If you have been involved in a pedestrian or bicycle accident, or if your loved one was killed by a reckless driver while on foot or riding a bicycle in the Conway or Myrtle Beach area, you may be entitled to significant compensation for your injuries.
In this article, we will discuss the growing problem of pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents in Conway and Myrtle Beach, SC, including:
- Pedestrian accidents in the Grand Strand area,
- Bicycle accidents caused by careless drivers,
- Pedestrian accident and bicycle accident crash statistics for SC, and
- What the state is doing to reduce the number of pedestrian and bicyclist deaths in SC.
Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Conway and Myrtle Beach, SC
According to the SCDOT, South Carolina ranked second in the nation for pedestrian deaths in 2020 – accounting for nearly 18% of all traffic fatalities in the state…
Pedestrian deaths are increasing in Conway, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and across the country – according to NHTSA, every 85 minutes a pedestrian is killed by a motorist somewhere in the United States. And this only accounts for the fatalities – a staggering number of pedestrians are injured every day by collisions with motor vehicles.
Every driver has a duty to keep a lookout for pedestrians, use extra care at crosswalks, not drive onto the road’s shoulder where a person may be walking, and follow SC’s traffic laws. When a careless driver injures a pedestrian – or, even worse, causes their death – due to the driver’s negligence, the negligent driver must pay compensation to the injured pedestrian or the deceased pedestrian’s family.
Even when the pedestrian is partially at fault, they may recover damages under SC’s comparative negligence rules – if the pedestrian is less than 50% at fault, they can recover the damages they are entitled to reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to them, but, if the pedestrian is more than 50% at fault, they cannot recover damages.
Bicycle Accident Lawyers in Conway and Myrtle Beach, SC
Bicycle collisions with motor vehicles are another growing problem in SC and the nation, particularly in areas with congested traffic and no bicycle lanes…
Even when there is no bicycle lane, a bicyclist has the right to travel on the roadway, and other drivers have a duty to respect their space, allow them the full use of the travel lane, and only pass when it is safe to do so.
When a motorist causes a bicycle crash because they are impatient, speeding, texting while driving, drunk, fail to keep a proper lookout, attempt to pass a bicyclist when it is not safe, or fail to yield the right of way to a bicyclist, the negligent driver is liable for the damage they caused – and, potentially, punitive damages.
SC Pedestrian and Bicyclist Crash Statistics
According to SCDOT’s 2022 Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Action Plan (PBSAP), SC ranks fifth in the nation for pedestrian fatalities from 2015-2019 – approximately 69% higher than the national average.
From 2015 to 2019, there were:
- 5311 pedestrian crashes,
- 759 pedestrian fatalities,
- 2490 bicycle crashes, and
- 109 bicycle fatalities.
From 2009 to 2019, pedestrian fatalities in SC increased by 80%, and bicycle fatalities increased by 155%, showing a steady increase in the number of fatalities in our state for both pedestrians and bicyclists in recent years.
When a pedestrian or a bicyclist collides with a motor vehicle, they are much more likely to die as a result of the crash.
For example, in 2019, pedestrian and bicycle crashes accounted for less than 1% of all crashes in SC, but they accounted for 20% of all highway deaths…
What is the State Doing to Reduce the Number of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Deaths?
Although South Carolina appears to be losing the battle against the rising tide of pedestrian and bicyclist deaths, the SCDOT is taking steps to attempt to make our roads safer.
Some examples from the SCDOT’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Action Plan include:
- Providing additional guidance in the SCDOT’s Roadway Design Manual for the design of walking, biking, and transit facilities along SCDOT’s right-of-way,
- New crosswalk implementation guidance that includes consideration of mid-block crosswalks, high-visibility crosswalk markings, RRFBs, PHBs, curb extensions, and raised crosswalks,
- Bicycling accommodations as part of the SCDOT annual paving improvement program,
- The inclusion of strategies to reduce pedestrian and bicycle collisions in the State’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, and
- Road Safety Audits (RSAs) at locations that have a high number of pedestrian and bicycle-involved crashes.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accident Attorneys in Conway and Myrtle Beach, SC
If you have been injured as a pedestrian or a bicyclist in a collision with a motor vehicle, or if a loved one has been killed by a reckless driver, you should consult with an experienced trial lawyer immediately who can help you to gather the evidence you need to prove liability and damages, settle your claim for full and fair compensation, and try your case to a jury if the insurance company doesn’t pay.
Call Johnny Gardner Law now at 843-248-7135 or send us an email through our website to find out how we can help.
