Aiken County has recorded 23 traffic deaths from January 1 through October 4, 2026, up from 17 during the same period in 2025, according to preliminary figures from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. The local increase runs counter to a statewide decline, with South Carolina's overall traffic deaths falling from 729 to 667 over the same stretch. The divergence raises questions about local road safety and underscores that fatal crashes are only part of the picture. Many more collisions leave drivers and passengers with injuries, medical bills, and time away from work.
For those injured in a crash, South Carolina law imposes specific obligations. Drivers in an injury crash must stop, share their name, address, and registration number, and give reasonable aid under S.C. Code §§ 56-5-1210 and 56-5-1230. Prompt medical treatment creates a record that ties injuries to the collision, while statements given to the other driver's insurer can later be used to argue shared fault. Under S.C. Code § 15-3-530, most injury claims must be filed within three years, and for a wrongful death claim, that period begins on the date of death.
How fault is divided has also changed. South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule, allowing an injured person to recover damages if their share of fault does not exceed the combined fault of the defendants, with any award reduced by that percentage. For claims arising after January 1, 2026, Act 42 permits juries to assign fault to people or businesses not named in the lawsuit. This makes identifying every responsible party early more important than ever.
"When several drivers or companies share responsibility for a crash, the new rules can change how much an injured person is able to collect," said Brett Woron, an attorney with Woron and Dhillon, LLC. "We work to identify everyone involved, including employers and vehicle owners, from the start of a case."
Woron and Dhillon, LLC, a personal injury firm with offices in North Augusta, Columbia, and Charleston, handles car accident claims along with truck accident, drunk driving, and other personal injury matters in Aiken County. The firm's attorneys have more than 30 years of combined experience and have handled thousands of cases.
The rise in Aiken County traffic deaths serves as a reminder for residents to stay vigilant and for crash victims to understand their legal rights. With evolving fault rules and strict deadlines, obtaining knowledgeable legal guidance can be critical to protecting a claim.
