South Carolina car accident statistics (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in South Carolina by year

Annual car accident deaths rose from 965 in 2020 to 1,074 in 2021, then fell to 980 in 2022, 939 in 2023 and 925 in 2024. The highest count was in 2021, while 2024 had the lowest count. The 2024 count was 40 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

South Carolina's share of the national car accident death total was 2.9% in 2020 and 2021, 2.7% in 2022 and 2023, and 2.8% in 2024. Across 2020 through 2024, the state accounted for 2.8% of 176,219 deaths nationally. The annual national shares describe deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes, rather than shares of all traffic deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised when NHTSA publishes the final file.

Who died in South Carolina car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 3,472 deaths, or 71.1% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 515 deaths and 10.5%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 896 deaths and 18.3%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. The categories describe the people counted, while the crash location determines inclusion in South Carolina's figures. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) is a person-type classification, not a literal test of location outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Collision types and setting

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. Angle (side impact) accounted for 901 deaths (18.5%); Head-on, 782 (16.0%); Rear-end, 399 (8.2%); Sideswipe, 116 (2.4%); and Other, 7 (0.1%). Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 2,678 deaths (54.8%). That row includes first harmful events such as rollovers or striking fixed objects, rather than collisions between motor vehicles in transport. A vehicle stopped in traffic can be in transport.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime car accident deaths numbered 2,078 (42.6%), and nighttime deaths numbered 2,805 (57.4%). Urban deaths totaled 2,259 (46.3%), while rural deaths totaled 2,624 (53.7%). These are death counts, not counts of fatal crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Counties with the most car accident deaths

Greenville County had the most car accident deaths, with 407, followed by Spartanburg County with 321, Charleston County with 314, Horry County with 306 and Richland County with 279. The listed counts continue with Berkeley County at 220, Lexington County at 217, Orangeburg County at 199, Anderson County at 184 and Florence County at 164. York County recorded 152 deaths, Aiken County 131, Sumter County 126, Beaufort County 110 and Dorchester County 109.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Death counts and population-based rates describe different measures. Among the listed counties, Orangeburg County had the highest average annual deaths per 100,000 residents at 47.8, and York County had the lowest at 10.4. Greenville County's rate was 14.8, compared with the state rate of 18.4.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Up to 15 counties with the most deaths in the period, largest first. Rates for counties with few deaths change sharply with each death.

How South Carolina compares with the national rate

South Carolina's car accident death rate was 18.4 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024, compared with the national rate of 10.5. The state rate was higher. The corresponding death counts were 4,883 for South Carolina and 176,219 for the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Each rate uses deaths during the period divided by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. It does not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 state population estimate of 5,490,316 is not the rate denominator. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, keep the grouping in view: these death counts follow crash location, not the home address of the person killed.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

About these figures

NHTSA's census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes is FARS. For a crash to qualify for inclusion, a motor vehicle must be traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public, and an occupant or nonoccupant must die within 30 days. Neither nonfatal crashes nor injuries are included. Crash location determines state and county counts; residency does not.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files; 2024 uses the Annual Report File, subject to revision when replaced by the Final File. Rates divide period deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025 and multiply by 100,000 for average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The separately shown July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• FARS Annual Report File and Final File
• Car accident statistics for Greenville County, South Carolina (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Spartanburg County, South Carolina (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Charleston County, South Carolina (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Horry County, South Carolina (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Richland County, South Carolina (2020-2024)