After a car accident happens, there will generally be a police report for the crash so long as law enforcement was called and officers responded to the scene. The car accident police report can be an important element to proving fault and, in turn, securing compensation for the crash-related property damage, injuries and other losses.
That’s because this report can document critical details, such as (but not necessarily limited to):
- Whether any involved motorists were issued traffic citations (or arrested) following the crash
- Whether any of the involved motorists admitted fault in the crash
- Whether there were any witnesses to the collision (and, if so, the names and contact information for these parties)
- The nature and scope of the damage caused by the crash
- The weather and road conditions at the time of the crash.
Now that we’ve underscored the importance of the car accident police report, here’s how you can obtain one:
- Complete Form FR-50, Request for Copy of Officer’s Report.
- Mail the completed form, along with the $6 processing fee, to the following address:
SCDMV
Office of Financial Responsibility
P.O. Box 1498
Blythewood, CS 29016
You can also go to the DMV office (located at Wilson Blvd., Blythewood or on Shop Road, Columbia) to obtain a copy of this report in person.
Car Accident Police Reports: More Important Information
- In South Carolina, part of the car accident reporting process will require that motorists involved in crashes complete Form FR-10 to verify their insurance coverage. Failing to complete this form and return it to the DMV within 15 days of the crash can result in the suspension of a driver’s license, as well as the vehicle registration.
- Although car accident police reports often contain important information and evidence regarding the crash, these reports are not always accurate or complete. Consequently, carefully reviewing these reports can be important to determining when you may have been wrongly blamed for fault in the crash, when evidence may be missing, etc.
How Do I Get The Actual Accident Report?
The REAL accident report, or TR-310, must be requested from the SCDMV. This report takes a little longer to complete and has more details than the FR-10. It will have an actual schematic drawing of the wreck and list in narrative form what each driver purports to have been doing when the wreck occurred. It will also list any witnesses to the accident and details about road conditions, lighting conditions, sight distance, injuries, property damage and other details discovered in the officer’s investigation.
How Do I Read And Understand My Accident Report?
This takes a lot of practice and training. The coding on the back of the TR-310.
Contact a Columbia Personal Injury Lawyer At Chappell, Chappell and Newman Attorneys at Law
If you have been hurt in a car crash or in any type of traffic collision, contact a Columbia SC personal injury lawyer at Chappell, Chappell and Newman for clear answers about your rights, your potential case and your best options for recovery.
Since 1993, our lawyers have been dedicated to protecting the rights of injured people, working tirelessly to help them maximize their financial recoveries so they can restore their lives and focus on healing and moving on.
Call our firm or contact us online to set up a free, no obligations initial consult with one of our lawyers. During this meeting, you can find out more about your rights, as well as how we can help you.
From our convenient office locations throughout South Carolina, our attorneys provide the highest quality legal services to injured people and families in Columbia, Alken, Camden, Sumter, Orangeburg, Greenville, Florence, Beaufort, Irmo, Spartanburg, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head Island, West Columbia, Rock Hill, Charleston, Lexington, Winnsboro, Summerville, and throughout South Carolina.