Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyers: Defending Victims of Drunk Driving

Experienced South Carolina Personal Injury Lawyers Fight for the Compensation Our Clients Deserve After a Drunk Driving Collision

Many laws and regulations seek to deter drivers from driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances. These include criminal penalties for drunk driving, tools for monitoring drivers convicted of drunk driving in the past, and laws that hold alcohol servers accountable to stop serving visibly intoxicated patrons.

These laws have done much to reduce drunk driving rates in the United States over the past fifty years. Yet, they haven’t eliminated the problem. Every day, drivers take to the roads in Myrtle Beach and surrounding areas while under the influence of alcohol. Their impairment makes them more likely to cause a crash — and when they do, others may pay the price.

If you’re dealing with serious injuries in the aftermath of a drunk driving crash, talk to the dedicated injury lawyers at the Steinberg Law Firm today. We’re here to help our clients in Myrtle Beach, Horry County, Surfside, Conway, and surrounding areas.

Understanding the Dangers of Drunk Driving Head-On Collisions in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Drunk driving head-on crashes in Myrtle Beach result in some of the most severe injuries seen on South Carolina roads. Victims often face months of treatment, time away from work, and changes to daily life that do not end when the wreckage is cleared. Many factors can lead to head-on collisions. When alcohol is involved, it is far more likely that a driver will drift over the center line or turn into oncoming traffic.

South Carolina law gives you the right to bring an injury claim against an impaired driver and, in many cases, to seek additional punitive damages for the danger that their conduct created. Those rights matter, and they deserve strong protection when you are trying to recover.

Drunk Driving Risks in Coastal South Carolina

Impaired drivers often drift in and out of their lane, misjudge the distance to other vehicles, and react too slowly when they see headlights approaching. Investigators in Myrtle Beach observe those same patterns repeatedly in serious collisions. Myrtle Beach bars, restaurants, and growing traffic, combined with late-night beach activity, may create more opportunities for an impaired driver to cross paths with someone who is simply trying to get home.

Myrtle Beach faces the same problems, plus heavy tourist traffic and unfamiliar visitors. According to The Sun News, more than 17 million people visit Myrtle Beach, SC. Together, those factors help explain why drunk driving head-on collisions show up so often in coastal crash reports and why the injuries from these wrecks are so severe.

Drunk Driving Statistics in South Carolina

South Carolina’s drunk driving statistics paint a sobering picture. Recent state highway safety reports place South Carolina near the top nationally for the share of fatalities tied to impairment and show elevated alcohol-impaired deaths across the last several years.

• National Ranking: South Carolina ranks as the 8th worst state for drunk driving in 2024. In a Forbes study, South Carolina ranked eighth among the worst drunk-driving states.
• Statewide Fatality Data: South Carolina’s rate of people killed in drunk driving accidents is the third highest nationwide, at 6.02 deaths per 100,000 residents. The latest federal estimates indicate that alcohol-impaired drivers are involved in about 43 percent of all traffic deaths in the state, with more than 430 people killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2022.
• Historical Trends: While total vehicle miles traveled in South Carolina dropped 11 percent during 2020, alcohol-related road deaths rose 14 percent, from 276 deaths in 2019 to 315 in 2020. Between 2020 and 2021, alcohol-related deaths on South Carolina roads rose 26 percent, reaching 401 deaths in 2021.
• Horry County Impact: Horry County saw ten drunk driving crashes in 2022, an increase of 4.29 percent over the previous year. According to the 2023 Traffic Collision Factbook, Horry County experienced 28 deaths that involved an impaired driver with a BAC of +0.08 or higher. Recent FARS data shows Horry County with more than 70 alcohol-related traffic deaths in 2024.
• 
• Dangerous Corridors: Early 2025 figures point to continued serious nighttime crashes along Highway 501, Highway 31, and the Highway 17 Bypass.

Common Causes of Drunk Driving Head-On Collisions in Myrtle Beach

The following conditions often contribute to drunk driving head-on crashes along the coast:

• Center-line crossings on roads such as Ocean Blvd, South Ocean Blvd., King’s Highway.
• Wrong-way entries on SC 9, SC 31, US Route 501, SC 22, US Route 17, Highway 17 Bypass, and SC 544.
• Misjudged intersections in the Myrtle Beach area, such as US 17 Business and 21st Ave. North, US 501 and Carolina Forest Blvd., US 17 Bypass and Palmetto Point Blvd., US 17 Bypass and Robert Grisson Parkway, and McDowell Shortcut and Tournament Blvd.
• Multi-lane turns in tourist-heavy corridors near Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, Coastal Grand Mall, Tanger Outlets, and other areas around local hotels, bars, and restaurants.
• Early morning or late evening driver fatigue combined with visual impairment.
• Unfamiliarity with coastal roadway patterns during peak hours of the day and busy travel months.

Severe Injuries Often Reported After Drunk Driving Collisions

A drunk-driving crash can cause serious injuries. Head-on collisions often produce catastrophic injuries because the front ends of both vehicles absorb the most significant force. Common injuries include:

• Head, neck, and back injuries, including fractures, whiplash, or damaged vertebrae.
• Brain and spinal cord injuries, including concussions, other traumatic brain injuries, and permanent spinal cord damage that affects movement and sensation.
• Broken bones, including ribs, facial bones, and limbs, which may require surgery to treat and cause ongoing issues with pain and mobility.
• Internal and tissue injuries, including nerve damage, crush injuries, sprains and strains, burns, and internal injuries that develop severe symptoms hours after the collision.
• Mental and emotional trauma, such as post-traumatic stress, anguish, and emotional distress. These conditions may require ongoing medical treatment from qualified professionals.

Pursuing a Civil Case and Seeking Compensation

Criminal and civil cases serve two different purposes. In a criminal case, the goal is to identify criminal behavior and punish that person. However, a criminal conviction will not require the driver to fully compensate you. To obtain compensation for your injuries, you may file a civil claim.

Damages Available in South Carolina

In your civil claim, you pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, damaged property, and other losses.

• Economic damages (financial): Repair or replacement costs for your vehicle; medical expenses (ambulance, ER, surgery, hospital stays, medical devices, and rehabilitation); lost wages and lost future wages.
• Non-economic damages: Pain and suffering; mental suffering, anguish, and emotional distress; loss of enjoyment of activities you previously engaged in; damage to your reputation.
• Punitive damages: South Carolina law allows victims to pursue punitive damages when the at-fault driver acted with reckless disregard for the safety of others.

Important Steps to Take After a Drunk Driving Head-On Collision

Taking the following actions may help put you in a better position for a personal injury claim:

• See a doctor or go to the emergency room as soon as you can, even if you think your pain is minor.
• Call 911 so that officers and first responders can arrive at the scene and create an official record.
• Photograph vehicle damage, injuries, road conditions, and surroundings.
• Collect names and contact information of witnesses.
• Avoid giving statements to the impaired driver’s insurance company before speaking with a lawyer.

How the Steinberg Law Firm Supports Victims

The Steinberg Law Firm has spent years standing up for people hurt in crashes in Myrtle Beach and the surrounding coastal communities. Your attorney can:

• Issue requests to preserve and obtain valuable evidence, including police reports, medical records, roadside tests, and witness statements.
• Look for every available insurance policy and assess whether a bar, restaurant, or other business may share responsibility for overserving the driver.
• Handle insurance company communications, protecting your rights and freeing you to focus on healing.
• File and pursue wrongful death claims when families lose a loved one in a drunk driving head-on collision.
• Fight for your right to compensation regardless of the outcome of a drunk driving case.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a lawsuit after a drunk driving head-on collision in South Carolina?

In most drunk driving head-on crash cases, you have up to three years from the date of the wreck to file a personal injury lawsuit in South Carolina.

Can I pursue compensation if the drunk driver had no insurance or limited coverage?

In many cases, victims can file a claim under their own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.

What types of damages are available after a drunk driving head-on collision?

Victims can pursue recovery for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and future treatment needs. Punitive damages may also be available.

Do I still need a lawyer if the police arrested the impaired driver at the scene?

Yes. An arrest at the scene addresses the criminal case, but it does not protect your civil injury claim. Insurance companies do not automatically pay what your claim is worth. A lawyer can use the evidence from the criminal case and deal directly with the insurance companies.

Seeking Assistance After a Myrtle Beach Drunk Driving Crash

A drunk driving crash turns your life upside down in an instant. If you’ve been injured in Surfside, Conway, Myrtle Beach, or anywhere in Horry County by a drunk driver, contact us today for a free, confidential case evaluation. Our team of attorneys and support staff can review your case and determine your rights and remedies under South Carolina Law.