Stacy Stanley | September 21, 2026 | Car Accidents
Distracted driving can cause more than a traffic ticket. A few seconds of inattention can lead to a serious crash, injuries, and lost income. Distracted driving is listed as a contributing factor in more than 20,000 crashes in South Carolina each year.
Understanding the full cost of distracted driving can help show why putting away distractions behind the wheel is so important.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving includes any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from safely operating a vehicle. Cell phones are a common source of distraction, but they are not the only one.
Common driving distractions include:
The Hidden Costs of Distracted Driving in South Carolina
Distracted driving can cause more than a traffic ticket. A few seconds of inattention can lead to a serious crash, injuries, and lost income. Distracted driving is listed as a contributing factor in more than 20,000 crashes in South Carolina each year.
Understanding the full cost of distracted driving can help show why putting away distractions behind the wheel is so important.
What Is Distracted Driving?
Distracted driving includes any activity that takes a driver’s attention away from safely operating a vehicle. Cell phones are a common source of distraction, but they are not the only one.
Common driving distractions include:
- Texting or using a phone
- Eating or drinking
- Adjusting music or navigation
- Talking with passengers
- Reaching for objects inside the vehicle
- Grooming
- Handling pets or attending to children
These distractions can take a driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the steering wheel, or attention away from traffic. Public officials in South Carolina recommend putting away phones, avoiding eating while driving, and limiting other activities that can interfere with driving.
What Does South Carolina Law Say About Distracted Driving?
South Carolina strengthened its distracted driving law with the South Carolina Hands-Free and Distracted Driving Act, which took effect September 1, 2025. The law restricts drivers from holding or supporting a mobile electronic device and from certain other uses while operating a vehicle.
It contains exceptions for activities such as hands-free communication, navigation, audio content, and emergency reporting.
A first distracted driving offense typically carries a $100 fine. A second or subsequent offense within three years can result in a $200 fine and two points on the driver’s record. The fine, however, can be only a small part of the financial consequences of distracted driving.
What Other Financial Costs Are There for Distracted Driving in South Carolina?
A distracted-driving crash can create expenses that extend far beyond vehicle damage. Serious injuries can affect an injured person’s finances for months or even years.
The costs may include:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Hospital stays
- Surgery and rehabilitation
- Future medical care
- Vehicle repairs or replacement
- Lost wages
- Reduced ability to earn income
- Transportation and other out-of-pocket expenses
The severity of the accident can have a major effect on these costs. A minor collision may involve vehicle repairs and a short period of medical treatment, while a serious crash may result in long-term care and substantial lost income.
What Are the Costs That Are Harder to Measure?
Not every loss comes with a bill or receipt. A serious injury can also affect a person’s daily life, independence, relationships, and ability to participate in activities they previously enjoyed.
An injured person may experience pain and suffering, emotional distress, physical limitations, scarring, or a reduced quality of life.
These losses can be significant even though they are harder to calculate than medical bills or lost wages.
Families may also feel the effects. A serious injury can require family members to provide transportation, help with household responsibilities, or care for an injured loved one.
Can Distracted Driving Affect a Personal Injury Claim?
Evidence that a driver was distracted may become important when determining who caused a South Carolina car accident. An investigation may look beyond whether the driver received a distracted driving citation.
Relevant evidence may include:
- Cell phone records
- Text messages or app activity
- Witness statements
- Police reports
- Dashcam or surveillance footage
- Vehicle data
- Photographs and videos from the accident scene
A violation of South Carolina’s distracted driving law does not by itself answer every question about liability. The available evidence can help establish what the driver was doing before the crash and whether the distraction contributed to the collision.
Contact a South Carolina Car Accident Lawyer at Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
A distracted driving claim may require evidence that is not immediately available to the injured person. A South Carolina car accident lawyer can investigate the crash, gather evidence of distraction, identify responsible parties, and calculate the losses caused by the accident.
An attorney can also negotiate with insurance companies and help you pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. The full cost of distracted driving may extend well beyond the damage visible at the accident scene.
For more information, call Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
For more information, please contact Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in North Myrtle Beach, Little River, Aynor, or across South Carolina.
We proudly serve Horry County and its surrounding areas.
Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers – Little River Office
3303 Hwy 9 E, Little River, SC 29566, United States
(843) 390-9111
Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers – North Myrtle Beach Office
By Appointment Only
1016 2nd Ave N Suite F, 2nd Floor, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers – Aynor Office
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604 8th Ave, Aynor, SC 29511