Always prioritize reporting a car accident. Calling the police right away is the easiest way for victims to document a collision, collect the information of a negligent driver, and report the crash to the authorities. If you don’t call 911 to report the accident, you have just over two weeks to self-report to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV).
You don’t have to worry about notifying the SCDMV about a crash if you already reported it to the police. Immediately reporting a crash to law enforcement leads to a police investigation. Officers can get the other driver’s insurance information, note your apparent injuries, and even obtain eyewitnesses’ names and numbers. Stay at the scene for as long as it takes law enforcement to respond to your 911 call, unless you must go straight to the hospital with paramedics. Police officers should still investigate the accident and write a collision report, which we can help you provide additional information for later on.
Call our Columbia, SC car accident lawyers for a free case review from Rice Law at (803) 219-4906.
When Do You Have to Report a Car Accident to the Police in South Carolina?
According to S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-1260, drivers in South Carolina must report any collision resulting in injury or death to the police immediately. If you are unable to call 911 yourself due to injuries, the other driver must notify law enforcement.
Don’t hesitate to involve the police, even if the other driver tries to convince you not to. If you are at all injured, South Carolina law requires you to notify law enforcement immediately. This law often benefits car accident victims, as police officers who respond to collisions write crash reports our lawyers can use.
How Long Do You Have to Report an Accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles?
Suppose a driver did not call the police to investigate a collision that resulted in injury, death, or more than $1,000 in property damage. In that case, the driver must submit a written accident report themselves to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles within 15 days, according to § 56-5-1270.
Our attorneys can assist you in completing and submitting the required report to the SCDMV within the allotted timeframe. These reports require a significant amount of information, not just about your car and its potential property damage, but also about the other driver’s vehicle and insurance information.
You do not have to submit a written report to the SCDMV if you called the police to investigate the crash in South Carolina. Involving law enforcement eliminates this step for victims and should result in an accurate and informative accident report that we can access soon after the incident.
What if You Take Too Long to Report a Car Accident in South Carolina?
It’s always best to report a car accident to the police as soon as possible. Waiting and then self-reporting to the SCDMV doesn’t have the same benefits as involving law enforcement directly after a crash, as police officers typically write more detailed accident reports.
When victims delay reporting car accidents, either to the police or the SCDMV, they may lack documentation that the accident occurred. This makes getting compensation very challenging, as a defendant might argue the plaintiff was injured in another collision entirely.
Always report a car accident immediately, even if the property damage seems minor or you don’t feel injured. It’s best to err on the side of caution and involve the police if a negligent driver hits you. You may realize that property damage is more expensive than you initially realized or that the shock from the crash kept you from noticing an injury, making the crash report a valuable asset to our Charleston, SC car accident lawyers.
How Long Do You Have to Stay at the Scene to Report a Car Accident?
Stay at the accident scene long enough for police officers to arrive and collect information for the report. Remain there, even if the negligent driver leaves. The only time you should leave the scene before speaking to the police is if you are severely injured and paramedics must take you straight to the hospital.
When the police arrive, tell them what happened as accurately as you can. While you may be shaken up or in shock, stay present and cooperate fully with law enforcement officers.
If you cannot stay at the scene to assist law enforcement with their report, police officers may contact you in the following days. Our attorneys can also assist you in contacting local police and provide any necessary information they may require for the report.
While you remain at the scene waiting for law enforcement to arrive, see if you notice any witnesses. You can ask them to stay so police officers can include eyewitnesses’ information in the report for our reference later on.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Police Report for a Car Accident?
The time it takes to complete accident reports in South Carolina varies. Law enforcement may finish your report within a matter of days, and our attorneys can help you retrieve it as soon as possible.
You may be able to get the report online, in person, or by mail, depending on the police department that completed the report. More complicated collisions may require more detailed reports, and officers should take the time to ensure the information is accurate before completing any report. While it may take a week or more for law enforcement to complete the report, our attorneys can reach out if the report is taking an unreasonably long time to be ready.
Call Us About Your Recent South Carolina Car Accident
To get a free case review from our South Carolina car accident lawyers, call Rice Law at (803) 219-4906.