North Charleston has a crime rate of 47 per 1,000 residents — one of the highest in America. While violent crime gets the headlines, there’s a less-discussed connection: cities with elevated crime rates also tend to have higher rates of hit-and-run accidents. When drivers flee the scene, it’s often because they are unlicensed, uninsured, impaired, or have outstanding warrants.
The Hit-and-Run Problem
Hit-and-run crashes disproportionately harm the most vulnerable road users:
- Pedestrians: Cannot get a license plate number while lying injured on the road
- Cyclists: Often left in the roadway by drivers who flee without stopping
- Late-night crash victims: Fewer witnesses, harder to identify the vehicle
The corridors with the most hit-and-run incidents in North Charleston mirror the most dangerous roads generally: Rivers Avenue, Ashley Phosphate Road, and I-26 service roads.
Why Drivers Flee
- No insurance: South Carolina has an approximately 9% uninsured driver rate. Drivers without insurance flee to avoid financial liability.
- Suspended/revoked license: Driving without a valid license means any police contact results in arrest
- DUI/impairment: Intoxicated drivers flee to avoid DUI charges, which carry severe criminal penalties
- Outstanding warrants: Any police interaction triggers an arrest
- Stolen vehicle: The driver isn’t the registered owner and cannot afford to be connected to the car
Your Legal Options After a Hit-and-Run
1. Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage
Your own UM coverage is your primary safety net. In South Carolina, UM coverage applies to hit-and-run crashes where the at-fault driver cannot be identified. Key points:
- SC law requires insurers to offer UM coverage on every auto policy
- UM coverage pays for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering — just like a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance
- You must report the hit-and-run to police within a reasonable time
- Your own insurer becomes the opposing party — they will try to minimize your claim just as an at-fault driver’s insurer would
2. Identifying the Driver
If the driver can be identified, you have a standard claim against their insurance (if any). Identification sources:
- Surveillance cameras (business security, traffic cameras, doorbell cameras)
- Witness testimony (license plate, vehicle description)
- Vehicle debris at the scene (may include parts with serial numbers)
- Police investigation (paint transfer, parts matching)
3. Crime Victims’ Compensation
South Carolina’s Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund may provide supplemental benefits for hit-and-run victims, including medical expenses and lost wages not covered by insurance.
What to Do Immediately After a Hit-and-Run
- Call 911 immediately — Report the hit-and-run. A timely police report is required for most UM claims.
- Note everything you can: Vehicle color, make, model, direction of travel, any partial plate numbers
- Look for cameras: Nearby businesses, traffic cameras, Ring doorbells. Note their locations for your attorney.
- Get witness contacts: Anyone who saw the vehicle before or after the crash
- Preserve evidence: Your damaged vehicle, clothing, and any debris left by the fleeing vehicle
- Contact an attorney: UM claims against your own insurer require the same aggressive advocacy as any other insurance claim
SC Hit-and-Run Criminal Penalties
Leaving the scene of an accident involving injury is a felony in South Carolina (S.C. Code § 56-5-1210), carrying up to 25 years in prison if the crash resulted in death. This criminal liability is separate from your civil claim for damages.
Filing Deadline
You have 3 years to file your injury claim (S.C. Code § 15-3-530). For UM claims, check your policy for notice requirements — some require notification within a specific timeframe. Contact Roden Law at (843) 612-6561.
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