Increasing Hit-and-Runs Across South Carolina: How Victims Can Seek Justice and Compensation
October 30, 2025
Hit-and-run accidents are among the most frustrating and emotionally traumatic types of collisions. When a driver flees the scene, victims face not only injury and property damage but also uncertainty about accountability, insurance coverage, and recovery. In South Carolina, including the Charleston / Lowcountry and Upstate regions, these crashes are a serious and ongoing concern.
If You’ve Been Involved in a Hit-and-Run, We Can Help
how common hit-and-run crashes are in South Carolina
why victims in the Charleston/Lowcountry region should particularly pay attention
recent, notable incidents you should know about
what to do step-by-step if you are involved in a hit-and-run
legal and insurance considerations
How Common Are Hit-and-Runs in South Carolina?
Are Hit-and-Runs Increasing in South Carolina?
Yes. Hit-and-run crashes have been on the rise across the U.S. and show a growing pattern in South Carolina as well.
Law enforcement officials attribute the rise to distracted driving, impaired driving, and uninsured motorists who flee to avoid arrest.
The South Carolina Department of Public Safety continues to warn that fatal and serious-injury hit-and-runs are increasing, particularly in urban counties like Charleston, Greenville, and Richland.
Nationally, AAA reports that hit-and-run deaths have risen steadily for more than a decade, increasing over 60% since 2009.
According to iihs statistics, there were 1047 motor vehicle crash deaths in South Carolina in 2023.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety national study: in 2016 there were 1,980 fatal hit-and-run crashes resulting in 2,049 deaths, and the rate has been increasing. AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
For South Carolina overall: the 2022 edition of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS) Traffic Collision Fact Book shows that in 2022 a traffic collision occurred every 3.7 minutes in the state. scdps.sc.gov
South Carolina has one of the highest fatality-per-capita rates in the nation — in one source the death rate due to vehicle collisions was about 23.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to a national average of about 12.9.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS:
You are more likely to be involved in a hit and run in South Carolina than other states.
The consequences of hit and runs are often more severe: victims are left without immediate accountability, investigations are more difficult, and the risk of serious injury or death is higher (particularly for pedestrians/vulnerable road users).
Why Residents of Charleston, Greenville, and Columbia Should Take Note
The Charleston and Lowcountry region has some conditions that make hit-and-runs particularly relevant:
Higher pedestrian, bicyclist and motorcyclist traffic in urban & tourist areas (downtown Charleston, James Island, Mount Pleasant) increases the risk of vulnerable-user collisions.
Urban corridors combined with tourism, unfamiliar drivers (rental cars) and nightlife offer more opportunities for drivers to flee the scene, whether from fear, impairment, or other complicating factors.
Local law-enforcement agencies such as the North Charleston Police Department and the Charleston Police Department have reported hit-and-run investigations, indicating the issue is very much local.
For victims, the local context means footage (surveillance cameras, business video, dash-cams) and community witness networks may help trace fleeing vehicles—but you must act quickly.
Notable Recent Hit-and-Run Incidents in the Lowcountry
Here are a few recent examples in the region to highlight how serious and real the problem is:
On September 29, 2025, in Charleston County a bond was denied for Janet Brown, 53, charged with felony driving under the influence and leaving the scene of a collision with death, after a fatal hit-and-run on Edisto Island.
On October 10, 2025, a 14-year-old bicyclist was struck by two vehicles which fled the scene on James Island (Dills Bluff Road), with the Charleston Police Department seeking help identifying suspect vehicles. Police Seeking Help After 14-Year-Old Struck by Two Cars in Hit-and-Run.
These stories show key patterns: drivers fleeing the scene, vulnerable road users (pedestrians/bicyclists), and the deadly potential of such crashes. They also demonstrate how local legal investigation and community involvement are critical.
What You Should Do If You Are Involved in a Hit-and-Run
If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident—as a driver, passenger, pedestrian, bicyclist or motorcyclist—take the following steps to protect yourself and your rights:
1. Safety & Immediate Action
Move to safety if possible. If you’re injured or in traffic, wait for emergency responders.
Call 911 if anyone is seriously injured or the other driver fled the scene.
Take photos of: your vehicle damage, scene of collision, skid marks, any debris, surrounding conditions (lighting, signage).
Try to note: the direction the fleeing vehicle headed, description (make/model/color), partial license plate, damage to the fleeing vehicle, time of day and location. If you’re a pedestrian/bicyclist, note the driver’s actions and your own position.
Get medical attention, even if injuries seem minor — some harm may appear later.
2. Report the Crash
Under South Carolina law, drivers involved in a crash resulting in injury or death must stop at the scene (or as close as possible) and provide information; failure to do so may result in felony charges. T
Even though you may not have all the information (if the other driver fled), you should report the incident promptly: to local police (or state troopers) and to your insurance company.
Ask about the police report number, officer’s name/badge, and whether the incident was entered into the state database.
3. Gather and Preserve Evidence
Obtain witness names & contact information. Local businesses may have camera footage (particularly in Charleston/Lowcountry).
Preserve any photos, videos, your medical records, repair estimates, lost-wage documentation.
If you have uninsured hit-and-run motorist coverage (UM/HIT-AND-RUN), check your policy terms. Many SC victims are eligible to claim under their own policy if the other driver is unknown.
4. Understand Legal and Insurance Implications
The fleeing driver’s failure to stop complicates both criminal and civil liability: criminal charges may follow (hit-and-run with injury or death) and civil claims for damages may proceed against the driver or your own insurance.
In South Carolina, leaving the scene of an accident that results in injury or death can lead to serious penalties (including criminal charges).
From a victim’s perspective: make sure to explore uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, document full losses (medical, wage, pain & suffering), and act quickly—there are statutes of limitations and evidence-decay risks.
Engage a personal injury attorney experienced in hit-and-run cases: they can help identify fleeing drivers (via video, forensics, law enforcement coordination), negotiate with insurers, and build a full claim for you.
5. Local Tactical Considerations
Given tourism, rental cars and unfamiliar drivers in the region, consider asking law enforcement about surrounding surveillance (business cams, traffic signal cams) that may identify the vehicle.
Work quickly: in Charleston the pool of witnesses or the evidence (license plate fragments, camera time-stamps) may degrade or be overwritten.
The emotional/financial toll in smaller communities can be higher: make sure you have a lawyer who understands Charleston/Lowcountry norms, insurance market, and local courts.
If you are a pedestrian, bicyclist or motorcyclist—even more reason to act fast: hit-and-runs often involve vulnerable road users and may require aggressive follow-up.
We Can Help
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a hit-and-run accident, don’t wait: gather evidence, report the case, get medical care, and consult legal counsel. At Kaiser Law, we’re ready to help you navigate the complex intersection of criminal, civil and insurance issues after a hit-and-run. Visit ourcontact page today and let us help you pursue accountability and recovery.
