Leaving the Scene of an Accident in South Carolina
Leaving the scene of a car accident in South Carolina is a very serious offense. Any driver involved in a hit and run incident on South Carolina’s roadways will be punished with jail time and fines. The penalties will be even more severe if the driver flees the scene of an accident after hitting another person and causing personal injuries or death.
The statutes governing hit and run type incidents in South Carolina are codified in Section 56-5-1210 et seq. of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Below is a brief synopsis of a driver’s duties when striking either a person or another car on a public roadway in this state.
Hitting a Car or Person and Causing Personal Injury or Death
A driver of a car involved in an accident resulting in personal injury or death of another must immediately stop the car and remain at the scene. The driver may temporarily leave the scene to report the accident to law enforcement as necessary but most return to the scene as soon as possible.
The driver must give his name, address, driver’s license and car registration number if requested to do so. Further, the driver is under a duty to render aid as is reasonable to the person who was struck.
A driver who fails to stop and comply with the above requirements is guilty of the following:
- When personal injury results but not great bodily injury or death, the driver is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for at least 30 days and fined at least $100.
- When great bodily injury results, the driver is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned at least 30 days and fined at least $5,000.
- When death results, the driver is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for at least 1 year and fined at least $10,000.
Hitting an Attended Vehicle
A driver of a car involved in an accident resulting only in damage to another car that is being driven or otherwise attended to by another person must immediately stop at the scene. Again he must, if requested, show forms of identification and may temporarily leave the scene in order to alert authorities of the situation.
A driver who fails to stop and comply with the above requirements is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction must be imprisoned for up to year and fined $100, or both.
Hitting an Unattended Vehicle
A driver of a car that hits another unattended car must immediately stop and attempt to notify the owner or operator of the car. If the owner or operator can not be located at that time, the drive must leave his name and address along with a statement of what happened in a conspicuous place on the unattended car that its owner can easily locate.
Sadly, hit and run incidents occur everyday. If you have been the victim of a hit and run and have suffered a personal injury, you will need a qualified attorney to help you fight for just compensation. Please contact Bice Law, LLC today if you or someone you know needs competent legal representation.
Contact the Personal Injury Law Firm of Bice Law:
The personal injury firm of Bice Law will examine your case to determine the type and amount of damages that your injury warrants, including payments for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and any permanent disability. We’ll determine whether an out-of-court settlement or trial is the best strategy to obtain maximum benefits for you or your family. If you have suffered injury or harm because of someone else’s actions, take the first step to protect your legal rights – contact the personal injury firm of Bice Law serving both North and South Carolina. You only have a limited time after your injury to file a claim, so act quickly. Call 877-BICE-877 today or submit an online request to get a free consultation with a personal injury attorney. We serve families across both North Carolina and South Carolina.
