Drunk driving accidents often result in serious injuries and property damage. Preventing drunk driving accidents is one of the top priorities of law enforcement in Greenville and around South Carolina. However, these incidents happen at alarmingly high rates. 

Understanding a recent case

In 2017, a woman pleaded guilty to felony DUI for the January 2016 death of another man. According to authorities, the man was riding his Honda motorcycle on SE Main Street in Simpsonville when he stopped to turn into a parking lot. That was when the woman, driving a Ford 4S, slammed into the rear of the man’s motorcycle. He was ejected and killed on the scene.  

The man’s estate filed a lawsuit against both the woman and Full House Sporzaria, a sport’s bar in Simpsonville. The lawsuit alleged that the bar “failed to reasonably serve alcohol” to Fuller. The lawsuit said that the woman “miserably failed all field sobriety tests and ultimately registered a blood alcohol level over twice the legal limit several hours after the wreck.”

Police testified that her blood-alcohol level was .168, over double the legal limit. 

Many people do not realize that restaurants and bars can be held liable if it is found they irresponsibly serve alcohol to a person who is visibly intoxicated, who then causes serious injuries or a fatality. 

A jury in the case awarded a massive settlement to the Gibson estate – $2,523,500 in actual damages as well as $5 million in punitive damages. An attorney for the Gibson estate said that this award sends “a firm message from the community on drunk driving.”

Drunk driving accidents are a major concern in South Carolina

According to the state Department of Public Safety, out of the nearly 1,000 total fatalities in traffic crashes during the latest reporting year, 313 of them were the result of alcohol-impaired driving. Each year, approximately 30% of all traffic crash fatalities are related to alcohol-impaired incidents.

Seek help for your case

If you or someone you love has been injured due to the actions of a drunk driver, contact the Dan Pruitt Law Firm today. Our Greenville car accident attorneys are ready to help you through this. Let us investigate what happened so we can secure the compensation you deserve.

There are plenty of motorcycle Enthusiasts in South Carolina, Particularly here in the Greenville area. We have beautiful sights to see and plenty of good riding weather. Unfortunately, motorcyclists face more risks on the roadway then those traveling in regular passenger vehicles. A recent article in the state newspaper said that 2019 has seen a rise in motorcycle rider deaths on South Carolina roadways. 

What we know about the rise of motorcycle fatalities

The article mentioned above states that there were 104 motorcyclist fatalities on SC roadways in 2018. By mid-November of this year, the number of motorcyclist fatalities had already reached 113. At that pace, the state Department of Public Safety estimates that there will be approximately 140 motorcycle fatalities this year. 

When we look at statistics provided by the DPS, we can see that this number would mean a return to the record high for motorcycle fatalities set in 2016. State officials claim that distracted driving by other motorists is a leading factor in the increase in motorcycle fatalities. 

Motorcyclists often sustain serious injuries

Total fatalities only show part of the overall picture. Those who survive a motorcycle accident often sustain serious injuries. Even when a cyclist is wearing a helmet, there is a high probability that they will sustain the following injuries:

• Spinal cord trauma (possible paralysis)
• Head injuries/traumatic brain injuries
• Internal organ damage or internal bleeding
• Broken or dislocated bones
• Severe lacerations or road rash

Motorcycle accident victims who suffer from these injuries often need extensive medical care. They will incur tremendous medical expenses as well as other “hidden expenses” associated with these incidents such as lost income, home and vehicle modifications, and pain and suffering damages. 

We are ready to help you through this

If you or someone you care about has been injured in a motorcycle accident that was caused by another person’s careless or negligent actions, seek legal assistance immediately. You can count on the Dan Pruitt Law Firm to help you secure the compensation you are entitled to. You can contact the Greenville motorcycle accident attorneys at our firm for a free consultation of your case today.

Driving during the holidays is more dangerous in most other times of the year. While Thanksgiving has already passed, Christmas and New Years are approaching. Unfortunately, this is a time when there are more alcohol-impaired drivers on the roadway. 

Looking at statistics from the state Department of Public Safety, we can look at which Holidays in South Carolina see the most roadway fatalities. 

The deadliest holidays nationally coincide with our state

Collectively, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years make up the time when there are the most DUI arrests in this country. This coincides with information from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC says that there is two to three times the number of alcohol-related crashes between Thanksgiving and New Year’s than at any other point throughout the year. According to the South Carolina DPS, the latest reporting year of data showed the following number of deaths for these holidays:

• Thanksgiving: 12 fatalities 
• Christmas: 7 fatalities
• New Years: 5 fatalities (which was a dramatic decrease from the previous year)

These are not the only dangerous holidays when it comes to drunk driving incidents in the state and across the country. These holidays saw the following traffic fatality numbers in SC during the latest reporting year:

• Memorial Day: 13 fatalities
• Fourth of July: 14 fatalities
• Labor Day: 6 fatalities

Drunk driving is a major concern in South Carolina 

Each year in SC, drunk driving incidents are the cause of approximately 30% of all traffic crash deaths. The total number of fatalities is just one facet of concern. Many thousands are injured in drunk driving crashes and are left dealing with the consequences. It is not uncommon for our Greenville car accident attorneys to help clients suffering from the following:

• Broken and dislocated bones
• Severe lacerations
• Internal organ damage
• Internal bleeding
• Spinal cord injuries
• Whiplash injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussions

Each of these incidents can lead to major medical expenses, along with other costs, for victims. 

Seek help after a DUI crash

If you or someone you care about has been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you should seek legal assistance immediately. The Dan Pruitt Law Firm is dedicated to helping victims recover the compensation they deserve. You can contact our Greenville car accident attorneys for a free consultation of your case today.

As the holiday season approaches, many people are buying toys, clothing, and other items for the children in their lives. However, one thing that most shoppers do not think about is whether or not what they are buying could end up causing injuries. Defective products are a regular occurrence in the US marketplace, and there have been many toys recalled this year alone. 

Popular toy recalls in 2019

USA Today reports that many recalls have been conducted this year, and one of them was associated with infant deaths. 

• Target’s Bullseye Playground
  • Nearly 500,000 wooden toys sold by Target were recalled due to their wheels detaching and posing choking hazards. 
• Go Couture children’s loungewear
  • Go Couture children’s sleepwear was recalled because it failed the federal flammability standard and posed a risk of burn injuries.
• Fisher-Price Rock ‘n Play sleepers
  • These sleepers were recalled after there were reports of more than 30 infant deaths caused by babies rolling over. 4.7 million units were recalled, and consumers were asked to immediately stop using the products. 
• Power Wheels Barbie Campers
  • The camper was recalled because some of the units would continue to move after the foot pedal had been released. 

Toys were not the only items that were recalled. Many children’s medications and food items also faced scrutiny and recalls throughout the year. Parents and guardians must ensure that the items they let their children use and consume are safe. 

What makes products faulty?

There are three basic ways in which products become faulty:

1. Design flaws that are not discovered when the product is being tested.
2. Manufacturing errors that alter a product’s design, rendering the product harmful for consumers.
3. Labeling issues that mislead consumers, including missing warnings, ingredients, side effects, and hazards as well as incorrect dosages or ingredient lists. 

Contact a personal injury attorney in South Carolina

If you or someone you love has been injured due to a defective product, the Dan Pruitt Law Firm will help. You can contact our Greenville product liability attorney us for a free consultation today to determine your next steps today.

As auto accident attorneys here in South Carolina, we receive a number of questions about what rights passengers have when it comes to Uber and Lyft accidents. Specifically, a number of passengers don’t know how, exactly, they should proceed if there is a ridesharing accident.

Below, we discuss some steps you should take if you are involved in one of these accidents to make sure that you preserve the opportunity to seek compensation for any expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering that you experience.

 

Contact 9-1-1 and Obtain Accident Report

First, always make sure that in any accident where there are injuries and or damage to property such as vehicles you call 9-1-1 to the scene of the accident. This is important so that the scene is secured and the police interview everyone to find out what happened. From there, the police will make a determination that is documented in an accident report. This report is very important for your accident attorney to use in negotiations with the ridesharing company’s insurance firm, especially if their driver was at fault.

 

Choose the Right Auto Accident Attorney & Remaining Silent

Note that companies like Uber have $1 million insurance policies set to apply when a passenger is involved in an accident. Still, the company will likely resist paying any damages you have suffered, which makes speaking with an accident attorney absolutely necessary. As with any other accident, make sure you do not make any statements that could possibly be interpreted as admitting that you are OK and/or at fault for the accident, or offering or accepting a settlement until you speak with your attorney. This same rule also applies to social media: it is important to avoid discussing the accident on your social media post until your potential case is resolved.

 

Document Everything and See a Doctor

Also remember that, just like in any other accident, you want to make sure that you take pictures of everything, including any damage to vehicles, road conditions, traffic signals, signs, and other details. Similarly, write down and record any recollections you have of the accident, including every detail, such as whether your driver was distracted or breaking the speed limit when the accident occurred. If you were injured, make sure that you are treated within 24 hours of the accident so that any related injury is treated and documented in your records. Keep in mind that some injuries do not show symptoms until some time has passed after the accident, such as whiplash or certain types of concussions.

 

Contact Our Greenville, South Carolina Auto Accident Lawyers

Major car accidents can lead to a significant amount of suffering, and healing can take a long time. If this has happened to you or a loved one, you want to make sure that you consult with an experienced car accident attorney.

The Dan Pruitt Injury Law Firm has an experienced Greenville SC Car Accident Lawyer that can help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

There is a different type of car accident that often occurs here in South Carolina and that includes a child being injured or killed after being left in a hot car. Accidents like these frequently lead to children dying of hyperthermia; characterized by high body temperature that occurs due to being left inside a hot vehicle.

In early August, this, tragically, happened in Colleton County, leading to two individuals associated with the Colleton County School District being arrested. This particular individual was a 13-year-old special-needs child. However, a total of six children reportedly died in hot cars in South Carolina, and 52 nationwide in 2018, with South Carolina leading the nation with the highest numbers. Five of these deaths were associated with caregivers leaving children behind in vehicles. 

 

Justice & Options for Families

In circumstances like these, in addition to the state charging those responsible with criminal charges such as manslaughter, the families of loved ones who are harmed can sue the individuals and/or facility associated with the accident for negligence/neglect, as well as related claims such as negligent hiring and false imprisonment. Anyone who operates a facility that transports children is responsible for maintaining a driver’s log documenting all children that are in the vehicle so as to ensure that all of them are also taken out upon exiting the vehicle. Even if the temperature outside is around 70 degrees, the temperature inside a vehicle can easily increase 40 to 50 degrees above this. Children heat up five times faster than adults, and a car essentially acts like a greenhouse, where organs begin to shut down when one’s body temperature reaches 104 degrees.

Still, given how many children are now regularly dying due to being left in hot cars, many children’s advocates are calling for more to be done, such as mandatory alarm technology that would alert drivers to children being left in their seats; a requirement that is now the subject of a federal law, the Hot Cars Act of 2019. Still, even in vehicles that have passenger safety alarms, drivers can still exhibit negligence by turning them off without first conducting a visual inspection.

 

Preventing These Tragedies

Experts recommend the following to ensure that you do not forget a child in a hot car:

• Leave something with the child that you won’t leave behind, such as a cellphone
• Set a reminder on your cell phone
• Ensure that your daycare alerts you if your child is not present at certain times
• Keep a stuffed animal in the front seat with you to remind you that your child is in the back car seat
• Install car seat technology that alerts you when a child has been left in the car

 

Contact Our South Carolina Accident & Wrongful Death Attorneys

If you live in South Carolina and have been injured or lost a loved one due to negligence in an auto accident, contact our experienced Greenville personal injury and wrongful death attorneys today to find out how we can help.