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The Short Answer
South Carolina also sets minimum liability at 25/50/25, but it goes further than most states on uninsured drivers: every South Carolina auto policy must include uninsured motorist coverage, though only at the state minimum limits of 25/50/25 (S.C. Code §§ 38-77-140, 38-77-150). UM above those minimums, and all underinsured motorist coverage, are optional coverages the insurer must offer (S.C. Code § 38-77-160).
South Carolina's Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements
South Carolina also sets minimum liability at 25/50/25, but it goes further than most states on uninsured drivers: every South Carolina auto policy must include uninsured motorist coverage, though only at the state minimum limits of 25/50/25 (S.C. Code §§ 38-77-140, 38-77-150). UM above those minimums, and all underinsured motorist coverage, are optional coverages the insurer must offer (S.C. Code § 38-77-160).
That mandatory UM coverage is a meaningful advantage for injured South Carolinians, because it is built into every policy rather than optional. Driving uninsured in South Carolina brings fines and an uninsured-motorist fee regime, and leaves the at-fault driver personally exposed for damages beyond any coverage.
The South Carolina Filing Deadline
Most South Carolina personal injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of the date of injury under S.C. Code § 15-3-530, a year longer than Alabama and Georgia. Do not let the longer period create false comfort: evidence, witnesses, and camera footage disappear on the same schedule everywhere.
Claims against South Carolina governments run through the South Carolina Tort Claims Act: generally two years to sue, extended to three years if a verified claim was filed within one year (S.C. Code §§ 15-78-80, 15-78-110), with caps on recoverable damages. The Act's procedures are technical enough that government-defendant claims should be in a lawyer's hands early.
Fault in South Carolina: Modified comparative negligence (51% bar)
South Carolina applies modified comparative negligence: as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50%, you may recover, with damages reduced by your percentage of fault; if you are more at fault than the defendant, recovery is barred. The rule comes from the South Carolina Supreme Court's adoption of comparative fault in Nelson v. Concrete Supply Co. For causes of action accruing on or after January 1, 2026, the amended apportionment statute (S.C. Code § 15-38-15, under Act No. 42 of 2025) spreads fault across the plaintiff, the defendants, and nonparties, and a defendant found less than 50% at fault answers only for its own share rather than jointly for the whole; the greater-than-50% bar on the plaintiff is unchanged. Either way, disciplined fault development is the core of every contested claim.
A Worked Example Under South Carolina Law
The driver who hit you carried only his state's minimum liability coverage, and your medical bills already exceed $60,000.
South Carolina's minimum is also 25/50/25, capping the at-fault driver at $25,000. But South Carolina requires uninsured motorist coverage on every policy and requires insurers to offer underinsured coverage, so you likely have a second layer built in, an advantage a Georgia or Alabama driver may not have.
Illustration only, real cases turn on their specific facts.
Steps to Protect Your Claim
1.
Get medical care immediately and follow through
See a doctor even if you feel 'mostly fine.' Adrenaline masks injuries, and gaps in treatment are the first thing insurers use to argue you were not really hurt.
2.
Document everything while it exists
Photograph the scene, vehicles, hazards, and visible injuries. Get names and contact information for witnesses, and request any incident or police report number.
3.
Do not give a recorded statement before getting advice
You are generally not obligated to give the other side's insurer a recorded statement. Under South Carolina's modified comparative negligence (51% bar), what you say can be used to put fault on you.
4.
Mind the South Carolina clock
Three years (S.C. Code § 15-3-530) is the outer limit, and government-defendant claims run far shorter. Building a strong case takes months, so the practical deadline is always sooner.
Costly Mistakes to Avoid
Accepting the first settlement offer before you know the full extent of your injuries.
Posting about the accident or your activities on social media, where insurers will look for ways to dispute your claim.
Giving a recorded statement or signing a blanket medical release without understanding how it will be used.
Letting gaps appear in your medical treatment, which insurers treat as proof you recovered.
Waiting near your state's filing deadline to seek help, when evidence has already started to disappear.
Key South Carolina Terms Explained
Statute of Limitations
The deadline to file suit: in South Carolina, generally three years from the date of injury (S.C. Code § 15-3-530).
Modified Comparative Negligence (51% Bar)
South Carolina's fault rule: recovery is reduced by your share of fault and barred only when your share exceeds 50%.
Verified Claim (Tort Claims Act)
Under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act, filing a verified claim within one year can extend the two-year suit deadline to three (S.C. Code §§ 15-78-80, 15-78-110).
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage
Coverage on your own auto policy that may pay when an at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to cover your losses.
South Carolina Questions, Answered
How long do I have to act in South Carolina?
Most South Carolina personal injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of the date of injury under S.C. Code § 15-3-530, a year longer than Alabama and Georgia. Do not let the longer period create false comfort: evidence, witnesses, and camera footage disappear on the same schedule everywhere.
What if I was partly at fault under South Carolina law?
South Carolina applies modified comparative negligence: as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50%, you may recover, with damages reduced by your percentage of fault; if you are more at fault than the defendant, recovery is barred. The rule comes from the South Carolina Supreme Court's adoption of comparative fault in Nelson v. Concrete Supply Co. For causes of action accruing on or after January 1, 2026, the amended apportionment statute (S.C. Code § 15-38-15, under Act No. 42 of 2025) spreads fault across the plaintiff, the defendants, and nonparties, and a defendant found less than 50% at fault answers only for its own share rather than jointly for the whole; the greater-than-50% bar on the plaintiff is unchanged. Either way, disciplined fault development is the core of every contested claim.
What if the at-fault driver only had minimum coverage?
Their limit may cap what their insurer pays even if your losses are higher. Your own UM/UIM coverage, and identifying any other responsible parties, may help close the gap.
Does this guide replace advice about my specific South Carolina case?
No. This guide is educational and general. The rules described here have exceptions and fact-specific applications, which is exactly what a free, confidential consultation is for.
Can a Hoover, Alabama firm handle my South Carolina case?
Yes. Our attorneys are licensed in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina and represent South Carolina clients by phone, video, and in person. What changes across the state line is the law that applies, and we practice under South Carolina's.
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The same question, answered under each state's law.
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This guide is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. South Carolina law and its application depend on the specific facts of your situation and can change over time. For advice about your matter, speak with an attorney licensed in South Carolina.