Fault & Liability in Car Accidents in SD

South Dakota handles car crashes under the at-fault (tort) system, not no-fault, and it uses an unusual slight-versus-gross negligence rule that can bar recovery below 50 percent fault. Here are the state's exact rules, numbers, and deadlines, each cited to the statute or agency behind it.

South Dakota is the only state that decides shared-fault crashes with a 'slight' comparison instead of a 50% line. Here's how SDCL 20-9-2 works, and how a small share of fault can cost you everything.