If you have been the victim of a drunk driving crash:

1. Take color photographs of the car.  
2. Take photographs of the injured victim.  
3. Keep an accurate record of expenses.  
4. Keep a log of telephone conversations or meetings.  
5. Keep a notebook of all paperwork connected with the crash.  
6. Obtain as much factual information as possible about the crash to share with the Solicitor who will be prosecuting the case.  
7. Obtain copies of the "SC Traffic Collision Report."  
8. Obtain notarized witness statements when possible.  
9. Upon receipt of the "SC Victim Impact Statement" form, complete it and return it to the Solicitor's Victim Advocate immediately.

Traffic Collison Report

Obtain a copy of the "South Carolina Traffic Collison Report."  This report may not be available for two weeks while it goes through the "Certification" process.  Once the report is "Certified," it is the legal document used in court.  Be sure the information on the form is accurate.

• Does the description and the drawn picture accurately describe the incident?  
• Is the BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) reported?  
• Does the report state other citations (tickets) were actually written for each violation?  (In one crash, there can be several violations in addition to the DUI violation, such as:  Speeding, Running a Red Light, Open Container, Hit and Run, Suspended License, etc.)  
• Are all witnesses listed on the report?

*If any information is inaccurate, or has been omitted, contact the officer who signed the report immediatley.

Talk With The Officer Who Signed The "Traffic Collison Report"

Talk with the officer who investigated the crash and signed the South Carolina Traffic Collision Report. When you reach the officer, whether by telephone or in person, exchange facts and information.

IF ANY INFORMATION ON THE TRAFFIC COLLISION REPORT IS INACCURATE OR HAS BEEN OMITTED, REQUEST THAT A "SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT" BE FILED IMMEDIATELY.

Share with the officer any other facts about the case that could possibly be noted on a Supplemental Report.

Respond to the "We Care"  card sent to you by MADD's State Victim Service Coordinator, Beth Lunceford, or call her at (803) 748-7333 or (800) 543-8692. 

Meet With Your Solictior's Victim Advocate

Each Solictior has a Victim Advocate.  It will take several weeks for the case to reach the Solictor's office.  When the solictor receives your case, the Solicitor's Victim Advocate will contact you.  The Victim Advocate is there to support you and provide full information on your case during the judicial process.  You will have many questions during this period and the Victim Advocate is the person to call.

The Solictor's Victim Adovaocate provides you with the "Victim Impact Statement" form and the "State Victim Compensation Fund" form.

Meet With Your Solicitor

Although you are the victim, the Solicitor is not your lawyer and does not represent you in this case. According to our judical system, the "crime" was against the "State of South Carolina," not you, the victim.  This is why the case will be named, "State vs.  (offender's name) ."