Gastonia Car Accident Lawyer

Auto Accident Attorney in Gastonia, NC

Victims of a car accident can be left with physical, mental, and financial burdens that can seem impossible to manage. If the intense aftermath of your car accident is overwhelming you, hire a skilled Gastonia car accident lawyer. They can provide the guidance and support you need to protect your rights under federal and state laws and secure the compensation that you deserve.

At Roberts Law Firm, P.A., we understand how intense the recovery journey can be after suffering from a car accident in Gastonia. With thousands of car accidents reported in North Carolina each year, many resulting in serious injuries or fatalities, the road to recovery can feel uncertain.

This understanding allows us to interject our support in the exact places you need it so you can focus more on recovering while we take on the bulk of the legal responsibilities. From the mounting medical bills to the damaged personal property, our experienced personal injury lawyer team can ensure that no aspect of your claim is overlooked.

Steps to Take Immediately Following a Car Accident

The steps you take immediately after a crash can impact your car accident case, making it easier or harder to assign liability correctly and get the compensation you need and deserve. Here’s what you should do immediately after a crash:

1. Check on everyone’s safety. Make sure everyone involved in the crash is able to get to a safe location away from the flow of traffic and find out if anyone was severely injured.
2. Call the police. Next, call to report the accident and ask for emergency medical services if there were any severe injuries that require immediate care. When you give your statement to the police, stick to the facts. Don’t speculate as to who caused the crash.
3. Gather evidence. If it’s safe to do so, you should get some pictures of the crash scene before leaving to seek medical attention. Take photos or videos with your phone of the vehicles involved, the surrounding road conditions, and street signs, and any injuries you’ve sustained prior to getting them treated.
4. Seek medical attention. If you’ve been seriously hurt, head to a local emergency department like the one at CaroMont Regional Medical Center. Even if you’re not sure whether you’ve sustained serious injuries, you should still see a doctor as soon as possible to identify hidden issues like whiplash, internal bleeding, and traumatic brain injuries. Seeing a doctor immediately makes it easier to support your claim.
5. Hire a lawyer. As soon as you’ve made sure your medical condition is stable, you should hire a lawyer to help you with your car accident case. Don’t accept any settlement offer from the liable party’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney who can let you know whether the settlement truly covers the extent of your damages.
6. Call your insurance company. You’ll need to report the accident to your insurance company, as well. As with speaking to the police, you should avoid speculating about the cause of the accident or any fault.
7. Report the accident to the DMV. You’re required by law to report any accident that causes injuries, fatalities, or more than $1,000 in property damage to the DMV, so don’t forget to complete this crucial step.

There are also a few things you should avoid following your car accident. You should not:

• Leave the scene of the accident before filing a police report
• Admit fault for the accident, even by apologizing to the other driver for your involvement
• Post about the accident or its aftermath on social media
• Agree to deal with the crash privately without involving insurance
• Accept any settlement offer from the liable party’s insurance company without speaking with a lawyer first

What Compensation Can I Recover in a Gastonia Car Accident Case?

After being involved in a car accident, it’s important to understand the type of available compensation that you can recover. Each type of compensation can help address the specific losses you may have experienced due to the accident.

The primary categories of compensation that you may be able to recover include:

Economic Damages

The foundation of most car accident claims is rooted in economic damages. These are the tangible financial losses that occurred as a direct result of the accident. These are typically calculated by collecting bills and receipts to determine the precise value of all damages. Examples of economic damages include:

• Medical costs: This can include the total cost of the injured party’s emergency room visits, hospital stays, medical care, medications, and any other follow-up care that is needed, such as physical therapy.
• Lost wages: If you are unable to work while recovering from your injuries, any wages you lost may be recovered with your claim.
• Property damage: This can include the damage caused to your vehicle, as well as anything else that was inside the car and may have been destroyed, such as electronics.

Non-Economic Damages

Calculating non-economic damages can be more challenging since they don’t have a direct monetary value. Rather, they address the mental and emotional challenges someone faces after a car accident.

Some examples include:

• Pain and suffering. If you seek compensation for pain and suffering, these damages can compensate for the physical and emotional pain you struggle with. For example, this can include chronic pain or limited mobility due to a severe injury.
• Loss of enjoyment of life. If you can show how your injuries prevent you from engaging in activities you once enjoyed, you may be able to recover funds for this loss. This can include playing sports, traveling, or spending time with your family.
• Loss of consortium. This is a specific type of compensation that is awarded to family members who experience a loss of companionship due to the car accident. For example, this could look like a spouse losing someone who can no longer provide the emotional or physical support on which they once depended.

Punitive Damages

While less common when compared to economic and non-economic damages, punitive damages are sometimes awarded when the at-fault party’s behavior was especially reckless or intentional. These damages differ from the other two categories, as they are not designed to compensate for the victim’s damages, but rather to punish the responsible party and deter them and others from engaging in similar conduct in the future.

Reasons to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer

In 2023, there were 10 fatal car accidents in Gastonia, NC. Across the Tar Heel State, 1,686 people were killed the same year, and another 115,009 were injured. Whether you lost a loved one in a fatal crash or you were injured in a wreck yourself, you can hire a car accident lawyer to help you recover compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.

Hiring a Gastonia car accident attorney is the most effective way to improve your chances of receiving fair compensation from the liable party’s insurance company. Your lawyer can help you file your claim, gather evidence to support it, and use the facts of the case to negotiate a good settlement. If your case must go to trial to find a resolution, your lawyer can also represent you in court.

FAQs

What Is the Deadline for Filing a Car Accident Claim in Gastonia, NC?

The deadline for filing a car accident claim in Gastonia is three years from the date of the incident. While this applies to most injury and property damage claims, there are some exceptions. For example, if someone passes away from injuries or injuries are discovered later, this could extend the deadline. Be sure to hire a car accident lawyer to see if any exceptions to this statute apply in your own case.

What Should I Do if the At-Fault Driver Doesn’t Have Insurance?

If the at-fault driver in your car accident case doesn’t have any insurance, it may still be possible to recover compensation through your own uninsured motorist coverage, which can provide coverage for your medical expenses, property damage, and other losses when the responsible party doesn’t have enough insurance.

It may also be possible to pursue a legal claim against the at-fault driver to obtain compensation directly from them if your insurance alone does not fully cover damages.

What Happens if Multiple Parties Are at Fault for the Accident?

If multiple parties are involved in a car accident, it can become more complicated to determine who is at fault. To assist in this effort, North Carolina uses a “joint and several liability” rule. This means that each at-fault party can be held responsible for all calculated damages. Contributory negligence rules still apply in these cases, so it’s important to prove your lack of fault as well.

What Type of Evidence Is Crucial for Proving a Car Accident Claim?

Significant types of evidence crucial for proving a car accident claim include police reports, photographs, video footage, witness statements, and medical records. For more complicated accidents, an accident reconstructionist can recreate the collision and pinpoint the cause. Successfully proving a car accident claim requires a strong, collaborative effort with your car accident lawyer to gather evidence and demonstrate the true extent of your damages.

Contact Our Team of Lawyers to Discuss Your Car Accident Case

If you have recently been injured in a car accident in Gastonia, contact our firm today. We take great pride in representing those who need our help to fully recover from the aftermath of a car accident. From day one, we can prioritize your needs and explore every legal angle so that no \ compensation is left on the table. We look forward to meeting you and learning more about how we can assist in your car accident case. Contact us to schedule a consultation today.

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