Figuring out what to do next after a car collision can be complicated. Once you’ve reported the accident and received medical attention for your injuries, you may consider an insurance claim to address your medical bills, lost income, car damage, and other losses.
However, people commonly have questions or concerns before filing a claim. You might wonder who was at fault.
Or, maybe you feel confident the other driver is responsible, but they insist you were at fault. Will that affect your claim?
What if you’re not even sure what happened? Accidents happen quickly, and clients often tell us they aren’t sure how their collision occurred.
A good way to proceed is to acquire a copy of the police car accident report and consult an experienced car accident lawyer. We’ll read the report, answer any questions, and help you learn more about your options for seeking compensation.
If you have questions or concerns about your accident or need help finding your police report, please contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm. We’re always available to help you get the answers you need to make an informed decision.
Where Can You Get a Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Car Accident Police Report?
First, make sure you need a report from the county Sheriff’s Office. If your accident happened within the limits of a city like Beaufort or Bluffton, it was probably attended by the city police department.
Please see our list of local law enforcement agencies for help seeking a report from a city police department.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP), also on our list of agencies, usually attends to interstate accidents. When a collision happens in Beaufort County, off the interstate but not inside a city, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office may respond.
How to Get Your Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Car Accident Report Online
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office maintains an online portal for requesting incident or accident reports. You’ll need to fill out a request form with the following information:
- Your name, mailing address, email address, and phone number.
- The date and location of the accident.
- The name or names listed in the report.
- The report number. This can usually be found on the paperwork the responding officer provided you. It should start with the last two digits of the year and an “S,” so if your accident happened in 2024, you would look for “24S” on the paperwork.
When your request has been processed and the report is ready, you’ll receive an email with instructions on how to pay the fee. Typically, the first page is $1, and each additional page is 25 cents. Most car accident reports are about four pages long.
You’ll need to mail payment to:
Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office
P.O. Box 1758
Beaufort, SC 29901
They only accept certified checks and money orders through the mail. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope and a copy of the confirmation email.
Can You Get A Report In Person or By Mail?
Yes, you can visit or mail your request to one of the following locations:
Beaufort office:
2001 Duke St.,
Beaufort, SC 29902
Hilton Head Island office:
70 Shelter Cove Lane,
Hilton Head, SC 29928
You should bring or include all the information needed for an online request and expect to pay a similar fee.
How Do I Find Out Who Is at Fault for the Accident?
Determining fault can be more problematic than you might expect. Sometimes, fault seems clear when you read an accident report, but there may be more to the story.
In other situations, the injured party may feel the report is inaccurate or unfairly attributes fault to them.
For these reasons, we suggest reviewing the report with a car accident lawyer. Here are some common situations we see that cause challenges with a police report:
- Both drivers had very different accounts of what happened. In some cases, there are also witnesses with varying stories. The responding officer tries to figure out the truth, but it can be difficult when physical evidence is limited and parties to the accident disagree.
- The injured person misinterprets the report. Police reports can be confusing if you’re not used to reading them and looking at the “contributing factors.” A seasoned car accident lawyer will help you understand what the report says or indicates about fault.
- Both drivers share some fault in the accident. South Carolina law recognizes that more than one party can be responsible for an accident or injury like a car collision. We always look at the list of “contributing factors” to learn more about fault. In some cases, both drivers made mistakes that contributed to the crash.
- Even if you have some fault in the collision, you may still be able to recover damages. Sometimes, clients tell us they don’t think they can recover anything because they did something wrong. However, state law allows you to recover damages if you are less than 50 percent responsible. Your share of fault will be deducted from your final settlement.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you by investigating the accident and searching for more evidence if you feel the report is inaccurate or unfairly blames you. We can also work to ensure the insurance company or companies don’t overestimate your share of fault and, by doing so, help you get the best settlement possible.
How Can I Learn More About My Car Accident or Police Report?
The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is here to help. Please contact us at any time for a free consultation about your accident. If you have difficulty finding your SC accident report or simply have questions about it, we’re happy to assist you.
There is no obligation, but if we take your case, you won’t owe us anything until we win or settle it.
Attorney Ali Awad founded the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm to help injured people obtain the resources they need to recover. It is now one of the fastest-growing law firms in the country, having served over a million people nationwide.
Mr. Awad and his team have over twenty years of combined experience in personal injury law and have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for injured people and their families. When Mr. Awad isn’t busy working on a case, he posts no-nonsense legal advice for over a million followers on social media.
Work with us today when you call (864) 664-3865.
