Car accidents are an extremely common cause of serious injuries and deaths in North Carolina. If you get involved in a motor vehicle collision, it is critical to understand what steps to take to protect your health and preserve your legal rights as much as possible. This includes knowing when to contact a Wilmington car accident lawyer for legal assistance and representation.
Call the Police
After a car crash, try to remain calm and move your vehicle to a safe location out of the road. Check yourself and your passengers for any injuries. If anyone is injured or has died, or if there is apparent property damage of $1,000 or more, you are required by law to report the accident immediately to local law enforcement (by calling 911) or to the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
Reporting your accident is important not only to protect you from penalties for failure to report, but also so that you receive a police report. This document can be instrumental during your car insurance claim, as it gives car insurance companies key information about the accident, the injuries and who may be at fault.
Get Medical Attention
Car accidents can cause serious injuries even without the victim experiencing immediate symptoms. Adrenaline often masks pain. For this reason, it is important for all crash victims to get medical attention after a car accident. Go to the closest hospital or health care center in North Carolina for treatment. Keep copies of your medical records to support your insurance claim.
Collect Information
While you’re at the scene of the crash, exchange names, contact information and car insurance details with the other driver. Write down a description of the other driver’s vehicle and license plate numbers. While the accident is still fresh in your mind, describe it in your own words in writing.
Gather evidence before you leave the scene, if possible. Take pictures of the damaged vehicles and the crash scene as a whole, including the condition of the roadway. If there are any eyewitnesses or vehicle passengers, collect their information. Get your police report number before you leave.
Contact Your Car Insurance Company
Call the claims-filing phone number for your own automobile insurance provider, or contact your specific representative directly, to report the car accident. Most insurance companies require prompt reporting. Again, do not admit fault or speculate regarding the cause of the crash. Wait for an investigation to determine causation.
File Your Wilmington Car Accident Claim
North Carolina is an “at-fault” car insurance state. This means car accident victims have the right to seek financial compensation from the insurance provider of the at-fault party. You will need to identify who caused your crash, gather evidence against them and bring a claim against this party’s insurance policy.
All drivers in North Carolina are required to carry certain amounts of liability insurance to provide coverage for the medical bills and property repairs of others. This coverage should be available to you if the other driver is assigned fault. However, you may need to prove your claim using evidence. Do not accept a quick settlement offered to you by an insurer until speaking to a car accident lawyer in Wilmington.
Speak With a Car Accident Attorney in Wilmington, NC
In the aftermath of a car accident, you may have to deal with painful injuries, medical bills, motor vehicle damage and repairs, lost wages, and the challenges of communicating with insurance companies. Luckily, you have the right to contact a car accident attorney in Wilmington for legal advice and assistance.
An attorney can take immediate action to preserve evidence and start building a claim on your behalf. This includes taking over communications with an insurance claims adjuster to negotiate for a fair settlement. If a settlement cannot be reached, your lawyer can bring your case to trial in North Carolina in pursuit of justice.
For more information about what to do after a recent car crash, contact Shipman Wright & Moore, LLP, at (910) 762-1990 for a free consultation.