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Were you hurt in a car accident caused by a drunk driver you believe was overserved at a bar, brewery, tavern, restaurant, or similar establishment? If so, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and accident-related expenses in a South Carolina dram shop lawsuit.
However, handling a dram shop case on your own is unwise. Seeking compensation from a drunk driver and the establishment that overserved them requires specific types of evidence that you, as a layperson, may not realize you need. Your best course of action is to call a dram shop lawyer in Greenville.
The experienced car accident lawyers at The Melonakos Law Firm are ready to take on your dram shop lawsuit. We have the knowledge and skills to gather the evidence needed to support a strong case. We are prepared to handle all communications with the at-fault parties and their insurers, so you do not have to. Let us do all the legal work so you can heal.
Contact us today for a free consultation. We are ready to discuss your case and advise you on your best legal options for pursuing compensation from all available sources.
The term “dram shop” comes from a time when alcohol was sold by the dram, a small unit of measure. A dram shop, then, is a bar, tavern, or other commercial establishment that sells alcoholic beverages. Over time, the laws that regulate serving alcohol in such places have come to be called dram shop laws.
South Carolina does not have a specific statute identified as a dram shop law. However, certain statutes and common law govern the liability of commercial alcoholic beverage vendors and social hosts in South Carolina.
To pursue a dram shop action in South Carolina, the injured party will typically use S.C. Code Ann. § 61-4-580 to show that the alcohol-serving establishment knowingly sold alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person or to a person under the legal drinking age of 21. If the intoxicated person caused a crash that resulted in injuries, the establishment can be liable for the harm the drunk person caused.
A recent South Carolina law created a 50/50 rule in S.C. Code Ann. §15-38-15. The new law allows the commercial establishment to pay for only 50 percent of the harm caused by the drunk driver when the drunk driver is found to be at fault, as well.
South Carolina case law has recognized that social hosts can be liable if a guest they serve causes an accident that harms another person. Social hosts must take measures to ensure that their adult guests do not overindulge and then drive.
If social hosts serve alcohol to underage people, they face not only civil liability but also criminal charges.
If you have been injured in a crash with a drunk driver and you think they may have been overserved, call our Greenville dram shop lawyers to learn about your options for pursuing compensation.
Alcohol-related accidents are nearly always auto accidents. The types of car crashes that are most frequently caused by impaired drivers include:
Other ways inebriated people can cause accidents in Greenville include walking or bicycling into traffic, prompting others to try to avoid hitting them.
Proving that an establishment overserved an adult patron or intentionally served an underage person requires specific, significant evidence. Some examples of the evidence that could establish dram shop liability include:
If you were injured in a dram shop liability accident, you could seek compensation for your injuries and the expenses related to the accident. You could get money for your:
Our Greenville dram shop liability lawyers can take on your case so you do not have to focus on anything but healing from your injuries. While you take care of yourself, we can take actions like these on your case:
If you were injured in an accident caused by someone who was overserved alcohol, you could be entitled to compensation. At The Melonakos Law Firm, we are dedicated to helping South Carolina accident victims seek the money they deserve. We have recovered more than $50 million in settlements and awards for our clients. Let us put our experience to work for you now.
Our mission is to provide our clients with strong advocacy and compassionate support. When you choose our firm for your case, you will have direct communication with the lawyer handling your case and continuous support from our team.
The Melonakos Law Firm believes that everyone deserves high-quality legal representation. That is why we work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing up front. If we do not get money for you, you will owe us nothing.
Contact us online or call The Melonakos Law Firm’s drunk driving accident attorneys in Greenville for a free consultation about your dram shop liability claim.