The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in 2017, nearly 1,000 people died in fatal traffic accidents here in South Carolina. The state’s traffic fatality rate of nearly 20 accident-related deaths per 100,000 people is almost double that of the national average. Why are South Carolinians at so much risk while on the road? Our South Carolina personal injury lawyer delves deeper.
Major Causes of Fatal Car Accidents in South Carolina
There are many possible factors that can contribute to an auto accident here in the Palmetto State. Some of the most common poor behaviors that can cause a crash include:
- Drunk driving. NHTSA’s statistics for 2017 show that out of 988 fatal accidents in South Carolina, 313 involved driving under the influence. That’s about one-third of all traffic-related deaths in our state.
- Speeding. The NHTSA data shows that 361 people were killed in South Carolina due to speed-related crashes, causing over one-third of traffic-related deaths.
- Texting and distracted driving. Nationwide NHTSA statistics show that in 2016, 3,450 people were killed due to distracted driving and 391,000 people were injured. Texting is the latest contributor to distracted driving, but other actions like talking on the phone, eating and drinking, and adjusting the radio all cause accidents, too.
Other common causes for accidents in South Carolina include tailgating, falling asleep at the wheel, and failure to yield.
Protect Yourself and Your Legal Rights Following a Wreck
The best way that you can protect yourself proactively is by avoiding bad driving behaviors. Just by choosing to never drive intoxicated, obeying posted speed limits, and not texting while you drive, you can avoid being the potential cause of a fatal wreck on the road.
At the end of the day, though, we can’t always account for the behavior of other people. Accidents can and do happen every day, no matter how hard we try. When someone else’s negligence causes a wreck, the best thing you can do for yourself is to seek legal help from an experienced car accident attorney. Your car wreck attorney can make sure that your rights are protected and help you pursue fair compensation for your property damage, medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses.
Get Legal Help After a Car Accident in South Carolina
If you were injured in an auto accident in the Columbia area due to a distracted driver—or any other reason—you should contact the Law Office of Kenneth Berger for a free consultation. A car accident lawyer can help injured people after an accident by handling the crash investigation, negotiating your insurance claims, and representing you in any lawsuits that you need to claim a full and fair recovery.
The attorneys at the Law Office of Kenneth E. Berger have years of experience handling cases like yours, and would be honored to help you and your family with the legal recovery process while you focus on healing. Our offices are conveniently located in Columbia and Myrtle Beach, and we proudly serve the Sumter and Florence areas, as well as the entire state of South Carolina. Call us today at 803-790-2800 (Columbia, SC) / 843-427-2800 (Myrtle Beach, SC), or start a live chat 24/7 with a real, live person to arrange a free and confidential consultation.
