What Should You Do After a Car Accident in North Carolina?

Many people may feel confused and overwhelmed after being involved in a car crash. However, you should be mindful of the things you should do after experiencing a crash. Acting quickly and effectively can help you pave the way towards recovery. If you or a loved one were injured in a car wreck, you need skilled and experienced legal representation. Our Charlotte car accident attorneys at Dewey, Ramsay, & Hunt explains more about the things you should do after being involved in a car accident in North Carolina.

What Are the Steps to Take After a Car Accident?

There are some critical steps every driver should take after being involved in an accident. Taking these steps into account can help you in future proceedings. The most important things you should do after a car crash include the following:

Call Emergency

Safety is one of the most important things you should consider after being involved in a car crash. If you are able, get to a safe place away from the scene. If you can, try to move the vehicle away from oncoming traffic to avoid any potential accident. Once you are in a safe place, call 9-1-1. The emergency service will send medical assistance to adequately assess any injuries associated with the accident including head injuries and back injuries.

Gather Critical Information

Make sure you gather as much information as you possibly can. The data you gather can prove to be useful in future proceedings. Some of the essential pieces of information you should collect from the other parties involved in the crash, include the following:

• Name of the Parties Involved
• Addresses
• Phone Numbers
• Insurance Information
• Plate Numbers
• Photos from the scene

Report Your Accident to the Police

You should report your car accident to the police as soon as you can. A police officer will arrive at the crash scene to start an investigation. Once the investigation ends, the police officer will complete an accident report. The information contained in the report can be valuable in future proceedings. However, keep in mind this written information is considered to be the officer’s opinion. However, the information within the report can be useful as a starting point for several legal proceedings, including insurance company claims and court proceedings.

File an Insurance Claim

You should file your insurance claim against the at-fault party’s insurance company. Remember the insurance company doesn’t work for you. Often, they will try to make you a low offer to cover your expenses. However, many times, the offer made by the insurance company is not enough to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other financial matters related to your car accident. A skilled, knowledgeable lawyer can guide you and let you know whether you should file a personal injury claim.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim After a Car Accident in North Carolina

North Carolina is an “at-fault” state, which means you can recover compensation from the parties who caused your accident. One of the ways you can hold the responsible parties accountable for your losses is through a personal injury claim. However, you can lose your right to compensation for any of the following reasons.

Statute of Limitations

If you are filing a personal injury claim in North Carolina, you should know you have a limited amount of time to do it. This strict legal time is known as the statute of limitations. If you want to file a personal injury claim, you must do so within three years from the moment you suffered your injuries. If you miss the three-year deadline, you will not be able to proceed with your claim. While three years seem like a long time, it’s not. The preparation needed for these cases requires time for investigating, strategizing, and building an effective legal representation.

Contributory Negligence

North Carolina awards damages based on a contributory negligence system. Under this principle, you cannot receive compensation if you were deemed responsible in any way for the wreck. For instance, if you take your case to court, and the court finds you were 1% responsible for the crash, you will receive no compensation.

A skilled, knowledgeable car accident lawyer can help you navigate through the entire process and avoid losing your right to obtain compensation.

Charlotte Car Accident Attorneys Handling Personal Injury Claims

Experiencing a car accident can be overwhelming and stressful. You may feel hopeless because you are unable to return to work and provide for your family. However, you can obtain compensation from the at-fault parties to cover your expenses. The Charlotte personal injury attorneys at The law firm of Dewey, Ramsay, & Hunt may be able to help. If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident, call our knowledgeable attorneys today. To learn more about your case in a free, confidential consultation, call our law offices at (704) 377-3737.