Being involved in a car accident is traumatic enough, but the chances are that you will also have to undergo a police investigation. Officers will want to determine the cause of the accident and you may be asked to submit to various tests to determine whether you were intoxicated at the time of the accident. Being arrested for drunk driving can have serious repercussions for your professional and personal life, so it is important to have a good defense.

In South Carolina, one such accident claimed the life of a 16-year-old girl. She was in the car with two others, including a 23-year-old male who has since been charged with driving under the influence. Both he and the teenager were ejected from the vehicle during the accident, as neither of them was wearing a seatbelt. The third person was not injured in the incident.

The uncle of the teenager did not know why his niece had been in Spartanburg County, where the accident occurred. Nor did he know why she might have been in a car with the accused. The 23-year-old denies having driven the vehicle at the time of the crash, claiming that the last thing he remembers is the 16-year-old stating that she was going to drive them home.

Finding the truth in these situations is never easy, particularly when a life has been lost. If the suspect is convicted, it could result in a lengthy jail sentence and affect him for the rest of his life. If you are ever in a similar position, you may want the support of an attorney as you work to clear your name. He or she will be able to help you clarify what happened and work toward protecting your future.

Source: Fox Carolina, “Suspect says he wasn’t driving in I-26 crash that claimed teen’s life,” Dal Kalsi, June 15, 2014