HAS SAFETY TAKEN A VACATION FROM MYRTLE BEACH?

South Carolina residents are not the only ones who love Myrtle Beach. Travelers and vacationers from up and down the east coast and across the country look forward to their visits to the beautiful resort town. For the next few weekends, Myrtle Beach is certain to have its share of visitors who want to take advantage of the last days of summer and the exciting activities the state offers.

Nevertheless, a recent report ranked South Carolina as the fifth most dangerous state in the country, which may not be a selling point for visitors or residents. If you recently suffered an injury due to the negligence of someone else, you may not be surprised to learn of the state’s low ranking.

Poor report card

The National Safety Council released the report at the height of summer, highlighting state performances in numerous types of preventable accidents and grading each state according to the work it does to reduce those numbers. Sadly, South Carolina received marks of D and F in many of the categories, particularly in the following areas:

• Pools: Nearly 1,100 people have died in drowning accidents in the past 15 years, many of them toddlers. If you or a loved one suffered from a drowning incident at a public pool in South Carolina, it may concern you to know that the state’s regulations do not comply with recommended standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Guns: The state does not require background checks or waiting periods for the purchase of a firearm, and gun owners do not have to meet widely accepted safety standards for storing their weapons. As a result, you are more likely to suffer an accidental gunshot wound here than in many other states.
• Roadways: According to state laws, drivers don’t have to yield for you if you are crossing the street outside a pedestrian crosswalk. Even when you are within a crosswalk, cars need only slow down, not stop, to let you cross. Despite this, you have the right to cross the street safely, and if a driver hits you while you are in a crosswalk, you may have legal recourse.

While South Carolina can probably do more to ensure the safety and protection of its residents and visitors, lax laws do not excuse someone who causes injury to you because of negligence or carelessness. When this happens, you have the right to seek legal advice about the most appropriate steps to take.