Establishing another person’s negligence in a car accident can help you recover the entirety of your damages to make you whole again. While it may be confusing regarding when you must call law enforcement, under state law, if you are involved in a car accident that involves any injuries, fatalities, or at least $1,000 in property damage, you should contact the police.
If you are in a fender bender that results in minor damage, while you are not legally required to report it to the police, failing to do so could result in you not getting compensation for your losses. In this blog, our Greenville car accident attorneys discuss under which circumstances you may want to contact the police and what the absence of a police report may mean for your claim.
What Type of Information is Included in a SC Police Report?
If a police officer is called to the scene of an accident in South Carolina, the following information will be accounted for and detailed in a traffic collision report:
- The date, time, and location of the incident
- The make/model/year of the vehicles involved in the crash
- VIN numbers of both vehicles
- The full names of both drivers and mailing addresses
- Each driver’s license number
- Names of any victims
- Names of any witnesses
- Description of the accident, including road or weather conditions
Minor Fender Benders Do Not Need to Be Reported
A fender bender describes any low-speed accident that results in minor injuries. If you were truly involved in a fender bender, resulting in no injuries and minimal vehicle damage, you do not need to report this to the police. Unfortunately, while vehicle damage will be readily apparent, symptoms of an injury may be slow to present. By not reporting the accident, you will be unable to file a claim later on if needed.
If your fender bender does not appear to have any obvious injuries, then you may want to consider calling the non-emergency police line. By doing so, you preserve your right to make a claim.
How Can a Greenville Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?
If you are in a fender bender, you may be unsure of what steps need to be taken to preserve your right to compensation. If you do not experience any injuries and minimal property damage, you may consider hiring representation or even reporting the accident to your insurance company. While you may think that you are saving time in the long run, if delayed shock symptoms manifest hours or days after the incident, you may find yourself facing a stack of medical bills, with no way to pay them. At Fulton & Barr Attorneys at Law, our Greenville car accident lawyers are here to answer your questions and advise you accordingly. No matter if your accident is big or small, our legal team will ensure that you have the capability to recoup your losses if needed in the future.
Speak with Our Greenville Car Accident Lawyers Today
At Fulton & Barr Attorneys at Law, our Greenville car accident attorneys have assisted thousands of accident victims in recovering their losses following a crash. While you may consider your accident minor, even a fender bender can result in serious injuries that require medical attention. To learn more or schedule your free consultation, contact us online or give us a call at (864) 778-3092 today.