When it comes to fatal car accidents, the state of South Carolina has received promising news. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, South Carolina traffic deaths have fallen from 2008 to the midway point of 2013, WLTX reported.

However, statistics from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety show one county isn’t as fortunate. Richland County has experienced an increase in fatal automobile accidents each year since 2010.

Richland County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Pearson said that distracted driving could account for much of the increase. But he also pointed out that because Richland has one of the largest populations in the state, more accidents are expected.

“There’s a heavy populace in our infrastructure,” Pearson said. “You know, we’ve got a lot of interstates in and out of our county, so our population rises during the work week.”

Pearson said that despite the growth in general traffic fatalities, DUI-related deaths are steadily decreasing throughout Richland County. In 2010, 24 people died due to DUI, compared with 16 deaths in 2011.

Need Legal Help?

Car accidents can happen in a second, often leading to serious injuries or even death. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a South Carolina automobile accident because of somebody else’s negligence, contact our South Carolina personal injury attorneys at Joye Law Firm.

Whether you need guidance on accidents involving distracted drivers, reckless driving or some other type of vehicle collision, call (877) 941-2615 or use our online form so our attorneys can offer you advice about your rights.

About the Author

Mark Joye is the Head of the Litigation Department at the Joye Law Firm. A Board-Certified Trial Advocate with nearly 30 years of litigation experience, he currently serves on the Board of Governors for the American Association for Justice and is a past president of the South Carolina Association for Justice. In a recent trial, Joye headed a trial team that secured $17 million for a family killed in a tractor-trailer accident.

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