South Carolina Car Accident Statistics

Motor vehicle crashes remain a serious public safety concern throughout the state of South Carolina. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has provided data that states South Carolina is listed as number 4 on the list of vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 people in 2024.  From busy interstates and urban streets in the big cities to rural highways and coastal roads surrounding Myrtle Beach, car accidents cause thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths each year. Recent South Carolina car accident statistics show how serious this problem is and provide insight into when, where, and how serious crashes occur.

According to the 2024 South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book published by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS), approximately 143,801 traffic collisions were reported statewide during 2024. Those crashes resulted in an estimated 51,007 non-fatal injuries and 1,040 fatalities. At the same time, the total number of reported collisions in the state was down 2.71% from 2023, according to the Highway Safety Grant Program Grant Solicitation published by SCDPS.

For people who have been injured in an accident because of another driver’s actions, these statistics represent more than just statewide trends. A car crash in South Carolina can result in medical expenses, time away from work, lasting injuries, vehicle damage, and other losses. At The Lovely Law Firm, our Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyers represent people injured in car accidents and other incidents that were a direct cause of negligence, helping clients pursue compensation available under South Carolina law.

South Carolina Car Accident Statistics You Should Know About

SCDPS data in the 2024 South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book provides a picture of traffic accidents in the state throughout the year. Approximately:

• 143,801 traffic collisions were reported.
• 1,040 people were killed in traffic accidents.
• 51,007  non-fatal injuries were reported.
• One traffic collision was reported every 3.7 minutes.
• One traffic death occurred approximately every 8.4 hours.
• One nonfatal traffic injury occurred approximately every 10.3 minutes.
• One property-damage-only collision occurred approximately every 4.9 minutes.

The 143,801 reported accidents represented a decline from approximately 145,761 collisions in 2023. Traffic fatalities in South Carolina also declined from 2023, which witnessed 1,047, to 1,040 in 2024.

Even with these decreases in serious accidents across the state, crashes still continued to occur throughout 2024. A reported accident every few minutes means drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists continue to face an ongoing risk of being involved in a serious roadway accident.

How Many Car Accidents in South Carolina Per Year

People who are looking for statistics on how many car accidents in South Carolina per year can look at recent SCDPS data to understand the totality of traffic collisions in the state.

Of the 143,801 reported crashes in 2024, 1,040 were fatal collisions, 2,139 were classified as serious-injury collisions, 32,056 involved other injuries, and 108,655 resulted in property damage only. A total of 1,040 people were killed, 2,618 people were seriously injured, and another 51,007 sustained other injuries that were considered to be non-fatal in 2024.

Compared to 2023 crash data, South Carolina continues to experience well over 100,000 reported traffic crashes annually.

The annual totals for motor vehicle accidents can change as reports are reviewed and finalized. Preliminary fatality counts may also differ from later federal datasets that are compiled because law enforcement and motor vehicle agencies can use different reporting periods, definitions, and review procedures.

Based on those figures provided by the IIHS, South Carolina recorded:

• 18.9 motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 residents
• 1.67 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled

For comparison, the United States recorded 39,254 motor vehicle accident deaths during 2024, which is equivalent to 11.5 deaths per 100,000 people and 1.19 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in the country. When looking at this data, it’s easy to see that South Carolina’s accident and fatality rates were substantially above the national averages in the IIHS data.

SCDPS’s state data calculated a 2024 mileage death rate of 1.68 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled, which is down from 1.72 in 2023. The difference between the SCDPS preliminary data and the later IIHS figure shows that there are separate datasets and reporting processes that are used by various organizations both at the state and federal levels.

Who Is Being Killed in South Carolina Traffic Accidents

IIHS data also provides additional information about the types of individuals that have been killed in South Carolina crashes during 2024. Of the state’s 1,038 motor vehicle crash deaths reported in the IIHS analysis:

• 391 were car occupants, representing 38% of the total.
• 262 were pickup truck or SUV occupants, representing 25%.
• 22 were occupants of large trucks, representing 2%.
• 154 were motorcyclists, representing 15%.
• 156 were pedestrians, representing 15%.
• 34 were bicyclists, representing 3%.

IIHS reported that South Carolina had the highest percentage of car-occupant deaths among all 50 states in its 2024 comparison with other states.

These figures also show that serious roadway risks reach far beyond people inside passenger vehicles. Motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists together accounted for hundreds of injuries and deaths during the year.

Single-Vehicle and Multiple-Vehicle Fatal Crashes

Not every deadly traffic accident involves two or more vehicles; some can involve just one car. Single-vehicle crashes can include:

• Rollovers
• Roadway departures
• Collisions with trees or utility poles
• Other incidents in which only one vehicle is involved

According to IIHS, there were 549 South Carolina motor vehicle crash deaths in 2024 that occurred in single-vehicle crashes. That represented around 53% of the state’s total motor vehicle crash deaths. Another 489 deaths, or 47% of total fatalities, occurred in multiple-vehicle crashes.

When it comes to national accident statistics, 52% of motor vehicle crash deaths occurred in single-vehicle crashes, and 48% occurred in multiple-vehicle crashes during 2024, according to IIHS data. South Carolina’s distribution was therefore relatively close to the national average.

When Do South Carolina Car Accidents Occur

The 2024 South Carolina Traffic Collision Fact Book shows that crashes occurred throughout the day, but some time periods experienced substantially more accidents than others.

• 3:01 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. – Between 3:01 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., 35,168 traffic collisions were reported, which means this time of day has the highest overall number of crashes. These included 129 fatal collisions and 388 serious-injury collisions.
• 6:01 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. – Between 6:01 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., 20,461 collisions occurred, including 181 fatal collisions and 422 serious-injury collisions.
• 9:01 p.m. to Midnight – From 9:01 p.m. to midnight, 10,317 crashes were reported, including 167 fatal collisions and 288 serious-injury collisions.

Where Do Accidents In South Carolina Occur Most Often?

The 2024 data show that the late-afternoon hours have the highest number of accidents, while serious and fatal collisions continued into the evening and nighttime hours. These patterns demonstrate that drivers have a lower overall risk of crashes during time periods that are before the 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. window, but that does not necessarily mean the risk of a severe collision disappears.

Secondary routes recorded the highest number of crashes in multiple categories, including:

• Highest number of fatal traffic collisions
• Highest number of traffic collisions

Secondary routes also had the largest number of fatalities among the roadway categories, with 308 fatal accidents that resulted in 323 deaths in 2024:

• U.S. primary routes accounted for 260 fatal accidents
• South Carolina primary routes accounted for 242 fatal accidents
• Interstates amounted to 106 deaths
• County roads accounted for 50 deaths
• Ramps accounted for 8 accidents

These South Carolina car accident statistics demonstrate why the risk of a crash cannot be evaluated by just looking at major interstate highways. Serious and fatal accidents also occur regularly on smaller state and local roads.

Car Accident Statistics in Myrtle Beach and Horry County

Those who are planning on moving to or visiting Myrtle Beach or another community in Horry County should also consider car accident statistics that are local to the area.

Horry County typically witnessed thousands of traffic accidents during 2024. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety 2024 Fact Book, 11,103 traffic accidents occurred in the county, placing Horry County at number four statewide for total collisions that year. The county also ranked third in both fatal collisions and injury collisions.

During 2024, Horry County recorded:

• 11,103 total traffic collisions
• 58 fatal collisions
• 3,084 injury collisions
• The fourth-highest number of total collisions in South Carolina
• The third-highest number of fatal collisions in the state
• The third-highest number of injury collisions in the state

Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach Collision Statistics

Local law enforcement agencies investigated hundreds of collisions within Horry County, and that data was also included in the 2024 Fact Book. The Myrtle Beach Police Department investigated 1,952 accidents, including 3 fatal collisions and 45 serious-injury collisions. Those crashes resulted in 4 deaths and 56 people sustaining serious injuries.

The North Myrtle Beach Police Department reported:

• 724 total accidents
• 4 fatal crashes
• 11 serious-injury collisions
• 4 people killed
• 11 people seriously injured

Motorcyclists, Pedestrians, and Bicyclists in Horry County

The 2024 statistics from the 2024 Fact Book also show the risks that are faced by people traveling outside traditional passenger vehicles. SCDPS also noted the following vulnerable roadway users as victims of Horry County accidents:

• 336 motorcyclists were involved in accidents, including:
  • 11 who suffered fatal injuries
  • 52 who suffered suspected serious injuries
• 110 pedestrians were involved in accidents, including:
  • 12 who suffered fatal injuries
  • 23 who suffered suspected serious injuries
• 93 pedalcyclists, including:
  • 2 who suffered fatal injuries
  • 10 who suffered suspected serious injuries
• 43 moped operators, including 3 who suffered fatal injuries and 4 who suffered suspected serious injuries

These 2024 South Carolina car accident statistics show that Horry County accounts for a substantial portion of the state’s total traffic accidents, including those resulting in serious and fatal injuries.

Contact a Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyer at The Lovely Law Firm

The South Carolina car accident statistics show that traffic collisions remain frequent across the state, with more than 140,000 crashes that were reported annually in recent years and tens of thousands of people suffering injuries. Myrtle Beach and the surrounding Horry County area contribute to the data, which demonstrates that even in coastal communities, accidents can happen.

At The Lovely Law Firm, our Myrtle Beach personal injury attorneys help people who have been injured in car accidents caused by the negligence of others pursue compensation for their losses. Our team can investigate the accident, gather evidence, handle communications with insurance companies, document accident-related losses, and pursue compensation available under South Carolina law. Don’t hesitate to contact our team at The Lovely Law Firm to discuss their accident and learn more about their legal options.