Stress and uncertainty often follow a car accident in Richland County, SC. You might need to take time off from work to recover while also dealing with sudden medical bills.
Meanwhile, you may not be able to drive your car until it’s repaired, adding more expenses for rideshares or other public transportation. You expect the other driver’s insurance company to help out with these costs, but insurance adjusters look for every opportunity to deny a claim or reduce the settlement.
How can you protect your rights after a car accident? Before proceeding with an insurance claim, it’s wise to review your car accident police report for several reasons.
Often, people are concerned that a police report might indicate they were at fault, or they worry that the report won’t prove that the other driver was to blame. While a police report does not explicitly assign blame, it does provide evidence that the insurance adjuster will use to determine responsibility.
Additionally, reviewing the report can help your attorney determine what evidence might be helpful in your case. Frequently, a more thorough examination of witness statements, available video of the collision, event data recorder data, or other evidence can help us build a strong case to show the other driver is at fault.
The sooner we can get started on your case, the better our chances of finding helpful evidence, so please contact us right away.
If you need assistance with your police report or have any questions or concerns about a car accident, the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is always available for a free consultation. Our experienced team will answer your questions and discuss your options for obtaining compensation after a car accident.
Where Can You Get A Copy of Your Richland County Sheriff’s Department Car Accident Report?
If your car accident occurred in Columbia, SC, or one of the other cities in Richland County, it was likely handled by a local police department. Please see our page on how to obtain a police report from the Columbia Police Department.
If your accident was outside of the city limits but within Richland County, it was most likely handled by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office (RCSD). You can visit the RCSD at the following address during normal business hours:
Richland County Sheriff’s Department
5623 Two Notch Road
Columbia, SC 29223
You will need to bring the following:
- A government-issued ID
- The date and location of the accident
- The vehicle identification number or VIN number and/or the license plate number of your vehicle
The RCSD does not process online report requests for car accidents. However, it forwards accident reports to the South Carolina DMV, and you can request a report from its website.
For identification purposes, you’ll be asked for your driver’s license number, social security number, and date of birth. Next, you’ll need to enter the date and location of the collision.
Once the report is located, you’ll be charged a $6 fee, which you can usually pay online with a credit or debit card.
When Will My Accident Report Be Available?
This can vary depending on how busy the department is and when your accident occurred. In most cases, reports are available within a week or two of the collision, but in rare cases, it may take longer.
For instance, there are often multiple car accidents over a holiday weekend, so if your collision happened then, it may take more time than usual for the officer to complete all their accident reports.
If you want to check on the availability of your report before making the trip in person, you can call the RCSD at 803-576-3000 and ask for the Records Unit.
If you’re requesting an online report from the SCDMV, you may need to wait a few days extra for the RCSD to forward the report.
What Else Do You Need When Filing an Insurance Claim for Your Car Accident?
The advice of an experienced car accident attorney is essential. While you can file your own claim, ensuring you receive the full settlement you deserve is a complex task.
Most people have no idea how to value their own claim or if a settlement offer is adequate. Additionally, an insurance adjuster may assign you a higher percentage of fault than is fair, thus reducing your settlement.
The best way to navigate these difficult situations is with the assistance of a personal injury lawyer.
When you speak with your attorney, they will probably ask about your bills and expenses associated with the accident. We recommend gathering these before your meeting so you have them handy.
If there are any bills you’ve misplaced or can’t find, our team will advise you about how to track them down. In most situations, it’s possible to get copies.
If we take your case, we’ll need to review any medical records related to your injuries. If you have these available, that’s great, but if not, we can obtain them from the healthcare provider with your consent.
Where Can You Get Advice About Your Car Accident Claim?
Many people have questions or concerns about their South Carolina police reports or insurance claims, and with good reason. Car accident reports can appear convoluted if you’re not used to reading them.
As we discussed earlier, insurance adjusters aren’t always on your side, and filing a claim is fraught with potential pitfalls.
If you need help or just want to ask a quick question, please contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm for a free consultation about your car accident report or claim. Our team will review the report, answer your questions, and lay out the options for pursuing damages.
If you’re having difficulty finding or acquiring a copy of your car accident report, we can assist you with that as well.
Attorney Ali Awad founded the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm only a few years ago and has quickly grown it into one of the fastest-growing law firms in the country. He and his team have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for injured people and their families with a 99.5 percent success rate.
Work with the CEO Layer himself when you call us at (864) 664-3865.
