Every year, millions of drivers and pedestrians are killed or severely injured in car accidents worldwide. Unfortunately, South Carolina is no exception, with traffic accidents in the state continuing to trend upward. If you or a loved one has been a victim of a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence, you deserve justice. The team at Clardy Law are trusted car accident lawyers in Greenville, SC, and will leverage their knowledge to achieve the best possible outcome.
Recent accident statistics — as highlighted in the latest release of the South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book — show a slight decrease in traffic collisions on the previous year, but still too many, highlighting an urgent need for legal support. As of 2022:
- One traffic collision happens every 3.7 minutes
- One person is injured in a car accident every 10.5 minutes
- One person is killed every 8 hours.
In 2022, a total of 142,046 collisions occurred on South Carolina roads, a 2.9% decrease from 2021. The number of fatal collisions dropped by 8.5% to 1,018, while serious injury collisions also fell by 11.0% to 2,130. Overall traffic injuries declined from 53,596 in 2021 to 50,172 in 2022. Among those fatalities, 387 of the 718 vehicle occupants were not wearing seatbelts, representing 53.9% of the total.
Additionally, the Mileage Death Rate (MDR), which measures traffic fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel, decreased from 2.08 to 1.85.
While it is good to see the numbers going down, these are still alarming statistics that highlight the severe impact of traffic accidents. But what’s behind these numbers? And how can our personal injury lawyers in Greenville, SC, help you or your loved ones secure the compensation you deserve if you’re involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault?
In this guide, we explore the most common causes of car accidents in the United States – specifically South Carolina and explain how our accident lawyers in Greenville, SC can help you exercise your rights and achieve a better outcome.
What’s the Number One Cause of Car Accidents?
The leading cause of car accidents in the US is distracted driving, a common form of driver error. Distracted driving includes a wide range of behaviors, such as texting, talking on the phone, adjusting the music or radio, eating or drinking, checking social media, and conversing with passengers while driving.
Various medical studies have cited that the human brain cannot perform two important tasks simultaneously. When people are engaged in driving and another task, the brain embarks on a micro-tasking process, whereby it moves back and forth between the two actions, rather than focusing on both at the same time.
Understandably, the consequences of distracted driving can be devastating, but it’s not surprising that this is the most common cause of car accidents. In our 2021 driver survey, we found that nearly 50% of respondents engaged in these behaviors. Most admitted to talking to passengers or taking their eyes off the road to change the music. However, a significant 22.9% also admitted to talking on their mobile phones, reading or sending text messages, or checking social media while driving.
With distracted driving becoming an increasingly serious issue, our personal injury lawyers in Greenville, South Carolina, are dedicated to helping clients claim damages if they or a loved one have suffered injury or death due to distracted driving.
Most Common Causes of Car Accidents
While driver error — mostly caused by distracted driving — is the most common cause of car accidents, it’s not the only one. A much smaller number of accidents are caused by vehicle error — such as brake failure — and environmental factors, including poor weather conditions. Let’s explore some of the top causes of car accidents in the form of human error, vehicle problems, and environmental factors.
Speeding
Whether they’re running late for an important work meeting or need to get to their destination fast, many drivers may be tempted to drive above the legal limit. However, speeding reduces a driver’s reaction time and can have deadly consequences.
Speeding can cause drivers to overlook hazards entirely, leading to rear-end collisions or loss of control as they swerve to avoid obstacles.
Speeding is particularly dangerous when trucks are involved. Semi-trucks are large and heavy — weighing as much as 80 thousand pounds. This means it takes longer for a truck to stop. Even if a speeding truck driver sees a hazard and hits the brakes, they may not slow down in time, which can result in serious, and often deadly, accidents.
If you or someone you know has been impacted by driver error in the form of speeding, our car accident lawyers in Greenville, SC, can analyze your unique case and offer you the legal support and care you need to move forward.
Driving While Intoxicated
Drinking under the influence (DUI) is still a leading cause of car accidents. As of 2022, a person loses their life to a drunk driver every 39 minutes in the US, and many more end up with serious injuries.
Drinking impairs focus and concentration and significantly slows reaction time, which can lead to intoxicated drivers making delayed—and often life-changing—decisions. The most heartbreaking aspect of these accidents is that they are entirely avoidable.
Driving while intoxicated also includes drug use, whether legal or illegal. Even over-the-counter medications like antihistamines or prescribed drugs can cause drowsiness and increase the risk of a crash. As a result, DUI cases remain a complex and sensitive area of law.
If you have been a victim of a drunk or drug-induced accident, our car accident lawyers in Greenville, SC, will work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve.
Recklessness
Many behaviors fall under the umbrella of reckless driving, ranging from running a red light, being aggressive, and driving while tired to tailgating another driver and driving in the wrong direction. Reckless driving endangers motorists and pedestrians and can have devastating consequences.
Brake Failure
Brake failure falls under vehicle error, and while this is a less common cause of accidents than driver error, it still contributes to a large number of car wrecks.
A single brake failure can cause a multi-vehicle collision — and it can happen at any time.
Tire Blowouts
A tire blowout can be particularly dangerous, especially when combined with other factors like bad weather or road conditions. If a tire has seen better days and the car brakes suddenly or hits a pothole, the tire can blow and cause dangerous accidents.
While drivers can take precautions to avoid a blowout, such as keeping their tires inflated and regularly checking for damage, tires can be faulty from the get-go, and you may not know until it is too late.
Potholes
Potholes form due to continued pressure on the road, where water seeps under the asphalt, freezes, and melts. Over time, the asphalt expands and cracks, and it can cause sizable holes in the road.
While driving directly over a pothole can blow a tire or bump a driver and cause them to lose control, accidents can also happen if a driver swerves into traffic to avoid one.
Inclement Weather
Weather conditions are beyond our control, and sometimes driving during heavy rain, high winds, or a snowstorm is unavoidable. While most drivers take care in icy or wet conditions, others can be reckless. Sometimes, driving at a normal speed can lead to serious accidents.
Obscured Signs
We all rely on road signs when driving, especially on unfamiliar roads. These signs guide us on speed limits, warn of sharp turns, and indicate pedestrian zones, among other things. However, when these vital signals are obscured by overgrown foliage or blocked by fallen trees due to inclement weather, it can lead to dangerous situations and potentially cause a crash.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer in Greenville, SC, Can Help You
Car accidents can happen to any one of us, leading to mental anguish, pain and suffering, and loss of companionship. Most car accidents are caused by human error, with distracted driving being the leading factor, and as such, often are the fault of another person. If you or someone close to you has been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to seek justice and pursue compensation for lost income, medical bills, vehicle repairs, and long-term consequences.
The Clardy Law team understands the lasting impact that emotional and physical injuries can have on your life. A personal injury lawyer in Greenville, South Carolina, can advocate for your rights, pursue compensation for your losses, and work to secure a better future for you.
Working with a car accident lawyer in Greenville, SC, offers several advantages, including:
- Car accident experience: Our car accident lawyers in Greenville, SC, understand the ins and outs of car accidents and leverage our knowledge of the law to prove liability and showcase human error.
- Meticulous claim evaluations: our personal injury attorneys in Greenville, South Carolina, will analyze every part of your case, including medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering, ensuring everything is accounted for in your claim so that you can secure maximum compensation.
- Dedicated negotiations: We will deal with insurance companies directly, leveraging our legal knowledge to push back against lowball offers and fight for fair compensation.
- Stress-free litigation: Our accident lawyers handle all administrative elements of your case, including collecting and presenting evidence (like police reports, witness testimonies, and medical records). We also manage all bureaucratic elements like paperwork and negotiations.
- Contingent fee basis: You only pay if our personal injury lawyers win your case. This makes it a zero-risk process. No claim? No pay!
- Court representation: If your case goes to court, we will support you every step of the way. Our accident lawyers in Greenville, SC, are dedicated to fighting for your rights and achieving the best possible outcome.
Working with our committed personal injury lawyers in Greenville, South Carolina, helps traffic accident victims safeguard their rights and fight for the justice they deserve. While these may be the most common causes of car accidents, a crash can happen to anyone. Often, it isn’t your fault, and you may be entitled to a settlement to cover your expenses and compensate you for your injuries, medical bills, or loss of income.
If you’ve been in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, our car accident lawyers in South Carolina can help you pursue justice and compensation. To find out if you have a claim, get in touch for your FREE, no-obligation case review.
