After you’ve sought medical attention, exchanged contact and insurance information with the other driver, and made a police report, there’s still much to do after a car accident. You must then report the car accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). With everything going on following a crash, though, you may feel rushed to do it. So, how long do you have?
In South Carolina, you have fifteen days to submit the FR-309 form to your local DMV. If you didn’t own the vehicle you crashed, you only have five days to report. Other states have different guidelines, so it’s important to be aware of South Carolina’s rules in particular and to hire a South Carolina accident lawyer if you’re not sure how to move forward.
If you don’t report within fifteen days, the state may suspend your driver’s license and your insurance may refuse to cover any damages from the crash, so it’s crucial to get this form in on time.
Why Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Car accident lawyers can serve you in many different ways. One of the best reasons to hire one is that it’s risk-free. How much does a car accident lawyer cost? Technically, nothing is paid out of your own pocket.
Accident attorneys are paid on a contingency fee, which means they’re only paid if you win a settlement case. They may take 33% to 40% of your settlement as payment, but you won’t need to shell out any money to hire one.
Advocacy and Communication
When insurance companies try to talk to you, direct them to your attorney instead. They will communicate with anyone who calls you about the accident so that you don’t say anything that goes against your rights. Accident attorneys will also advocate for you to receive the highest settlement amount possible–which will hopefully occur before the case goes to court.
Legal Advice
If you run into a sticky situation regarding your case, an attorney can help you through it. When you hire one, they’re available to provide legal advice pertaining to your car accident case.
Less Stress
Without the stress of having to send multiple parties your medical records, handling liens, and fighting with insurance companies, you’ll be better able to recover from your injuries (if you sustained any) and damages. If you don’t have an attorney, you could find yourself juggling many post-accident tasks at once, which could be harmful to your mental health.
What Do I Do if I Already Talked to the Police?
Even if you gave a police statement at the scene of the crash, you’ll still need to submit the FR-309 form to the DMV. A police statement is different from this form, and it doesn’t count as reporting the accident.
South Carolina Accident Attorneys
If you were involved in a motor vehicle accident, you need to report it as soon as you can. You may also need to hire an attorney to walk you through the legal and insurance processes. Call us today to see how Strom Law can help you get the compensation you deserve!
Looking for more tips on navigating legal waters, such as why you need a lawyer after a car accident? Check out our recent article!
