Fighting for Justice and Fair Treatment of Injury Victims
If you or a loved one have been injured in a Fayetteville car accident, you may be unsure where to turn for help. Many car accident victims make the mistake of speaking with the other party’s insurance company without having proper legal representation.
However, because North Carolina law follows the contributory negligence doctrine when deciding who is at fault for motor vehicle accidents, injury victims should never try to handle their claims independently.
Instead, it is always best to seek help from a skilled car accident attorney, who can professionally evaluate your case and determine the best legal strategies.
O’Malley Tunstall PC is a law firm passionately committed to assisting car accident victims in seeking compensation for their injuries, lost income, and property damage. Our experienced personal injury lawyers are fearless in standing up to insurance companies and will fight to help you get the justice you deserve.
Contact our law offices today and ask to schedule a free initial consultation with a qualified Fayetteville car accident lawyer who will gladly answer your questions.
What are the Most Common Causes of Fayetteville Car Accidents?
Although car collisions can happen for various reasons, accident reports frequently cite several factors. Common factors that contribute to Fayetteville car wrecks include:
- Impaired driving
- Distracted driving
- Failure to obey traffic laws
- Reckless driving
- Failure to maintain equipment
- Driving while fatigued
- Adverse weather conditions
However, speeding is among the most regularly reported causes of Fayetteville car accidents. Sadly, speed is a contributing factor to many fatal car accidents in Fayetteville and North Carolina as a whole.
A motor vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed increases the force impact at the time of the accident. The higher the rate of speed, the greater the chance for car accident victims to suffer significant or catastrophic injuries.
Regardless of the initial cause of the auto accident, injured victims can incur expensive medical bills that are challenging for them to pay. If accident victims suffer catastrophic injuries, they may require skilled nursing care that can quickly create a financial crisis for them and their families.
If you have been injured in a car accident, contact our Fayetteville, NC, law offices to schedule a consultation to learn more about how we can help.
What are the Most Common Injuries Sustained in Car Accidents?
A car accident victim may suffer a variety of injuries depending on the rate of speed at which the vehicles were traveling at the time of the crash and other related factors. However, even if the accident victim was involved in a minor fender-bender, they could suffer serious injuries.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Some of the most common injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident include:
- Broken bones
- Head, neck, and back injuries
- Whiplash
- Facial injuries
- Internal injuries
- Shoulder and knee injuries
- Bruises, lacerations, and road rash
Catastrophic Injuries
Some auto accidents result in victims suffering catastrophic injuries. North Carolina law considers catastrophic injuries as any severe injury that can have permanent negative life-changing consequences for the victim.
Catastrophic injuries may include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Amputation
- Organ damage
Fatal Car Accidents
Sadly, many individuals involved in collisions die as a result of a fatal car accident. In cases where an accident victim dies as a result of a fatal car crash, the victim’s family may be able to file a wrongful death claim. However, North Carolina has strict laws on how wrongful death claims must be handled. If you have lost a loved one due to a fatal car accident, you must contact a knowledgeable car accident lawyer immediately who can advise you of your legal rights.
What Should I Do if I Have Been Involved in a Car Accident?
If you have been involved in a car accident, there are several steps you must take to protect your well-being and ability to file a personal injury claim.
The steps you should follow after being involved in a car wreck include:
- Do not leave the accident scene.
- Check to see if there are any other injured parties.
- Call 911 to report the collision. If there are injuries, be sure to request emergency medical responders.
- Document the accident scene by taking numerous pictures and videos of the damage to all vehicles, the lighting, terrain, and anything else that may be important.
- Exchange information with the other party, such as their driver’s license, insurance information, and license plate number.
- Collect the names and contact information of any bystanders who may be potential witnesses to the accident.
- If you are injured, be sure to seek medical attention immediately. An insurance provider may refuse to pay a personal injury claim if a medical professional did not examine the injured victim after the accident.
- Be sure to request a copy of the accident report from the police. An accident report will give other pertinent details regarding the accident should you choose to file an insurance claim.
- Do not speak to the other driver’s insurance company or post details about the accident on social media.
- Contact a skilled Fayetteville car accident lawyer who can help you file a personal injury claim.
O’Malley Tunstall PC has experienced personal injury lawyers who can advise you of your legal options and how we can help after you have been involved in an accident. Contact our law offices today to learn more.
Why is it Important to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer to Help Me With My Insurance Claim?
Many accident victims make the critical mistake of trying to handle their personal injury claims without the assistance of a skilled attorney. However, North Carolina insurance claims can be overly complex, especially if multiple liability issues are involved.
Some of the most vital reasons to hire a car accident lawyer to assist you with filing an insurance claim includes:
- Assist you with completing and filing an insurance claim to ensure you meet all critical deadlines.
- Thoroughly investigate your claim and determine who is at fault for the accident.
- Gather evidence by speaking to witnesses, medical professionals, and accident reconstructionists to build and strengthen your accident claim.
- Review your medical records.
- Act as a legal advocate who will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
- File a personal injury lawsuit and take your case to trial if the insurance provider is unwilling to make an acceptable financial recovery.
One of the most essential reasons to have a car accident lawyer assist you with your claim is that they can ensure that it is filled out correctly and turned in promptly. Personal injury claims that are incomplete or filled out incorrectly may be automatically denied, costing you precious time and money.
Is North Carolina a No-Fault State for Car Accident Claims?
North Carolina is an at-fault state regarding car accident claims, meaning the negligent driver is responsible for paying for the victim’s medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and other damages.
However, North Carolina law also abides by a strict rule of liability known as contributory negligence. Contributory negligence law stipulates that if an injured party is even slightly responsible for the accident, they lose any right to try and seek compensation in a car accident claim.
Insurance companies often use the contributory negligence law to try and deny claims asserting that the injured party caused the accident, or they share blame for the car crash.
Therefore, if you have been injured in an accident, you should never speak to an insurance adjuster without consulting a skilled attorney. Often, an insurance adjuster will ask a car accident victim to consent to make a recorded statement so the claim can be processed quickly. However, the insurance company can use your statement against you to try and deny your claim to avoid a large payout.
Instead, because of the legal complexities involved with North Carolina car insurance claims, an accident victim should always hire a Fayetteville car accident attorney who will protect their rights.
Allow our car accident attorneys to evaluate your claim and act as your legal liaison to ensure you do not lose your ability to recover fair compensation.
What Type of Financial Compensation Can I Recover After Being Injured in a Car Accident?
The main question that car accident victims ask is how they can recover financial compensation after being injured. North Carolina personal injury law allows accident victims to seek compensation for car accident cases.
Economic Damages
Accident victims may be able to recover economic damages that reimburse them for out-of-pocket expenses they have had to pay due to injury. Economic damages may include compensation for:
- Medical bills and other related medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
- Property damage
Non Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are subjective and based on the unique circumstances involved in the case. However, some frequently awarded non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
What Makes Your Fayetteville Car Accident Lawyers the Right Choice to Handle My Injury Claim?
O’Malley Tunstall PC is a law firm with extensive experience handling personal injury cases. Our dedicated legal team is familiar with the deceitful tactics insurers often use to delay or deny insurance claims.
When you come to us for help, our car accident lawyers will immediately begin to gather evidence that substantiates your claim. If you have suffered serious injuries, we will fight to help you recover fair compensation that will meet your needs.
Our Fayetteville car accident attorneys are fearless when standing up to insurers to ensure that our clients are treated fairly and with the respect they deserve. If the insurer is unwilling to offer a fair car accident settlement, we will take your case to court if necessary.
If you have tragically lost a loved one due to wrongful death after a car accident, our law firm will work tirelessly to see that your family obtains the justice you deserve.
Regardless of your situation, our Fayetteville car accident attorneys will fight to help you recover maximum compensation and the fair treatment you deserve.
Contact O’Malley Tunstall PC at (919) 277-0150 and ask to speak with a Fayetteville car accident attorney to discuss your car accident case. We will happily provide you with a free case review so that we may assess your needs and determine your legal options.