In the past, "dram shops" referred to bars and liquor stores that sold small quantities of whiskey or liquor. The issue arose when patrons, who had been served at these establishments, got involved in car accidents while driving, resulting in injuries. In today's context, drunk driving accidents often cause severe or catastrophic injuries. Unfortunately, many drunk drivers have inadequate insurance to cover the damages and injuries sustained by victims.
While South Carolina doesn't have a specific statute for dram shop claims, state courts allow injured victims to seek damages and recovery from alcohol-related accidents using the state's alcohol sale statutes and negligence laws. Consequently, it's possible to hold restaurants, bars, and other entities accountable for injuries sustained by the driver of a motor vehicle or boat.
Most adults know that driving under the influence isn't just dumb - it's downright dangerous. They know that DUIs often have long-lasting, traumatic effects for everyone involved. What many people don't know is how closely related DUI and dram shop cases are in South Carolina. Consider the following scenarios:
Perhaps a 24-hour gas station doesn't check an I.D. and sells a case of malt liquor to a minor. The minor becomes intoxicated, and with a blood alcohol level exceeding the state limit, the novice driver wrecks their vehicle. One person is killed, and another is seriously injured. Or, in another instance, a bartender gives an overtly intoxicated person one last drink before they leave. The bartender later finds out that the person they served caused a car accident and injured a family of four.
In South Carolina, there are no specific dram shop statutes in place. Nevertheless, the state's courts strive to offer protection to individuals who have suffered injuries due to a drunk driver. However, filing dram shop claims, proving negligence, and navigating insurance coverage can be complicated and frustrating. That's especially true when you're hurt due to no fault of your own, and you're just trying to get through the recovery process. If you've sustained injuries from a drunk driver and believe that the person's intoxication was caused by a third party, it's time to call a dram shop law firm like Lauren Taylor Law.
Dram shop injury victims choose Lauren Taylor and her team of lawyers because they don't shy away from challenging tavern-keeper liability cases. With exceptional investigative skills, they meticulously gather relevant facts, ask hard questions, and build claims that focus on the most favorable outcomes possible. Â Â
Here at Lauren Taylor Law, we've dedicated our legal careers to assisting individuals in finding solutions to challenging legal issues. We're not in the business of prioritizing quick settlements that don't serve our clients' best interests. With decades of combined trial experience, we're passionate about getting you the compensation you deserve and feel privileged to be your dram shop injury lawyer. If you've been hurt by a drunk driver and believe that the driver's intoxication was due to a third party's negligence, get in touch with our dram shop liability lawyers. We can work together to determine if a third party can be held legally responsible.
Dram shop laws in South Carolina are complex, and the situations leading up to a trial or court case can be nuanced and confusing. Having a reliable, compassionate lawyer by your side is the best way to understand the situation you're in and fight for the compensation you deserve. Here are just a few of the most significant reasons why you should consider hiring a dram shop lawyer:
You can rely on your dram shop lawyer to use legal precedents to demonstrate that the establishment licensee failed to fulfill their legal responsibilities to ensure the safety of patrons and the public. Precedent refers to the extensive body of previous dram shop lawsuit rulings in South Carolina that a court must consider when making decisions.
If you've experienced a serious accident that has impacted your financial and personal well-being, financial compensation can provide some relief. A dram shop injury lawyer can help you seek compensation for a variety of issues, which we'll cover in detail later. In cases where you have lost a spouse in a fatal accident, your lawyer can also help create a compensation proposal that considers the loss of financial and emotional support from that person.
In South Carolina dram shop cases, the court needs evidence that the bar or restaurant served too much alcohol to the customer. Evidence can come in various forms. Your dram shop attorney can handle this thorough and time-consuming task so you don't have to.
In addition to evidence gathering, you'll need an attorney to demonstrate that the person's intoxication directly caused the injuries or property damage in question. Your attorney will gather evidence linking the intoxicated individual to the harm. This meticulous legal work is best performed by a lawyer with experience in dram shop liability, who can fill in the missing timeline details of the day of the incident.
Insurance can help cover medical expenses, property damage, and other losses resulting from an incident. Unfortunately, dealing with insurers when you're already suffering from a serious injury or personal loss can be overwhelming. Hiring a dram shop lawyer not only simplifies this process but also helps ensure you receive all the benefits entitled to you under your policy.
Your dram shop lawyer should prioritize your best interests. Sometimes, that involves negotiating a fair settlement with the alcohol-serving establishment. Other times, the best outcomes come in court. Every dram shop accident claim is unique and requires individual consideration. Effectively presenting a case in front of a judge or jury is a specialized skill possessed by experienced litigators. When you hire an experienced, proactive dram shop injury attorney in Clemson, SC, you can rest easy knowing you'll have strong representation in both private negotiations and in the courtroom.
Today, dram shop laws hold establishments accountable for serving alcohol to intoxicated customers who cause harm. If a bar or restaurant serves alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person who then causes a DUI accident, the establishment can be held liable for resulting injuries. The injured party can also pursue legal action against the intoxicated driver. Dram shop laws would also apply if the intoxicated patron caused harm or damage in a manner other than a car accident.
Dram shop laws are legal statutes that hold businesses accountable for serving alcohol to individuals who are already intoxicated or for selling alcohol to minors who then cause harm to themselves or others. If a business has a commercial liquor license or equivalent in South Carolina, liability may be incurred. Some of the most common types of businesses that incur dram shop liability include the following:
In the settings above, the establishment bears liability depending on the actions of their employees. Servers and other staff members who overserve intoxicated customers may be considered negligent. Some common staff positions that can be at fault under South Carolina dram shop law include managers, cashiers, store clerks, bartenders, and servers.
After an intoxicated driver causes an accident that injures another person, the victim can seek compensation from the establishment that overserved the intoxicated person. To successfully recover compensation in a dram shop case, your dram shop injury attorney in Clemson, SC must prove that the business was negligent or intentional in serving a minor or an intoxicated person. At Lauren Taylor Law, our goal is to prove negligence in your dram shop case so that we may recover the maximum amount of damages to help you recover.
To do so, we aim to demonstrate the following
The injuries you sustained were primarily caused by the alcohol consumed by the intoxicated driver, which can be proven if the driver is found guilty of driving under the influence (DUI).
The establishment failed to fulfill its obligations to recognize intoxicated patrons, verify legal drinking age with I.D., refrain from serving alcohol to intoxicated or underage individuals, and arrange for safe transportation for intoxicated customers.
The establishment must have had a reasonable awareness that the customer was either intoxicated or underage. Checking the customer's I.D. can help establish their legal age. The level of intoxication can be assessed by observing the behavior of the individual or by tracking the number and type of drinks served to them within a specific period.
As your dram shop injury attorney in Clemson, SC, one of our biggest jobs is supplying evidence proving that the dram shop in question was negligent. Examples of supporting evidence include the following:
Knowledge of Intoxication Evidence
The plaintiff and attorney must demonstrate that the alcohol establishment was aware or should have been aware that the customer was drunk, by showing that the bar had knowledge of intoxication or should have observed visible signs of drunkenness. Knowledge of intoxication can include knowing:
Visible signs of intoxication can include:
Duty of Care Evidence
Every business has an inherent responsibility to adhere to state law and refrain from serving individuals who are either under the legal drinking age or visibly intoxicated.
Breach of Duty Evidence
Proving that the establishment breached its duty to serve alcohol responsibly and follow the law can include showing that the establishment's employees:
Causation Evidence
An attorney can gather evidence to show that alcohol intoxication directly caused a drunk driving accident or injury by reviewing police reports, arrest records, and court documents. A conviction for DUI, DUAC, or any other alcohol-related offense can serve as compelling proof for legal action.
The short answer to this question is yes. A DUI or DUAC conviction can serve as crucial evidence to support a dram shop liability or drunk driving claim for compensation. Being convicted provides concrete proof that the driver failed in their duty of care, leading to subsequent injuries due to negligence. It's advantageous for victims to enlist a qualified dram shop injury attorney in Clemson, SC to handle their dram shop liability case. Quality dram shop lawyers - like those at Lauren Taylor Law - conduct investigations into the source of the driver's intoxication and ascertain if any establishment contributed to over-serving the driver.
In dram shop liability cases, which are considered personal injury cases, the state allows a three-year window from the date of injury for victims to file a lawsuit against the bar that overserved a patron. If the filing deadline is missed, the judge may dismiss the case unless there is a valid legal exception. If you're thinking about taking legal action, it's important to reach out to Laurent Taylor Law as soon as possible to explore your options.
South Carolina state law ensures that victims of negligence have a way to obtain financial recovery after being injured in a bar or due to the actions of a negligent establishment. It's important to note that not only the victims of drunk driving accidents but anyone injured by an intoxicated person can file a dram shop liability claim. Compensation from dram shop cases can come from a variety of sources, including those below.
In South Carolina, businesses with an alcohol license are required to have at least one million dollars in liquor liability insurance. This insurance covers both economic and non-economic damages suffered by a victim.
If you're the victim of a DUI accident, you can recover economic damages under dram shop liability. Those damages can include the following:
You may also be eligible for non-economic damages in a dram shop liability claim. Those damages may include one or more of the following:
You can also seek punitive damages in a South Carolina dram shop liability case. These damages are awarded to punish a defendant for causing harm due to reckless, willful, or wanton misconduct. Your dram shop lawyer in South Carolina must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant's actions met the criteria described in the statute. The burden of proof is higher than that required to win compensatory damages in a dram shop liability case.
In drunk driving accidents, courts may consider awarding punitive damages because driving while intoxicated is a deliberate violation of the law that displays a reckless disregard for others. Unlike in most other cases where punitive damages are capped, South Carolina does not limit the amount awarded in a drunk driving case.
If you've been injured due to another person's negligence and you're ready to fight for damages, it's time to call Lauren Taylor Law. Let our team of dram shop injury lawyers litigate your case and secure maximum compensation for your lost wages, hospital bills, property damage, and other losses. When you partner with a proven, experienced, successful attorney, you can increase your chances of getting full compensation.
We have the skills and trial experience needed to handle complex dram shop claims, just like yours. To learn more about your alcohol-related accident and the opportunity to bring a lawsuit against a dram shop, contact us today to schedule a consultation at the law offices of Lauren Taylor.
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COLUMBIA – Josh Gunther and Alex Valentin combined for the shutout with 15 strikeouts and the University of South Carolina baseball team used timely hitting to defeat No. 15 Clemson, 7-0, to start a three-game set Friday night (Feb. 27) at Founders Park.Making his first college start, Gunther dazzled, striking out 10 in seven innings of work and allowing just three hits and a walk. Valentin came in to pitch the last two innings, striking out five and not allowing a hit. It was Carolina’s second shutout of the season and th...
COLUMBIA – Josh Gunther and Alex Valentin combined for the shutout with 15 strikeouts and the University of South Carolina baseball team used timely hitting to defeat No. 15 Clemson, 7-0, to start a three-game set Friday night (Feb. 27) at Founders Park.
Making his first college start, Gunther dazzled, striking out 10 in seven innings of work and allowing just three hits and a walk. Valentin came in to pitch the last two innings, striking out five and not allowing a hit. It was Carolina’s second shutout of the season and the Gamecocks had a strikeout to end seven of their nine innings.
Carolina put up a four-spot in the third. Patrick Evans started the inning with a single and stole second. Walks to Tyler Bak and Will Craddock loaded the bases. Bak scored on a wild pitch and Ethan Lizama singled to center to plate a pair, giving Carolina a 3-0 lead. KJ Scobey’s RBI single scored Lizama and it was 4-0 Gamecocks.
The Gamecocks added insurance with a pair of runs in the sixth, highlighted by Scobey’s RBI double. Carolina added its seventh run in the seventh on a two-out throwing error.
Scobey had two of Carolina’s four hits on the day. Bak scored two runs while Talmadge LeCroy also reached base twice.
POSTGAME NOTES
Gunther had a career high 10 strikeouts in the win to improve his record to 2-0 on the year.
LeCroy has now reached base in seven straight games.
The game was delayed 1:46 due to rain prior to first pitch.
This was Carolina’s first shutout against Clemson since 2017 in Clemson.
UP NEXT
South Carolina and Clemson continue the three-game series on Saturday (Feb. 28) at Segra Park, home to the Columbia Fireflies. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
South Carolina Gamecocks @ Clemson TigersSouth Carolina Gamecocks7-41Final15Clemson Tigers9-14hittersH-ABRHRRBIW. Craddock2B2-4100E. LizamaLF2-4001T. LeCroyC0-4000K. ScobeySS0-4000...
South Carolina Gamecocks
7-4
1
Final
15
Clemson Tigers
9-1
4
| hitters | H-AB | R | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W. Craddock2B | 2-4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| E. LizamaLF | 2-4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| T. LeCroyC | 0-4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| K. ScobeySS | 0-4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. RandolphDH | 0-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Hollins1B | 0-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| P. EvansRF-CF | 0-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Harman3B | 0-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T. BakCF | 0-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| L. YuhaszPH-RF | 0-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| pitchers | IP | H | ER | BB | K | PC-ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Phillips | 3.1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 61-38 |
| B. Stone | 4.2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 62-40 |
Full Box Score
Hitting StatsPitching Stats
SC
CLEM
Hits
4
9
Home Runs
0
1
Total Bases
5
12
Runners LOB
3
5
Segra Park
, Coverage: ACC Extra
Columbia, South Carolina
| SC |
| CLEM |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 9 | 1 |
Inning | SC | CLEM | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd | Lizama singled to right field, RBI (1-1 FB); Craddock scored. | 1 | 0 | ||
| 3rd | SAVOIE homered to left field, 3 RBI (0-0); PURIFY scored; DALLEY scored. | 1 | 3 | ||
| 4th | PURIFY flied out to rf, SF, RBI (0-1 K); JARRELL scored. | 1 | 4 | ||
Full Play-By-Play
Gunther reflects on his 10 strikeouts as he discusses what worked for the Gamecocks in order for them to be able to pull off the upset against the No. 15 Tigers.
When the powerhouse schools called, offering NIL money, Jack Ohman nearly changed his phone number.
SEC Network's Dari Nowkhah takes a look at the most impressive accomplishments from SEC softball and baseball featuring revenge games, best starts in school history and dingers.
All CBASE News
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This week, Clemson added another trophy to the cabinet, but this wasn’t a team award. Junior linebacker Sammy Brown was honored with the Blanchard-Rogers Award, which honors the most spectacular athlete in the state of South Carolina.The sky is the limit for Brown, who seems to just keep getting better.After receiving the 2024 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year award, Brown turned around and posted an even stronger sophomore campaign, now appropriately honored by the Roger-Blanchard award.With 106 total tackles (51 s...
This week, Clemson added another trophy to the cabinet, but this wasn’t a team award. Junior linebacker Sammy Brown was honored with the Blanchard-Rogers Award, which honors the most spectacular athlete in the state of South Carolina.
The sky is the limit for Brown, who seems to just keep getting better.
After receiving the 2024 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year award, Brown turned around and posted an even stronger sophomore campaign, now appropriately honored by the Roger-Blanchard award.
With 106 total tackles (51 solo), five sacks and a forced fumble and an interception a piece, Brown caused mayhem in the 2025 season.
But in a year where Clemson drastically underperformed by many metrics, Brown was undoubtedly a bright spot, and he recognized that this season taught him lessons beyond football.
“There's just so much that I can give credit to this season. It's not all bad can come from, you know, having a bad season,” Brown said after a loss to Penn State in Clemson’s bowl game capped the season at 7-6.
Since its inception in 2013, Brown is the seventh Clemson player to be selected for the award. But in receiving the award, Sammy Brown is breaking a trend that has strongly favored the Tigers’ foe: the South Carolina Gamecocks.
The Cocks have dominated the award since Jalin Hyatt received it in 2022. Then, it was Xavier Legette, followed by Kyle Kennard, who received the nomination last year.
In its early years, the award essentially functioned as Clemson’s “best player” honor, with the Tigers claiming five of the first six selections.
Returning the award to upstate South Carolina, Brown joins the elite company of Trevor Lawrence, Deshaun Watson, Travis Etienne Jr., Vic Beasley and Tajh Boyd.
Brown is the first Clemson defensive player to win the award since Vic Beasley.
Brown will be formally honored by the South Carolina Hall of Fame on April 16, 2026 at Hotel Hartness in Greenville, South Carolina.
Heading into his third season with Clemson, Brown will be leaned on heavily in 2026. Now as a veteran with several elite awards and recognitions, Brown will be a backbone relied on for leadership and direction — and he knows it.
“Its going to be really tough and a lot of guys are going to have to take on new new roles and I'm going to have to step into the into the leadership role and take on being more of a vocal leader,” Brown said. “It's going to be tough, but it's going to be a new journey for me, a new journey for this team and I'm really excited and looking forward to that.”
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Clemson University has grown to become the most active research institution in South Carolina, according to data from the National Science Foundation (NSF).Clemson’s total research and development (R&D) expenditures topped all South Carolina universities for the first time at $339 million in 2024, the latest year for which data is available for all universities in the NSF Higher Education Research and Development Survey. Total R&D includes competitive grants from the federal government, institutional spending, state supp...
Clemson University has grown to become the most active research institution in South Carolina, according to data from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Clemson’s total research and development (R&D) expenditures topped all South Carolina universities for the first time at $339 million in 2024, the latest year for which data is available for all universities in the NSF Higher Education Research and Development Survey. Total R&D includes competitive grants from the federal government, institutional spending, state support and investments from the private sector and nonprofit foundations.
“We have aligned our research strengths with state and federal priorities in energy resilience, national security, advanced manufacturing, health, agriculture and critical technologies to push meaningful innovation and scientific discovery that benefits the public and the state’s economy. We appreciate the investment in our work,” said Tanju Karanfil, senior vice president for research, scholarship and creative endeavors.
Clemson researchers are working directly with farmers, utilities, manufacturers, medical providers, K-12 schools, employers, state agencies, community organizations and others to help improve the economy and lives across South Carolina through workforce development and innovation.
Dominion Energy South Carolina and TECO Westinghouse Motor Company, for example, are working with Clemson on a new transformer device that can prevent outages during disruptions caused by fallen tree limbs and other disturbances. Prisma Health recently recognized a Clemson faculty member for research on reducing hospital readmissions. A Clemson research team was recognized nationally for helping more than 1,500 South Carolinians better manage diabetes. Clemson scientists developed new dry pea cultivars to give South Carolina farmers a new revenue stream for acreage typically left fallow or planted with cover crops over the winter. Clemson researchers are helping K-12 school districts in South Carolina adapt to the advent of artificial intelligence. These are a few examples.
“Clemson research is defined by bold ideas, broad collaboration and big impact,” Karanfil said in announcing Clemson’s total R&D figures at the University’s Board of Trustees meetings last week.
In the past five years, Clemson research has supported nearly 1,400 Ph.D. completions and 9,000 master’s degree completions, funneling a pipeline of talent to the state and regional workforce. Thousands of undergraduate students participate in research each year, as well, gaining unique experiential learning opportunities to prepare them for work after graduation.
Additionally, Clemson research has spawned 24 startup companies over the past five years and led to 304 invention disclosures, 83 patents and 80 licenses and options in which businesses are putting Clemson innovation to work.