What Should You Do Following a Motor Vehicle Accident?
Car accidents can be traumatic events that leave motorists and passengers feeling disoriented and unsure of what to do next. Being prepared for what to do after a motor vehicle collision can make all the difference in protecting your well-being and increasing the value of your personal injury claim.
The first step following a car crash is to prioritize your safety. If you can, turn on your hazard lights, move your vehicle to a safe location on the side of the road, and check for injuries to yourself or others involved in the accident. Immediately call 911 to report the car accident and request medical assistance and law enforcement personnel.
If you are not badly hurt, attempt to communicate with the other parties involved in the car collision. Acquire their names, addresses, phone numbers, and car insurance policy details. While awaiting the arrival of police and paramedics, document the accident scene with photographs and video, including taking pictures of your injuries, the state of the vehicles, license plates of cars involved, and debris.
When law enforcement arrives at the accident scene, provide them with a thorough police report. Police reports can be valuable evidence for your personal injury lawyers when filing insurance claims.
Even if you believe your injuries to be relatively minor, you must seek emergency medical attention. Some injuries may worsen with time, and failure to seek medical treatment for your car accident injuries could result in your claims being dismissed or devalued by insurance companies.
Finally, if you have not done so already, contact a car accident attorney to discuss your case in more detail. Our personal injury law firm has extensive experience representing clients in complex car accident cases. We would be proud to represent your interest in pursuing the most optimal outcome for your personal injury case. Schedule a free consultation today.
Have You Suffered Back or Neck Pain as a Result of a Car Accident?
Suffering neck pain or back pain in a car accident is common. In many cases, these types of injuries result from the sudden back-and-forth motion of the head, which is commonly experienced in rear-end accidents or fender benders. However, neck injuries like whiplash and other types of injuries can also occur due to blunt force trauma, compression to the top of the head, and landing at awkward angles in a motor vehicle.
Sometimes, neck pain is unclear or obvious after a car crash. Car accident victims often feel a rush of adrenaline that lessens the pain and masks the symptoms of their back and neck injuries. You may not fully appreciate the severity of your injuries until several days later. For this reason, you must seek emergency medical aid as soon as you can following a car crash.
Common back and neck injuries stemming from car accidents in North Carolina include whiplash, muscle strains, spinal cord injuries, and herniated discs.
What is Whiplash?
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury to neck muscles caused by the head jolting backward and forwards or bending the neck forcefully. Symptoms can range from temporary discomfort to more serious and long-term effects.
Whiplash can cause the following symptoms:
- Pain in the neck, back, arms, shoulders, and hands
- Stiffness in the neck
- Fatigue and drowsiness
- Muscle spasms
- Headaches and migraines
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Pinched nerves
- Tinnitus, or a ringing in the ears
- Increased irritability
- Brain fog
- Lost feelings in the extremities
- Memory loss
- And other negative effects on neurological functioning
Who is At-Fault in a Rear-End Accident?
North Carolina is a contributory negligence state. In states like ours, if a driver is found to share any amount of fault for the accident, they may be barred from recovering financial compensation. For this reason, liability must be clearly defined.
In rear-end accidents and fender benders, it is common to assume that the motorist at the rear was the at-fault party in the car accident. However, this is not always the case. A comprehensive investigation into the car crash must be completed to accurately determine the fault in a rear-end car accident.
One key aspect of car accident laws in Raleigh, North Carolina, is the following too closely statute. In Raleigh, motorists must maintain a safe distance from motor vehicles in front of them, allowing sufficient time to react to sudden braking and stops. If you violate this statute, it may impact liability.
Additionally, Raleigh, NC., operates under a presumed liability approach to the law when it comes to rear-end collisions. Under presumed liability laws, the driver of the rear vehicle is presumed to be at fault unless convincing evidence suggests otherwise. An experienced car accident lawyer can help prove that the lead driver’s negligence caused the accident, thus shifting liability.
Can You Recover Compensation for Whiplash Injuries?
If you suffered neck pain in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries.
To uphold the value of your car accident claim, you must retain all medical records relevant to your case. This involves maintaining records of all medical expenses you incurred upon seeking treatment for your whiplash injuries.
You must also document all evidence of any missed work, lost wages, tax forms, and other correspondence with human resources at your employment. Personal injury attorneys also recommend that you refrain from posting about the accident on social media, as the legal representatives for the at-fault party may use public statements against you.
How to Seek Financial Recovery for Your Personal Injury Claim?
Personal injury claims involving whiplash and other neck injuries can be complicated. These injuries are not usually visible to the naked eye, and it may take several days or weeks for symptoms to develop in delayed injuries. When it comes to pursuing compensation in a personal injury case involving whiplash, insurance companies may attempt to seize on the issues of your case to distance their liability and reduce the compensation they owe injury victims.
Proving whiplash injuries and securing financial recovery can be a difficult legal challenge. If you are considering filing a car accident claim for whiplash or other neck injuries, you should speak with experienced personal injury attorneys.
With a well-built personal injury case, your lawyers can help you seek compensation for the following:
- Past medical bills and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and lost income earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Wrongful death
Schedule a Free Case Consultation with Experienced NC Car Accident Lawyers Today
If you have suffered a whiplash injury in an automobile accident in Raleigh, NC, please contact our personal injury law firm to discuss your case in a free case review. In your initial consultation, we will review the facts surrounding your car accident case and help you determine the right path forward for pursuing justice and adequate compensation.
Our North Carolina legal team has years of experience representing complex personal injury cases of all types. To learn more about our legal services and how we may assist you in bringing a claim, please contact our Raleigh law office to schedule your free initial consultation today.
Contact our award-winning legal team at 919-277-0150.