If you have been involved in a car accident in South Carolina, you must either contact law enforcement officials to have them write a police report or file a collision report yourself with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV). No matter what type of report you obtain, the statements you and the parties involved make are considered true and used as evidence in insurance claims and legal proceedings.
However, it is not uncommon for someone to make false claims or statements on an official report, which is why insurance companies or attorneys may investigate the matter even further. Not only does making a false statement on an accident report result in longer claim processing times, but it may also lead to criminal charges.
Insurance companies generally hire accident reconstruction experts to determine who caused the accident and verify the statements made in the police report before processing accident claims. If the person who filed the accident report made inaccurate statements in order to blame the other party for causing the crash, the insurer may hold the filing party liable for the accident and even press charges.
In South Carolina and in many other states throughout the country, filing a false police report is a criminal offense. According to state law, a person who falsely reports a felony can be charged with a felony, punishable by imprisonment for up to five years and/or a maximum fine of $1,000. Furthermore, a person who falsely reports a misdemeanor can be charged with a misdemeanor, which carries imprisonment for up to 30 days and/or a maximum fine of $500.
Lastly, false reports in South Carolina may also occur in property crime investigations. Common reasons a person may file a false report to property crimes like theft or arson including defrauding an insurer, concealing embezzlement, creating a tax deduction, or explaining the theft or loss of an item.
If you have been arrested for filing a false report in Lexington or Columbia, call the Law Office of James R. Snell, Jr., LLC at (803) 359-3301 or fill out our online contact form today to schedule a free initial consultation. Protecting the rights and freedoms of our clients since 2004!