide you through the legal process. The statute of limitations in South Carolina is three years, so you must file within three years of the date of your accident to file a successful personal injury claim.

Who Is Held Accountable After a Drunk Driving Accident?

Many states have dram shop laws that can hold the establishment that served the intoxicated driver responsible after a drunk driving accident. South Carolina doesn’t have any official dram shop laws, but there are laws against knowingly serving alcohol to intoxicated people. In cases where an establishment like a bar served alcohol to a visibly drunk person and that person causes a car accident, the bar could be found liable in court. There must be a sufficient amount of evidence to prove the establishment liable. Normally establishments that serve alcohol are only found accountable in court if the drunk driver was a minor. For trusted legal advice, contact the James Law Office, LLC for help from an experienced personal injury lawyer.