Practice Areas
A collision caused by an impaired driver can turn your entire life upside down in seconds. If you or a loved one suffered injuries because someone chose to drive drunk, our accident attorney at Hughes Law Group will pursue the accountability and compensation you deserve.
Why Trust Our Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Columbia?
Attorney Joel Hughes approaches every drunk driving case with the care and compassion the situation demands while building an aggressive legal strategy aimed at securing your justice and the maximum recovery possible:
- Thorough investigation: Gathering police reports, toxicology results, and witness statements to build a compelling case from the start.
- Working with accident reconstructionists: Bringing in specialists who can piece together exactly how the collision occurred and prove the impaired driver’s fault.
- Consulting experts to calculate long-term costs: Partnering with medical and financial professionals to accurately project your future treatment needs and lost earning potential.
- Insurance company negotiations: Standing up to adjusters who attempt to minimize your claim or shift blame onto you.
- Trial preparation: Developing every case as if it will go before a jury so the opposition knows you mean business.
- Personalized attention: Keeping you informed at every stage so you never feel left in the dark about your own case.
Proving Liability for a Drunk Driving Accident
South Carolina Code Section 56-5-2930 makes it unlawful for anyone to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. To hold an impaired driver financially responsible, your claim must establish the core elements of negligence under South Carolina law. Elements our drunk driving accident attorney in Columbia must prove include:
- Duty of care: Every driver on the road owes a legal obligation to operate their vehicle safely and follow traffic laws.
- Breach of duty: Choosing to drive while impaired violates that obligation and constitutes a clear breach.
- Causation: The drunk driver’s impairment must be directly connected to the collision that caused your injuries.
- Damages: You must have suffered actual losses, whether physical, emotional, or financial, because of the accident.
Recoverable Compensation for a Drunk Driving Accident in South Carolina
Drunk driving accidents often result in catastrophic injuries that carry enormous medical costs and long-term consequences. Depending on the facts of your case, you may be able to recover compensation for the following:
- Medical bills and ongoing treatment
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages when applicable
Don’t Wait to Contact Our Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Columbia
South Carolina’s statute of limitations puts a deadline on your ability to file a personal injury claim, so acting sooner gives your case the strongest possible foundation. Call Hughes Law at 803-704-1004 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with a drunk driving accident attorney in Columbia.
Under our contingency fee arrangements, you pay nothing up front or out-of-pocket, and we only collect our attorney fees when we win your case. The risk-free promise of a contingency fee payment model allows anyone to retain legal counsel, regardless of their financial circumstances.