Five people died in a single-vehicle accident earlier this month while racing to the hospital so one of the passengers could give birth.

When they ran off the road in Darlington County and crashed, all 11 occupants were ejected.

“This collision represents largest loss of life in a single collision in over 20 years in Darlington County,” Todd Hardee, the county’s coroner, said in a news release.

Who pays when there is only one vehicle involved in a crash? If a driver is injured due to their own negligence, they can’t sue themselves… but, what about their passengers?

Single-Car Crashes Are Common and Deadly

How can an accident involving just one vehicle be so deadly?

Actually, more than half of all traffic fatalities are the result of single-car accidents, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In South Carolina, 567 people died in single-car crashes in 2016, compared with 448 who died in multiple-car accidents.

Most single car accidents are a lot like the one in Darlington – a vehicle runs off the road and strikes a stationary object. Others are the result of rollover accidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)  lists the following factors that cause single-car accidents:

• Alcohol impairment;
• Speeding;
• Limited visibility on dark roads;
• Driving while fatigued;
• Road conditions, such as dirt roads and roads undergoing construction or repairs;
• Weather conditions, such as heavy rain, icy patches, or fog;
• Youth and inexperience; and
• Distractions from passengers.

Who Pays for a Single Car Accident in SC?

If you are driving down the road and another driver negligently hits you, they are responsible for your medical bills and other damages.

What happens when there is only one vehicle?

If you are the passenger in a car that is being driven negligently and you are hurt as a result, you can make a claim for damages against the driver’s insurance policy, and there may be other potential sources of compensation like multiple policies owned by the driver or your own insurance policies.

Don’t assume that there is no compensation simply because there was not another driver – your Myrtle Beach auto accident attorney can help you to identify the potential sources of recovery that may compensate you for your injuries.

SC Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers in Myrtle Beach, Conway, Charleston, and Columbia

Your Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyer at Coastal Law will meet with you, investigate the crash and all potential sources of recovery, and help you to make your claim against the insurance company or file a personal injury lawsuit so that you can get paid.

Call us now at (843) 488-5000 or fill out our online form to schedule a free initial consultation and review of your case.