Refusing an official breath test after a qualifying DUI arrest in South Carolina generally causes an immediate driver’s license suspension. A first refusal carries a six-month suspension when you have no qualifying prior offenses. You have 30 days from the issuance of your suspension notice to request an administrative hearing. You may qualify for a […]
Yes, a Halloween prank can lead to criminal charges in South Carolina when the conduct involves property damage, trespassing, theft, unwanted physical contact, threatening behavior, public disorderly conduct, or another criminal offense. Calling something a prank does not prevent police or prosecutors from looking at what actually happened. If you are accused after a Halloween […]
Summary Liability for a pedestrian accident after dark in South Carolina depends on what the driver and pedestrian were doing before the collision, where the pedestrian was walking or crossing, visibility, speed, lighting, traffic signals, and other evidence. A driver may be responsible for failing to keep a proper lookout, yield when required, slow for […]
Yes, police can investigate and arrest someone for DUI after finding that person asleep in a vehicle in South Carolina. Sleeping in a parked car does not automatically prove DUI, though. Under South Carolina law, the State must prove that you drove a motor vehicle while your ability to drive was materially and appreciably impaired […]
Yes, criminal charges can sometimes be dropped before trial in South Carolina. A prosecutor may decide not to continue a case, a legal problem may weaken the State’s evidence, a judge may dismiss a charge in certain circumstances, or an eligible defendant may resolve a case through a diversion program. A dismissal is never automatic. […]
Yes. A DUI charge can sometimes be resolved as reckless driving in South Carolina, but the result is not automatic. No attorney can promise that a prosecutor will agree to a different charge. South Carolina treats DUI and reckless driving as separate offenses. Whether a DUI case can be resolved as reckless driving may depend […]
Summary Medical bills can arrive long before a South Carolina personal injury claim is resolved. If you were injured in Myrtle Beach, you may need to use available health insurance, optional medical payments coverage, Medicare, Medicaid, workers’ compensation benefits, or a payment arrangement with a medical provider while the liability claim remains pending. A third-party […]
Police can search your car without a warrant in South Carolina when a recognized exception to the warrant requirement applies. A traffic stop by itself does not automatically give an officer authority to search your vehicle. Common exceptions can include voluntary consent, probable cause under the automobile exception, certain searches connected to an arrest, limited […]
A car accident can aggravate a preexisting injury, and a prior medical condition does not automatically prevent you from pursuing compensation in South Carolina. The key question is what changed because of the crash. The collision may have caused a new injury, worsened an existing condition, increased pain, created new limitations, or led to added […]
There is no reliable average settlement for a shoulder injury claim in South Carolina. Two people with similar diagnoses can have very different claims because liability, medical proof, treatment, work demands, future limitations, insurance coverage, and comparative negligence differ. A useful valuation starts with evidence—not a chart or promise. Shoulder Injuries That May Support a […]