The first hours: a checklist
- Check for injuries and call 911 if anyone is hurt.
- Report the crash. In North Carolina, the driver of a vehicle in a reportable accident must notify the police right away. In Charlotte, that’s the city police. Outside a city, it’s the Highway Patrol or the sheriff (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-166.1).
- Exchange information: names, phone numbers, insurance and plate numbers.
- Take photos of the cars, the road, any injuries and the scene.
- Get names of witnesses.
- Don’t argue about fault at the scene.
The first days
- See a doctor, even if you feel fine. Some injuries show up later, and a record made early matters.
- Get the crash report from the police department that responded.
- Tell your own insurance company about the crash, as your policy requires.
- Keep a file: bills, records, repair estimates and missed-work notes.
Dealing with insurance companies
The other driver’s insurance company may call quickly and ask for a recorded statement. You don’t have to give one on the spot. In North Carolina, being even partly at fault can bar your claim. See personal injury for how that rule works. A careless remark about how the crash happened can be used to argue you were at fault. Talk to a lawyer before you sign a release or accept a payment.
Is it worth hiring a lawyer?
For a minor crash with no injury and only car damage, you may handle it with the insurance companies yourself. A lawyer is worth a call when someone was hurt, when fault is disputed, or when an insurance company asks you to sign a release.
How fees work
The fee arrangement for your matter is set out in a written agreement before any work begins. It says how the fee is figured and how case costs are handled.
No lawyer can promise what a claim is worth or how it will end, and we won’t.
Contact us
Call 980-243-4470, or request a time online. Christine reviews each matter and tells you whether the firm can take it on.
Responsible attorney: Christine Hart (North Carolina), 122 N. McDowell Street, Charlotte, NC 28204.