South Carolina Ranks High For Dangerous Drivers

South Carolina flag and United States flag

Our state tops the charts for deadly traffic accidents, an alarming statistic that proves reckless and distracted driving is all too common here at home. Accidents involve all types of motor vehicles, including cars, commercial trucks and motorcycles – as well as pedestrians. Surely, when it comes to South Carolina dangerous drivers, we must do better.

Insurify, a convenient resource for those comparing insurance rates, recently conducted a thorough analysis of driver data for 2021. By comparing accident rates, Insurify determined the states with the most car accidents – and ranked South Carolina as #5 in the nation. Research revealed the following:

  • Percentage of drivers with a prior at-fault accident: 13.11%
  • Percentage of drivers with a prior no-fault accident: 7.08%
  • Number of traffic deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled: 1.73

More data analysis showed what many local drivers in Charleston, South Carolina already suspected: Our state’s drivers rank #7 as the nation’s worst. In fact, over 26% of drivers on the road report a past driving incident!

Utilizing data from 2.5 million car insurance applications, Insurify also crafted a list of the top 20 cities for car accidents based on the percentage of drivers with previous at-fault wrecks. Out of all America’s cities, three from South Carolina made the list, including:

#18 North Charleston, SC

#17 Columbia, SC

#7 Charleston, SC

What Factors Are Causing the Increase in Car Accident Fatalities? 

2021 was the deadliest year on South Carolina roadways, according to data from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. 1,005 fatal motor vehicle accidents and 1,080 deaths were reported, surpassing totals from the five years prior. With more car crash deaths per 100,000 people than in past years, 2021’s fatality rate rose to new heights. So, South Carolina dangerous drivers spike is caused by what exactly? Let’s find out.

The increase in car accident fatalities is likely the unfortunate consequence of the following:

  • Speeding
  • Reckless driving
  • Driving under the influence
  • Distracted driving
  • Failure to wear a seatbelt

Note: Almost half of passengers involved in fatal traffic accidents were not wearing seatbelts. Out of 714 passengers with access to a seatbelt, 352 did not buckle up.

Our Experienced South Carolina Car Accident Lawyers Can Help!


With unsafe road conditions to contend with and no shortage of bad drivers, getting behind the wheel can be risky. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact Hoffman Law Firm today – especially if your wreck involved an uninsured motorist or drunk driver. Our Charleston car accident lawyers are here to help!

Our team will handle your personal injury case from start to finish, managing all communication with the insurance company and offering trusted legal advice. We will fight to get you the damages you deserve, including compensation for medical bills, property damage, lost wages and more. If you lost a loved one in a car accident, trust our team with your wrongful death case. 

In addition to car crash cases, our local attorneys also handle a wide variety of other personal injury claims, like truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, dog bites, defective product liability and more.

If you’ve been injured, simply visit us or schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys today!

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