What to do after a car crash in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand
Step by step after a crash in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand: safety, when you must call police, insurance deadlines and how to get the report, with the official rules for South Carolina and North Carolina.
Step by step after a crash
- Get safe and call 911 if anyone is hurtTurn on hazard lights. If the cars can move and nobody is hurt, move them out of traffic. If anyone is injured, or you are not sure, call 911 and do not move an injured person.
- Call the policeAsk the officer for the report number and the agency name (city police, sheriff or state patrol). You need both to get the crash report later.
- Exchange information, not opinionsWrite down the other driver's name, insurance company and policy number, plate and vehicle. Take photos of the scene, the cars and the road. Do not argue about who was at fault.
- Get checked by a doctorSome injuries show up hours or days later. Keep every medical record and receipt.
- Tell your insurance companyReport the crash to your insurer as soon as you can, with the report number.
- Get the crash reportSee where and how to request it, the cost and the waiting time below.
- Know your deadlineEvery state limits how long you have to file an injury claim. See the deadlines below; ask a licensed lawyer about your case.
Crash reports and deadlines by state
South Carolina
Crash report: SC Department of Motor Vehicles (form FR-50). $10 per report by mail. Available once SCDMV has received and processed the officer's report. SC license holders can request it online; others by mail or at any SCDMV branch.
Deadline to file: 3 years An action for any injury to the person must be filed within three years, counted from when the person knew or reasonably should have known about the claim. S.C. Code 15-3-530(5) and 15-3-535.
North Carolina
Crash report: NC Division of Motor Vehicles (form TR-67A). $6.50 per report. Individuals order by mail or in person (not online). Allow 10 business days by mail.
Deadline to file: 3 years An action for personal injury or property damage must be filed within three years. N.C. Gen. Stat. 1-52(16).
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Lawyers in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand
Know a dangerous spot?
Tell us about an intersection, curve or crossing where you have seen near misses. An editor reviews every report and we publish them as "Reader reports", apart from the official data, never with your name or address. Please do not send names or photos of people involved in a crash.
- Report a dangerous road or intersection: where it is and what happens there.
- Report a road hazard: a missing sign, a broken light, a pothole.
- Something wrong on this page? Tell us and we will check it against the official record.
Questions people ask in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand
How many fatal car crashes happen in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand?
From 2020–2024, 509 fatal crashes killed 543 people in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. In 2024 there were 99 fatal crashes and 102 deaths. The road with the most fatal crashes was US 17 (Horry) (39). 21% involved a motorcycle.
What are the most dangerous roads in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand?
By fatal crashes from 2020–2024: US 17 (Horry) (39 fatal crashes, 42 deaths); US 501 (Horry) (23 fatal crashes, 23 deaths); US 17 OCEAN HWY (Georgetown) (10 fatal crashes, 11 deaths); US 17 (Brunswick) (10 fatal crashes, 10 deaths); US 701 (Horry) (9 fatal crashes, 10 deaths). Source: NHTSA FARS.
How many motorcycle crashes were fatal in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand?
105 fatal motorcycle crashes from 2020–2024, with 108 deaths (NHTSA FARS).
How many crashes with a large truck were fatal in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand?
48 fatal crashes with a large truck from 2020–2024, with 51 deaths (NHTSA FARS).
How many crashes that killed or involved a pedestrian were fatal in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand?
108 fatal crashes that killed or involved a pedestrian from 2020–2024, with 110 deaths (NHTSA FARS).
How do I get a crash report in South Carolina?
SC Department of Motor Vehicles (form FR-50): $10 per report by mail. Available once SCDMV has received and processed the officer's report. SC license holders can request it online; others by mail or at any SCDMV branch.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in South Carolina?
An action for any injury to the person must be filed within three years, counted from when the person knew or reasonably should have known about the claim. (S.C. Code 15-3-530(5) and 15-3-535). This is general information, not legal advice.
How do I get a crash report in North Carolina?
NC Division of Motor Vehicles (form TR-67A): $6.50 per report. Individuals order by mail or in person (not online). Allow 10 business days by mail.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in North Carolina?
An action for personal injury or property damage must be filed within three years. (N.C. Gen. Stat. 1-52(16)). This is general information, not legal advice.