Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Murrells Inlet

Personal injury cases require proving that another party behaved negligently. There's no doubt that driving while under the influence is negligent-it puts everyone on the road in danger. At Morris Law Firm, we stand for those harmed by drivers who decided having a good time was more important than anything else.

If you were hurt by an impaired driver our Murrells Inlet drunk driving accident lawyers can hold them accountable. Even if the driver's impairment was within the legal limit, we can help you pursue civil action against them for their recklessness. They still hurt you, so we will fight for the maximum amount of compensation. Contact us for your free consultation.

The Morris Law Team Gets Results

We get you the results you need and provide legal advice through the whole court process. Don't be unprepared when you could have one of the best legal teams out there to assist you. Reach out to us today to get your consultation.

Why Hire Our Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

You were likely blindsided by this accident. We don't want you to feel blindsided again when trying to get compensation. When you hire Morris Law Firm, you get a team that prioritizes customer service.

We offer:

• Support from attorneys and staff
• Assistance in compiling evidence
• Investigation and analysis of your crash
• Explanation of your legal options in easy-to-understand terms
• Advice on statements to insurance adjusters and police
• Help negotiating a fair settlement
• Consultation with experts to bolster your case

You don't even need to talk to anyone else if you don't want to. We can handle all communications with insurance companies, police, other attorneys, and the negligent parties. At Morris Law Firm, we're here to represent you, your interests, and your need for justice.

We Strategize With You From Day One

Morris Law Firm can jump right into your case with the first consultation. Your initial case review won't just be going over the generalities-we dig in. Time is important in injury cases, and we don't want to waste it.

Our strategizing will likely involve identifying multiple avenues for compensation, discussing ways to ensure the other party acknowledges all your losses, and preparing to head to court. Many injury cases do settle out of court, but we aren't going to settle for less than you're owed. From the start, we are intentional about taking your case as far as necessary.

We Gather Evidence of Injuries and Negligence

Drunk driving injury cases require providing reasonable evidence that the other driver's negligence caused your injuries.

Although drunk driving may seem like an obvious example of negligence, we build on several forms of evidence to make sure the driver is held accountable, such as:

• Police reports
• Blood testing
• Eyewitness accounts
• Photos
• Traffic and security footage
• Accident reconstruction
• Medical records
• Expert testimony

Some clients feel pressure to bring a lot of evidence to their very first consultation. While any information you provide is important, we can take over this aspect of your case and compile evidence for you.

How Much Does a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Cost?

At Morris Law Firm, we work on a contingency basis-our payment is contingent on us settling out of court or winning your case in court. In other words, we don't get paid unless you do.

Along the way, you won't experience any surprise fees or hidden costs. In fact, your first consultation with us comes with no obligation.

We know that you need to feel comfortable with your legal team. Injury and wrongful death cases can take time, and you want to know who you're working with. Feel free to ask us questions without worrying about locking yourself into anything.

Our Other Promises to You

Many firms work on a contingency basis.

What sets Morris Law Firm apart is:

• We are available anytime, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year
• You speak to an attorney the same day you call
• We keep you in the loop regarding any changes, updates, or progress
• You are treated like a person, not a case file or a number

If you were hurt in a drunk driving accident in Murrells Inlet, our lawyers are available now. Don't let fear about cost or the complexity of your case hinder you.

Compensating You for Injuries From Your Murrells Inlet Accident

The first order of business is to take care of your injuries.

After consulting with you and your doctors and allowing you time to process your condition, we can identify your losses, which may include:

• Hospital bills
• Rehabilitation costs
• Medication and equipment
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Changed quality of life

The toll on your mental and emotional well-being affects your overall health as well. Damages should address the entire impact on your health-physical, mental, and emotional.

Life-Changing Injuries

Due to an impaired driver's slower reflexes, drunk driving crashes can cause more serious injuries than when drivers try to avoid a collision.

Examples of debilitating injuries include:

• Broken bones
• Neck and back injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Burns
• Disfigurement

According to Healthcare.gov, a three-day hospitalization alone could cost $30,000 or more. The price could be even higher for certain conditions, such as TBIs. Some injuries also carry the risk of complications. For instance, burns can cause infection. Spinal cord injury victims may require regular re-hospitalization.

When addressing these serious injuries, we also address the baggage they come with. Whether you're facing complications now or will have to deal with chronic issues in the future, our drunk driving accident attorneys can work to ensure you're covered.

Healing Mind and Body

The road to recovery may require rehabilitative therapy. We won't let you be abandoned before you're fully healed.

Our personal injury lawyers can pursue damages for therapies like:

• Physical
• Occupational
• Speech
• Cognitive
• Vocational

We can also pursue compensation to cover alternative methods, like chiropractic care, acupuncture, or massage therapy. Insurance companies sometimes look down on these methods, but if they bring you relief from pain or stress, we can fight for them.

Dealing With Damage to Your Career After a Drunk Driving Injury

If you lost income from missing work during recovery, our car accident attorneys can evaluate just how much you were affected. We can also project your losses to determine how much you will likely lose while you continue healing and after reaching maximum medical improvement.

To do this, we consider all forms of income, including:

• Salary
• Hourly wages
• Tips
• Commissions
• Bonuses
• Freelance work

We can even fight for compensation for your lost sick or vacation days.

Reduced Earning Ability

Reduced earning ability refers to how your injury affects your capability at work. For example, prior to the accident, you may have worked on a Murrells Inlet tour boat, requiring you to stay on your feet and do heavy lifting. If you can no longer lift heavy objects due to a back injury, you may be limited at that job. Reduced earning ability damages can help cover your gap in income.

Reduced earning capacity doesn't only refer to physical capacity. If you suffered a TBI, you may find it hard to multitask or remember information. At a data-heavy job, this could mean cutting back on hours. An insurance company or negligent party shouldn't delegitimize this consequence of your accident.

Career Change

Your injuries may mean you can no longer work in your chosen career at all. Our drunk driving collision attorneys can demonstrate how your injuries have made your job untenable and argue for compensation to cover job hunting and new job training in Murrells Inlet.

Helping Your Family After a Fatal Drunk Driving Accident

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that impaired driving costs a person's life every 50 minutes. Each one of these losses affects the entire family. If your family is one of them, wrongful death damages can acknowledge your loved one's life and your loss.

These damages can help cover:

• End-of-life medical care and support
• Lost income they would have provided
• Funeral, burial, or cremation services
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of spousal or parental support
• Loss of intimacy and companionship

Wrongful Death Cases in South Carolina

Unlike other states, South Carolina law does not allow surviving family members to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Instead, the executor or administrator of the deceased's estate can take legal action. This is a person either appointed by a will or by a court.

However, certain surviving family members (such as spouses, children, or parents) can still receive damages for the wrongful death of their loved one in a drunk driving accident.

Our wrongful death attorneys can help your family navigate the legal requirements for a wrongful death case. Leave the legalese to us.

How Does Insurance Play Into a Drunk Driving Accident?

This depends on the circumstances of your case. If you know who hit you, you can file a claim with the other driver's insurance provider to recover damages. You can also file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver if there are any disputes over liability, settlement amount, or if the driver is uninsured or underinsured.

Sadly, in some cases, a drunk driving accident turns into an unsolved hit-and-run accident. The driver may not have realized what they did because they were so impaired and left the scene, or they could have known what they did and left to escape punishment.

Don't give up hope if you were hit by a drunk driver who left the scene. There are steps you can take to move your case forward while police continue to investigate the accident.

If the Driver Cannot Be Found

In cases where an at-fault driver cannot be located, your own insurance policy can cover your damages. The South Carolina Department of Insurance confirms that all South Carolina drivers must carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage equal to the minimum liability coverage. We can work with your insurance provider to ensure they value your damages correctly and respect their policy agreement with you.

We can also explore other contributing factors in your accident that might open other parties to liability. For instance, your accident may have been worsened by faulty brakes in your vehicle, potentially leaving the brake manufacturer open to liability for creating a defective product. Or perhaps the brakes were fine, but an auto shop installed them incorrectly.

Whatever the circumstances may be, we consider all options for our clients.

How Drunk Driving Affects the Statute of Limitations

A personal injury lawsuit for a drunk driving accident typically has a deadline of two years, per South Carolina law. The same timeframe applies to wrongful death.

However, this deadline generally only applies when you know who to pursue. If police are still attempting to locate the driver who hit you, your statute of limitations could be delayed-a legal process called tolling. In other words, the clock only starts ticking when you know who to sue.

Other circumstances can affect the deadline of drunk driving cases. For instance, if you were incapacitated by your crash and unable to take legal action, the statute of limitations could be tolled until you're cognizant. If another party played a role in the accident, like a government entity that installed a faulty traffic light, you may only have two years to file a lawsuit. We can discuss these possibilities when we evaluate your case.

Criminal vs. Civil Drunk Driving Cases

If the driver is found and charged with drunk driving, they may face a criminal case. Injured victims sometimes assume they must wait until that case is resolved to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, you can pursue civil action right away. The two cases are separate.

The same is true if a drunk driver is not convicted or charged. The driver's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) may have been under the legal limit. Although they did not face a DUI, they can still be found negligent for driving impaired. Even a BAC of .02 can affect judgment, visual tracking of moving objects, and multitasking ability, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The requirements for a civil case are different from a criminal one, so don't give up if the driver in your case isn't facing charges or got off on a technicality. Don't wait to get started either!

Talk to a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Today

Call Morris Law Firm now to learn more about how we can help with your drunk driving accident case. Our personal injury lawyers treat each Murrells Inlet accident case as the unique situations they are, investigating all the contributing factors and identifying any paths to compensation. Contact us now at (843) 466-4444 for a free consultation.