After an automobile accident, several pieces of necessary evidence can influence the outcome of your personal injury case. Knowing how to read your North Carolina crash report can help you understand what to expect during legal proceedings.
Hire an Automobile Accident Lawyer Today
For the past 23 years, Attorney Helton of Law Office of Lyndon R. Helton, PLLC, has dedicated his professional life to helping his North Carolina neighbors and community members. Born and raised in Hickory, Attorney Helton knows the real-life impact his work has on his state. His mission is to provide transparent and accessible legal services to the working people of North Carolina.
What Is a Crash Report?
There were 284,157 motor vehicle crashes throughout North Carolina in 2023, with 115,009 injuries to victims. After an automobile accident, a crash report is conducted by the police at the scene. This report offers key facts and insight into what happened, making it an essential piece of evidence in automobile accident cases.
Depending on what the crash report details, it can affect your legal case and whether or not you can recover compensation after the accident. North Carolina law is strict about liability during automobile accidents, and if you are just 1% liable for the crash, you won’t recover any money.
This can make it difficult for victims, as even small mistakes can contribute to a crash happening. For example, if you were going over the speed limit at the time of the accident and it’s noted in the crash report, it may bar you from recovering compensation.
This can feel unfair to victims, making it important to gather as much evidence as possible that tells your side of what happened. After a crash, you’ll start the recovery process by contacting your insurance company and the insurance company of the at-fault driver. If the fault is disputed, the case may escalate to court.
The Importance of Crash Reports After an Automobile Accident in North Carolina
The crash report will detail things such as:
- Information about the drivers involved in the crash and their vehicles
- Information about any passengers or other people involved in the crash
- Where the accident occurred
- What the police officer believes happened during the crash
- The speed at which the vehicles were going at the time of the accident, and the speed limit in the area they were driving
- The road conditions and weather at the time of the accident
- Any other details specific to the accident, such as work zones, if hazardous materials were involved in the accident, or if a commercial or government vehicle was involved in the crash
The report will include who law enforcement believes was responsible for the crash. If they report that they believe you were liable for the accident, it can make it more difficult for you to recover compensation, but not impossible.
It’s essential to hire an car accident lawyer to represent you during legal proceedings with the insurance companies and the court. Any adverse detail in your crash report can negatively affect the outcome of your legal case.
For example, an insurance adjuster may try to claim that the crash was unavoidable due to bad weather at the time of the accident. These companies are trying to find any reason to avoid paying, and accepting what they say at face value is a common mistake victims of automobile accidents make. You need to have a lawyer on your side to negotiate with the companies and advocate on your behalf.
FAQs
How Does a Crash Report Impact the Compensation I Get in My Automobile Accident Case?
A crash report can significantly impact the recompense you can get in your automobile accident case. After an automobile accident, financial losses can quickly escalate. Victims can ask for recompense for their medical costs, lost income while they are recovering from the crash, damages to their car and other belongings in the accident, and emotional suffering and physical pain.
If the crash report notes anything that indicates a percentage of your fault in the accident, you cannot recover any money.
What Evidence Can Help Bolster My Automobile Accident Claim?
Substantial evidence can help bolster your automobile accident claim in North Carolina. Evidence can include testimony from any witnesses who saw the crash, testimony from car crash reconstruction professionals, dash cam, and traffic camera footage of the crash, photos of the site of the crash, your injuries, and damage to your automobile and belongings, copies of the crash report and your medical records, and any other proof that can absolve you of guilt.
What Steps Should I Take to Avoid Causing Problems After an Automobile Accident in North Carolina?
After an automobile accident in North Carolina, you’ll desire to avoid apologizing to anybody or admitting you had any fault in the crash. If you do, it may be noted in the crash report and will be used to damage you later on in your case. You should also avoid getting angry and confronting the others involved in the accident, as doing so can make them more likely to fight you during legal proceedings.
How Can an Automobile Accident Attorney Help Me During My Case?
An automobile accident attorney can help you in various ways during every stage of your case. They can help you file your claim at your local courthouse, negotiate and speak to the insurance adjusters on your behalf, help you collect and preserve relevant evidence for your case, work with professionals to help maintain your innocence through solid proof, represent you during any court hearings, and communicate with the other party during all stages of your case.
Choose Law Office of Lyndon R. Helton, PLLC, to Take on Your Automobile accident Case
Contact Law Office of Lyndon R. Helton, PLLC, today to schedule a confidential case evaluation with Attorney Helton. During your consultation, you’ll have the opportunity to explain your situation and concerns in detail. Attorney Helton can offer his honest legal opinions to help you make informed decisions about your automobile accident case. Our firm represents those living in Catawba, Burke, and Caldwell counties.
