530+ Google Reviews
Car accidents do not go on your driving record in South Carolina. However, accidents reported to your insurance can affect your premiums for up to five years, resulting in far higher insurance bills.
Generally, an accident should only affect your insurance if you played a role in causing a crash. If someone else caused the collision and your losses, it may not impact your insurance coverage.
A South Carolina car accident lawyer can tell you more about how long a car accident stays on your record in SC and help you build a claim for fair compensation after a crash.
How Long Will a Car Accident Stay on Your Record in SC?
South Carolina does not track car accidents on your driving record. However, a car accident can affect your insurance premiums for up to five years.
Any accident that you hold responsibility for will affect your insurance. If the police decide that you caused a fender bender at an intersection, it can shift your premiums. Similarly, if you get convicted in court of speeding and causing a crash, you’ll face higher insurance rates.
However, if you’re involved in a crash caused by someone else’s negligence, then it should not impact your insurance rates.
You Can Get Points on Your License in South Carolina
While the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in South Carolina does not directly track accidents on your driving record, it does keep track of all points you accrue on your license. Drivers get points on their license for breaking driving rules or engaging in illegal behavior.
For example, drivers may get a point for running a red light or speeding, behaviors that could both result in an accident. Drivers get additional points for driving under the influence (DUI) and other restricted behaviors.
So, you could get points on your license after an accident for restricted behaviors that led to it. Your insurance will increase with each point on your license. Additionally, if you accrue too many points in a set period of time, the DMV can suspend your license.
How Long Do Points Stay on Your License in South Carolina?
Under the DMV’s points system, any points on your record will be reduced by half after they’ve stayed on your record for a year. For example, let’s say you get a ticket and two points on your license in June. The following June, one point would come off.
South Carolina also allows you to complete a certified defensive driving course to remove points from your license.
Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me (828) 286-3866
How Can You Stop an Accident From Affecting Your Insurance?
An accident should not affect your insurance rates if a South Carolina personal injury lawyer can prove that someone else holds responsibility for the crash. Additionally, you should not face any points on your license if you followed all the rules before a collision and someone hit you anyway.
That’s why you should reach out to an attorney for help immediately after a collision. A lawyer can assess your situation and gather evidence to show that someone else caused the crash. In many cases, lawyers focus on:
- Visiting the scene of an accident
- Speaking to witnesses and taking their statements
- Getting a copy of the police accident report
- Requesting copies of surveillance footage from nearby businesses
An attorney can use this information to establish negligence, which can do more than keep an accident from impacting your insurance rates. Showing that someone else caused your crash can also help you get compensation for all the losses you sustained in a collision.
Funds Available After an Accident in South Carolina
If someone else hits your vehicle in South Carolina, they may have to pay for all the losses you sustain. You may qualify for money to pay for your:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Emotional distress
- Pain
- Mental suffering
- Property repairs
An attorney can track all your losses, document the costs associated with your accident, and pursue compensation through an insurance settlement or a personal injury lawsuit.
Comparative Negligence Can Impact Your Compensation
South Carolina uses comparative negligence laws to handle car accident claims. These laws mean that you can still get compensation for some of your losses if you contributed to causing an accident. However, the legal system will decrease the funds you receive based on your percentage of fault.
An attorney can push to show that someone else caused 100% of your accident.
Talk to Us After a Car Accident in South Carolina
So, how long does a car accident stay on your record in SC? Accidents do not directly stay on your driving record at all, though they can impact your insurance for up to five years. Instead, points can remain on your license if the police accuse you of breaking the law.
You can learn more about how South Carolina’s legal system works and get help filing a claim for compensation when someone hits you from our team at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC. We’ve helped over 10,000 clients, and we’re ready to address your needs, so reach out now.
