It’s essential to know your obligations after a crash under South Carolina law, such as exchanging information and notifying law enforcement.
All South Carolina drivers must comply with certain legal duties after a car accident. Knowing what to do can help you stay out of trouble and prevent financial hardships from arising as a result of the incident.
Here we explain some of the basic rules of South Carolina car accident laws so that you have the information you need moving forward. For additional details, you can also review Chapter 5 of the South Carolina Motor Vehicle Code.
1. South Carolina Driver Exchange of Information Law
In South Carolina, if you get into a car accident resulting in injury or death, you must immediately stop and remain at the scene until you exchange information with the other parties involved in the crash. The law requires you to provide your name, address, vehicle registration number, and to show your driver’s license if requested.
The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or death immediately shall stop the vehicle and remain at the scene of the accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of Section 56-5-1230. However, he may temporarily leave the scene to report the accident to the proper authorities.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or death or damage to any vehicle shall give his name, address and the registration number of the vehicle and shall upon request and if available exhibit his driver’s license to the person struck or the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle collided with.
2. South Carolina Car Accident Injury Law: Duty to Render Aid
If you are ever in a car crash in South Carolina, you may be obligated by law to render aid to people who are injured in the collision. This includes taking them to the hospital or arranging some other method of transportation if they need medical care or if they request it.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident shall render to any person injured in such accident reasonable assistance, including the carrying or making arrangements for the carrying of such person to a hospital for medical treatment if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary or if such carrying is requested by the injured person.
3. South Carolina Law on Reporting a Car Accident to Police
Under South Carolina law, if you’ve been in an accident resulting in injury or death you must notify the local authorities as soon as possible. You also need to report any accident involving injury, death, or total property damage over $1,000 to the Department of Motor Vehicles within 15 days if the police do not investigate it.
In situations where the driver is incapacitated, a capable passenger in the vehicle must notify the police immediately when required. Likewise, vehicle owners must file a report with the Department of Motor Vehicles within five days of learning about crashes where someone else was driving their car and is incapable of making a report.
The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or death shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice to the local police department if within a municipality, otherwise to the county sheriff or the nearest office of the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
The operator or owner of a motor vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury or death or total property damage to an apparent extent of one thousand dollars or more which was not investigated by a law enforcement officer, within fifteen days after the accident, shall forward a written report to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Whenever the driver of a vehicle is physically incapable of making an immediate report of an accident and there was another occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident capable of making a report, such occupant shall make or cause to be made such report not made by the driver.
Whenever the driver is so physically incapable of making a written report and such driver is not the owner of the vehicle, then the owner of the vehicle involved in such accident shall within five days after learning of the accident make such report not made by the driver.
What if I Fail to Report an Accident in South Carolina?
Failing to report an accident when South Carolina law requires you to do so is a misdemeanor offense. If you are convicted, you can receive a fine of up to $100 and up to 30 days in jail.
It is a misdemeanor for any person to violate any of the provisions of this chapter unless such violation is by this chapter or other law of this State declared to be a felony.
Every person convicted of a misdemeanor for a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter for which another penalty is not provided shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days.
4. South Carolina Car Accidents With No Injuries: Your Legal Duty
According to South Carolina law, you must immediately stop after an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle and exchange information with the other people involved. However, you can temporarily leave if you need to report the incident to the proper authorities.
The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle shall stop the vehicle and remain at the scene of the accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of Section 56-5-1230. However, he may temporarily leave the scene to report the accident to the proper authorities.
The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in damage to any vehicle shall give his name, address and the registration number of the vehicle and shall upon request and if available exhibit his driver’s license to the driver or occupant of or person attending any vehicle collided with.
5. What if I Hit a Parked Car in South Carolina?
When you hit a parked car in South Carolina, you must stop and try to contact the owner of the vehicle you collided with. You can either find them personally and give them your name and address, or you can leave a written notice with all of this information.
The driver of any vehicle which collides with any vehicle which is unattended shall immediately stop and either locate and notify the owner of the name and address of the driver and owner of the vehicle striking the unattended vehicle or leave a written notice giving the name and address of the driver and of the owner and a statement of the circumstances thereof.
If you drive in South Carolina, it’s smart to brush up on the state’s car accident regulations. Knowing and following these laws can help you stay safe and protect yourself from negative consequences. For this reason, it’s essential to be aware of your obligations in the event you are involved in an accident.
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