As we near the holiday season, many South Carolinians are looking forward to spending quality time with family and friends. Leading up to Christmas and New Years, we can expect heavier traffic concentration on roads throughout South Carolina. This blog will discuss winter holiday accident trends, tips for safe travel, and what to do if you are involved in an accident.

As always, our team wishes you a safe and joyful holiday season. Should you or a loved one be involved in an accident, we are here to ease the burden by guiding you through the process, allowing you to focus on recovering. For a free case evaluation directly with an award-winning SC personal injury attorney, please contact our office by calling (803) 888-2200, filling out our secure online contact form, or starting a website chat.

South Carolina Winter Holiday Accident Trends

Time of day and day of the year are two important factors to keep in mind when analyzing collision reports. Generally, there tends to be heavier traffic concentration during the holidays as people travel to and throughout SC. 

According to the most recent available data from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS):

  • There were 78 traffic fatalities between 2013 and 2022 on Christmas Day alone in South Carolina. 
  • On New Year’s Day, there were 107 deaths from 2013 to 2022. Notably, the number of NYE fatalities increased every year from 2019 to 2022.

In 2022, December and January fatal accidents most commonly occurred on US Primary roads, followed by Interstate roads, with SC primary roads closely behind.

In 2022, the month of December had the second highest number of total collisions, with 13,235 reported collisions. December also had the highest percentage of non-fatal DUI collisions in 2022.

Tips For Staying Safe This Holiday Season

As trusted personal injury and wrongful death attorneys, we’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact that unexpected accidents have on those involved and their loved ones, especially when these accidents occur on or around a holiday. It is our goal to not only aggressively represent accident victims, fighting to secure them with the justice they deserve, but also to make SC roads safer for residents and visitors. That said, it’s important to remember small tips that can help keep you safe on the road. 

During the holiday season, and throughout the year, it’s in your best interest to:

  • Plan ahead: You may want to consider leaving a few days before/after the holiday, traveling early, and checking weather conditions.
  • Be patient
  • Avoid distracted driving
  • Drive defensively
  • Avoid driving fatigue
  • Do not speed
  • Keep a safe following distance
  • Buckle up
  • Do not drink and drive
  • Report reckless drivers on the road
  • Schedule breaks
  • Keep your vehicle well maintained

Using extra precautions while driving during the holidays can help keep you safe; however, even the safest drivers can still be involved in an accident. If you or a loved one was hurt in a car accident, we’re here to answer any questions you may have, guide you in the right direction, and help you through the process.

Get a Free Case Evaluation With a Qualified Accident Attorney Today

The aftermath of an accident can be overwhelming. You may be facing expensive repair costs, physical pain, mounting medical bills, unexpected time missed from work, emotional trauma, and much more. You don’t have to worry about navigating the South Carolina personal injury claims process on top of that. Let us take the burden off of you, just as we’ve done for hundreds of others in similar situations.

For a free case evaluation directly with a caring and reputable attorney, simply contact our office today. We are here and ready to help. See what our clients have to say about working with Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC.

With offices in Columbia and Mount Pleasant, our lawyers travel to and represent clients throughout the state of South Carolina. If you are out of state, we’d be happy to refer you to another law firm. We look forward to hearing from you.

Legally Reviewed By: J. Eric Cavanaugh

I’m Eric Cavanaugh, and I am a founder and personal injury attorney here at Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC. My practice primarily focuses on trucking and car accidents, representing victims and their loved ones across the state of South Carolina.

I care deeply about people and making sure every client of mine and of the firm is getting the care and compensation they deserve physically, financially, and emotionally.

Seeing the impact that serious accidents have on people never gets easier, but I feel a great sense of pride in being able to get people the justice they deserve and providing hope in what’s often a very difficult time in their lives.

I’m committed to ensuring that people know their rights and that those rights are protected at all times throughout their case and beyond; and I’m passionate about fighting to make South Carolina roads safer for residents and visitors.

If you have any questions about what was covered in this article, in general, or are interested in becoming a client at Cavanaugh & Thickens, LLC, give me a call.