Under normal circumstances, driving on the roads and highway of upstate South Carolina can be dangerous. Road construction, traffic congestion, weather conditions, mechanical failures and other causes can lead to wrecks and collisions. But when drivers drink and drive or drive while under the influence of drugs, the dangers increase by magnitudes. Certain holidays — including the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day — can lead to a sharp spike in drivers who are impaired.
If you are injured — or a loved one is injured — in a St. Patrick’s Day collision with a DUI driver, call the Law Office of H. Chase Harbin. We can help you recover money damages to cover the cost of medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, property damages and more.
Greenville SC Auto Accident Lawyers: Saint Patrick’s Day Statistics
St. Patrick’s Day is not the deadliest holiday for driving fatalities. Sadly, on any given year, that day is usually the night surrounding New Year’s Eve when party-goers drink too much and mistakenly believe they can drive safely. But St. Patrick’s Day is high on the list. See Forbes Magazine’s article here.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), St. Patrick’s Day brings not only a general spike in automobile wrecks but also a spike in fatalities. This is largely because of drunk driving. According to NHTSA statistics, in 2013, for example, 40 percent of fatalities during St. Patrick’s Day weekend involved DUI drivers. Worse yet, the statistics showed that the drunk drivers were not just a bit over the limit. Nearly 75 percent were more than twice over the legal limit. Each year, the NHTSA puts out an advisory urging all drivers to not drink and drive on St. Patrick’s Day and to be extra cautious when on the roads. See the 2015 advisory here.
Greenville SC Auto Accident Lawyers: Have You Been Injured On St. Patrick’s Day?
If you were injured in an automobile accident on St. Patrick’s Day in Greenville or anywhere in South Carolina, seek legal advice from talented and experienced Greenville SC car accident attorneys. This is particularly important if you have reason to believe the other driver was drinking or was otherwise impaired. You have legal options, but you may have to act quickly. Your lawyer must move quickly to preserve evidence such as phone records, social media posts, evidence from the drunk driver’s car “black box,” police reports and more.
Under South Carolina law, any operator of a motor vehicle owes a duty of care to others on the road. Among the many aspects of that duty is to not drive while impaired. As everyone knows, driving while drunk is a crime; any crime committed while driving means that the driver has automatically violated his or her duty of care. As such, a drunk driver is almost always liable for any damage or injury caused in the wreck.
Greenville SC Auto Accident Lawyers: Contact The Law Office Of H. Chase Harbin Today
For more information and to find out more about your legal rights, call the proven Greenville car accident lawyers at The Law Office of H. Chase Harbin. We can help maximize your recovery if you have been injured by a St. Patrick’s Day drunk driver. You are entitled to FULL compensation. Contact us today via email. We have offices in Greenville and Pickens, South Carolina. We represent clients throughout upstate South Carolina and offer a free initial consultation.
Chase Harbin is a Criminal Defense Lawyer who practices in Pickens and Greenville, SC. He graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law, and has been practicing law for 17 years now. Chase Harbin believes in defending the accused. Learn more about his experience by clicking here.
