More Riders, More Risk: Why Motorcycle Accidents Are Increasing In South Carolina
Warm weather nearly year round, scenic coastal highways, and a genuine biker culture make South Carolina a magnet for motorcyclists. That same appeal comes with a darker statistic attached. Motorcycle fatalities in the state have been trending upward for years, and the reasons behind that trend matter, whether you ride or simply share the road with those who do.
What the Numbers Show
The South Carolina Department of Public Safety has tracked the state as consistently among the more dangerous places in the country for motorcyclists, and the numbers back that up. South Carolina recorded 170 motorcycle related deaths in a recent year, with fatality trends generally rising since the early 2000s. Motorcyclist fatalities account for roughly 14 percent of traffic deaths nationally, and South Carolina’s rate has historically run meaningfully above that average.
More Riders on the Road Changes the Math
Part of the increase simply reflects more people riding. South Carolina’s climate allows for near year round riding conditions, unlike states where winter sidelines motorcycles for months. Add in the state’s tourism draw, including well known biker rallies and scenic coastal routes, and the volume of motorcycles sharing the road with cars and trucks has grown substantially. More riders logging more miles means more opportunities for a distracted or careless driver to cause a serious crash.
Recurring Factors in the Crash Data
Beyond simple volume, a handful of factors keep showing up in South Carolina’s motorcycle crash statistics:
- Driving too fast for conditions, one of the most frequently cited causes of motorcycle crashes statewide
- Failure to yield the right of way, often because drivers misjudge a motorcycle’s speed and distance far more easily than a car’s
- Impaired driving, with a significant share of fatal motorcycle crashes involving alcohol impairment on the part of either the rider or the other driver
- Low helmet usage, since only about a third of South Carolina riders killed in crashes were wearing helmets, well below the national average
Riders Still Get Blamed Anyway
Despite these numbers making clear how often other drivers cause motorcycle crashes, insurance companies and opposing attorneys frequently try to shift blame onto the rider regardless. South Carolina follows a fault based system, meaning the driver who caused a crash bears financial responsibility for the resulting damages, the same principle that applies to any other collision. Riders often face an uphill battle convincing adjusters of this, largely because of lingering bias against motorcyclists as a group.
An insurance company will not automatically treat a motorcycle claim fairly, especially given how common this bias is. Our Columbia motorcycle accident attorneys at The Stanley Law Group have represented injured riders throughout Columbia and the surrounding communities since 1990, and we know how to counter these assumptions. Reach out to our team today for guidance.
Source:
scdps.sc.gov/motorcycle-safety