Whether you’re fighting traffic or struggling to find a space at the grocery store, you’ve likely experienced some frustration behind the wheel. Most of us have complained about our city’s drivers at one time or another, and as it turns out, while they’re not the worst, South Carolina drivers are pretty close.
In fact, on Car Insurance Comparison’s Worst Drivers List, our state comes in second.1 This ranking is based on 2019 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), utilizing the following variables:
- Fatality rate per 100 million miles traveled
- Number of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities
- Number of deaths caused by drunk drivers
- Failure to obey traffic laws
- Number of deaths caused by speeding
The failure to obey traffic laws includes seat belt violations. In South Carolina, every driver is responsible for not only wearing their own seat belt, but ensuring every passenger under 17 (without a license) does the same. First offenders are given a $25 fine, which can increase to $50 if cited again.
These laws are in place to save lives. Data shows that buckling up reduces your risk of fatal injury by about 45% and cuts your risk of serious injury in half.2
For those of us who buckle up without a second thought, this next statistic may seem even more surprising: One in ten Americans don’t wear their seat belt. While 90.6% abide by the law,2 there are millions across our country who take an unnecessary risk each time they get in a vehicle – as a driver or a passenger.
West Law Firm urges you to wear your seat belt, each and every time you’re in a motor vehicle. Our car accident attorneys have handled countless car wreck cases across Berkeley County, SC, witnessing the pain and suffering that result. It never fails to break our hearts, especially when a seat belt could have saved a life. Don’t take the risk.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Berkley County, regardless of whether or not you were wearing a seat belt, West Law Firm can help. Our experienced car crash attorneys can help secure the compensation you deserve – including reimbursement for medical bills, lost wages and vehicle damage.
Let us handle the insurance company while you focus on recovering from your car wreck injury. To get started with a free consultation here in Moncks Corner, SC, call 843-761-5626 or click here.
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About West Law Firm, P.A.
Founded by H. Norman West in 1945, West Law Firm has served the Lowcountry for nearly 75 years. Practice areas include personal injury, car wrecks, criminal defense, DUI defense, family law, wrongful death, land disputes, business litigation, probate and estate planning, and alternative dispute resolution.
West Law Firm, P.A.
207 Carolina Avenue
Moncks Corner SC 29461