Who Is Responsible for South Carolina Drunk Driving Accidents?

What Does 'Dram Shop Liability' Mean and How Does It Apply?

Drunk driving accidents are an especially terrible type of car accident. Any accident in which someone gets seriously hurt or killed is a terrible accident. Drunk driving accident victims often have an especially hard time accepting the fact that the drunk driver intentionally decided to get in the car and drive, knowing that it is illegal and dangerous to do so.

Recognizing that drunk driving accidents are about more than just carelessness, South Carolina law allows drunk driving accident victims to seek punitive damages against the drunk driver. This is called dram shop liability. "Dram shop" is a traditional term used for a shop where spirits were sold by the dram, a small unit of liquid.

Our laws also recognize that bartenders or bars may share some of the responsibility. A person who is injured in a drunk driving accident may sue the bar, the owner or an individual employee who served alcohol to the driver if he or she was visibly intoxicated. It is against South Carolina law in the first place to serve alcohol to someone who is visibly intoxicated. The idea behind dram shop liability is that the bartender — like the drunk driver — knows that intoxicated drivers are dangerous. Helping an already drunk person become more intoxicated adds fuel to the fire, so to speak. If that person later gets into a car and causes an accident, the bar or bartender might be held responsible.

1-800-NEGLECT (in South Carolina)
1-800-INJURED (in the 864 area code)
1-800-671-1158 (nationwide)

At the Anderson, South Carolina, law firm of Standeffer & Harbin, LLP, we have years of experience analyzing car accident claims and representing injury victims as they seek fair compensation. Our attorneys frequently handle drunk driving accident cases. Whenever we work on behalf of a DUI accident victim, we explore the possibility that one or more bars or bartenders might share financial responsibility for the accident with the driver.

If you have questions about dram shop liability in a drunk driving accident case, contact Standeffer & Harbin, LLP, to get answers to your questions from an experienced personal injury lawyer. Call 1-800-NEGLECT to schedule a free consultation. We handle all personal injury cases on contingency, so there are no attorney fees unless we receive a positive settlement or verdict.