How to Read an Accident Report

Other than getting an officer on scene and getting proper medical treatment, one of the most important first steps in a car wreck case is sending the accident report to your car insurance company.

It’s also important to know what the accident report means. For that reason, Columbia, South Carolina car wreck attorney Andrew Littlejohn Johnson discusses the contents of South Carolina collision reports.

FR-10 Accident Report

When at the scene of the wreck, the investigating officer typically completes a preliminary accident report called an FR-10. This is normally hand-written and given to each party involved in the wreck. This report is normally inadmissible in court. This report is essentially the quick, watered-down version of the full report (TR-310).

TR-310 Accident Report

The officer later completes a formal accident report called a TR-310 Collision Report. This form, like the South Carolina Form FR-10, is inadmissible in court. However, the TR-310 contains more detailed and organized information regarding the wreck. To obtain this report, it must be requested through the SC Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) through this link.

Below, you will find a redacted TR-310 that highlights the most important information in the document. Additionally, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety explains every term in the accident report. You can find these explanations on one document here.

Experienced South Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer

If you were the victim of a South Carolina car accident—whether Greenville, Columbia, Orangeburg, Charleston, or anywhere in between—and you wish to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney, call or email our office to speak with lawyer Andrew Littlejohn Johnson. The consultation is always free and confidential.