SCDPS reports that driver action is the primary contributing factor in 91.78% of non-fatal car accidents in South Carolina. Additional leading causes of car accidents are environmental factors, vehicle defects, and roadway factors.
Jordan Law Center’s car accident lawyer discusses the common causes of car accidents in South Carolina.
Leading Causes of Car Accidents
According to the South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book, these are the most common causes of car accidents in South Carolina:
Speeding, Too Fast for Conditions
The number one cause of car accidents in SC is driving too fast for conditions. Excessive speed was the primary factor in 37,216 traffic collisions in SC in 2022.
In addition to following the posted speed limit, drivers must adjust their speed for road conditions. That means driving with regard for the amount of traffic, precipitation, visibility, and other conditions present. Failing to adjust speed or exercising poor judgment in selecting a speed can mean that a driver doesn’t have enough time to react to danger or sudden movement on the road.
Failing To Yield the Right of Way
Drivers must take their turn. Generally, the law requires a driver to yield to the vehicle already in the intersection or already in the lane of travel. Failing to yield the right of way may cause a T-bone accident in an intersection. It can cause a sideswipe or rear-end accident when vehicles are traveling in the same direction.
Failing to yield was the primary factor in 29,040 SC car accidents in 2022. Statistically, that makes it the second-leading cause of car accidents in the state.
Improper Lane Use
Improper lane use can mean failing to stay in a lane while traveling. It can also mean changing lanes when the road is not clear of other traffic. Drivers must obey traffic signs that prohibit lane changes in certain sections of the road. Lane use violations caused 12,928 traffic crashes in SC in 2022.
Following Too Closely
SC law requires drivers to leave space for the vehicle in front of them. They must determine how much following distance is reasonable and prudent. What’s reasonable can be different in different situations, depending on the road conditions and how quickly a vehicle can come to a stop.
Generally, leaving enough following distance means enough distance that the vehicle behind can safely come to a complete stop if the vehicle in front of them stops suddenly. Following too closely can cause a rear-end accident, like the 9,595 collisions that occurred for this reason in SC in 2022.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving can mean letting your mind wander. It can mean taking your eyes off the road, for example, while looking at something in the vehicle. It may mean reaching for something while taking your hands off the wheel.
An attention lapse of even a few seconds can mean traveling a great distance without being in control of the vehicle. In 2022, distracted driving was the primary cause of 9,240 accidents.
Animal in the Road
Animals on the road were a primary contributor to 7,255 accidents in SC in 2022. Whether the animal is a deer, dog, farm animal, opossum, raccoon, or something else, a driver may struggle to maneuver safely when there is an animal present. The driver may strike a fixed object or depart from their lane of travel.
Disregarding Signs and Signals
Drivers must follow the rules of the road. And obey the signs and signals that direct traffic.
Disregarding traffic signs and signals was the primary factor in 7,067 traffic accidents in South Carolina in 2022.
Drunk Driving
Driving under the influence or over the legal limit was the leading cause of 4,753 motor vehicle collisions in SC in 2022. Driving under the influence may impair a person’s response time, perception, judgment, or manual abilities while operating a vehicle. Drunk driving may include operating while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or a combination of substances.
Improper Turn
Making a turn from the wrong lane of traffic is an improper turn. It can also be turning in the wrong direction or into the wrong lane. A U-turn where it is prohibited is an improper turn.
A driver must always use the proper signal when they turn. In 3,034 instances in 2022 in SC, improper turn was the primary factor in a traffic accident.
Vehicle Defects
Drivers must keep their vehicles in working condition. A defect in tires, wheels, brakes, lights, steering, windows or windshields, fuel systems, or other key parts may contribute to a collision.
The vehicle may become difficult to control or may react unexpectedly. Others on the road may not understand where the driver intends to maneuver if the lights are not working.
Vehicle defects caused 1,859 traffic crashes in SC in 2022. Cargo issues are included in this figure.
Aggressive Driving
Drivers must always operate reasonably. Negligence and reckless behavior can create danger. Road rage and impatience are causes of aggressive driving. In 2022, 1,367 traffic accidents occurred in SC because of aggressive driving.
Other Leading Causes of Car Accidents in SC—2022 Statistics
- Debris, road obstructions—1,115
- Illegally in the roadway, improper crossing of the road—491
- Over-correcting, over-steering—131
- Weather—122
- Non-motorist under the influence—50
- Glare—39
A significant number of primary factors are categorized as other. These additional factors are both motorist and non-motorist causes.
How a Greenville Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you have been in a car accident, the cause of the accident is very important. South Carolina uses a comparative fault system to determine car accident compensation. That means it’s important to understand the leading causes of car accidents.
A Greenville car accident lawyer can help you investigate. They can build the facts to show who is at fault and prove your right to compensation.
Contact a Lawyer
Jordan Law Center is a law firm representing car accident victims. A lawyer can investigate the cause of your car accident and represent you. Talk to a lawyer and get legal help today. Contact us now.
“There is not enough GREAT THINGS I could say about Jordan Law Center.”