What If I Was Sideswiped by a Rental Car?
You would file a claim against the driver’s personal insurance policy. If they do not have personal insurance, or if they purchased supplemental coverage, you may be able to pursue the rental company’s supplemental liability coverage. These cases can be complicated due to the layers of insurance involved.
Does South Carolina Require Me to Give a Recorded Statement to the Other Driver’s Insurance?
No. You are not legally obligated to provide a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurer. Providing one without legal counsel could inadvertently hurt your claim, as adjusters are trained to ask leading questions.
What Happens If I Didn’t Call the Police at the Scene?
You should report the accident to the SCDMV if damage exceeds $1,000 or injury occurred. However, without a police report at the scene, the insurance investigation will rely heavily on independent witness statements and forensic vehicle damage analysis. This makes the claim more difficult, but not impossible.
What If the Other Driver Says I Drifted Into Their Lane?
If there are no witnesses, we would rely on physical evidence like tire yaw marks and paint transfer striations. Electronic data from the vehicle’s computer can also prove steering angles at the moment of impact, objectively showing which driver turned the wheel into the other lane.