Rock Hill Police Department Car Accident Report

A car accident police report is a valuable tool in addressing the many difficulties you may encounter after a car accident. An insurance adjuster will use it to determine fault, which can be a complicated undertaking.

Unfortunately, insurance adjusters work for an insurance company, and their job is to reduce the company’s liability. In some cases, this can lead to a smaller settlement than the injured person deserves.

The best solution is to be proactive and seek out a copy of your car accident report, then review it with an experienced car accident lawyer right away. We’ll answer your questions, advise you of the options, and work to achieve the best settlement possible in your case.

What Is the Process to Get a Rock Hill Police Department Car Accident Report?

Here are several options for acquiring your car accident report:

In-Person

You can go to the Rock Hill Police Department’s Records Division during regular business hours. The RHPD does not charge for a car accident report if you were directly involved in the accident—for example, a driver, passenger, witness, vehicle owner, pedestrian struck by a car, etc.

However, you must bring a photo ID and explain your involvement with the collision.

The address is:

Rock Hill Police Department

120 E. Black Street

Rock Hill, SC 29732

By Mail

If you don’t live in Rock Hill or your injuries make in-person visits difficult, you can mail a request to the RHPD at the address above. Please include your name, contact info (including a phone number and/or email address so they can get in touch with you if needed), and how you were involved with the accident.

This method will likely take several days longer to complete, but eventually you will receive the report through the mail.

Online

You can request a copy of your report online through the South Carolina DMV (SCDMV). With this option, you’ll need to enter your driver’s license number, social security number, and date of birth, then pay a $6 fee.

Most of the time, you can pay online with a credit card, but you also have the option to mail a check to the DMV.

What if the Report Says That I’m at Fault?

This is a common concern that your lawyer can address based on your situation. However, there are several essential things to understand about fault and car accidents:

South Carolina is a Modified Comparative Negligence State

That means the state acknowledges that two or more parties can share fault for an injury, such as one that might occur in a car accident. An injured person is not barred from recovery unless they are 50 percent or more at fault.

However, their share of responsibility will be subtracted from the final settlement.

For instance, if you are ten percent at fault and have $20,000 in damages, you could still receive $18,000.

Often, people who think they’re at fault only made a small mistake, while the other driver was primarily at fault. In these situations, they can still receive much of the settlement they deserve.

You Might Not Be at Fault at All

In other cases, the injured person who thinks they’re at fault is simply incorrect. They might have made a minor mistake that had no bearing on the collision, or they may have done nothing wrong.

This is why we advise people not to take responsibility for an accident at the scene or when speaking with insurance adjusters. If you think you have some responsibility, you should discuss the matter with your lawyer before you do anything else.

The Insurance Company or Companies Usually Decide Fault

You might imagine a trial in a courtroom, but car accident cases rarely require a trial. Most are worked out between the involved insurance companies—with or without your input.

It’s hard to know if an insurance company is treating you fairly. Have they overestimated your share of fault? Did they undervalue your damages?

Did they forget some potential damages? The average person doesn’t have the knowledge and experience to answer these questions independently, but a seasoned car accident attorney does.

For this reason, it’s a good idea to seek the counsel of a car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Always review any settlement offer from the insurance company with an attorney before you accept.

If I Wasn’t at Fault, Do I Still Need A Lawyer?

Yes. Even if you know you’re not at fault, that doesn’t mean the other driver agrees.

In many cases, both drivers claim the other is responsible. Since fault can be shared, they may both be partially right.

Or, one driver might be entirely at fault, but the other driver has difficulty proving it. An experienced car accident lawyer will work to track down evidence to show who was really responsible.

Lawyers can also be helpful even if the other driver accepts responsibility. Their insurance carrier will still try to undervalue your damages and pay you as little as possible, but your lawyer will fight for your right to a fair settlement.

Where Can I Get Help With My Car Accident Case?

The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is always available for a free consultation about your car accident report or case. If you’re having trouble locating your South Carolina police report, we can assist you in finding it.

Our team will review the facts of your collision and develop a strategy to win your case. You are under no obligation, but if you choose to proceed with our assistance, you won’t be charged until we win or settle the case.

We know how financially draining car accidents can be, and we don’t want you to worry about any upfront costs.

Attorney Ali Awad founded the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm only a few years ago, and it’s now one of the fastest-growing law firms in the country. We’ve helped injured people all over the country recover millions of dollars in compensation with a 99.5 percent success rate.

Please contact us today at (864) 664-3865 to learn how we can help you.