If you are injured in a Spartanburg car accident, you must do many things to cover your damages and get justice for your injuries. The first step is to report the crash to the police.
Police investigate accidents and draft reports that include important details, like the other driver’s identity and insurance provider. Your accident report will also contain the officers’ observations, including who they believe caused the accident and who was ticketed. This information is invaluable when trying to recover compensation in a lawsuit, so you definitely want a copy. Our attorneys can determine which law enforcement agency investigated your crash and the best methods to obtain their report. Getting it online is typically the best route since we can immediately use it in your case. If the report is still unavailable, we will contact the police to determine when it will be.
Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (803) 219-4906 for a free assessment of your case with our Spartanburg personal injury lawyers today.
Who Can I Get a Copy of a Police Report from for My Car Accident in Spartanburg, SC?
Where you can get a copy of your police report will depend on who investigated your crash. Spartanburg is the county seat of Spartanburg County, so a few law enforcement agencies could be responsible for making the report. The Spartanburg Police Department typically investigates accidents within city limits. At the same time, the Sheriff’s Office will respond to accidents in unincorporated parts of Spartanburg County, and the South Carolina Highway Patrol has jurisdiction over accidents on state highways and interstates.
Our Spartanburg car accident lawyers can figure out who has your report and explain how we can use it in a legal claim. Having a police report is often necessary for insurance, but it can also help find evidence that can be used in a lawsuit. So, you will want to get a copy quickly and start your case with our team. The following will explain which methods are available to get your police report in Spartanburg:
The Spartanburg Police Department
If you know your accident happened in city limits, you should check the Spartanburg Police Department first for your report. The report must be completed sometime after the accident, so you will not get a copy at the scene. However, the police might give you a form that tells you how to obtain your report and the accident number the report will be associated with. If you received anything from the officers, it should have the department name on it.
Currently, you can only pick up an SPD accident report by visiting its Records Division at the SPD headquarters in person. They are located at 206 N Forest Street, Spartanburg, 29301, and can be reached at (864) 594-7257. Before making the trip, it is a good idea to call ahead to ensure the report is available. Fortunately, you will not be charged for a copy of your report since you were involved in the incident.
The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
Many parts of Spartanburg are actually in Spartanburg County, so your police report was likely drafted by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. We can contact the Sherriff’s Office on your behalf to determine how to obtain a report from them. As of September 2024, the Sheriff’s Office has no instructions for getting an accident report on their website. If you would like to call on your own, you can reach the Sheriff’s Office Records Department at (864) 503-4550 during normal business hours.
If your crash happened on one of the many interstates or highways crisscrossing Spartanburg, like I-85 and U.S. Highway 221, it was probably investigated by the South Carolina Highway Patrol. The Highway Patrol is a state law enforcement agency, so their accident reports are sent to a central database managed by the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV).
The fastest way to get your police report from the SCDMV is to request it online. You must provide your driver’s license number, Social Security number, and date of birth and pay a $6 fee to access your report.
You can also pick up a copy in person by visiting the SCDMV branch office closest to you. Be sure first to fill out SCDMV Form FR-50, the “Request for Copy Collision Report,” and include as much information as possible. Bring two copies with you when you go, and pay the $6 research fee to get your report.
You can also mail in your request form to the SCDMV by sending two completed copies and a check or money order for $6 to the following address:
SCDMV
Titles Mail-in Unit FR-50
PO Box 1498
Blythewood, SC 29016
Do not send cash with your request, or it will not be processed. Our team can help answer the form and mail it so you get it back sooner rather than later.
Does it Take Long Before a Police Report is Available After a Car Accident in Spartanburg, SC?
How long it takes for your report to be available depends on the accident. Investigations for minor accidents typically do not take the police long, so most reports can be obtained after a few days or a week, especially if the other driver was not charged with a crime.
If the accident involved numerous parties, severe injuries, or arrests, the report might take longer to complete since the accident scene might also be a crime scene. For instance, if someone driving under the influence hits you, the police must investigate and conduct sobriety and chemical testing, so they usually take more time to complete the report. If your report is still unavailable after a week or so, our team can find out why and get it.
Contact Our Spartanburg, SC Car Accident Lawyers for Help Getting Your Report and Using it in Your Claim
For a free case review with our Spartanburg car accident attorneys, call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (803) 219-4906.