South Carolina Car Accident Settlement Calculator
Get a rough estimate of what a South Carolina car-accident injury claim might be worth, based on your medical bills and losses. This is an estimate to understand the factors — not a prediction or an offer.
This is a rough estimate, not a prediction or an offer.
No tool can predict a settlement. This uses the common "multiplier method" to show the factors that drive value and a wide range — actual outcomes depend on the facts, the available insurance limits, the venue, and negotiation. Consult a South Carolina car-accident attorney about your case.
Enter your medical bills and losses to see an estimated range
The multiplier method (pain-and-suffering as a multiple of your medical bills) is a common starting point, not a guarantee. A real recovery is also capped by the available insurance (the at-fault driver's limits, or your own UM/UIM coverage). Most car-accident cases settle; an attorney is the only way to value your specific claim. This tool is not legal advice and RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm.
How the Estimate Works
No tool can predict a car-accident settlement — every case is different and the number depends on the facts, the available insurance, the venue, and negotiation. This calculator applies the multiplier method: it adds your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage), then estimates pain and suffering as a multiple of your medical bills (about 1.5× for minor injuries up to 5× or more for catastrophic ones), and shows a wide range. It then applies South Carolina's fault rule and flags the insurance limits that cap a real payout.
South Carolina Is an at-fault (tort) state
South Carolina is a traditional tort/at-fault state. The at-fault driver (and their liability insurer) is responsible for accident damages; an injured party recovers by proving negligence. SC is NOT one of the 12 no-fault PIP states (FL, MI, MN, NY, ND, HI, KS, KY, MA, NJ, PA, UT) and is not a choice or add-on-PIP state. SC mandates liability + uninsured-motorist coverage but does not mandate Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Recovery is limited by SC's modified comparative negligence rule (51% bar): a plaintiff who is more than 50% at fault recovers nothing, and damages are reduced in proportion to fault.
Minimum Insurance & UM/UIM in South Carolina
A settlement is only collectible up to the available insurance. South Carolina's minimum required liability coverage is $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. Many drivers carry only the minimum, so a large claim can exceed the at-fault driver's policy. S.C. Code Ann. § 38-77-140 sets mandatory minimum liability limits of $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident (two or more persons), and $25,000 property damage per accident (25/50/25).gov) and the SC Department of Insurance.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM): if the other driver had no insurance or fled the scene, your recovery comes from your own UM/UIM coverage. In South Carolina, UM/UIM is required to carry. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is MANDATORY in South Carolina at limits no less than the 25/50/25 liability minimums, including $25,000 UM property-damage coverage (subject to a $200 deductible/exclusion) under S.C. Code §§ 38-77-150 and 38-77-160. UM cannot be waived. UNDERinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is NOT mandatory but insurers MUST OFFER it up to the insured's liability limits "at the option of the insured" (§ 38-77-160); the insured may decline UIM. Because UM itself is compulsory, the state is coded umUimRule = required.
Fault & Your Recovery: modified comparative negligence (51% bar)
South Carolina follows modified comparative negligence (51% bar). Your award is reduced by your share of fault, and you recover nothing once you are 51% or more at fault.
Deadline to File a South Carolina Car-Accident Claim
South Carolina generally requires a car-accident injury lawsuit to be filed within 3 years of the crash (the statute of limitations). South Carolina's personal-injury statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of injury under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5), which applies to auto-accident bodily-injury and property-damage tort claims. Claims against governmental entities under the SC Tort Claims Act (§ 15-78-110) also carry a 2-year limit (3 years if a verified claim is timely filed), but the general negligence/auto SOL is 3 years. Miss it and your claim is usually barred no matter how strong it is, so do not wait to talk to an attorney.
- South Carolina is an at-fault (tort) state: after a crash, the driver who caused it is liable, and the injured party files a claim or lawsuit against that driver's liability insurer (or their own UM coverage if the other driver is uninsured).
- There is no no-fault/PIP system and no injury threshold to clear before suing for pain and suffering, unlike Florida, New York, or Michigan.
- Drivers must carry at least 25/50/25 liability coverage plus uninsured-motorist coverage at the same limits ($25,000 UM property damage with a $200 deductible) under S.C. Code Title 38, Chapter 77.
- Underinsured-motorist (UIM) coverage is optional but your insurer must offer it; carrying it is strongly advised given the low mandatory minimums.
- Fault is shared under a modified comparative-negligence rule with a 51% bar: you can recover only if you are 50% or less at fault, and your award is reduced by your percentage of fault.
- You generally have 3 years from the accident date to file a personal-injury lawsuit (S.C. Code § 15-3-530(5)); claims against government entities have shorter deadlines under the SC Tort Claims Act.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is my South Carolina car accident claim worth?
No one can tell you a number in advance. A rough estimate adds your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage) and applies a pain-and-suffering multiplier, then adjusts for fault under South Carolina's modified comparative negligence (51% bar) rule. The real value also depends on the available insurance limits — an attorney is the only way to value your specific case.
Is South Carolina a no-fault state?
South Carolina is a traditional tort/at-fault state. The at-fault driver (and their liability insurer) is responsible for accident damages; an injured party recovers by proving negligence. SC is NOT one of the 12 no-fault PIP states (FL, MI, MN, NY, ND, HI, KS, KY, MA, NJ, PA, UT) and is not a choice or add-on-PIP state. SC mandates liability + uninsured-motorist coverage but does not mandate Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Recovery is limited by SC's modified comparative negligence rule (51% bar): a plaintiff who is more than 50% at fault recovers nothing, and damages are reduced in proportion to fault.
Does my own fault reduce my South Carolina settlement?
Yes. South Carolina follows modified comparative negligence (51% bar). You recover nothing once you are 51% or more at fault.
How long do I have to file in South Carolina?
Generally 3 years from the crash. South Carolina's personal-injury statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of injury under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5), which applies to auto-accident bodily-injury and property-damage tort claims. Claims against governmental entities under the SC Tort Claims Act (§ 15-78-110) also carry a 2-year limit (3 years if a verified claim is timely filed), but the general negligence/auto SOL is 3 years.
Is this calculator accurate?
It is a rough estimate to show the factors that drive value — not a prediction or an offer. Real settlements vary enormously and are capped by the available insurance. Treat any number here as a ballpark and consult a South Carolina car-accident attorney.
Disclaimer
This estimator is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice or a prediction of any outcome. RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm. The value of a car-accident claim can only be assessed by a licensed attorney reviewing your specific facts.