Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “Should I take photographs of the property damage sustained to my car, of the accident scene, or of my visible injuries following an accident?”
Vehicle accidents are common occurrences. Last year, more than 247,000 accidents were reported in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. While many accidents are minor fender-benders, some crashes result in severe injuries or fatalities. If you get hurt in an accident, the negligent party is responsible for providing you with money to pay for your damages. Vehicle accidents can be complex and it may require some investigation to determine the negligent party and cause of the crash. An experienced personal injury attorney will help guide the process so you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Who Investigates Vehicle Accidents?
Generally, there are three parties that may investigate a vehicle accident. These include:
- Police
- Insurance companies
- Private parties
There are different reasons that an investigation may be necessary. Law enforcement generally investigates major vehicle crashes. The purpose of their investigation is to determine any criminal activity. Insurance companies want to investigate an accident to determine the negligent party. A person involved in an accident may want to hire a company to investigate a crash to make sure that the cause of the crash and the negligent party are found. As a victim of a crash, you cannot rely on other parties to provide a sufficient report that will satisfy the need to prove your case. Therefore, it may be in your best interest to hire a professional accident investigation company to provide you with a detailed report.
What Happens During an Accident Investigation?
Accident investigations encompass a wide range of information gathering. An investigator will collect the facts of the accident using police reports, witness and driver statements, viewing video recordings, and much more. The investigator may look at the damage to both vehicles. In some cases, an accident recreation is necessary. The purpose of an investigation is to determine exactly how the accident happened and who is at fault. The investigation should uncover the details of what happened immediately before, during, and after the accident. As the victim of a serious accident, you will need to provide evidence or proof of the negligent party.
Negligence in Vehicle Accidents
North Carolina utilizes the doctrine of contributory negligence. This means that a party that is partly responsible for an accident will be unable to recover damages. It is therefore extremely important that you provide proof or evidence that you are not even partially negligent in the accident. You must show that the other party was negligent and caused the crash. Negligence simply means that the driver knew or should have known that something they did (or failed to do) could be harmful and might cause injury to another. For instance, speeding is a form of negligence because a driver knows that going too fast could result in severe harm to someone else.
It is important to realize that the insurance company may try to minimize their payments and could try to show that you were partly negligent in the accident. It is in your best interest to talk to an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer will review the details of the case and will seek an investigation if it is warranted to protect your rights and help you obtain the money you deserve for your injuries. Call (704) 370-2828 to receive a video, phone or in-person consultation with our lawyers to explore your legal options or fill out our contact form. Now taking cases throughout North Carolina with offices in Uptown Charlotte, Mooresville and Monroe.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/safety/pages/crash-data.aspx
Image Credit:
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/truck-accident-1450067
See Our Related Video from our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArnoldSmithPLLC/videos
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