🚨 Quick Summary: What You Need to Know Right Now
- The “green slip” (FR-10) you got at the scene is NOT your full accident report — it’s just proof of the crash. You need the full TR-310 investigation report to file your claim.
- Wait time: Reports are typically ready in 3-7 business days (sometimes up to 10 for complex crashes).
- Where to get it depends on who responded: Charleston Police (CPD), SC Highway Patrol (SCHP), or North Charleston Police (NCPD).
- Cost: Approximately $6 if you request it yourself through the SCDMV online portal.
- Roden Law pulls these reports for free — and we analyze the fault codes so you know exactly what you’re up against before you talk to an insurance adjuster.
Why You Need This Report Immediately (And What Happens If You Wait)
If you were just in a crash in Charleston, Mount Pleasant, or North Charleston, you’re probably dealing with a totaled car, medical bills piling up, and an insurance adjuster who’s already calling you asking for a statement. Here’s what you need to understand:
The police accident report is the single most important document in your case. Insurance companies call it the “Bible of fault determination.” It contains the officer’s findings, diagrams of the crash scene, witness statements, and most importantly — fault codes that indicate who violated South Carolina traffic law.
Here’s the problem: Evidence disappears fast. Skid marks fade. Witnesses forget details. Surveillance footage gets deleted after 30 days. If you wait weeks to get your report, you’ve already lost leverage in your claim.
Warning: If the officer marked you with a fault code (like “Failed to Yield” or “Following Too Closely”), the insurance company will use that report to deny or lowball your claim — even if the officer got it wrong. You need to see that report before you give a recorded statement to anyone.
Section 1: Who Responded to Your Crash? (This Determines Where Your Report Is)
The agency that has your report depends entirely on where the crash happened. South Carolina divides jurisdiction between municipal police departments and the Highway Patrol.
Scenario A: Your Crash Happened on City Streets (Downtown Charleston, West Ashley, James Island)
Agency: Charleston Police Department (CPD)
If your crash was on surface streets like Meeting Street, King Street, Savannah Highway (Hwy 17), Sam Rittenberg Boulevard, or Folly Road, CPD responded. Even if you were on a “highway” like Highway 17, if it’s inside city limits, CPD handles it.
Where the report is stored: Charleston Police Records Division
Scenario B: Your Crash Happened on an Interstate or State Highway (I-26, I-526, Highway 41)
Agency: South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP)
If your crash was on I-26, I-526, I-526 Connector, Highway 41 (Clements Ferry Road outside city limits), or Highway 52 north of Goose Creek, the Highway Patrol responded. These are state-maintained roads.
Where the report is stored: SCHP reports are filed with the SC Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV) in Blythewood, SC.
Scenario C: Your Crash Happened in North Charleston (Montague Avenue, Rivers Avenue, Dorchester Road)
Agency: North Charleston Police Department (NCPD)
North Charleston is a separate city with its own police force. If your crash was near Tanger Outlets, the airport, Montague Avenue, Ashley Phosphate Road, or anywhere in the 29405/29406 zip codes, NCPD has your report.
Where the report is stored: North Charleston Police Records Division
Still Not Sure Who Responded?
Look at the green slip (Form FR-10) the officer gave you at the scene. The agency name is printed at the top. If you don’t have the green slip, check your text messages — officers sometimes text a case number.
Section 2: How to Request Your Full Accident Report (Step-by-Step)
There are three ways to get your report. The fastest is online, but it only works for Highway Patrol and some city agencies (not CPD).
Option A: Request Online Through the SCDMV (Fastest for Highway Patrol Crashes)
Best for: Crashes on I-26, I-526, or other state highways where SCHP responded.
Step-by-step process:
- Go to the SCDMV online portal: https://www.scdmvonline.com
- Click “Accident Reports” under the “Driver Services” menu.
- You’ll be asked to fill out Form FR-50 (Request for Officer’s Report) digitally.
- Required information:
- Date of the crash (exact date)
- County where the crash occurred (Charleston County, Dorchester County, Berkeley County)
- Your name as it appears on the police report (driver or passenger)
- The other driver’s name (if you know it)
- Pay the fee: Approximately $6 (credit/debit card accepted).
- Wait for email delivery: Most reports are emailed as PDFs within 24-48 hours once they’re ready (but the report itself may not be filed for 3-7 days after the crash).
Important limitation: This system only works for crashes handled by SCHP and some county agencies. If CPD or NCPD responded, you need to request in-person or by mail.
Option B: Request In-Person at the Charleston Police Records Division (For CPD Crashes)
Best for: Crashes inside Charleston city limits where CPD responded.
Step-by-step process:
- Go to: Charleston Police Department Records Division
180 Lockwood Boulevard, Charleston, SC 29403
(This is the headquarters building near the Medical District, just off Calhoun Street.) - Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed on holidays).
- Parking: There is a small public parking lot on-site. You can also park on the street (metered parking on Lockwood).
- What to bring:
- Your driver’s license or government-issued ID
- The crash date and location (intersection or mile marker)
- The incident number or case number from the green slip (Form FR-10), if you have it
- $6 cash or card for the report fee
- Ask for the “TR-310 Collision Report,” not the FR-10 exchange form.
- Wait time: If the report is ready, you’ll get a printed copy on the spot. If it’s not ready yet, the clerk will tell you to come back in a few days.
Option C: Request by Mail (Slowest Option)
Best for: People who cannot travel to Charleston or prefer mail.
Step-by-step process:
- Download Form FR-50 (Request for Officer’s Report) from the SCDMV website: https://www.scdmv.gov/forms
- Fill it out completely:
- Date of crash
- Location of crash (intersection or highway mile marker)
- Your name and mailing address
- Other driver’s name (if known)
- Check the box for “Mail to me”
- Include a check or money order for $6 payable to “SCDMV” (do not send cash).
- Mail to:
SC Department of Motor Vehicles
ATTN: Accident Report Request
P.O. Box 1498
Blythewood, SC 29016 - Wait time: Expect 2-3 weeks for delivery by mail.
Note: If CPD responded, you must mail your request directly to CPD Records at 180 Lockwood Blvd, Charleston, SC 29403 instead of the DMV in Blythewood.
Section 3: What Is the “Green Slip” (Form FR-10)? And Why It’s Not Enough
At the crash scene, the officer probably handed you a green or yellow carbon-copy form called the FR-10 (Report of Traffic Collision). This is not your accident report.
What the FR-10 Contains:
- Your name, driver’s license number, and insurance info
- The other driver’s info
- A case number or incident number
- Proof that a report was filed
What the FR-10 Does NOT Contain:
- The officer’s narrative of what happened
- Fault codes or contributing factor codes
- Diagrams of the crash scene
- Witness statements
- Speed estimates or road conditions
Bottom line: The FR-10 is just a receipt. The insurance adjuster wants the full TR-310 investigation report — that’s the document with the fault analysis.
If you try to file a claim using only the FR-10, the adjuster will tell you to get the full report. Don’t waste time. Get the TR-310 immediately.
Section 4: How to Read the “Fault Codes” on Your Report (And Why They Matter)
South Carolina police officers use a standardized coding system to indicate what caused the crash. These codes are printed in the “Contributing Factors” section of the TR-310 report.
Common Fault Codes You’ll See:
- Code 01: Failed to Yield Right-of-Way (very common in T-bone crashes at intersections)
- Code 03: Disregarded Traffic Signal/Sign (running a red light or stop sign)
- Code 05: Followed Too Closely (rear-end collisions)
- Code 07: Improper Lane Change (side-swipe crashes)
- Code 11: Speed Too Fast for Conditions (not necessarily speeding, but driving too fast for rain/fog)
- Code 14: Inattention (distracted driving)
- Code 20: Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs (DUI)
Why This Matters:
If the officer marked the other driver with a fault code, your claim is stronger. If the officer marked you with a fault code — even if you disagree — the insurance company will try to use that against you.
South Carolina is a “comparative negligence” state. That means if you’re found 30% at fault, you can still recover damages — but your settlement is reduced by 30%. If you’re 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing.
Critical: If the report shows you with a fault code, do not admit fault to the insurance adjuster. Police reports can be wrong. Officers are making split-second judgments based on limited information. Roden Law routinely challenges inaccurate fault findings by interviewing witnesses, pulling surveillance footage, and hiring accident reconstructionists.
FAQ: Your Most Common Questions Answered
Q: How long does it take for the report to be ready?
A: Most reports are completed within 3-7 business days after the crash. Complex crashes (multiple vehicles, injuries, or road closures) can take up to 10-14 days. You cannot request the report the same day as the crash — the officer needs time to complete the investigation and upload the report to the state database.
Tip: Call the Records Division on Day 4 to check if it’s ready before driving there.
Q: Can I get the report if the accident happened on private property (like a Walmart parking lot or apartment complex)?
A: Usually no. South Carolina law does not require police to file a full TR-310 report for crashes on private property unless:
- Someone was injured or killed
- One of the drivers was impaired (DUI)
- One of the drivers fled the scene (hit-and-run)
If the crash happened in a Tanger Outlets parking lot or the Harris Teeter on Coleman Boulevard, and no one was hurt, the officer probably just exchanged information and didn’t file a state report. In that case, you’ll need to rely on witness statements, photos, and surveillance footage from the property owner.
Important: This is why you should always call 911 after a crash, even in a parking lot. If the police respond, you’re more likely to get an official report.
Q: What if the police report is wrong? Can I change it?
A: Technically yes, but it’s extremely difficult. South Carolina law allows officers to amend reports if they made a factual error (like the wrong VIN number or license plate), but they rarely change fault determinations unless you can provide overwhelming evidence (like dashcam footage they didn’t see at the scene).
The better strategy: Don’t fight the report directly. Instead, supplement the record with additional evidence:
- Witness affidavits from passengers or bystanders
- Photos of the crash scene (skid marks, debris, traffic signs)
- Surveillance footage from nearby businesses
- Your own written statement of what happened
At Roden Law, we build a “counter-narrative” to the police report using this evidence. Insurance adjusters know that reports aren’t gospel — they’re just one piece of the puzzle.
Q: Do I have to pay for the report if I was a passenger (not the driver)?
A: No. You have the legal right to request the report even if you weren’t driving. You’re a “party to the crash” because you were injured. Use the same process (online, in-person, or by mail) and provide your name as it appears on the report.
Q: What if the other driver doesn’t have insurance? Will the report show that?
A: Yes. The TR-310 report has a section for each driver’s insurance information. If the officer confirmed that the other driver had no insurance (or provided a fake insurance card), it will be noted in the report.
This is critical: If the other driver is uninsured, you’ll need to file a claim under your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage (if you have it). South Carolina does not require UM coverage, but most policies include it. Check your policy declarations page or call your agent immediately.
Roden Law handles UM claims daily. These claims are more complex because you’re essentially suing your own insurance company, and they will fight you. Don’t try to negotiate alone.
Q: Can I request someone else’s accident report (like my teenager’s crash)?
A: Only if you’re a party to the crash (driver, passenger, or property owner). You cannot request a random stranger’s report out of curiosity. However, if your teenager was driving your car (and you’re the vehicle owner), you have the legal right to the report even if you weren’t there.
What to bring: Your ID, proof that you own the vehicle (registration or insurance card), and the crash date/location.
Don’t Want to Deal With the DMV or Drive to Lockwood Boulevard? We’ll Pull Your Report for Free.
Here’s the reality: You just survived a crash. You’re dealing with injuries, car repairs, missed work, and insurance companies breathing down your neck. The last thing you want to do is navigate government websites, wait in line at a police station, or decode fault codes.
Roden Law will pull your accident report for free — and we’ll do something even more valuable: We’ll analyze the fault codes and tell you exactly what you’re up against before you talk to an insurance adjuster.
Here’s what happens when you let us handle it:
- We request the report from CPD, SCHP, or NCPD (whichever agency responded).
- We review the fault codes to see if the officer assigned blame — and whether it’s accurate.
- We identify missing evidence (like witness statements the officer didn’t take or surveillance footage they didn’t pull).
- We give you a free case evaluation — no pressure, no sales pitch. Just straight answers about what your case is worth and whether you need a lawyer.
You don’t pay us unless we win your case. That’s our guarantee.
Get Your Report + Free Case Analysis in 24 Hours
Fill out our Free Case Evaluation Form or call us. Tell us:
- The date and location of your crash
- Which agency responded (CPD, SCHP, or NCPD)
- Whether you were injured
We’ll pull the report, review it, and call you back within 24 hours with a plan.
Why wait? Evidence disappears. Witnesses move away. Surveillance footage gets deleted. The insurance company is already building its case against you.
Let us level the playing field.
Need Help With Your Charleston Car Accident Case?
Roden Law has recovered millions for crash victims in Charleston, Mount Pleasant, and North Charleston. We know how to read police reports, challenge bad fault codes, and maximize settlements — even when the insurance company says you’re at fault.
Explore our Car Accident Practice Area to learn how we handle crash cases, or contact us today for your free consultation.
Remember: The police report is just the beginning. The real fight starts when the insurance adjuster calls. Don’t go into that fight unarmed.