After an Auto Accident in North Carolina

After An Accident

After you’ve been injured in a North Carolina car accident where you were, there are actions to take that will help you along the way to get compensation from the other driver. The first part of that is seeking medical attention right away even if you don’t necessarily display any obvious symptoms. Your next step should always be to call an experienced North Carolina personal injury lawyer at Tatum & Atkinson PLLC.

An initial advantage of hiring a North Carolina personal injury lawyer is that they can focus their energy on recuperating and recovering, while not neglecting the fight for getting fair compensation from the negligent party. The sooner you call, the sooner we can give you the chance to fully focus on your recovery.

When you talk to your insurance company, you should realize that you could be eligible for benefits from them, even if you think that that the other driver is at fault for the accident.

The other party’s insurance company might not agree that their client is at fault—a common cost savings tactic all insurance companies take which can also make it difficult to get necessary repairs done. Again, this is something that your lawyers at Tatum & Atkinson can handle for you.

It’s important that you report the accident to your insurance company after a crash because it could impact their inclination to give you the help that you need. If you speak with your insurance agent, you should give them the following information:

• When and where the accident took place
• The driver’s name, address, and telephone number
• The insurance policy information for any other drivers involved in the accident
• What law enforcement agent responded to the accident

The information that you give to your insurance company is also important to share with your car accident attorney. Your attorney can be very useful to you right after the accident and beyond. Some of the things that they can do include:

• Touch base with the other driver’s insurance company.
• Locate and interview witnesses to the accident.
• Contact law enforcement for the accident report.
• Negotiate with the insurance company. The insurance company will usually offer you the lowest amount possible, but an accident attorney will work for you to get maximum compensation.

Insurance companies have a reputation for engaging in manipulation and sneaky tactics. Their representative can try to get you to admit that the accident was your fault or take a lowball offer. If you contact them, you should only report the accident. That’s why it’s even better to let your car accident attorney do the talking on your behalf. That way you don’t have to worry about saying something that you shouldn’t because any words of fault can be used against you. You only get one shot at filing a winning lawsuit so be sure to not miss the chance or take less than you deserve!

Being involved in a car crash can yield various injuries. Here are some of the types of injuries that you can receive compensation for if you’ve been harmed in a car accident:

• Broken bones
• Internal injuries
• Leg and arm injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Spinal injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Whiplash

When you’re involved in a car accident that results in fatalities or injuries, you’re entitled to sue the responsible negligent party for damages. Just like with any other personal injury case, there is a limited time to file a claim. According to North Carolina’s statute of limitations, you have three years from the day you were injured to file your personal injury claim with the state courts. That’s why you want to contact an attorney soon after your accident takes place because that’s when the clock starts to run on the claim.

However, there are some exceptions to this general rule. For instance, sometimes you realize that you have an injury until a later date than when the accident occurred. If this is true, then a lawsuit has to be brought within three years from the date of the injury’s discovery. However, if the car accident resulted in the death of your family member and you want to pursue a wrongful death claim, the time limit is two years from the date of your loved one’s death.

This may seem like a lot of time, but time moves quickly, and you don’t want to miss out on your opportunity to file for compensation. If you hesitate, valuable evidence can vanish quickly, so you want a lawyer to be involved ASAP.

Whether you have catastrophic injuries or minor injuries, it’s in your best interests to follow these certain directives after your car accident and put yourself in a good position to get the compensation you deserve by working with an experienced car accident attorney. Contact us at Tatum & Atkinson where we can run through the facts of your case and detail all of your injuries with a compassionate and honest approach. Get started with a free consultation and pay us nothing unless we get you paid. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain from working with us—we are ready to get started today!