Vehicle Crashes Into Buildings in Beaufort: Who Pays and What To Do

If a vehicle hits a building in Beaufort, South Carolina, responsibility can fall on several people or companies. The at-fault driver is most common. Liability can also reach the vehicle owner, an employer if the driver was on the job, a bar under dram shop theories in certain circumstances, a property owner if poor barrier design or known hazards contributed, or a parts maker if a defect caused loss of control. South Carolina uses a modified comparative negligence rule. You can recover if you are 50 percent or less at fault. At 51 percent or more, you cannot recover. If police do not investigate and the crash causes injury, death, or at least 1,000 dollars in damage, a driver or owner must send Form FR-309 to the SCDMV within 15 days. Start with medical care, call 911, photograph the scene, and speak with a Beaufort car accident lawyer.

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What South Carolina Rules Apply

• Comparative negligence: You can seek money if your share of fault is 50 percent or less.
• FR-309 self-report: If no officer investigates and the crash causes injury, death, or at least 1,000 dollars in total damage, mail Form FR-309 within 15 days.
• Time limits: Many injury claims must be filed within three years in South Carolina. Deadlines vary in special situations, so get a case review early.

Who Can Be Liable In A Storefront Crash

• The driver who lost control or failed to yield
• The vehicle owner for negligent entrustment or for certain insurance duties
• An employer if the driver was working within the scope of employment
• A property owner or tenant when poor design or missing barriers make foreseeable run-through crashes more likely, such as unprotected parking facing glass walls
• A government entity for certain roadway defects when notice and other requirements are met
• A parts maker or repair shop when a defect or faulty repair caused brake or steering failure
• A bar or vendor if illegal service caused obvious intoxication that led to the crash

Chain Reaction Crashes That Push Another Car Into A Building

A chain reaction can begin with a rear-end or side-impact in front of a business. Vehicle A hits Vehicle B, then Vehicle B gets shoved into the storefront. Investigations look at:
• Primary impact versus secondary impact damage
• Speed calculations and crush profiles
• Video from parking lots and door cameras
• Event data recorders in the involved vehicles
Fault can be shared among multiple drivers. The comparative negligence rule then reduces each recovery by the person’s share of fault.

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What Insurance Can Pay

• Bodily injury liability: Pays for medical care, wage loss, and pain and suffering for injured people not at fault
• Property damage liability: Pays for building repairs, glass, fixtures, and structural work
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage: Helps when the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little
• MedPay: May cover medical bills regardless of fault
• Commercial policies: Company vehicles and businesses often carry higher limits
• Property owner’s policies: Can address building damage and business interruption for the owner or tenant
Your injury claim can run alongside the building owner’s property claim. Evidence often overlaps, which makes coordination valuable.

What To Do In Beaufort After A Vehicle Hits A Building

1. Call 911, then get medical care. Even mild symptoms can mask concussion or spine injuries.

2. If police do not investigate, complete and mail Form FR-309 within 15 days. Keep a copy.

3. Photograph skid marks, storefront damage, barrier posts, and any fluid trails.

4. Ask nearby businesses to save video. Many systems overwrite within days.

5. Do not give a recorded statement to insurance until you have legal guidance.

6. Speak with a Beaufort car accident lawyer who handles storefront and parking lot crashes

Local Context

Busy Lowcountry corridors see a steady mix of parking-lot conflicts, low-speed run-throughs, and higher-speed impacts near intersection approaches. For a data snapshot and safety tips, review our Beaufort crash hot spots at Where Are the Most Dangerous Intersections in Beaufort County?.

Evidence To Lock Down Early

• Storefront and parking lot camera video
• Vehicle event data recorders
• Point-of-sale time stamps that align with video timelines
• Photos of tire marks, debris fields, and barrier conditions
• Witness names and phone numbers
• Repair estimates and structural assessments
• Scene diagrams and the police incident number
• Proof that Form FR-309 was mailed on time if required

If The Driver Was Working

Delivery, construction, sales, and service drivers create potential employer exposure. Find out who owned the vehicle, who set the route, and whether company policies were followed. Commercial coverage often changes the available limits and the timeline for evidence preservation.

If A Property Owner May Share Fault

Some storefront crashes repeat at the same addresses. Questions to consider:
• Were wheel stops or bollards in place where cars pull up close to doors or windows
• Had prior incidents occurred at the location
• Did design funnel vehicle paths toward pedestrian areas
• Were sight lines and signage adequate
When design or maintenance choices heighten risk, a property claim can run alongside the driver claim. Every location is different. A case review can sort the roles.

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Quick Answers

Do I always sue the property owner when a car hits a building?
No. Facts decide it. Design choices and foreseeability matter.

Who files the FR-309?
A driver or owner when no officer investigates and the crash causes injury, death, or 1,000 dollars or more in damage.

What if the at-fault driver left the scene?
Call 911, get medical care, and ask nearby businesses to save video. Uninsured motorist coverage may apply.

How long do I have?
Many injury claims carry a three-year limit in South Carolina. Some notices are shorter. Get guidance right away.

Where can I learn more about Beaufort crash trends?
See Where Are the Most Dangerous Intersections in Beaufort County? for an overview, then use Beaufort Car Accident Lawyers for next steps with a local team.

Evidence vanishes fast. Ask businesses to save video today.
Your health comes first. Get checked even if you feel okay.

Talk with a Beaufort car accident lawyer now. Call (706) 705-7511 or start here. We help people in Beaufort, Port Royal, Bluffton, Hilton Head Island, and nearby areas. For broader help, visit here.

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