Auto accident data from AAA Carolinas points to an unfortunate distinction for Horry County. For six out of the last seven years, the county has ranked in the top five in the state for having high crash percentages. According to the president of AAA Carolinas, the rankings should be a “wake-up call” for counties with dangerous roads.
On average, Horry County had 268.7 auto accidents for every 100 million miles traveled in 2012. That means Horry County’s average was 21 percent higher than the overall state average. And unfortunately, the bad news doesn’t stop there.
Horry County was also ranked most dangerous for motorcyclists, followed in that category by counties Marlboro, Greenville, Oconee and Pickens.
With 51 deaths, Horry also had the second-highest number of fatal auto accidents, with Greenville County being the most deadly for motorists. Sixty-seven people died in Greenville County crashes in 2012.
So what causes so many injurious and deadly accidents? Drunk driving and distracted driving are well known causes, and the AAA Carolinas president called for improved traffic enforcement. He also pointed to bad road design as a possible cause.
When people are injured or killed because of another driver’s negligence, victims or their families have a right to seek justice beyond the penalties handed down by a criminal court. Sometimes a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit is the surest way of achieving justice. These types of civil action can lead to monetary compensation for people facing the most difficult time in their life.
Source: WMBF News, “Horry County among most dangerous to drive in SC, says AAA,” Aug. 13, 2013