Studies have reported that, unfortunately, South Carolina is the fifth worst state for drunk driving accidents. With this, you must understand that this type of accident can lead to serious injuries and damages, and sometimes they can be fatal. Follow along to find out how alcohol impacts a person’s driving capabilities and how a proficient Chesterfield County car accident lawyer at The Cockrell Law Firm, P.C., can help you through your current situation.
How does alcohol impact my driving capabilities?
There are many meaningful reasons why you will face a DUI in South Carolina if you are observed to have a blood alcohol content level of between 0.05 percent to 0.08 percent. This is because there are much data out there proving that alcohol impairs your judgment, concentration, coordination, and vision, which are all important aspects of operating a motor vehicle. Below is a greater explanation of how alcohol impacts your driving capabilities:
- Judgment: alcohol erases good decision-making skills and your ability to understand the consequences of your actions. That is, you will likely be more apt to take risks such as speeding, ignoring traffic signals, etc., when you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Concentration: alcohol erases your ability to focus on the many elements at hand while driving. That is, when driving, you must multitask between steering, holding a safe speed, staying in your lane, abiding by traffic signals and signs, etc.
- Coordination: alcohol diminishes your motor skills and ability to react to outside stimuli. That is, you will experience delayed reaction time when it comes to turning, braking, seeing neighboring vehicles, etc.
- Vision: alcohol relaxes the muscles that control your eyes, causing them to easily close. It also decreases your peripheral vision and diminishes your ability to see and react to hazards that are not directly in front of you, such as other vehicles, pedestrians, etc.
What are the dram shop laws in the state of South Carolina?
Like most states, South Carolina has dram shop laws in place to hold bars and restaurants accountable for their contribution to a drunk driving accident. That is, they can be held liable if any of the following circumstances are true:
- The bar or restaurant served the at-fault driver alcohol when they were already visibly intoxicated (i.e., glassy eyes, slurred speech, stumbled walk).
- The bar or restaurant served the at-fault driver alcohol when they were under the legal drinking age of 21.
- The bar or restaurant served the at-fault driver alcohol after operating hours.
- The bar or restaurant served the at-fault driver alcohol without a liquor license.
So, for your personal injury claim, you may be able to file against both the drunk driver and the establishment that served them. However, these claims can get complex with their criminal implications. So, you should not proceed any further without legal representation from a talented Chesterfield County personal injury lawyer. Call us today.
