Traffic Fatalities as of March 23, 2012

According to the Department of South Carolina Public Safety, as of March 18th, there were 147 traffic fatalities in South Carolina, compared to 153 deaths in this same time period in 2011. Through midnight March 18th, 23 pedestrians, 10 motorcyclists and four bicyclists have died on state roads and highways. Cars today are built to be more safe than in any other time in history, but design improvements cannot prevent all serious injuries. Traffic fatalities attributed to people not wearing seat belts has reached 69 year to date. The safety features can't help if they are not used!

Traffic Fatalities Annual Report

The South Carolina Traffic Fatality Report for 2011 shows DUI accidents as the leading cause of death and Charleston is the most deadly place to drive in South Carolina. Most traffic fatalities involved collisions with other vehicles and more than half of victims are not wearing their seat belts. If you lost a family member in a fatal car accident involving a drunk driver, South Carolina wrongful death laws permit you to seek financial damages for pecuniary injury. Damages in a wrongful death action are to be fair and just compensation for financial, or "pecuniary" injury that resulted from the decedent's death. Pecuniary injuries include:

• Funeral and medical expenses
• Loss of support services
• Lost prospect of inheritance
• Interest accrued from the date of death

Punitive damages may be permitted, depending on your jurisdiction. Punitive damages are intended to be an additional punishment on the defendant to discourage him/her from repeating the same reckless behavior. If your wrongful death claim is in South Carolina or North Carolina, you may seek punitive damages, but the standard of award varies. This are but a few of the reason you will need an experienced attorney representing your best interest.

Law Suits Resulting from Traffic Fatalities

The family of a person killed in a car accident caused by another person or persons may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Each state has their own laws, which stipulate statute of limitations and negligence guidelines. It is important that you have an attorney who is knowledgeable with the state laws governing your case. The Clore Law Group's attorneys are licensed in numerous states and are routinely sought to co-counsel other lawyers on significant cases, like wrongful death claims. If you lost some one you loved, call 800-610-2546 now to speak to an experiences wrongful death lawyer about your claim.