South Carolina’s statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court. For wrongful death claims, the three-year clock runs from the date of death. However, waiting even close to this deadline is risky, evidence fades, witnesses become harder to locate, and surveillance footage and other critical records are routinely deleted or overwritten within weeks of an accident. Contacting a Rock Hill car accident attorney promptly protects your ability to preserve evidence and build the strongest possible claim.