The South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) often responds to car accidents outside of a city or on state highways or interstates. If they respond to your accident, the officer will typically prepare an accident report within 1-2 weeks of the accident.
Many people are eager to acquire a copy of their police report for various reasons. Most commonly, they want to view the report before making an insurance claim, which is an excellent idea.
It’s even better to review the report with an attorney before making a statement to your insurance company. Talking with an insurance adjuster can be complicated, as they will pick apart everything you say, searching for evidence of fault.
How Can I Request A Copy of My South Carolina Highway Patrol Car Accident Report?
If you need a SCHP car accident report, there are several different methods you can use:
Online
You can request a report online here. The first step is to enter your driver’s license number, social security number, and date of birth for identification purposes.
If you have an out-of-state license, you may not be able to use the online portal, but there are other methods of obtaining your report, which are listed below.
After entering your identification info, you’ll be asked for the date and location of the accident so the report can be located. The fee is $6, which you can pay online in most instances.
In some less common situations, you may be informed that you must pay in person.
In Person or By Mail
You can also download the FR-50 collision report request form, print two copies, and fill them out. Two copies are required, so be sure to complete both pages.
If you fill in the form on your computer before printing, the second page will auto-populate with the information from the first page. However, it’s important to remember that you have to individually sign both forms, as the signature does not auto-populate.
When your form is complete, you can mail it to the following address with a check for $6:
SCDMV
Titles Mail-in Unit FR-50
PO Box 1498
Blythewood, SC 29016-0050
If you’d like to pay with cash or a credit or debit card, you will have to go in person. Checks are the only option for a mailed request.
In-person requests should be delivered to your nearest South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Check with your local office for their address and hours of availability.
Does the Car Accident Police Report Say Who Is At Fault?
No, but it does contain information that the insurance adjusters will later use to determine fault. This is why your insurance adjuster may ask for a police report, or they might simply track the report down on their own.
Part of the car accident report is made up of basic facts—who was involved in the accident, who was driving, where the collision occurred, names and contact info for all involved parties, etc. You’ll want to review this info to be certain it’s correct, but it’s not usually relevant to the discussion of fault.
The report also includes a section where the responding officer is expected to check off any “contributing factors” to the collision. There are several important things to understand about “contributing factors”:
- Contributing factors can be your fault, the other driver’s fault, or beyond anyone’s control—for example, weather or road conditions, an animal running into the road, etc.
- Many accidents involve multiple contributing factors.
- Frequently, we see accidents where fault is shared among these multiple factors. For instance, it could have been raining, reducing visibility, and you were going faster than you should have in these weather conditions. However, the other driver ran a red light.
- When contributing factors are shared, people often want to know who was at fault or what the insurance adjuster is likely to decide. The good news is that South Carolina does not bar an injured person from recovery because they contributed to the accident. As long as you are under 50 percent responsible, you can still recover some damages, but you will lose whatever percentage of fault you had from your settlement.
- Sometimes, the insurance adjuster may overestimate your share of fault, which could cost you money.
- Car accident reports can confuse someone who isn’t used to reading them. Sometimes, people think an accident was all or mostly their fault when it wasn’t. If you believe you might be at fault, don’t admit it at the scene, and don’t talk to anyone about it until you consult a lawyer. Your share of responsibility may be much smaller than you think.
What If the Police Report is Wrong?
The responding officer will do their best with the information available at the scene. However, sometimes the drivers have conflicting accounts of what happened, and passengers or other witnesses may also disagree.
The officer will look for evidence, such as tire marks or debris, but sometimes, there is little or no sound evidence, so the report may be inconclusive or reach an incorrect conclusion.
For this reason, police reports can be challenged in court if we locate evidence that tells a different story. Your lawyer will be able to investigate thoroughly, interview witnesses, search for video of the collision, and review both vehicles’ event data recorder or EDR data.
If you think something on your report is incorrect, we recommend you speak with an attorney right away.
How Can I Get Help With My Car Accident Claim or Police Report?
Please contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm for a free consultation. We’ll review your South Carolina police report with you, answer your questions, and explain the options for pursuing compensation.
Attorney Ali Awad founded the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm only a few years ago and has since transformed it into one of the fastest-growing law firms in the country. With a 99.5 percent success rate, Mr. Awad and his team of South Carolina car accident lawyers have helped over a million people recover the compensation they deserve.
There is no obligation, and if we take your case, we won’t charge any fees until we win or settle it. Call us today at (864) 664-3865 or contact us online for a free consultation.
