Horry County Police Department Car Accident Report

When you have a car accident, you can quickly become exhausted from the number of tasks you suddenly have to do. After reporting the accident and getting medical attention for your injuries, you may turn your attention to filing an insurance claim for your medical bills and car repair costs.

Unfortunately, this process is much more complicated than it seems, and the insurance company’s adjuster will be committed to paying you as little as possible. How can you protect your legal rights after an accident?

It’s helpful to obtain a copy of your police car accident report as quickly as possible so you can discuss it with an attorney. Ideally, you should do this before talking to the insurance company, but you can still seek legal advice after filing a claim.

Where Can You Find a Horry County Police Department Car Accident Report?

You can visit one of the Horry County Police Department (HCPD) precincts in Conway, Little River, Myrtle Beach, or Green Sea during regular business hours to request a copy of your accident report. The HCPD asks that you wait a few days after filing the report to seek a copy so they have time to file it.

When you arrive at the precinct, you’ll need to provide your ID and some information about the accident. If you have a case number provided by the responding officer, that may be the most efficient way to find your report.

If you don’t have a case number, the Records officer will try to locate it using the date, approximate time, and location of your collision.

There is no charge for a report as long as your name is mentioned in it. Generally, drivers, passengers, and witnesses are all named in police car accident reports.

If you are not named in the report, there will be a $2 fee to obtain a copy.

Can You Get Your Car Accident Report Online?

Yes. You may request a copy of your report by emailing [email protected].

Please include a picture of your ID and as much relevant information as you have, particularly your case number, name and contact info, and the date, time, and location of the collision. If the report does not include your name, you won’t be able to request it by email and will need to visit a precinct in person.

What Should I Look for on a Car Accident Report?

First, it’s a good idea to review the report and ensure all the information is correct. It should include the names and contact info of everyone involved, including insurance policy information.

The report should also have a brief collision diagram and summary of what happened. Sometimes, this part may be vague or incorrect if there were differing accounts of how the accident occurred or if you simply found it hard to answer questions clearly while injured and in pain.

If you notice anything wrong in this section, let your lawyer know right away.

Additionally, the report contains a lengthy list of potential contributing factors, and the officer will select all that apply. Some contributing factors, like poor weather or road obstructions, are not either driver’s fault.

However, many contributing factors stem from driver error.

Here are some common contributing factors that may be attributed to one or both drivers:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Ignoring other road signs or traffic laws
• Improper turning/pulling out in front of another vehicle
• Following too closely or “tailgating”
• Road rage or aggressive driving
• Improper or unsafe lane changes
• Failure to yield
• Fatigued or drowsy driving
• Driving under the influence

What if the Police Report Says I Did Something Wrong?

This is a common concern. It’s important to remember that there can be more than one contributing factor in an accident. Even if you made a mistake, it may not be the main cause of the collision.

Under South Carolina law, an injured party can still recover compensation if they contributed to the crash, so long as they are less than 50 percent responsible. The final settlement will be reduced by whatever percentage of fault they did have.

For instance, if you were 15 percent at fault, you would still be able to recover 85 percent of your damages.

In other situations, the injured person may insist they are not responsible for whatever “contributing factor” is attributed to them. The responding officer makes the best determination they can with the information available, but as discussed earlier, the evidence may not always be clear.

If you believe a contributing factor was incorrectly assigned to you, we’ll investigate, seeking out evidence such as photos from the scene, video of the accident, electronic evidence from vehicle data recorders, witness statements, etc. Should we find evidence that you are not responsible for a contributing factor, we can challenge the police report.

How Can I Learn More About My Car Accident and Options for Pursuing Compensation?

Please contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm for a free consultation. We’ll read your South Carolina accident report, answer your questions, and help you learn more about your options.

If you’ve already received an insurance company offer, we can review it with you to ensure it addresses all your losses.

There is no obligation, but if we take your case, we have a no-win, no-fee guarantee. You never need to worry about upfront costs, and you won’t pay anything until we win or settle your case.

Attorney Ali Awad founded the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm and rapidly turned it into one of the fastest-growing law firms in the country. With the help of his talented legal team, he has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for injured people and their families.

The CEO Lawyer team has a 99.5 percent success rate and is always ready to assist new clients with a car accident or other personal injury situation. In his spare time, Mr. Awad posts intriguing videos about legal issues for over a million followers on social media.

Work with us when you call (864) 664-3865.