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Columbia Personal Injury Lawyer > Blog > Car Accident > Drunk, Distracted, Or Both?

Drunk, Distracted, Or Both?

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If you get injured in a car accident, you have the right to seek compensation for your accident-related medical bills by filing an insurance claim with the at fault driver’s insurance policy.  If your injuries are so severe that the at fault driver’s policy limit is not enough to cover all of your accident-related medical expenses, you also have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against any parties responsible for the accident.  If you are filing an insurance claim or lawsuit against the at fault driver or someone legally responsible for the at fault driver’s actions, such as the at fault driver’s employer, you must prove that the cause of the accident was the driver’s negligence.  In car accident cases, negligence can take many forms, including but not limited to speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and distracted driving.  Distractions come in many forms, from cell phones to loud music to unruly children to dogs roaming freely in the car.  If you have been injured in an accident involving a distracted driver, contact a Columbia car accident lawyer.

Former Reality TV Show Cast Member Arrested on Suspicion of Drunk Driving

One evening in May 2024, Kathryn Dennis, who was previously part of the cast of the reality TV show Southern Charm, was driving in Goose Creek.  The only passenger with her in the car was her dog.  As she approached a red light, she did not reduce her speed sufficiently, and she collided with the car in front of her.  The impact caused the car to hit the car in front of it, resulting in a three-car pileup.  No one suffered serious injuries as a result of the accident.

When officers arrived at the scene, Dennis consented to a field sobriety test, but the Pop Culture website did not indicate whether they performed one.  Officers noted in their report that there were several empty miniature bottles of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky in the car.  Once she was at the police station, she refused to do a breath test, which is the most reliable way of measuring how much alcohol someone has consumed in recent hours.  The police took her into custody, which is standard procedure when someone refuses a breath test at a traffic stop.  Dennis’s bail amount was $257 dollars; as of the time of the most recent news reports, she was not charged with any crimes.

Your Rights If You Get Hit by a Possibly Drunk Driver

South Carolina has one of the country’s highest rates of DUI accidents, but not all of them result in a criminal conviction for the drunk driver.  People who get injured in alcohol-related car accidents have the right to receive compensation through an insurance claim or lawsuit, regardless of the outcome of the criminal case, if any.

Let Us Help You Today

The car accident lawyers at the Stanley Law Group can help you if you were injured by a drunk driver.  Contact The Stanley Law Group in Columbia, South Carolina or call (803)799-4700 for a free initial consultation.

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