When people are involved in a car accident – even a minor one – they aren’t always sure what they’re supposed to do. When we’re a teenager learning how to drive, our parents don’t tell us what to do after a car accident. It’s something you have to figure out on your own. What we can tell you is that if you don’t follow certain steps after your crash, you’ll jeopardize your claim for damages. The last thing you want to do is make your Wilmington car wreck attorney’s job harder than it already is.
There are 3 things you need to do after a car accident in North Carolina. The first thing you need to do is call the police. They’ll arrange for you to go to the hospital. It’s important that you don’t refuse medical treatment. Once you’ve had any urgent medical issues tended to, you need to file your insurance claim.
If you’ve done all of these things and the insurance company still hasn’t paid your claim, call us. You need to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney in North Carolina right away.
You Must Call 911 Immediately After a Car Accident
Like it or not, you need to call the cops after a car accident. It doesn’t matter how much the other driver begs you not to call. You need to protect yourself and this is the best way you can do that.
Not only will the police make sure everyone’s okay after a car accident, but they’ll also do a thorough investigation of the accident scene. They’ll look at the damage to the vehicles and see if they can figure out what happened. They’ll also talk to eyewitnesses and get their statements. In addition, they’ll get contact information for the witnesses in case they need to reach out to them later.
Once their investigation is complete, they’ll put their findings into a police report. This report is critical to your case. Your lawyer will need this report to prepare your case. If you don’t call the cops after a car accident, your attorney will have no chance of getting any of the information in the report.
Your Wilmington Car Wreck Attorney Will Insist You Go to the Hospital
Too many car accident victims refuse medical treatment at the accident scene. They swear they’re okay. The thing is, you may feel fine after a car accident. The adrenaline that courses through your body in the moments after any trauma convinces you that you’re okay. It isn’t until hours or days later that you realize you’re injured.
If you wait too long to seek medical treatment, the defendant will say something other than the crash caused your injuries. You’ll also need a copy of your medical records to prove damages. Without these records, it will be a matter of your word against the defendant’s. it won’t be hard for them to convince the court that you refused treatment because you were not hurt. If this is the case, your Wilmington car wreck attorney won’t have a way to refute your claim.
The other reason you need to go to the emergency room after a car accident is to make sure you’re okay. You may feel fine in the moments following your crash. However, you have no idea if you’ve suffered internal injuries. You could have a traumatic brain injury. Or you may have punctured a spleen or lung. The only way to know for sure is to go to the hospital and get the necessary tests.
Make Sure You File Your Insurance Claim Immediately
When it comes to filing your insurance claim after a car accident, it can be hard to know how long you have to do it. Every insurance company has its own rules about filing deadlines. Some give you a certain number of days. Others simply say you must file your claim within a “reasonable time.” You have no idea what this means. The next thing you know, you’re getting a letter saying your claim has been denied because you didn’t file it in time.
If you have a personal injury attorney in North Carolina handling your claim after a car accident, you don’t have to worry about this happening. They know how long you have to file. They can also check your original contract to see what it says. Worst case, they’ll call the insurance company and find out who’s handling your claim. You don’t have to worry about the insurance adjuster refusing to take your lawyer’s call. They know your attorney won’t be intimidated by their tactics.
It’s a Good Idea to Call a Personal Injury Attorney in North Carolina
There’s no law that says you have to hire a personal injury attorney in North Carolina after a car accident to handle your case. You absolutely have the right to represent yourself. However, if you do, you’ll be at a serious disadvantage. Some of the issues pro se plaintiffs face when they handle their own car accident lawsuit include the following:
- The insurance adjuster won’t take you seriously
- The insurance company will offer you a low settlement hoping that you’re desperate for money
- You don’t know the court rules and filing deadlines
- You could miss the 3-year statute of limitations period in North Carolina
- The other driver will have a team of lawyers working for them
Rather than risk any of this happening, it’s a good idea to at least meet with an experienced Wilmington car wreck attorney.
Call to Schedule Your Free, Initial Consultation Today
If you or your loved one are injured in a car accident, you need help. The last thing you’ll want to do is sit on the phone fighting with an insurance adjuster. Your Wilmington car wreck attorney can handle all of that for you. Your job is to work hard to recover from your injuries. You also need to take care of your family.
If your injuries after a car accident are serious and you believe you have a claim for damages, call us. We can schedule a date and time for you to sit down with an experienced personal injury attorney in North Carolina.
We offer all new clients a free, initial consultation. This gives you a chance to ask any questions you may have. It also gives our associates a chance to review your claim and see if you have a good case. If so, they’ll offer to represent you. The ultimate decision is, of course, up to you. Since the initial consultation doesn’t cost you anything, you really don’t have anything to lose.
