Charleston, SC Fatal Truck Accidents Lawyer

In 2016, approximately 102 people died every day in truck, car and other vehicular accidents in the United States, which adds up to 37,461 deaths that year on U.S. roadways, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports. South Carolina accounted for a significant portion of the nation’s roadway deaths from fatal truck accidents and other vehicular crashes.

Some 1,020 people died on South Carolina roads in 2016, which accounts for more than 2.7 percent of the nation’s total traffic fatalities that year, NHTSA reports. The roadway deaths include 25 bicyclists killed, 144 pedestrians and 186 motorcyclists. A total of 636 people died in passenger cars and trucks.

With 2.47 deaths per 100 million miles driven South Carolina’s death rate on rural roads is significantly higher than the 1.37 deaths per 100 million miles driven in urban areas.

South Carolina’s rural roadways accounted for about 60 percent of fatal truck accidents and other roadway deaths in the state with 613. Rural roadways are particularly dangerous due to narrow and non-existent shoulders, and narrower traveling lanes than on freeways and in most urban areas.

When vehicles crash in rural areas, they often strike trees and other potentially deadly objects at terminal velocities. By contrast, urban roadways often have wide shoulders and ample traffic controls to help guide drivers. The state reported 407 fatal accidents in its urban centers in 2016, despite having much higher populations, more drivers and more vehicles.

Most drivers and passengers killed in roadway accidents – 317 – were not wearing seat belts, and excessive speed claimed the most lives at 393. Alcohol claimed 341 lives in South Carolina.

With excessive speed and alcohol accounting for a large portion of deaths, potential criminal liability arises. So do civil penalties for killing others in accidents while driving drunk or impaired, or while ignoring posted speed limits.