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INJURED IN A CAR ACCIDENT? Hire a Heavyweight! Call (855) 757-4204

What to Do in a North Carolina Accident

Protecting Your Right to Fair & Reasonable Compensation

After a car accident or a motor vehicle accident of any kind, it is natural to feel overwhelmed by what has happened and unsure of what you should do next.

There are certain things you can do following an accident—as well as some things you should not do—that will help to improve your chances of recovering maximum compensation for your injuries.

At Lanier Law Group, we recommend that you take the following steps after a car accident has occurred:

  • Pull over. If you can, try to pull your car off to the side of the road so you do not block traffic. Stopping after an accident is required by law in North Carolina. You could face criminal charges if you do not stop.
  • Call the police. Even if the other driver tries to offer you money, you should still call the police and file an official report. This is especially important if, at a later date, you wish to pursue compensation, as a police report can be used as evidence of what happened.
  • Check to see if anyone else is injured. If someone appears injured, DO NOT move him or her unless his or her car is on fire. It could lead to additional injuries or worsen an existing injury. Call 911 and ask for an ambulance.
  • Exchange information with the other parties and any witnesses. You should get their full names, addresses, and home, work, and cell phone numbers. If possible/applicable, also write down their statements regarding what happened.
  • Take notes. Talk with witnesses and write down everything they say/claim to have seen. Write down anything you remember about the accident, including what could have caused the accident. Write down a description of the accident scene. If you have a camera, take as many pictures as you can. Write down anything the at-fault party says or anything a witness claims the at-fault party said.
  • Beware of insurance adjusters. If an insurance adjuster comes to the scene, do not answer any of his or her questions. The only person you should speak with is the police officer.
  • Seek medical attention. Even if you do not think you are seriously injured, it is still a good idea to see a doctor. Some injuries show no symptoms until several hours or even days later. When you go to your doctor's office, explain that you were involved in an auto accident and that your injuries were caused by the accident.
  • Report the accident to your insurance company. Failing to report an accident to your insurance company could make it difficult to file a claim in the future. When you call to report the accident, ask about medical payment coverage. If the at-fault driver does not take care of your property damages in a timely manner, you can ask your insurance company to pay your property damage and seek reimbursement from the at-fault insurance carrier.
  • Report the claim to the at-fault driver's insurance company. The other party may not do it, which could cause you to have difficulties recovering compensation.
  • Beware of pushy insurance adjusters. An insurance adjuster from the at-fault party's insurance company will investigate the claim. He or she may review the police report, interview witnesses, and speak with the other driver or drivers involved. You DO NOT have to give an interview to this person, regardless of what he or she may tell you. Also, do not sign anything you are unsure about. You could sign a document that waives your right to file a claim in the future.
  • Keep a journal. Keep notes about your injuries, medical treatment, rental car expenses, canceled checks, or anything else that involves the accident. You may need to recall details of the accident if your case goes to litigation. Keeping a journal can help you remember those details.
  • Keep receipts and maintain a list of expenses. Keep a list of all out-of-pocket expenses associated with the accident. Even hiring a house cleaner because you cannot clean your house by yourself counts as an accident-related expense. It is good to keep receipts for things like prescription medication and rental car expenses as well.

Contact a North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer

Perhaps the most important thing you can do following an accident is to contact an experienced North Carolina car accident lawyer. Only a qualified legal professional can fully explain your various rights and options.

If you have additional questions about what you should do after a car accident, please do not hesitate to contact Lanier Law Group today. We offer free consultations and contingency fees, meaning there are no costs for you unless/until we recover compensation for you, and can help make sure you are prepared for the legal process.

Submit an online contact form or call our office at (855) 757-4204 to request your complimentary case evaluation today. 

We Fight for Our Clients

*Featured Case Results, Settlements, & Trial Wins From Our Attorneys
  • $5.95 Million Permanent Brain Failure

    Our client had a brick fly off of a utility trailer and go through their windshield and hit her on the face.

  • $4.3 Million Head-On Collision

    Personal injury litigation settlement for a client who was involved in a head-on collision with a commercial tractor-trailer.

  • $1.8 Million Litigation Settlement

    Our client was involved in a motor vehicle accident with a meat truck.

  • $1.2 Million Pedestrian Accident

    A settlement against a trucking company who struck pedestrian leading to amputation.

  • $993,135.67 Truck Accident

    A trucking company's driver crashed an 18-wheeler into the side of our client’s car as she attempted to make a left turn.

  • $736,717.55 T-Bone Collision

We Never Back Down From a Fight

Featured Reviews, Testimonials & Results
    "20 out of 10 stars."
    There are times in your life you are so hurt and feel life has a grudge against you. Nothing in your life is going right. I lost the most important person in my life to death, of which I knew mistakes were made because I witnessed it with my own eyes. When you contact a law group you most of the time get all business and a matter of fact conversation. I want all to know that from the first phone call they listened to my lengthy story, sobbing most of the time with so much compassion. They never made any promises but offered assurances that no stone would be unturned. They fulfilled every word they said. They restored faith that I had lost. Until you are in a position like mine you can never know how invaluable Lanier Law Group is. They were wonderful while maintaining their professionalism. They treated me like a family member. They really do care about their clients. But most of all they are the best at what they do. I worked in the court system for years so I knew how attorneys and law firms basically operated. Understanding the law and it's interpretation is the ultimate key to winning any case. Also know that if an attorney/attorneys study and review your case and know that you don't have a chance in a court of law and are big enough to tell you that instead of giving you false hope, you then my friend have a group with valuable shared values. I have so much respect for everyone in this Law Group. I recommend Lanier Law Group, P.A. to anyone who needs representation, they are in your corner. 20 out of 10 stars.
    - Diane W.
    "Lanier Law Group will always be the choice for me and all my family members"
    I started working with Lanier Law Group in 2020 on my Social Security Disability case. They from start to finish were awesome. My case manager Janet Hanks and attorney, Ashley Sappenfield were always available to answer all my questions. I did not have to do much but sit back and let them handle whatever was needed. My case took too long (2 years) and if I did not have Janet and Ashley My case would still not be approved. I would recommend Lanier to anyone to get the job done and approved. Do not go to another firm with your case, who promise the world and do not see it to completion and do not think another firms would have worked as hard as they did on my case. Lanier Law Group will always be the choice for me and all my family members to handle any cases of this type and other legal services they provide. They went above and beyond!
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    "So thankful for your expertise and professionalism"
    Mrs. Gonzalez did an awesome job of explaining everything in detail and keeping me informed on the status of my case. Despite poor customer service with the insurance company, Mrs. Gonzalez was able to fix what they could not. Mrs. Gonzalez was very helpful with helping me understand things that I was not aware of when dealing with insurance claims. I am so thankful for her expertise and professionalism.
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    The staff kept me well informed in a more than timely manner and was always ready to answer any questions I may have.
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    Great experience. Tish was very helpful as my case progressed and explained all of the steps to me, leaving me with very few questions. Shea was also very helpful during the negotiation process.
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Don't Hire Just Any Firm

Take Control of Your Case Today With the Help of Lanier Law Group
  • We Never Back Down
    Our attorneys are confident taking cases to trial and will always seek to maximize your compensation.
  • We're Here For You 24/7
    Regardless of when you contact our firm, we're here to make sure that you get the answers you need. We also offer weekend appointments and consultations.
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    Every case we take on has a team of dedicated professionals assigned to make sure that we're delivering the best possible service and results.
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    After an injury, every second counts. We are available to meet with you in person, virtually, or at your location to provide the highest quality legal counsel.