What Time of Day Do Most Car Accidents Happen in Greenville?

No matter what time of day or year you’re driving through Greenville, an accident can happen anytime.

If you’ve sustained injuries in a South Carolina car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you shouldn’t bear the losses and costs. A Greenville car accident attorney at Upstate Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC can help you pursue damages for your injuries to help rebuild your life.

We understand how disruptive car accidents can be and strive to help you overcome severe injuries and financial hardships caused by others’ negligence. Call us today to learn about your legal options after serious injuries caused by someone else’s fault.

To illustrate the widespread problem of motor vehicle accidents in Greenville, South Carolina, we’ve pulled together statistics on where and what time of the day most car accidents happen in our county, state and nation.

What Time of Day Do Most Car Accidents Happen in Greenville?

First of all, Greenville County is the area with the highest number of crashes overall according to the 2020 Traffic Collision Fact Book by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety.

In 2020, 13,740 accidents were recorded in Greenville County with 72 fatal accidents — also the highest number in the state.

In Greenville County, most collisions occurred between 3:01 PM and 6:00 PM, with 3,493 recorded incidents. However, the time of day with the most fatal accidents in Greenville were between 6:01 PM and 9:00 PM, and 12:01 AM to 3:00 AM, with 13 deadly crashes each.

How Many Car Accidents Occur in South Carolina?

In 2020, South Carolina recorded 121,235 accidents. The collisions resulted in 1,066 people getting killed (72.6 were male while 27.4 were female) and 47,985 non-fatal injuries. There were also 87,402 collisions that resulted in property damage only.

South Carolina is one of the deadliest states for drivers. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety discovered that, in 2019, South Carolina recorded the highest fatality rate per mile traveled, at 1.73 deaths for every hundred million miles driven.

Where Do Most Car Crashes Happen?

Most drivers tend to be less vigilant on the roads they are most familiar with. However, when unfamiliar with a place, they tend to pay more attention to traffic lights, road signage, and the traffic around them. This kind of false security usually results in them getting involved in accidents.

That said, the following places see the most accidents:

• Close to home: Most car accidents occur within five miles of the victim’s home, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This is because drivers tend to let their guard down in their neighborhoods and work communities.
• Parking lots: Parking lots are another area that sees a lot of car accidents, even though most accidents aren’t fatal. Parking lot accidents are especially common during peak traffic seasons such as holidays and major shopping days.
• Intersections: Intersections usually have at least two different paths for vehicles to maneuver, usually coming at each other from opposite directions. Given the nature of intersections, they carry a high risk of collision.
• Construction zones and roadside shoulders: Rear-end accidents often occur in construction zones and roadside shoulders where the right lane is closed. Suppose a driver isn’t paying attention; a roadside shoulder or construction zone can sneak up on them, leaving them with little time to take evasive action.
• Secondary routes: These include numbered routes that are not the main interstate or state highways. Greenville County has about 1,700 miles of secondary roads.

When Do Most Accidents Happen in South Carolina?

Certain months and days of the week are crucial factors when examining the frequency of accidents in South Carolina. According to the SCDPS report, the most common months for fatal crashes in 2020 were October (113), June (110), and November (94).

The data showed that 536 fatal crashes occurred Mondays through Thursdays, whereas 530 fatal crashes occurred Fridays through Sundays. This data suggests that weekends are slightly more dangerous than weekdays. However, peak collision periods vary significantly across the year.

Statewide, the time of the day with the most fatal traffic collisions within South Carolina in 2020 was 9:01 PM to midnight.

Accidents also tend to happen during the holidays. According to SCDPS, in 2020 there were 15 fatal collisions on Memorial Day, 10 fatal collisions on the Fourth of July, 12 fatal collisions on Labor Day, 14 fatal collisions on Thanksgiving, 4 fatal collisions on Christmas, and 11 fatal collisions on New Years Day.

What are the Major Causes of Car Accidents in South Carolina?

According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, the most common driver-related factors that cause car accidents include:

• Distracted driving
• Driving too quickly for the conditions
• Disregarding traffic signs
• Driving on the wrong side of the road
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Texting while driving
• Talking on a cell phone while driving
• Improper lane changes
• Exceeding posted speed limits.

Hire a Skilled Greenville, SC Car Accident Lawyer Today

While motor vehicle accidents are prevalent at certain periods, they can happen any day and at any time. If you or your loved one was injured due to another driver’s negligence in South Carolina, you deserve to get compensation for your injuries. Depending on the nature of the accident and the injuries you sustained, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering, and even wrongful death.

An experienced Greenville, SC car accident attorney at Upstate Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC, can fight for you to help you get the maximum potential compensation for your injuries. Contact us online for a free consultation about your claim.

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