Aiken County has recorded 23 traffic deaths from Jan. 1 through Oct. 4, 2026, according to preliminary figures from the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. That is up from 17 during the same period in 2025. The local increase runs counter to the statewide trend: across South Carolina, traffic deaths fell from 729 to 667 over the same stretch. The data, available through the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, underscores that while the state as a whole is making progress, Aiken County remains a dangerous place for drivers and passengers.
Fatal crashes are only part of the picture. Many more collisions leave people with injuries, medical bills, and time away from work. For those affected, understanding South Carolina law is critical. Under S.C. Code §§ 56-5-1210 and 56-5-1230, drivers involved in an injury crash must stop, share their name, address, and registration number, and give reasonable aid. Prompt medical treatment creates a record that ties 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.
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 also allows juries to assign fault to people or businesses not named in the lawsuit. That change makes identifying every responsible party early even 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." The firm, which handles car accident claims along with truck accident and drunk driving matters, serves clients across South Carolina from offices in North Augusta, Columbia, and Charleston.
For Aiken County residents, the rising death toll is a reminder that legal rights after a crash are time-sensitive and fact-specific. A car accident lawyer in Aiken, SC can explain how South Carolina law applies to any subsequent claims and the deadlines that apply. Whether a case involves a single negligent driver or multiple parties, the new fault rules under Act 42 mean that early investigation can make a significant difference in the outcome of a claim.
