2021 set a record for motorcycle fatalities in the U.S. Though that number dropped slightly in 2022, the decline was just over 1%–still more than twice as many deaths as in 2000, and 24% more than in 2010. Of course, these fatalities aren’t spread equally around the country.
The number of fatal motorcycle accidents in South Carolina is somewhat higher than the average, with 167 motorcyclist deaths in 2021. That’s about 3% of the total deaths across the nation. Seven states had more fatalities than South Carolina. Still, South Carolina was ranked the fourth most dangerous state for motorcyclists.
Nationwide and in South Carolina, there are far fewer bicycle fatalities than there are traffic deaths involving drivers and passengers of motor vehicles, motorcyclists, and even pedestrians. So, it can come as a shock when you hear of someone killed in a bicycle accident, like the North Charleston woman who died this past summer after being hit by a dump truck. That shock should also serve as a wake-up call for those who don’t recognize the risks to bicycle riders on South Carolina streets.
South Carolina makes multiple lists of the most dangerous states for bicyclists, each using slightly different metrics. That may seem surprising when you consider that in the decade from 2012-2021, South Carolina had just 186 bicyclist fatalities. That’s about 2.2% of all bike rider deaths in the U.S. during that time, and only works out to an average of 18-19 bicycle fatalities per year. In fact, more than half of bicyclist fatalities each year are attributable to the five states with the highest number of casualties–and South Carolina is not among them. But, the number of annual deaths isn’t the most meaningful metric.
Where are Bicycle Riders Most at Risk?
Highest Ranking States for Per Capita Bicyclist Fatalities
According to Cycling Weekly, Florida is the most dangerous state for bicyclists, with a bicyclist fatality rate of 6.18 per 100,000 residents. The rest of the top five include Louisiana, Arizona, Delaware and South Carolina. South Carolina’s per capita fatality rate for bike riders is 3.5 per 100,000.
Per capita rates provide a bit more information than the raw number of bicycle deaths in a state, but they still don’t give us the whole picture on the risk to bicyclists. That’s because bicycle riding is more popular in some states than others, and because different climates around the U.S. mean that bicyclists in some states ride year-round, while those in other states are much less likely to be riding in the winter months.
Fatalities per Bicycle Miles Traveled
Streetlight Data recognized the flaw in using per capita rates to assess risk levels, and switched to a new metric: bicyclist deaths by bike miles traveled. When that new ranking system was applied, South Carolina jumped to the second-riskiest state for bike riders, ahead of Florida.
Charleston County Also Makes the List
In addition to states, researchers looked at metro areas and counties around the country. Charleston County was #5 among counties with populations of 250,000 or more for per capita bicycle fatalities.
Bicycle Injuries in Traffic are Far More Common
While bicyclist deaths in traffic are relatively rare, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says about 130,000 bicyclists are injured in traffic each year. A wide variety of factors contribute to these injuries and to the fatalities discussed above. Some of the most common include:
Road design that isn’t friendly to bicyclists, such as narrow streets, lack of shoulders, and no bicycle lanes
Distracted driving by motorists sharing the road with bike riders
Bicyclists not observing traffic laws
Failure to yield the right of way
Researchers have also found that car-bicycle accidents are more likely to be fatal to the bicyclist if they are under the influence of alcohol.
Liability for Bicycle Accident Injuries and Death
If you were hit by a car while biking or have lost a loved one to a bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. For example, if the driver who hit you was negligent, they will likely be legally responsible for the accident and damages you suffered. Some common examples include a driver who didn’t see you because they were texting or otherwise distracted, a driver who hit you while speeding or disregarding a traffic signal, or a driver who was under the influence or fatigued at the time of the accident.
Depending on how and why the accident occurred, there may be other responsible parties. It’s also possible that you may share some of the blame for the accident.
The best way to find out whether you have a claim against the driver who hit you and whether there may be other responsible parties is to talk with an experienced Charleston/North Charleston bicycle accident attorney.
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) has released preliminary data on 2021 pedestrian fatalities, and the news isn’t good. They’re reporting an estimated 7,485 people around the United States hit and killed by cars and other motor vehicles in 2021. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the last time more than 7,000 pedestrians were fatally hit by motor vehicles in a single year was 1982.
Though 2021 fatalities hit a new peak, pedestrian fatalities have been trending upward for several years. From 2010 to 2020, the annual number of pedestrian deaths increased by 54%, from 4,302 to 6,607. While traffic fatalities in general trended upward during the same period, the jump in pedestrian fatalities was much more significant. And, pedestrians make up an increasing percentage of those killed in traffic.
Determining liability in a South Carolina car accident can be complicated. Often, two drivers involved in a collision will disagree about who is at fault. In some cases, they may both be right–many car accidents have more than one contributing cause. Imagine, for example, that one vehicle suddenly stops in traffic because two children are fighting in the back seat. The next vehicle in line is following too closely and slightly exceeding the speed limit, and rear-ends the vehicle that stopped abruptly.
I’ve written in the past about how important it is for drivers to take extra precautions on Halloween because of the increased foot traffic–in particular, the unusual number of young children out walking. This remains an important consideration. The risk of pedestrian fatality on Halloween evening is about 43% higher than on comparable evenings.
Truck accidents are often more serious than other motor vehicle accidents, because of the size, weight, and momentum of a large commercial truck. In addition to South Carolina traffic laws, the federal government has laws and regulations in place to help protect against large truck accidents.
With a few clicks, you can have nearly any item delivered to your doorstep. The Covid-19 pandemic is fueling an increase in delivery, from prepared food to groceries to clothing and household items. But, that newfound convenience comes at a price: an increase in traffic crashes.
For instance, did you know that cyclists are 10 times likelier to be killed in South Carolina than in Oregon? If you look more closely at the statistics, a troubling trend appears. If you live in the Deep South – outside Charleston, South Carolina, for example – you’re more likely to fall victim to this kind of accident.
If you own a vehicle with a Takata airbag, you could be putting your life in the wrong hands. Imagine the shock of an auto collision; the impact of steel and fiberglass at 25 miles per hour.
Now, imagine that your accident was a minor fender bender. The most trusted safety feature, the airbag, deployed. And when it deployed, it exploded . Shrapnel from the sudden failure blew into your face and body.