A law enforcement officer who responds to an automobile accident will complete paperwork that contains important details about the wreck. One significant part of this process is the generation of a document called the South Carolina FR-10 form.
Understanding the purpose of this form and what to do with it after being in a car crash is essential to protecting your rights and recovering compensation for your personal injury and property damage. Our Florence auto accident lawyer at McCall Law takes a close look at the FR-10 and what it means for your case. Contact us for more information and to start a claim.
What Is a FR-10 Form?
After you’ve been in a car accident, the police officer who reports to the scene should give you a document known as the FR-10. It is also known as the South Carolina FR-10 Insurance Verification Form.
South Carolina FR-10 forms are green single pieces of paper that victims must send to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) as part of filing their insurance claims and recovering compensation.
Every driver who is involved in a car accident should be given an FR-10. The FR-10 is also required if the accident caused at least $400 of property damage, regardless of whether the police investigated the wreck.
What To Do With a FR-10 Form
The FR-10 serves as an accident report that verifies that every driver involved in the wreck has sufficient amounts of liability insurance coverage as required by state law. All drivers must submit South Carolina FR-10 forms to the DMV, regardless of who was at fault.
The responding officer usually fills out a part of the FR-10 form and gives it to each driver.
Drivers must then call their insurance companies to get assistance completing the remainder of the form.
Once the FR-10 is completed, the form is submitted along with proof of liability insurance to the DMV. All of this must be done within 15 days of the automobile accident. This paperwork may be submitted either by mail or electronically.
What Happens if a Driver Fails to Submit the FR-10?
Returning the FR-10 form is a critical step that every driver must take after being in an accident.
If a driver does not complete and send the FR-10 to his or her insurance company within 15 days of the accident, the DMV may assume that the driver’s automobile is not properly insured.
This could cause the DMV to suspend the driver’s license and vehicle registration. Failure to submit the form may also cause problems with the insurance claims process.
What Options Do You Have if the At-Fault Driver is Not Insured?
Sometimes, the DMV correctly assumes that a driver involved in an accident doesn’t have insurance. If you were hurt in the wreck or your vehicle was damaged, but the driver who caused the accident is uninsured, what options do you have for recovering compensation?
Consult with your insurer
First, you should check with your insurance company to see if you have uninsured automobile coverage. Many drivers have this type of insurance but may not realize it, or they are not sure how to use it. You may also have underinsurance coverage, which is useful when an at-fault driver has liability insurance, but the victim’s damages exceed the policy limits.
Investigate other sources of fault
Next, depending on the circumstances involved in the accident, there may be other defendants who can be held liable for the victim’s damages.
For example, if the wreck was caused by a defect in the vehicle, the manufacturer or a repair shop may be responsible for it. If the at-fault driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident, but a restaurant or bar served too much alcohol to the driver right before the wreck, that establishment could be held liable.
Another scenario is where a driver was working for his or her employer at the time of causing a crash, in which case the employer might be named as a defendant.
Take legal action against the other driver
Finally, you might be able to take action against the driver. Uninsured drivers are personally liable for any injuries and property damage they cause. It is possible for an accident victim to, therefore, sue the uninsured, at-fault driver directly. A judgment in the victim’s favor can be used to seize property and assets that the driver owns, which can then be used to satisfy the victim’s damages.
The problem, however, is that drivers who lack automobile insurance usually have insufficient assets to pay these damages. But that’s not an absolute rule, and you should speak with a knowledgeable car crash attorney to explore your options.
How Can Our Florence Car Accident Lawyer Help You?
Our firm can answer any questions or concerns you have about the FR-10 form, and can assist to make sure you properly and timely submit this important document.
We can also handle all aspects of your personal injury and property damage claim against the at-fault driver or other parties who may have played a role in your accident. If the at-fault driver was insured, we will work with the insurance company to try to resolve the matter with an out-of-court settlement, if possible. But, we are prepared to take your case in front of a jury if the insurer will not negotiate in good faith.
If it turns out the negligent driver had no insurance, we will help you understand what options you may have for recovering compensation.
- First, we will take a look at your policy and let you know what your coverage options may be. You may have uninsured or underinsured coverage that can pay for your losses. We can assist if you encounter any unreasonable delays or bad faith when dealing with your insurer.
- Next, we will determine if other parties like the ones mentioned above could be held liable.
- Finally, if necessary, we may be able to pursue a claim directly against the driver.
We understand the stress you’re facing after being in an accident. That’s why we are dedicated to getting the results that our auto accident clients deserve. If you have questions about the FR-10 or other aspects of your accident claim, reach out to McCall Law Firm in Florence, SC, today.