reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
SC Code § 38-77-140 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-140. Bodily injury and property damage limits; general requirements.

 (A) An automobile insurance policy may not be issued or delivered in this State to the owner of a motor vehicle or may not be issued or delivered by an insurer licensed in this State upon a motor vehicle then principally garaged or principally used in this State, unless it contains a provision insuring the persons defined as insured against loss from the liability imposed by law for damages arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of these motor vehicles within the United States or Canada, subject to limits exclusive of interest and costs, with respect to each motor vehicle, as follows:  (1) twenty-five thousand dollars because of bodily injury to one person in any one accident and, subject to the limit for one person;  (2) fifty thousand dollars because of bodily injury to two or more persons in any one accident; and  (3) twenty-five thousand dollars because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.  (B) Nothing in this article prevents an insurer from issuing, selling, or delivering a policy providing liability coverage in excess of these requirements.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-9-820 [1962 Code Section 46-750.32; 1963 (53) 526; 1974 (58) 2718] recodified as Section 38-77-140 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; 1997 Act No. 154, Section 12; 2006 Act No. 395, Section 3.A, eff June 14, 2006 affecting policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2007.  Editor's Note  2013 Act No. 47, Section 5, provides as follows:  "SECTION 5. An automobile liability insurer is not required to make a new offer of coverage or obtain a new prescribed form on any automobile insurance policy, within the contemplation of Section 38-77-350, to comply with statutory changes to the minimum required limits set forth in Section 38-77-140 and Section 38-77-150."
SC Code § 38-77-141 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-141. Required notice to be attached to new policy or original premium notice of insurance covering liability regarding insurance premiums.

 No new policy or original premium notice of insurance covering liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle may be issued or delivered unless it contains the following statement printed in boldface type, or unless the statement is attached to the front of or is enclosed with the policy or premium notice:  "IMPORTANT NOTICE  IN ADDITION TO THE INSURANCE COVERAGE REQUIRED BY LAW TO PROTECT YOU AGAINST A LOSS CAUSED BY AN UNINSURED MOTORIST, IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE THAT IS HIGHER THAN THAT REQUIRED BY LAW TO PROTECT YOU AGAINST LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF THE OWNERSHIP, MAINTENANCE, OR USE OF THE MOTOR VEHICLES COVERED BY THIS POLICY, AND YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY PURCHASED UNINSURED MOTORIST INSURANCE COVERAGE EQUAL TO YOUR LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE:  (1) YOUR UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED MOTORIST INSURANCE COVERAGE HAS INCREASED TO THE LIMITS OF YOUR LIABILITY COVERAGE AND THIS INCREASE WILL COST YOU AN EXTRA PREMIUM CHARGE; AND  (2) YOUR TOTAL PREMIUM CHARGE FOR YOUR MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE COVERAGE WILL INCREASE IF YOU DO NOT NOTIFY YOUR AGENT OR INSURER OF YOUR DESIRE TO REDUCE COVERAGE WITHIN TWENTY DAYS OF THE MAILING OF THE POLICY OR THE PREMIUM NOTICE, AS THE CASE MAY BE;  (3) IF THIS IS A NEW POLICY AND YOU HAVE ALREADY SIGNED A WRITTEN REJECTION OF SUCH HIGHER LIMITS IN CONNECTION WITH IT, PARAGRAPHS (1) AND (2) OF THIS NOTICE DO NOT APPLY."  After twenty days, the insurer is relieved of the obligation imposed by this subsection to attach or imprint the foregoing statement to any subsequently delivered renewal policy, extension certificate, other written statement of coverage continuance, or to any subsequently mailed premium notice.  HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 11.
SC Code § 38-77-143 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-143. Maintenance, selling, etc. policies and contracts to be primary.

 A policy or contract of insurance relating to the maintenance, selling, repairing, servicing, storing, or parking of motor vehicles shall be primary.  HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 11.
SC Code § 38-77-144 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-144. Personal injury protection (PIP) coverage not mandated.

 There is no personal injury protection (PIP) coverage mandated under the automobile insurance laws of this State. Any reference to personal injury protection in Title 38 or 56 or elsewhere is deleted. If an insurer sells no-fault insurance coverage which provides personal injury protection, medical payment coverage, or economic loss coverage, the coverage shall not be assigned or subrogated and is not subject to a setoff.  HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 344, Section 2.
SC Code § 38-77-150 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-150. Uninsured motorist provision; defense of action by insurer; subrogation and assignment of benefits.

 (A) No automobile insurance policy or contract may be issued or delivered unless it contains a provision by endorsement or otherwise, herein referred to as the uninsured motorist provision, undertaking to pay the insured all sums which he is legally entitled to recover as damages from the owner or operator of an uninsured motor vehicle, within limits which may be no less than the requirements of Section 38-77-140. The uninsured motorist provision also must provide for no less than twenty-five thousand dollars' coverage for injury to or destruction of the property of the insured in any one accident but may provide an exclusion of the first two hundred dollars of the loss or damage. The director or his designee may prescribe the form to be used in providing uninsured motorist coverage and when prescribed and promulgated no other form may be used.  (B) No action may be brought under the uninsured motorist provision unless copies of the pleadings in the action establishing liability are served in the manner provided by law upon the insurer writing the uninsured motorist provision. The insurer has the right to appear and defend in the name of the uninsured motorist in any action which may affect its liability and has thirty days after service of process on it in which to appear. The evidence of service upon the insurer may not be made a part of the record.  (C) Benefits paid pursuant to this section are subject to subrogation and assignment if an uninsured motorist has selected the option to be uninsured by paying the fee pursuant to Section 56-10-510.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-9-830 [1962 Code Section 46-750.33; 1963 (53) 526; 1971 (57) 854; 1974 (58) 2718] recodified as Section 38-77-150 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 807; 1997 Act No. 154, Section 13; 2013 Act No. 47, Section 1, eff January 1, 2014.  Editor's Note  2013 Act No. 47, Section 5, provides as follows:  "SECTION 5. An automobile liability insurer is not required to make a new offer of coverage or obtain a new prescribed form on any automobile insurance policy, within the contemplation of Section 38-77-350, to comply with statutory changes to the minimum required limits set forth in Section 38-77-140 and Section 38-77-150."
SC Code § 38-77-151 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-151. Collected funds to be placed in Uninsured Motorists Fund; use of funds.

 All funds collected by the director of the Department of Motor Vehicles under the provisions of Chapter 10, Title 56 must be placed on deposit with the State Treasurer and held in a special fund to be known as the "Uninsured Motorists Fund" to be disbursed as provided by law. Interest earned by the "Uninsured Motorists Fund" must be retained by that fund. The director of the Department of Insurance, as provided in Sections 38-77-154 and 38-77-155, may expend such funds for the administration of this chapter; provided, however, that the Department of Insurance shall retain ten percent of the Uninsured Motorists Fund to be used by the Department of Insurance to enforce the provisions of Title 38 including Sections 38-77-112, 38-77-122, and 38-77-123, to publish for consumers an automobile insurance buyer's guide, a brochure comparing automobile insurance premiums, and to provide for a public awareness campaign.  HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 11.
SC Code § 38-77-154 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-154. Department of Insurance to supervise and control Uninsured Motorists Fund; purpose of fund.

 The Uninsured Motorists Fund shall be under the supervision and control of the Department of Insurance. Payments from the Uninsured Motorists Fund shall be made on warrants of the Comptroller General issued on vouchers signed by a person designated by the director. The purpose of the Uninsured Motorists Fund is to reduce the cost of the insurance required by Section 38-77-150 and to protect and educate consumers as provided by Section 38-77-151.  HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 11.
SC Code § 38-77-155 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-155. Distribution of funds; obtaining premium information.

 The director shall distribute monies annually from the Uninsured Motorists Fund among the several insurers writing motor vehicle bodily injury and property damage liability insurance on motor vehicles registered in this State. Monies must be distributed in the proportion that each insurer's premium income for the auto liability coverage bears to the total premium income for auto liability coverage written in this State during the preceding year. Premium income must be gross premiums less cancellation and return premiums for coverage required by Section 38-77-150. The director shall obtain premium information from the annual statement filed by each insurer.  HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 154, Section 11; 2004 Act No. 291, Section 12, eff July 29, 2004.
SC Code § 38-77-160 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-160. Additional uninsured motorist coverage; underinsured motorist coverage.

 Automobile insurance carriers shall offer, at the option of the insured, uninsured motorist coverage up to the limits of the insured's liability coverage in addition to the mandatory coverage prescribed by Section 38-77-150. Such carriers shall also offer, at the option of the insured, underinsured motorist coverage up to the limits of the insured liability coverage to provide coverage in the event that damages are sustained in excess of the liability limits carried by an at-fault insured or underinsured motorist or in excess of any damages cap or limitation imposed by statute. If, however, an insured or named insured is protected by uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage in excess of the basic limits, the policy shall provide that the insured or named insured is protected only to the extent of the coverage he has on the vehicle involved in the accident. If none of the insured's or named insured's vehicles is involved in the accident, coverage is available only to the extent of coverage on any one of the vehicles with the excess or underinsured coverage. Benefits paid pursuant to this section are not subject to subrogation and assignment.  No action may be brought under the underinsured motorist provision unless copies of the pleadings in the action establishing liability are served in the manner provided by law upon the insurer writing the underinsured motorist provision. The insurer has the right to appear and defend in the name of the underinsured motorist in any action which may affect its liability and has thirty days after service of process on it in which to appear. The evidence of service upon the insurer may not be made a part of the record. In the event the automobile insurance insurer for the putative at-fault insured chooses to settle in part the claims against its insured by payment of its applicable liability limits on behalf of its insured, the underinsured motorist insurer may assume control of the defense of action for its own benefit. No underinsured motorist policy may contain a clause requiring the insurer's consent to settlement with the at-fault party.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-9-831 [1978 Act No. 569, Section 1; 1987 Act No. 166, Section 22; repealed by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 25] recodified as Section 38-77-160 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1 [amendment to former 1976 Code Section 56-9-831 by 1987 Act No. 166, Section 22, transferred to Section 38-77-160 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 24]; 1989 Act No. 148, Section 21; 1994 Act No. 461, Section 7.
SC Code § 38-77-161 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-161. Uninsured or underinsured coverage not required in excess or umbrella policy.

 No uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage need be provided in this State by any excess or umbrella policy of insurance.  HISTORY: 1989 Act No. 148, Section 5.
SC Code § 38-77-170 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-170. Conditions to sue or recover under uninsured motorist provision when owner or operator of motor vehicle causing injury or damage is unknown.

 If the owner or operator of any motor vehicle which causes bodily injury or property damage to the insured is unknown, there is no right of action or recovery under the uninsured motorist provision, unless:  (1) the insured or someone in his behalf has reported the accident to some appropriate police authority within a reasonable time, under all the circumstances, after its occurrence;  (2) the injury or damage was caused by physical contact with the unknown vehicle, or the accident must have been witnessed by someone other than the owner or operator of the insured vehicle; provided however, the witness must sign an affidavit attesting to the truth of the facts of the accident contained in the affidavit;  (3) the insured was not negligent in failing to determine the identity of the other vehicle and the driver of the other vehicle at the time of the accident.  The following statement must be prominently displayed on the face of the affidavit provided in item (2) above: A FALSE STATEMENT CONCERNING THE FACTS CONTAINED IN THIS AFFIDAVIT MAY SUBJECT THE PERSON MAKING THE FALSE STATEMENT TO CRIMINAL PENALTIES AS PROVIDED BY LAW.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-9-850 [1962 Code Section 46-750.34; 1963 (53) 526; 1987 Act No. 166, Section 25; repealed by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 25] recodified as Section 38-77-170 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1 [amendment to former 1976 Code Section 56-9-850 by 1987 Act No. 166, Section 25, transferred to Section 38-77-150 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 24]; 1989 Act No. 148, Section 53.
SC Code § 38-77-180 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-180. "John Doe" actions against unknown defendant; service of process and defense by insurer; action against or joinder of identified owner or operator.

 If the owner or operator of any vehicle causing injury or damages by physical contact is unknown, an action may be instituted against the unknown defendant as "John Doe" and service of process may be made by delivery of a copy of the summons and complaint or other pleadings to the clerk of the court in which the action is brought. The insurer has the right to defend in the name of John Doe. However, the bringing of an action against the unknown owner or operator as John Doe or the conclusion of that action does not constitute a bar to the insured, if the identity of the owner or operator who caused the injury or damages complained of becomes known, from bringing an action against the owner or operator previously proceeded against as John Doe. Notwithstanding the uninsured motorist provision nor any other provision of law, the joinder of any other person causing the injury as a party defendant, in an action against John Doe, is allowed.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-9-860 [1962 Code Section 46-750.35; 1963 (53) 526] recodified as Section 38-77-180 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-77-190 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-190. Subrogation of insurer who pays claim under uninsured motorist provision to rights of insured.

 An insurer paying a claim under the uninsured motorist provision required by Section 38-77-150 is subrogated to the rights of the insured to whom the claim was paid against any and every person causing the injury, death, or damage to the extent that payment was made. However, the insurer shall pay its proportionate part of any reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with any recovery, including reasonable attorneys' fees.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-9-870 [1962 Code Section 46-750.36; 1963 (53) 526] recodified as Section 38-77-190 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-77-200 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-200. Arbitration clause prohibited in uninsured motorist provision; requirements on insured; action and employment of counsel by insured.

 The uninsured motorist provision may not require arbitration of any claim arising under it, nor may anything not otherwise herein provided for or as may be provided in the form prescribed by the director or his designee be required of the insured except the establishment of legal liability of the uninsured motorist, nor may the insured be restricted or prevented in any manner from employing legal counsel or instituting legal proceedings.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-9-880 [1962 Code Section 46-750.37; 1963 (53) 526] recodified as Section 38-77-200 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 808.
SC Code § 38-77-210 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-210. Uninsured motorist provision not required to cover property damages paid to insured.

 The uninsured motorist provision need not insure any liability for property damages for which loss a policyholder has been compensated by insurance or otherwise.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-9-890 [1962 Code Section 46-750.38; 1963 (53) 526] recodified as Section 38-77-210 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-77-220 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-220. Additional liability which automobile insurance policy need not cover.

 The automobile policy need not insure any liability under the Workers' Compensation Law nor any liability on account of bodily injury to an employee of the insured while engaged in the employment, other than domestic, of the insured, or while engaged in the operation, maintenance, or repair of the motor vehicle nor any liability for damage to property owned by, rented to, in charge of, or transported by the insured.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-9-900 [1962 Code Section 46-750.39; 1963 (53) 526] recodified as Section 38-77-220 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-77-230 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-230. Certain payments under automobile insurance policy are not to be construed as admission or recognition of liability.

 No payment made under an automobile insurance policy of a claim against any insured thereunder arising from any accident or other event insured against for damage to or destruction of property owned by another person is to be construed as an admission of liability by the insured, or the insurer's recognition of liability, with respect to any other claim arising from the same accident or event.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 56-9-910 [1962 Code Section 46-750.40; 1966 (54) 2142] recodified as Section 38-77-230 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-77-250 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 77 - Automobile Insurance|Section 38-77-250. Release of coverage information upon written request of claimant's attorney; confidentiality.

 (A) Every insurer providing automobile insurance coverage in this State and which is or may be liable to pay all or a part of any claim shall provide, within thirty days of receiving a written request from the claimant's attorney, a statement, under oath, of a corporate officer or the insurer's claims manager stating with regard to each known policy of nonfleet private passenger insurance issued by it, the name of the insurer, the name of each insured, and the limits of coverage. The insurer may provide a copy of the declaration page of each such policy in lieu of providing such information. The request shall set forth under oath the specific nature of the claim asserted and shall be mailed to the insurer by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery. The request also must state that the attorney is authorized to make such a request and must be accompanied by a copy of the incident report from which the claim is derived.  (B) If the request provided in subsection (A) contains information insufficient to allow compliance, the insurer upon whom the request was made may so state in writing, stating specifically what additional information is needed and such compliance shall constitute compliance with this section.  (C) The information provided to a claimant or his attorney as required by subsection (A) of this section shall not create a waiver of any defenses to coverage available to the insurer and shall not be admissible in evidence.  (D) The information provided to a claimant or his attorney as required by subsection (A) shall be amended upon the discovery of facts inconsistent with or in addition to the information provided.  (E) The provisions of this section do not require disclosure of limits for fleet policy limits, umbrella coverages, or excess coverages.  (F) The information received pursuant to this section is confidential and must not be disclosed to any outside party. Upon final disposition of the case, the claimant's attorney must destroy all information received pursuant to this section. The court must impose sanctions for a violation of this subsection.  HISTORY: 2011 Act No. 52, Section 4, eff January 1, 2012.  Editor's Note  2011 Act No. 52, Section 7, provides as follows:  "SECTION 7. This act takes effect January 1, 2012, and applies to all actions that accrue on or after the effective date except the provisions of SECTION 3 do not apply to any matter pending on the effective date of this act."