Texting and driving became illegal in South Carolina in 2014, but some drivers still reach for their phones when they’re behind the wheel. Serious and fatal accidents are often caused by drivers who just wanted to send “one quick text.”
Many people believe that texting and driving is “no big deal,” but what they don’t understand is that a person driving 55 mph will actually travel the length of a football field in the time it takes to read an average text message. That’s a lot of ground covered, and a lot of opportunity for a catastrophic accident to occur.
Drivers carry a responsibility to protect themselves and other motorists on the road at all times. That means they must give the road their undivided attention, as doing so is the only way to remain 100% alert and responsive to hazards that may require the driver to act quickly.
However, texting and driving still happens every day in the Palmetto State, putting the lives of other drivers, passengers, and road workers at risk.
Here are some facts about texting and driving in the United States, from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
- Texting & driving is 6x more dangerous than driving drunk
- You’re 90% more likely to have an accident when driving distracted
- Distracted driving kills more than 8 people in the US every day
- Distracted driving injures an average of 1,095 people in the US every day
- Phones shift a driver’s attention more than any other form of distraction in the car
And here are some facts directly related to South Carolina, from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS):
- South Carolina averages 2 crashes every hour involving a distracted driver
- In 2019, South Carolina reported 18,936 collisions where distracted driving contributed to the accident
- Motorists who cause an accident while texting & driving can be charged with negligent driving in South Carolina
Were you seriously injured by someone who was texting & driving?
If you’ve been seriously injured by someone who was texting behind the wheel in South Carolina, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit to recover damages for current and future medical bills, lost wages, disfigurement and scarring, loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, and/or punitive damages.
You are highly advised to contact an experienced personal injury attorney if you’ve been injured on the road by a distracted driver. One of the main reasons for this is that insurance companies often try to pressure auto accident victims into settling for an amount that is far too low. Only a qualified lawyer can assess your case and advocate on your behalf, fighting for you to receive a fair sum.
The attorneys at McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates have been fighting for auto accident victims for more than 40 years, and our law firm’s track record speaks for itself. Our attorneys are highly skilled at what they do, and they know the ins and outs of South Carolina law. They will do everything they can to maximize any compensation you receive following your car accident.
McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates offers free case evaluations, and we would love to speak with you about your case. Give us a call today at 1-888-353-5513. It won’t cost you anything to see if we can help.®
