Preliminary data from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety shows that Aiken County recorded 23 traffic deaths from Jan. 1 through Oct. 4, 2026, up from 17 during the same period in 2025. The rise contrasts with a statewide decline, where fatalities fell from 729 to 667. The numbers, released by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, suggest that while South Carolina roads are getting safer overall, Aiken County is moving in the opposite direction. The increase matters because each fatal crash represents a family's loss and because non-fatal crashes can leave survivors with injuries, medical expenses, and lost income.
For those injured in collisions, South Carolina law imposes specific duties. Under S.C. Code §§ 56-5-1210 and 56-5-1230, drivers involved in an injury crash must stop, exchange name, address, and registration number, and provide reasonable aid. Failing to do so can carry legal consequences. After a crash, prompt medical care creates a record linking injuries to the collision, while statements given to the other driver's insurer can later be used to argue shared fault. Most injury claims must be filed within three years under S.C. Code § 15-3-530; for a wrongful death claim, that period begins on the date of death. A car accident lawyer in Aiken, SC can explain how these rules apply to a specific case.
How fault is divided has also changed. 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, and any award is reduced by that percentage. For claims arising after Jan. 1, 2026, Act 42 allows juries to assign fault to people or businesses not named in the lawsuit. This makes identifying every responsible party early more critical 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 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. The firm handles car accident claims along with truck accident, drunk driving, and other personal injury matters in Aiken County.
