Cayce City Council unanimously adopted a Vision Zero resolution in July, setting a goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries on non-interstate roads by 2036. The policy supports a federally funded road safety plan that the city is still developing, according to city documents.
The resolution cites 3,551 crashes in Cayce from 2019 through 2023, of which 14 were fatal and 831 caused injuries. Pedestrians and bicyclists were involved in less than 1 percent of those crashes but roughly 36 percent of the fatal ones, underscoring the heightened vulnerability of non-motorized road users.
Local law firm Woron and Dhillon, LLC is reminding residents that people hurt in crashes before those changes take effect still face medical bills, insurance calls, and filing deadlines. A personal injury lawyer in Cayce, SC can explain how those claims work and who may be responsible.
Residents should keep several key points in mind after a crash. A driver involved in an injury crash must notify police immediately under S.C. Code § 56-5-1260. Scene details such as photos of crosswalks, signals, and lighting can matter if road conditions become part of the claim. Shared fault rules allow an injured person to recover if their fault does not exceed the defendants' combined fault, with any award reduced by that share. Most injury claims must be filed within three years under S.C. Code § 15-3-530, while claims against a government entity generally carry a two-year deadline under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act.
The city's early planning targeted four intersections, including Knox Abbott Drive at 12th Street, as reported by The Post and Courier. When a roadway condition contributes to a crash, a city, county, or state agency may share responsibility with a driver. Those claims follow the Tort Claims Act and its damage limits.
"Safety plans take years to reach the pavement. People injured in the meantime still need answers about who is responsible," said Brett Woron, an attorney with Woron and Dhillon, LLC. "We look at the driver's conduct first, then at whether signals, crosswalks, or lighting contributed to the crash."
Woron and Dhillon, LLC is a personal injury firm serving clients across South Carolina from offices in Columbia, Charleston, and North Augusta. Its attorneys have more than 30 years of combined experience and have handled thousands of cases. Brett Woron, a 2010 graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, has practiced since 2011 and was selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars from 2019 through 2023. Amar S. Dhillon has practiced law since 1999, with an emphasis on motor vehicle crash cases. In Cayce, the firm handles car accident, slip and fall, and rideshare accident claims, among other personal injury matters. Attorneys can meet clients at home or in the hospital, and consultations can be requested online.
The Vision Zero resolution and the ongoing road safety plan signal a long-term commitment to safer streets, but until improvements are realized, crash victims must navigate a complex legal landscape. Understanding legal obligations and deadlines is crucial for protecting rights and securing compensation.
