Bamberg County Crash Sparks Civil Negligence Suit Against Caroline Schwarting Smith

Renic Bowens filed a civil complaint against Caroline Schwarting Smith in the South Carolina Circuit Court for Bamberg County on March 23, 2026, accusing her of motor-vehicle negligence that resulted in personal injury from a traffic crash. The case, docketed as 2026CP0500050, marks the latest personal injury action to land on the Bamberg County civil docket.

The complaint alleges that Smith's conduct behind the wheel caused the crash and the injuries Bowens sustained as a result. Details about where in Bamberg County the collision occurred, the severity of Bowens' injuries, and the specific damages being sought have not been disclosed in the initial filing.

Bowens is represented by Max Capper Sparwasser, a Mount Pleasant, South Carolina attorney whose legal practice includes personal injury and workers' compensation. Sparwasser is one of the founding attorneys of the Max Sparwasser Law Firm, LLC in Charleston. Admitted to the South Carolina bar in 2004, his practice areas include negligence, personal injury, spinal injury, and wrongful death.

South Carolina civil procedure requires a defendant to respond to a complaint within a set number of days after service. No attorney of record for Smith had been listed in the initial filing, and no response from the defense had been entered as of the date the complaint was filed.

The case will proceed through the Bamberg County court system, where a scheduling order and potential discovery period would typically follow once Smith is formally served and counsel appears on her behalf.