Pedestrian Accidents in South Carolina: Why Deaths Are Rising in Charleston, Myrtle Beach & Columbia

Walking should be the safest way to get around, yet the numbers tell a harder story. Smart Growth America’s Dangerous by Design 2026 report counted 7,080 people struck and killed while walking in the U.S. in 2024, a total that sits near the highest on record. Pedestrian fatalities have climbed 72 percent since 2009, and they now account for close to one in every five people killed on U.S. roads.

South Carolina carries more than its share of that loss. The state ranks as the fourth deadliest in the nation for people on foot, and the Charleston area sits among the twenty most dangerous metros. Knowing what drives these crashes and what you can do about them is the first step toward getting home safely. This guide lays out the local numbers and the causes behind them, along with the habits that keep drivers and pedestrians safer.

How Dangerous Are South Carolina Roads for Pedestrians? Charleston, Myrtle Beach & Columbia Accident Statistics

The local picture is sobering. Across South Carolina, nearly 900 people were killed while walking between 2020 and 2024, according to the Smart Growth America Dangerous by Design 2026 report, which places the state fourth in the country for pedestrian deaths per capita, per Dangerous by Design 2026. 

According to Smart Growth America’s Dangerous by Design 2026 report, the Charleston-North Charleston metro recorded 154 pedestrian deaths between 2020 and 2024, ranking it twelfth among the nation’s largest metro areas; but that shift may reflect other cities worsening faster, not safer streets at home. Behind each of these numbers is a person who never made it across the road.

The danger isn’t confined to Charleston and North Charleston. South Carolina as a whole has experienced elevated and increasing pedestrian fatality rates, ranking among the highest in the nation. Heavy seasonal foot traffic along corridors like Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach may be a site for pedestrian accidents. Bluff Road near Columbia is another major thoroughfare in Richland County that has undergone widening projects and is associated with a high number of bicycle and pedestrian incidents.

What Causes Pedestrian Accidents in South Carolina?

No single factor explains the rise, though a few patterns recur. These are the conditions that put people walking at the greatest risk:

• Roads designed for speed. Many of Charleston’s arterials were laid out to move cars quickly, with wide lanes and few places to cross. Drivers speed up on roads like that without even thinking, leaving little room for error when someone is on foot.
• Missing or broken infrastructure. Some corridors have no sidewalk at all, or a marked crossing placed so far from where people need to walk that they take their chances mid-block. Add dim lighting after dark, and a pedestrian can be almost invisible until it is too late.
• Distracted and impaired driving. Someone checking a phone or coming off a few drinks loses the split second it takes to react. Plenty of these crashes trace back to a person who never looked for anyone crossing the road. These distracted and impaired driving cases make up a large share of auto pedestrian wrecks statewide, and many victims describe simply being hit by a car with no warning.
• The busiest roads can be the deadliest. According to Dangerous by Design 2026, more than half of the roadway deaths in 2024 happened on state-owned roads. These are the wide multi-lane routes that double as local main streets, where fast-moving cars share space with people on foot. 

South Carolina has also launched a statewide Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Action Plan, alongside SCDOT’s Complete Streets policy, to promote safer crossings, improved lighting, and updated roadway design standards. Newer tools like Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons, Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons, and raised crosswalks are part of that effort. These programs are a step in the right direction, but they take years to reach every corridor, so drivers and pedestrians still need to protect themselves in the meantime.

How Can You Stay Safer While Walking or Driving?

Street design is the bigger problem, though everyday choices still save lives. Whether you are on foot or behind the wheel, a few habits lower your risk. If you are walking, protect yourself with these steps:

• Look more than once before you cross. The old advice to check both ways holds up at any age. Take off your headphones and pause your conversation so you can hear what is coming.
• Use marked crosswalks and signals. Drivers expect people at these spots and tend to watch for them. Even there, confirm that traffic is stopping before you step off the curb.
• Make yourself easy to see. Bright or reflective clothing helps a driver spot you sooner, and a flashlight or headlamp does the same after dark.

Drivers bear the greater responsibility, since a vehicle causes the damage. Behind the wheel, focus on these habits:

• Watch for people, not just cars. Scanning only for other vehicles is an easy trap. Train your eyes to catch anyone near the curb, on a bike, or stepping into the street.
• Treat every crosswalk as occupied. Slow down at intersections and look hard at the corners, especially where your view is blocked.
• Ease off the gas when visibility drops. Rain, fog, and darkness all call for a slower, steadier pace.
• Put the phone down and stay sober. Distraction and alcohol both wreck your ability to react, so a plan for a sober ride home is worth making before you head out.

None of these habits fixes a road that was built to be dangerous. Until street design catches up, staying alert is the protection you control.

What to Do After You’re Hit by a Car in South Carolina

If a driver has just hit you, getting hurt is often the first wave of shock you may experience. If you are able to move away from the accident scene to a safe, nearby location, you should:

• Call 911 so police can document the scene, get medical care even if you feel fine, and take photos of the vehicle, the road, and your injuries if you are able to. 
• Get the driver’s name, insurance information, and license plate, and note any witnesses nearby.

Insurance adjusters move quickly after an auto-pedestrian collision, and it’s best not to give them a statement. Instead, calling a pedestrian accident lawyer can help you avoid statements that hurt your claim later.

South Carolina Pedestrian Accident FAQs

Injured by a Driver? Talk to a South Carolina Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

If a driver’s carelessness has hurt you or someone you love, you do not have to sort out the aftermath alone. Our pedestrian car accident attorneys represent clients across Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Columbia, and the rest of South Carolina, so help is available close to home, no matter where the crash happened. Whether you search for a pedestrian accident lawyer near me in North Charleston, Myrtle Beach, or Columbia, our team is ready to help.

The Steinberg Law Firm offers free consultations, and you owe no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation for you. The firm also advances the costs of pursuing your case, and you are not billed for those costs if we do not recover. Contact the Steinberg Law Firm to go over your options and next steps.