Motor Vehicle Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents happen, and sometimes they can be life-altering or deadly.

 

 We are all either drivers of or passengers in a motor vehicle almost every day. Our roads are filled with people trying to get somewhere or deliver something. Because of that, accidents happen. Some accidents cause permanent injuries or even death. In these situations, we may be able to help.

If you or a family member has been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident and the accident was the fault of another person, you may have a claim. Because it is the job of motor vehicle insurance companies to minimize their payout to those injured, you need an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer for your serious injury claim. 

Handling these claims on your own, particularly when the damages are significant, can cost you the full compensation you deserve to cover expenses related to your claim. Navigating these tricky waters takes knowledge and experience. Our team members have not only handled claims on behalf of those injured or filled in serious motor vehicle accidents but have also been on the other side of the table at prior firms, representing the drivers who caused motor vehicle accidents. This insight enables our team to obtain meaningful recoveries for our clients through settlement or trial.

 

Was someone else at fault for your motor vehicle accident?

There are many errors that drivers can make that can cause accidents. These errors include:

 

  • Failing to safely hire, train or supervise its drivers

  • Drinking and driving

  • Texting while driving

  • Distracted driving

  • Failing to obey traffic laws

  • Driving recklessly

  • Crossing into oncoming traffic

  • Failing to yield, including to pedestrians

  • Failing to keep a proper lookout

  • Following too closely

  • Speeding or driving too fast for road conditions

“Cate was great at communicating and explaining everything. I feel they took care of me very well.”
— B.H.

What damages can you claim?

It depends on the state what damages you may claim.

When you or a family member has been seriously injured or killed by the unsafe actions or inactions of another driver, you may have a personal injury or wrongful death claim. Unfortunately, the law is unable to put you back in the place you were before the injury or death, it can provide you or your family monetary compensation. While it depends on the state, in general, you or your family may be able to claim the following damages under the law.

Money on scales

PERSONAL INJURY DAMAGES

For those who have suffered physical or emotional injuries because of the unsafe actions of a driver, the law may permit you to recover past and future medical expenses and lost wages as well as amounts for physical and mental pain and suffering, loss of a body part or use of a body part, permanent injury, scars and disfigurement. If you or your loved one was married at your time of injury, your or their spouse may be able to recover losses, including their lost services, society, affection, companionship and sexual relations. 

WRONGFUL DEATH DAMAGES

If your family member was killed by the unsafe driving of another person, the law may permit recovery for medical expenses, funeral expenses, physical and emotional pain and suffering and the loss of the value of the life. Depending on the state, the value of the life may be measured from the perspective of the person who died or the family that lost the person who died. In North Carolina, wrongful death damages are measured by the loss to the person’s next of kin, including loss of society, companionship, advice and kindly offices, as well as lost future wages and the value of that decedent’s support for his or her next of kin.

What do you need for a successful claim?

In order to make a successful claim for personal injury or wrongful death, you must prove three things: (1) negligence, (2) injury and (3) that the negligence caused the injury. In other words, someone must have done something wrong and that something wrong must have caused injury or death.  

In motor vehicle accident cases, you need to show that your injuries or your family member’s death is a result of someone else’s negligence.  Depending on the state, you may also need to show that you did not contribute to the accident or the severity of your injury. 

Gavel on table

Why contact an attorney immediately?

It is important that you contact an attorney immediately if you believe you may have a motor vehicle accident claim. There are deadlines within which claims must be filed or the right to file them is lost forever. Evidence can also disappear if you do not have an attorney to help you preserve it. For instance, important information about your claim will be destroyed if not maintained. The vehicles involved in the accident may be fixed and cell phone and data that can be downloaded from the involved vehicles may be destroyed if they are not obtained in close time to the accident. For these reasons, contacting an attorney today to review your claim is very important. Waiting even one day can be the difference between having a claim that you can pursue and being barred from pursuing that very same claim.