Do the police need to be contacted after a car accident in Pickens County?
Pickens County, SC – There are some procedures that all drivers should follow after an accident. It is important to remain at the scene and make contact with anyone else who was driving the other vehicles involved. If there is evidence of injuries or severe property damage, it is best to report the accident and contact law enforcement. However, each state has different laws which specify exactly what a person should do following the collision. Specific questions about accident procedures can be directed to a lawyer.
Remain at the scene
Under no circumstances should a driver immediately leave the scene, even if it appears that there is little to no damage. Leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident is a crime in South Carolina and other states. Penalties can include fines and even jail time depending on the specific charges and facts surrounding the incident.
Notifying law enforcement
South Carolina law only requires that certain accidents be reported to the police after the drivers make contact with each other. If there are fatalities, injuries, or other medical problems involving the people involved in the collision, then the people involved should either contact the police or call 911 depending on the severity of the crash. In accidents that do not involve emergencies, it is possible to notify the police and have them make a report. In many cases, having an accident report created is useful during the process of insurance claims and lawsuits.
If the accident is not reported, but there is at least one thousand dollars worth of property damage, or someone is injured, the state has a law that the driver must personally report the accident. This needs to be done by completing a special form and returning it to the government through the department of motor vehicles within fifteen days of the incident.
Insurance issues
After each driver is in a secure location, they should notify their insurance company and start the process to make a claim. This is important for many reasons, which include compensation for the victim and investigations that may be started by the provider. If the insurance company is not notified in a timely manner, they can take actions against the driver, including dropping their coverage and ending the policy. This is because in most cases, not reporting a crash violates the terms of the policy.
Scheduling a meeting with a legal professional
There are accident lawyers who work to help injured people in Pickens County and other parts of South Carolina. The Clekis Law Firm is an experienced group of personal injury attorneys and they are available to meet with local clients.
Firm contact info:
171 Church St., Charleston SC, 29401
843-900-0000
clekis.com
