Whether you live in North Myrtle Beach or elsewhere in South Carolina, you face the risk of getting into a car accident. You may be a safe, reasonable driver. However, you share the road with others. Unfortunately, many of those drivers choose to engage in careless or completely reckless conduct when they get behind the wheel.
North Myrtle Beach Car Accident Statistics
The most recent South Carolina car accident statistics show that a crash can happen to anyone and anywhere in our state. The S.C. Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) reports:
One in 22 licensed drivers in our state, or 4.6 percent of the total licensed population, was involved in a crash in a single recent year.
In each of the state’s 46 counties, at least one person died in a collision and many more suffered severe injuries.
Here, we take a closer look at the numbers. Our car accident law firm realizes that these numbers represent individuals and families whose lives have been changed – in many cases, due to the negligence of other drivers. To discuss the specific facts of your auto accident, please contact Jebaily Law Firm today. Our North Myrtle Beach car accident attorneys will review your case in a free consultation.
How Many Car Accidents Occur in South Carolina?
Like the rest of the country, South Carolina has seen an ongoing increase in car accident injuries and deaths over the past few years. According to SCDPS and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics, between 2019 and 2020:
- Nationally, traffic crash fatalities rose from 36,355 to 38,824, a 6.8 percent increase in a year when drivers logged far fewer miles due to pandemic restrictions. In South Carolina, traffic crash deaths rose from 1,006 to 1,066 – a 6 percent increase.
- Nationally, traffic crash injuries went from 2,740,141 to 2,282,015, or a 16.7 percent decrease. In South Carolina, the injury count fell from 58,410 to 47,985, or a 17.8 percent decrease.
From 2016 to 2019, the total number of traffic collisions in South Carolina held fairly steady at around 142,000 before dropping significantly to 121,235 in the pandemic year of 2020. In 2018, a record 142,406 crashes occurred on our state’s roads, marking a 39.8 percent increase from 2011, when only 101,842 crashes occurred.
Why Do Auto Accidents Happen in South Carolina?
Several factors could contribute to the rise in auto accidents in South Carolina and across the country. As Car and Driver reports, “a bustling economy and cheap fuel prices explain part of the increase.” In other words, as the number of people on the road goes up – including the number of negligent drivers – so does the number of crashes.
SCDPS data from one recent year reveals that driver action causes nearly 95 percent of crashes in South Carolina.
The leading types of driver action that cause car accidents are:
Contributing factor Collisions
Driving too fast for conditions 33,967
Failure to yield the right of way 24,093
Improper lane use or lane changes 10,115
Following too closely 8,142
Distracted driving (or inattention) 7,427
Disregarding signs and signals 6,165
Driving under the influence 5,195
The other factors contributing to car accidents in South Carolina include defective roads, animals in the roadway, and vehicle defects. Out of the vehicle defects, the ones most commonly involved in crashes are tires, wheels, brakes, and steering mechanisms.
Who Gets Involved in South Carolina Auto Accidents?
Drivers of all ages get into car accidents in South Carolina. However, the accident rate is particularly high among teen drivers or drivers in the 15 to 24 age group.
According to SCDPS statistics:
One out of every 11 male drivers in the 15-24 age group (9.1 percent) was involved in an accident.
One out of every 13 female drivers in that same age group (7.7 percent) was involved in an accident.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that, nationally, nearly 2,400 teens between the ages of 13 and 19 died in traffic crashes, while roughly 258,000 received treatment for their injuries in emergency rooms.
Of course, motor vehicle drivers are not the only ones involved in crashes in South Carolina. For instance, in one recent year, collisions also involved:
Total crashes Injury crashes Fatal crashes
Motorcyclists 2,061 1,459 116
Bicyclists 400 393 16
Pedestrians 1,038 811 201
Where and When Do Crashes Occur in South Carolina?
Most auto accidents in South Carolina occur on highways. In one recent year, a reported 59,367 collisions occurred on U.S. and South Carolina primary routes, or 49 percent. Secondary roads accounted for 36,779 crashes, or 30.1 percent, while 10 percent of crashes occurred on interstate routes such as I-95. The fewest crashes happened on county roads (11,527, or 9.5 percent).
The counties in South Carolina with the highest total number of collisions were:
Total crashes Injury crashes Fatal crashes
Greenville 13,740 3,150 72
Charleston 13,077 3,594 68
Richland 10,617 2,699 49
Florence had the 10th highest total number of collisions with 3,935. Additionally, the county had 1,059 injury collisions (11th highest) and 28 fatal collisions (13th highest).
When do accidents occur in our state? According to the SCDPS, the time of day with the highest number of collisions was between 3:01 and 6 p.m. (29,509), while the most dangerous day of the week was Friday (21,004). October was the month with the highest number of crashes (11,707).
What Are the Consequences of South Carolina Car Accidents?
Traffic accidents resulted in $4.42 billion in “economic loss” in one recent year in South Carolina, or an average of $31,126 per accident. That total amount marked a 9.6 percent decrease from the previous year.
In Florence County, traffic crashes caused $140,092,200 in economic loss, or $35,602 per accident. The total amount marked a 21.1 percent decrease from the year before.
“Economic loss” takes into account property damage, medical costs, and lost productivity. It does not factor in the pain and suffering people experience in auto accidents.
Get Help from a North Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you were recently involved in an auto accident in Florence or elsewhere in South Carolina, or if you lost a loved one in a crash, make Jebaily Law Firm your first call. We can bring more than a half-century of experience to your case and a record of delivering positive results for our clients. Call or reach us online today for a free consultation.
