(Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash)

According to the 2015 South Carolina Crash Statistics Clock, there is a traffic collision:

taking place in our state every 3.9 minutes
causing injuries every 13.9 minutes in South Carolina, with someone being injured every 9 minutes
damaging property in South Carolina every 5.5 minutes
leading to at least one fatality every 9.6 hours, with someone being killed once every 8.9 hours

Here are additional concerning collision statistics from the same source:

Someone is killed in a DUI accident (.08+) every 29.1 hours
A teen driver is involved in a fatal or injury collision every 1.3 hours
One unrestrained motor vehicle occupant is killed every 27.5 hours
One bicyclist is killed every 22.8 days
One motorcyclist is killed every 2.6 days
One pedestrian is killed every 2.9 days
One child under the age of six is seriously injured or killed every 7 days

Increasing Numbers of Accidents

Traffic fatalities increased from 823 in 2014 to 979 in 2015, which is a 19 percent increase. Plus, by looking at fatalities in another way, via the death rate by mileage, this also increased: from 1.65 deaths per million vehicle miles of travel in 2014 to 1.89 in 2015.

Traffic-related injuries also increased, with 58,604 in 2015, a 10.5 percent increase from the previous year.

Traffic collisions are the cause of economic loss in South Carolina, as well, measuring in the billions of dollars every year. This is because of associated medical costs, lost productivity and property damage, which doesn’t even begin to factor in the intangibles such as grief and suffering.

The economic impact is also increasing in our state: $4.12 billion in 2015, up by 15 percent from 2014.

Why South Carolina?

(Photo by Alexandre Godreau on Unsplash)

“Rural roadways, speeding and careless driving could be making South Carolina among the deadliest states in the nation for drivers.” (PostAndCourier.com)

This 2016 article cites a study that uses National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data – one that ranks South Carolina drivers as the third worst in the nation. This is the fifth year for this study, and South Carolina has landed in the five top worst spots for the past four years. Even more troubling, our state ranked first for the vehicular fatality rate when using the most recent data available. Drunk driving? Tenth. Speeding and careless driving? Seventh.

Another report shows that, by August 2016, every county in South Carolina already had one or more traffic fatalities for the year to date.

Rock Hill Auto Accident Attorneys

Attorneys at the Law Offices of F. Craig Wilkerson are dedicated to helping injury victims. Insurance companies already have people looking out for their interests – so, shouldn’t you? And, if the worst happens, and you lose a loved one through a traffic fatality, we are here to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Let’s talk. You can request a free case evaluation with an experienced car accident attorney or call the number for the office closest to you:

803-324-7200 (Rock Hill attorneys)
803-289-7202 (Lancaster attorneys)
803-396-5200 (Fort Mill attorneys)

Our firm represents clients in York County, Chester County and Lancaster County in South Carolina, as well as statewide. When necessary, we’ve taken cases all the way to the South Carolina Supreme Court, so you can be assured that we don’t back down from the toughest cases – including yours.