Data from the South Carolina Insurance Department show that, based on an aggregate of the state’s top 10 insurers, insurance rates in South Carolina jumped 8.9 percent in 2016, a much bigger increase than what we’ve seen in the previous three years. The State reported that these increases may, at least in part, be attributed to an increase in accidents related to distracted driving. And what are drivers distracted by? Often, it’s their cell phones.
Russ Dubisky, executive director of the South Carolina Insurance Association, a lobbying group of insurance companies, indicated that not only are the motor vehicle accidents becoming more frequent, but they’re resulting in more serious injuries. According to department records, distracted-driving collisions with injuries rose to a record 5,698 in 2016, up from 4,399 in 2011.
The Goings Law Firm, LLC encourages South Carolina drivers to be careful, stay focused, and avoid texting while driving. Distracted driving leads to dangerous motor vehicle collisions and potentially serious personal injuries, and the simple fact is these kind of accidents are avoidable.
