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 surge runs counter to a statewide decline, with deaths falling from 729 to 667 over the same stretch. The disparity raises questions about local road safety and underscores the importance of understanding legal options after a crash.
Fatal crashes are only part of the picture. Many more collisions leave drivers and passengers with injuries, medical bills, and time away from work. A car accident lawyer in Aiken, SC can explain how South Carolina law applies to any subsequent claims and the deadlines that apply. For those involved in a collision, knowing the steps to take immediately can protect both health and legal rights.
At the scene, 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. 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. For a wrongful death claim, that period begins on the date of death.
South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule. An injured person can recover damages if their share of fault does not exceed the combined fault of the defendants. Any award is reduced by that percentage. For claims arising after January 1, 2026, Act 42 also allows juries to assign fault to people or businesses not named in the lawsuit. Identifying every responsible party early is now more important.
"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 is a personal injury firm serving clients across South Carolina from offices in North Augusta, Columbia, and Charleston. Its attorneys have more than 30 years of combined experience and have handled thousands of cases. Brett Woron, a 2010 graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, has practiced since 2011. He was selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars from 2019 through 2023. Amar S. Dhillon has practiced law since 1999, with an emphasis on motor vehicle crash cases. The firm handles car accident claims along with truck accident, drunk driving, and other personal injury matters in Aiken County.
