What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Car Accident in Myrtle Beach

If another driver hits you in Myrtle Beach and leaves the scene, the most important steps are to get to safety, report the crash, seek medical care when needed, and preserve any information that may help identify the vehicle. Even when the driver is never found, South Carolina uninsured motorist coverage may provide a path for an injury claim if the legal requirements are met.

Hit-and-run cases can be more complicated than ordinary collisions because there may be no other driver at the scene to identify, interview, or insure. Acting quickly can make a meaningful difference in the amount and quality of evidence available.

What Should You Do Immediately After a Myrtle Beach Hit-and-Run?

Start with safety. If your vehicle can be moved and it is safe to do so, get out of active traffic. Call 911 and tell the dispatcher that the other driver left the scene. If you are hurt, request medical assistance.

Try to write down or record anything you remember about the other vehicle before details fade. Helpful information may include:

• The vehicle's make, model, color, body style, and approximate year.
• Any part of the license plate number or state.
• Damage to the other vehicle, decals, bumper stickers, business markings, or other distinguishing features.
• The driver's appearance, if visible.
• The direction the vehicle traveled after leaving.
• The time and exact location of the collision.

Do not chase the fleeing driver. Following another vehicle can create additional danger and may complicate the facts of the crash.

Why Is Reporting the Crash So Important?

South Carolina law places specific requirements on claims involving an unknown driver. When the owner or operator of the vehicle cannot be identified, the accident must be reported to an appropriate police authority within a reasonable time under the circumstances.

Current South Carolina law also requires more than simply saying that an unknown vehicle caused the wreck. In general, one of the following must exist: physical contact with the unknown vehicle, an independent witness who can verify what happened, or a recording showing that the unknown vehicle caused the injury or damage. The insured also must not have been negligent in failing to identify the other vehicle and driver.

These requirements are one reason a prompt police report, witness information, and video evidence can matter so much after a hit-and-run.

What Evidence Can Help Identify a Hit-and-Run Driver?

Myrtle Beach has hotels, restaurants, retail areas, parking lots, intersections, and tourist corridors where privately owned cameras may capture traffic. Video can be overwritten quickly, so preservation should begin as soon as practical.

Potential sources of evidence include:

• Dash-camera footage from your vehicle or nearby vehicles.
• Surveillance video from businesses, hotels, parking areas, or residences.
• Traffic-camera footage when available.
• Cellphone videos taken by witnesses.
• Photos of broken vehicle parts, paint transfer, or debris left at the scene.
• Witness names, phone numbers, and written or recorded observations.
• 911 records and the investigating officer's report.

A description that seems incomplete may become useful when combined with other evidence. For example, a partial plate number plus a vehicle color and surveillance image may help investigators narrow the possibilities.

Who Pays If the Hit-and-Run Driver Is Never Found?

South Carolina requires automobile policies issued in the state to include uninsured motorist coverage. An unknown hit-and-run driver may be treated as an uninsured motorist when the statutory requirements are satisfied.

Depending on the facts and the insurance policy, uninsured motorist coverage may address bodily injury and certain property losses. Other coverages, such as collision coverage or medical payments coverage, may also be relevant. The exact coverage available depends on the policy, the people insured under it, the vehicles involved, and the circumstances of the wreck.

Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers has additional information about South Carolina hit-and-run claims and why drivers may want to review their automobile insurance coverage before a crash occurs.

What If the Driver Is Identified Later?

If law enforcement or other evidence identifies the driver after the crash, the claim may change. There may be liability insurance available through the driver or vehicle owner, and additional legal issues can arise depending on why the driver left, who owned the vehicle, and whether another party contributed to the collision.

Finding the driver does not automatically establish every part of an injury claim. Liability, causation, insurance coverage, and damages still must be supported by evidence.

What Injuries Can Follow a Hit-and-Run Collision?

A person can be injured in a hit-and-run even when vehicle damage appears moderate. Common injuries after motor vehicle crashes include neck and back injuries, concussions and other traumatic brain injuries, fractures, shoulder and knee injuries, cuts, and soft-tissue injuries. Some symptoms are immediate; others become more noticeable after the initial stress of the collision wears off.

If you are experiencing symptoms, obtain appropriate medical care and explain how the crash occurred. Medical records can be important both for treatment and for documenting whether an injury is related to the collision.

How Long Do You Have to Bring a Myrtle Beach Hit-and-Run Claim?

South Carolina generally applies a three-year limitations period to many personal injury claims, but the correct deadline can depend on the type of defendant, insurance issues, the age of the injured person, and other facts. An insurance policy can also contain notice and cooperation requirements that should not be confused with the lawsuit deadline.

For more information, see the firm's FAQ about the time limit for a Myrtle Beach car accident claim.

Talk With Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers About a Myrtle Beach Hit-and-Run

A hit-and-run can leave an injured person dealing with medical care, vehicle damage, and an insurance claim without knowing who caused the crash. Derrick Law Firm Injury Lawyers can review the facts, available evidence, and potentially applicable insurance coverage and explain the legal options that may be available.