South Carolina Student Killed in DUI

A sophomore at College of Charleston in South Carolina died in a DUI-related traffic accident last week. The 18 year-old student was killed while on a trip with fraternity brothers. The accident occurred on September 7^th on I-95 and was investigated by the South Carolina Highway Patrol. According to troopers at the scene, the student was among five individuals traveling in a Land Rover that went off the highway, hit a tree, and overturned. The driver of the vehicle who is also 18 years old was charged with a felony DUI as well as possession of marijuana and a controlled substance. His first court appearance is scheduled for next month.

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), South Carolina is "one of the worst states DUI fatality wise." In a recent year, South Carolina experienced 315 DUI traffic deaths. The percentage of total traffic fatalities which are DUI related is 38 percent. The state has 14,148 three-time DUI offenders and 1,968 five-time DUI offenders. The state spends approximately $1.5 billion subsidizing drunk driving fatalities. Those who are convicted of DUI in the state are required to complete South Carolina's Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program, which calls for an assessment, education, intervention, and treatment of alcohol and drug abuse. These individuals must successfully complete the program before they are allowed to be relicensed in the state.

Personal Injury Firm in Columbia, South Carolina

Stories such as the one above involving a preventable traffic accident and fatality are all too familiar and tragic in South Carolina as well as across the nation. Drunk driving is a form of negligence which can lead to civil legal action as well as a criminal case. Anyone who is injured or who loses a family member due to drunk or drug-impaired driving has the legal right to pursue damages in a claim or lawsuit. Those damages may include medical and / or funeral expenses, loss of earnings, pain, suffering, and similar losses.

Masella Law Firm, P.A. is a personal injury law firm serving clients in and around Columbia with competent and compassionate legal service. The firm has been in practice since 1998 representing clients involved in car accidents, bicycle accidents, motorcycle and trucking accidents, dog attacks, intentional misconduct such as assault and battery, premises liability cases, wrongful death, and more. The legal team is composed of tough litigators who have years of trial practice working on civil cases where clients have been harmed in preventable accidents and incidents. To learn more about the firm as well as the legal factors involved in your case, contact the law offices for an appointment as soon as possible.