After a car accident, the police often arrive at the scene to provide aid, take control of the situation, and ensure that everyone receives help. They may also investigate to see if anyone should be criminally charged for causing the accident. While criminal charges are not always assessed, negligent drivers may still be held responsible, and evidence might be found in the police report.
In South Carolina, accident reports from the police may be obtained through the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV). Reports from state and local authorities may be obtained through the SCDMV. You have the option of submitting your request online, by mail, or in person. The report can help us gather information and details about the accident we need to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the other driver. It may take some time for the police to prepare the report, and you should consult with your attorney if the report is taking an unusually long time.
Obtain a private, free claim review from our Hardeeville, SC car accident lawyers by calling Rice Law at (803) 219-4906.
When Your Police Report Might Be Ready
Car accidents are common, and the police deal with them so often that writing official reports about their investigations is a routine part of the job. Even so, the police serve so many other functions that accident reports are sometimes placed on the back burner. As such, the time it takes to actually receive a copy of the report is hard to predict.
Many reports are available relatively quickly, while others require more time to prepare. If the accident was fairly straightforward, the police may complete their investigation and issue a report fairly quickly. However, we must also consider how busy law enforcement is and whether other duties will take priority over finishing accident reports.
If the accident is more severe or complicated, the police may require additional time to investigate, and a report may not be available for several weeks or longer. This is especially true in cases where a driver faces potential criminal charges. The police will likely take more time to investigate, gather evidence, and consult with prosecutors about the situation.
How to Obtain a Copy of a Car Accident Report in Hardeeville, SC
How our Hardeeville, SC personal injury lawyers get a copy of the report will vary based on which police department is involved in the case and how they make reports available to the public. Talk to your lawyer about how to submit a formal request for the report.
In South Carolina, police reports regarding accidents are usually made available through the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV). Whether the police involved in the case are state or local authorities, you will likely find your report with the SCDMV.
However, different departments may send reports to the SCDMV at varying times, depending on their workload and other factors. For example, state authorities tend to be very busy since they deal with accident reports across the entire state, so the report might not reach the SCDMV until much later.
Requests may be submitted online, in person, or through regular mail. When submitting a request, we need specific details about the accident to find the report. Your personal information, the location of the accident, details about your vehicle, and other relevant information are necessary to obtain a report.
Information Contained in a Car Accident Report
The information your accident report contains will vary based on law enforcement’s investigation. Some reports are lengthy and contain all sorts of information and evidence about the accident. Other reports might be more limited and contain only basic information about the accident. Often, simpler accidents that do not need extensive investigations have shorter, more basic reports.
First, the report should contain details about how the accident happened. This may include placement of the vehicles at the crash site, information about which vehicle struck the other, and notes from the police about who might have caused the accident.
The report should also contain details about the drivers. This may include the names and basic identifying information about the drivers and whether there was anything suspicious about them. For example, if one of the drivers appeared intoxicated and was arrested at the scene, this information should be in the report.
Depending on the extent of their investigation, the police may include details about individuals and witnesses involved in the accident. If anyone who witnessed the accident provided a statement to the police, their name and contact information may be included in the report. We can use this to find them and possible get them to testify in your case.
Why You Might Need a Copy of a Car Accident Report in Hardeeville, SC
You might wonder why you need a copy of the police report from your car accident, especially since these reports are often not admissible as evidence in court. The truth is, you might need a copy for multiple reasons. In fact, you should probably get a copy even if you are unsure if you need one.
First, the report may be a necessary tool for finding evidence. Again, the report itself is often inadmissible in court, but that does not mean it does not contain useful information. We can use the report to find the evidence uncovered by the police and hopefully use it in your case.
We may also need the report to confirm certain details or facts about the accident. For example, suppose the defendant claims that they were not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. However, the police might have noticed signs of intoxication or an odor of alcohol. In that case, the report can help us confirm that the other driver was likely intoxicated. At that point, we can contact the police to discuss using the chemical testing results as evidence in court.
Speak to Our Hardeeville, SC Car Accident Lawyers About Starting Your Case
Obtain a private, free claim review from our Hardeeville, SC car accident lawyers by calling Rice Law at (803) 219-4906.