North Carolina Car Accident Lawyers

Every year there are more and more cars on roads and highways throughout North Carolina and the rest of the country. This increase contributes to the estimated 6 million car accidents that occur annually. About 3 million people suffer injuries in these crashes, and roughly 2 million of these car accident injuries are considered permanent. Approximately 33,000 of the people involved in traffic collisions lose their lives upon impact or soon thereafter.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a North Carolina car crash, you may be entitled to compensation. The Raleigh car accident lawyers at Hardison & Cochran can help. We recognize that you need to focus on recovering from your injuries, not confronting insurance companies. That’s why we’re ready to fight for you.

At Hardison & Cochran, we’re committed to holding all responsible parties accountable for the injuries they have caused. Our goal is to attain full and fair compensation to cover your medical bills, lost income, regular expenses and pain and suffering. Don’t delay in getting the justice you deserve. Call us toll free at 800-434-8399 or fill out our online contact form. You’ll get a response within 24 hours and your initial consultation is always free.

Causes of Car Accidents in North Carolina

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle travel is the primary means of transportation in the United States. However, deaths and injuries resulting from car crashes are the leading cause of death for persons aged 2 through 33 years old.

Some of the more common types of car crashes include:

• Drunk driving - Driving while intoxicated continues to be a major reason for car accidents. A blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or above for licensed automobile drivers and 0.04 percent for licensed commercial drivers shows that alcohol was involved.
• Distracted driving – This error in judgment is becoming a major safety threat. Although text messaging and cell phone use are the most common forms of distracted driving these days, anything that can take your focus off the road may fall into this category. Other diversions such as eating, drinking, using navigational devices, tuning radios or CD players, personal grooming and even talking with other passengers in the vehicle could be considered distracted driving.
• Aggressive driving – Speeding, passing other cars dangerously or gunning it through red lights makes the road very hazardous for everyone. It also causes a great many accidents in the process.
• Drowsy driving – Even though it’s much safer to take a break whenever fatigue becomes an issue, many drivers ignore their body’s exhaustion and stay on the road instead. Drowsy driving is a danger to everyone, frequently causing fatal car crashes and serious injuries.
• Teen driving – Teenagers lack experience behind the wheel, which can translate into an inability to understand dangerous driving habits. Many teenagers also have a sense of invincibility that can lead them to take risks that older drivers wouldn’t.
• Vehicle defects – The most defensive driver in traffic can still become a car accident victim if their vehicle has design or manufacturing defects. Some defective vehicles have led to accidents involving tire blowouts, rollovers, unintended acceleration, steering failures and other dangerous circumstances.

Important Steps to Take If You Are in a Raleigh Car Accident

Every car accident victim should seek medical attention if they have been injured. Car accident injuries can include whiplash, head and brain injuries, damage to joints, bones, muscles and various other soft tissue injuries and more.

Here are some more tips to keep in mind if you have been in an accident:

• Stop. If you get in a crash, you must stop. If you leave, that’s known as a “hit and run,” and might be a felony. This includes hitting property, animals or pedestrians. Also, stay calm.
• Call for help. If someone is injured, call 911. If not, your first call should be to the police. The police will advise as to whether the crashed vehicles should be moved out of traffic and will take statements from the drivers and passengers involved.
• Call your insurer. As soon as you are able, call and file an accident report. You should also notify the other driver’s insurer of the accident.
• Don’t sign anything. If an insurance adjuster shows up at the scene, don’t give any statements and don’t sign anything. Don’t make a recorded statement over the phone or sign any statements drawn up by the insurance company without talking to a lawyer first.
• Gather information. Get the names, addresses and phone numbers of everyone at the scene, especially eyewitnesses.
• Go see your doctor. Even if you think you are not hurt, you may have injuries that you’re unaware of. When you are examined by a doctor, make sure you are specific in explaining how the accident happened and any and all injuries and problems you sustained as a result.
• Call Hardison & Cochran. If you’ve been injured, you need a lawyer to make sure you receive a fair settlement from the insurance company. Also, proving to another driver’s insurer that its policyholder caused the accident might require the services of an attorney. Another situation in which you should consider hiring a lawyer is when you have not been able to collect insurance benefits within 30 days of the car accident. That’s a sure sign that either the insurer is getting ready to litigate against you or you have not effectively communicated with the insurer. In both cases, an attorney is helpful.

Contact Our North Carolina Car Accident Lawyers Today

If you have been hurt or a loved one has died as the result of a car accident, you need the help of attorneys who have the experience and resources to protect your rights. Do not permanently lose your right to seek damages from those who caused you harm, contact the Raleigh car accident attorneys at Hardison & Cochran.

Whether we’re gathering evidence by preserving auto accident records, consulting with you on legal strategies or representing you in negotiations with insurance adjusters, our lawyers are always working with “Experience, Integrity and Personal Attention” to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation available to help in your recovery.

Call the experienced Raleigh car accident lawyers at Hardison & Cochran toll free at 800-434-8399 now or fill out our online contact form. We represent victims of car accidents in many locations throughout North Carolina, including Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Wake County, Fayetteville, Dunn, Greensboro, Research Triangle Park, Wilmington, the Triangle, the Triad, Person County and Southern Pines.