Car accidents usually happen quickly, sometimes in only a few seconds, but the effects can be far-reaching. You could be plagued by chronic pain, medical bills, lost income from missing work, and other challenges that may last for months.
Before placing an insurance claim, we recommend acquiring a copy of your accident report and reviewing it with a car accident attorney. Insurance adjusters often comb through these reports, looking for any excuse to blame the injured party or reject the claim.
Fortunately, your lawyer can help you understand the options and safeguard your legal rights.
Where Can I Get a Beaufort Police Department Car Accident Report?
Here are several ways to access a copy of your Beaufort Police Department car accident report:
In Person
During regular business hours (8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday), you can visit the Beaufort Police Department at their Boundary Street location:
1901 Boundary Street
Suite 102
Beaufort, SC 29902
The most efficient route to the Records Division is through the Palmetto Street entrance.
You should bring any paperwork with the accident case number (usually provided by the responding officer) and your photo ID. If you don’t have the case number, be prepared to provide the date, approximate time, and location of the collision to facilitate finding the report.
By Mail
You can also mail your request to the address above. Please include all the information listed above for an in-person visit, plus a color copy of your driver’s license for identification purposes.
Make sure your contact information and return address are also inside in case the Records officer has any questions.
If you send your request by mail, it will likely take several days longer to receive your report.
By Phone
It’s also possible to place a request by calling the Records Division during regular business hours at (843)-322-7905. Please see above for the information you’ll need to have handy.
Online
The Beaufort Police Department does not offer an online portal or other method for requesting a car accident report online. However, if it has been 1-2 weeks since your accident, you may be able to find your report on the South Carolina DMV’s website.
To get started, you will need your driver’s license number, social security number, and date of birth. Then, you’ll enter the accident information and search the database for your report.
If you locate the report, you’ll be asked for a $6 fee, which you can usually pay online with a credit or debit card.
What if the Beaufort Police Department Doesn’t Have Your Accident Report?
If they can’t find your report, you may want to verify the information you’ve given them. Sometimes, one incorrect digit can prevent the officer from finding your report.
When you’re certain all the information is correct, the accident may have taken place on the interstate or outside of city limits, in which case the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) probably attended to it. SCHP accident reports are available through the SCDMV website using the above instructions.
If you still can’t find your report, your lawyer may be able to help you locate it.
What Should You Do After Receiving Your Report?
We advise you to review your report with an experienced car accident lawyer. Here are some common questions or concerns that we can help you with:
Determining Who Is at Fault
Often, people contact our office because they are uncertain who is at fault, think the other driver is responsible, or disagree with the indications of fault on the police report. We’ll review the information on the report, including the responding officer’s notes on “contributing factors,” and verify that the events listed are correct.
If you disagree with the report or the officer’s conclusions, we may be able to investigate further and obtain more evidence to learn what really happened. Some types of evidence may not last forever (such as videos from doorbell cameras, which could be erased regularly), so please contact an attorney as soon as possible.
If it appears that fault is shared (which happens frequently), we can work to establish how much fault each party has. The insurance companies will do this themselves, but in some cases, the adjusters may assign too much fault to an injured party.
When this happens, the injured person could lose a significant amount of their settlement or receive nothing if their percentage is estimated to be at least 50 percent.
Documenting Your Damages
We’ll ask about all your damages, including medical bills, lost income, car repair estimates, pain and suffering, permanent disability, and more. Our goal is to be sure nothing is overlooked and that you receive a fair settlement for your losses.
Insurance adjusters sometimes underestimate an injured person’s damages, and we want to ensure that doesn’t happen to you.
It’s helpful to have copies of your bills, as well as receipts for any out-of-pocket costs. However, if you have trouble locating any bills or other documents, let us know, and we’ll do our best to help.
How Can I Get Assistance With My Car Accident Police Report?
Please contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm for a free consultation. We’re happy to review your SC police report or help you locate it if you have any difficulty.
Our legal team will study the accident details, answer your questions, and explain your options for pursuing compensation. You have no obligation, but if we take your case, there are no upfront fees—you won’t pay anything until we win or settle the matter.
Attorney Ali Awad founded the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, which is now one of the fastest-growing law firms in the country. He and his team have over twenty years of combined experience in personal injury law and have recovered millions of dollars in damages for injured people and their families.
In his spare time, Mr. Awad posts about legal issues for over a million followers on social media. Work with him today by calling the CEO Lawyer at (864) 664-3865.
