(Newswire.net — June 30, 2022) — If you’ve been in a car accident in South Carolina, you can obtain a copy of the accident report online from the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) website. You can also mail your request or take it to the nearest SCDMV office. Your accident report contains more details than the police report you received at the scene of your car wreck.
Official and Unofficial Collision Reports
To purchase an accident report online you have to enter your personal information in a form. This confirms your identity and proves to the DMV that you need to obtain official records regarding the crash.
If the collision report hasn’t been added to your driving record yet, the report will be stamped “unofficial.” However, if your accident report is already on your driving record, you won’t see a stamp on the document.
When you’re obtaining your accident report online, you’ll receive a message prompting you to confirm that you accept the terms, so be sure to agree to the terms before moving to the next step.
If your accident report is unofficial, you’ll have to pay extra to purchase an official collision report once the document becomes part of your driving record. The SCDMV will not send the official version to you unless you request it.
Reporting Your Collision in South Carolina
If you’re in a car wreck, you should report the accident to the nearest South Carolina police department immediately. If more than $1,000 worth of your property is damaged or the accident causes injury or death, you must report the collision to the SCDMV within 10 days. You’ll also have to present proof that you have liability insurance coverage.
When the vehicle owner or driver cannot file the report, another person in the automobile should submit the collision report. If the car owner was not in the vehicle at the time of the accident, the owner has five days after learning about the collision to file a report.
What Happens When the Accident Occurs?
Car accidents can occur for several reasons. Even if you try to be as safe as possible on the road, you may still be involved in a wreck due to no fault of your own.
Most of the time, the S.C. Highway Patrol, South Carolina police, or sheriff’s deputies will come to the scene of the accident after someone calls 911. The officials will investigate the accident and send a written report to the DMV within 24 hours.
You need to obtain this report as evidence when you’re filing a claim or attempting to get compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. A car accident attorney in Spartanburg can use the document as valuable evidence to strengthen your case.
What the Accident Report Includes
A car accident report filed by a South Carolina law enforcement officer details the wreck and any causes of the accident that were evident at the scene. This can include:
- The time, date, and location of the incident
- The names of all passengers and drivers in the collision
- Insurance information and contact information for every driver in the accident
- Names and contact information for any accident witnesses
- Statements from the witnesses, drivers, and passengers
- A diagram of the crash
- A concise description of vehicle damage
- The officer’s account of the collision scene (i.e. road conditions, lighting, and weather)
- Observations of driver behavior, such as driving distracted or speeding
Sometimes, the officer will also share their opinion of whether one or both drivers were responsible for the accident.
Why You Need a Lawyer
The collision report is a good starting point for investigating your wreck. A personal injury attorney needs this information to prove your innocence in court and assist you in getting a fair settlement. Insurance companies also use accident reports to determine if you’re eligible for payment.
Often, the insurance company will try to pay you less than what you deserve, which is why working with a qualified lawyer is so important. Be sure to research lawyers in your area and select an attorney who is experienced in car accidents so you can receive the necessary compensation for your accident.
About the author: Mark Scott
With a law degree under his belt, Mark Scott understood very early that law communication was a relatively neglected area. He decided to help people by “translating” the language and offering information and advice in a clear, useful, and actionable manner. For this reason, instead of finding him in court, you will most likely find his name online, where he is very active and thriving as a legal columnist. His part of making the world a better place is to make the law a less convoluted maze. He aims to make it easier for people to understand when and how to seek legal counsel, how to proceed in a significant number of legal matters, and to find the proper resources so they can stand up for their rights.