Even though laws requiring auto insurance can be strict, not every driver follows them. If you have been in a motor vehicle accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, you may have more options than you realize. Before you settle with any insurance company, contact our firm to learn about your legal rights and options.
Standing Up for Motor Vehicle Accident Victims in North Carolina
When a motor vehicle accident results in serious personal injury or wrongful death, the experienced representation of a proven trial lawyer may be necessary in order to obtain fair compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, or the harm a family has suffered due to another's reckless or negligent acts.
The Odom Firm in Charlotte has served the needs of clients throughout North Carolina for over a combined 78 years including Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Asheville and Statesville. Our attorneys can offer you sound legal guidance and dedicated representation following a car accident, motorcycle crash, truck wreck, bus accident or any other serious motor vehicle accident. Contact us today at 704-837-2597 or toll-free at 877-793-5335 for a free consultation.
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The Odom Firm has a history of success in complex motor vehicle accident cases, including cases involving serious injury or wrongful death in accidents aboard — or collisions with — city buses. We have obtained substantial settlements and verdicts in personal injury cases. Contact us in Charlotte today for a free consultation.
In any accident with a municipal vehicle — such as a city bus — one potential defendant is the city, town or other municipality that operates the bus service and maintains the vehicles. In general, municipalities are self-insured entities. The lawyers at The Odom Firm have experience handling cases in which citizens find themselves involved in a dispute with a governmental entity. Contact us today at 704-837-2597 or toll-free at 877-793-5335 to learn more in a free consultation.
What to Do If You Are in an Accident
When you are in an accident, you have immediate, important decisions to make. For the crucial decisions you have to make later on, consult with an attorney from The Odom Firm, PLLC in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Immediately After the Accident
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident, the first thing you need to do is stop your car or truck; pull over to the side of the road if you can. Most states make leaving the scene of an accident a crime.
Check to see whether you or your passengers have been injured. See if the occupants of the other vehicle(s) are okay, too. If anyone is injured, call an ambulance; it is usually best not to move an injured person yourself. Prevent additional injuries by making your vehicle visible: set out flares, turn on your hazard lights or raise the hood of your vehicle.
States have different rules about when people who have been in accidents need to call the police. To be on the safe side, you may want to call any time you are in an accident. The police will decide whether they need to come to the scene.
Meanwhile, exchange information with the other driver. Write down the driver’s name, address, telephone number, license plate number, driver’s license number and full auto insurance information. Give your information to the other driver, too.
If anyone witnessed the accident, try to get their identifying information. In addition, make note of the circumstances of the crash and anything unusual that you noticed. Record the weather conditions, the speed limit on the road, your speed at the time of the crash, your estimate of the other driver’s speed and other such elements. This will be important if the case ends up in litigation or an insurance dispute.
Do not admit fault. The determination of fault, if any, will be made later. For now, focus on safety and proper accident procedures. Do not sign any waivers offered by the other driver or the insurance company.
When the Police Arrive
Cooperate with any police officers who are at the scene of the accident. Provide them with whatever information they request, including information on injuries and witnesses, but avoid making editorial comments or admitting responsibility for what happened. Legal liability is complex, and you may not have the facts you need to determine who was responsible for the accident.
Make sure to get the business cards of the police officers who investigate. Ask for the incident number, too, so that you can get a copy of the accident report (and so that you can give this information to your insurance company). Do not leave the scene of the accident until the police officers tell you that it is okay to do so.
Soon After the Accident
Even if you are in minor pain, it is best to be examined by a physician. Injuries may not truly show themselves until later, and early treatment can prevent significant pain or other damage. In addition, an insurance company could argue that your failure to seek medical treatment aggravated your injury, or even that your injury did not arise from the accident at all.
Contact an Attorney
When you consult with an attorney, bring all of your automobile insurance information with you. Do not sign any documents or checks from an insurance company before you speak with the attorney. Document all of the costs related to the accident, such as renting a car, lost wages, medical bills and other costs. An experienced attorney from The Odom Firm, PLLC in Charlotte, North Carolina, can help you sort out all the losses related to your accident.
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