Auto Accident Lawyer
We are dedicated to representing individuals injured in car crashes that were no fault of their own. We handle car crashes involving all types of injuries and circumstances. From fender benders and minor injuries to serious accidents and injuries, we know how to properly represent you and help you get all the compensation you may deserve.
We handle car crashes, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, tractor trailer accidents, and more. If you have been hurt in a car crash and don’t know where to turn, please read the information on our site, download our e-book and get in touch.
Car Crashes Can Be Devastating
Car accidents can change your life. Across the country and in North Carolina people are severely injured and killed in car crashes each day. Even crashes that are not as severe can cause lifelong physical problems, as well as both short term and long term financial stress.
After an accident you are likely worried about your health, your family, your ability to work, ability to pay the bills, missed time from work, and the damage or loss of your vehicle. We help to take care of all of these concerns, so that you can focus on yourself and your family. We work with you every step in the process to make sure the insurance company pays you the compensation you truly deserve.
Auto Accident Overview
In the United States, 38 states are fault states for auto insurance, and North Carolina is one of them. That means that you may have a case for any auto accident in which you’ve been involved, from minor bumps to severe collisions.
A fault state is one that uses a tort-based system to determine the resolution for an injured party after an auto accident. In this system, the person who was found to be legally at-fault is the person liable for the injuries or damages resulting from the accident. Typically, these are paid for through the responsible person’s auto insurance carrier.
In North Carolina, a civil lawsuit, either for injury or property damage, must be filed within three years from the date of the accident. If you’ve been injured or experienced damage as a result of an auto accident.
Auto Accident Common Conditions
In 2015, there were more automobile accidents than in the past few years, with 38,300 people being killed across the country as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Another 4.4 million were seriously injured.
While not every accident causes such severe results, there are a few common injuries following a car accident.
- Head injuries can involve concussions, comas, unconsciousness, or traumatic brain injuries when individuals hit their heads against non-moving car parts during an accident. Other individuals report headaches or difficulties with their hearing or vision.
- Neck and back injuries are also extremely common, with whiplash being one of the most commonly reported. It can cause pain, swelling, and damage to the muscle. Spinal cord damage can lead to nerve damage or herniated disks, causing everything from minor tingling sensations to penalization.
- Other injuries, from broken bones to sprains in limbs, to internal organ damage and bleeding, are also reported following an auto accident.
Any kind of accident can cause an injury, while there are some that are more likely to produce severe injuries. Rear-end accidents are some of the most common accidents. From a minor tap to a serious collision as a result of distracted driving, this type of accident can cause whiplash, headaches, or more serious injuries and damage.
There are many causes of rear-end accidents or head-on collisions.
Assured clear distance citations are given when a driver rear-ends another auto because there wasn’t enough space left between the vehicles. Speeding is a significant cause of accidents, as many times, the drivers don’t have enough time to stop quickly. Distracted or impaired driving can cause serious and severe accidents. From texting and driving to drunk driving, outside influences are becoming some of the largest causes of auto accidents.
When you have questions about your auto accident, call The Clauson Law Firm. Our experienced attorneys can help you navigate the court system to resolve your claims.
Clauson Law Firm
For years The Clauson Law Firm, PLLC, has been representing North Carolina residents. Clauson law focuses on representing the injured and disabled.
With years of combined experience, attorney Matthew S. Woodard and our team of firm associates will work with you for the entire process of your auto accident claim, from initial groundwork to negotiating settlements.
Matthew understands the needs of North Carolina residents who have been in an automobile accident, and cares about helping them to resolve their auto accident cases. He is a graduate of the University of Mary Washington and James Madison University, and earned his JD at Campbell University. Before joining The Clauson Law Firm, he worked in primary and collegiate education, as well as serving as a disability examiner, and most recently for a firm focusing on personal injury claims, including auto accidents.
Our attorneys have the experience and knowledge to help you get all the compensation you deserve, and they are dedicated to serving the injured and disabled.
From a small fender-bender to more serious injury-causing collisions, Matthew and our experienced team at The Clauson Law Firm will help you resolve the case, explaining the process and walk with you each step of the way.
How We Can Help?
If you’ve been involved in an auto accident, you might be wondering what steps to take and where to look for help. The Clauson Law Firm has years of experience helping clients with both accident and disability cases. We help clients by explaining the process, collecting documentation for you, writing demand letters to the insurance company, negotiation with the insurance company, and representing you in a trial if necessary. With our years of experience we have an understanding of what is a reasonable settlement for your accident and fight to make sure you are compensated fairly.
There are two important sets of steps to follow after an accident.
The first is at the scene of the accident. While it can be hard to remain calm, especially when there have been injuries, there are specific actions that need to be taken that day to make sure the claims can be resolved. Always stay at the scene until you are directed to leave.
Immediately following the accident, check with your passengers to make sure everyone is ok. If they aren’t, call for medical help before taking any steps. Individuals with neck or back pain, who are unconscious, or with severe injuries should only be moved prior to the arrival of emergency services in case of emergency. If there are no injuries, it’s still important to call the police to file a police report. Don’t leave without getting the name and badge number of the responding officer, as well as the number of the police report that will be filed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Medical information is a critical part of a car accident case. As a rule, you want to provide all medical documentation of your injuries and necessary treatments to our legal team. Provide any written documents from your doctors or emergency doctors who treated your injuries after the accident. You may also want to provide proof of broken bones or related injuries through an x-ray. Maintain documents for check-ups and follow-up visits to your family doctor or other medical professionals. If you did not notice an injury like whiplash during the initial medical treatments, then gather appropriate documents about the injuries as you discover them.
Car accidents impact roughly six million drivers and families across the nation each year. While only a fraction of the accidents results in fatalities, injuries and property damage may result in complex financial challenges. By working with our law firm in North Carolina, it is possible to clarify when you have a case and when it will help with your situation. Our legal team is able to evaluate the details of your case and the evidence before recommending a course of action to help your family. To learn more about our services for car accident cases or to consult a lawyer about your situation, contact us today.
If it is possible, then move your vehicle to the side of the road to limit the risk of further injuries or accidents. Assess your injuries and call 911 for help. The call will bring the police and an ambulance. Check on any passengers in your vehicle. If it is possible, then get out of your car and check on the other party or parties involved in the accident. Gather witnesses and get insurance information from the other party. Talk to the police and take pictures of the scene. If you are severely injured, then call for help and wait until the police arrive.
Auto accidents allow you to seek compensation for a few different categories. The first is personal injuries from the accident. It refers to the medical expenses associated with your accident. You can also ask for compensation for property damages to pay for repairs on your vehicle. When your injuries cause you to lose a job or prevent you from working, you may also seek compensation for lost income. In some cases, you may also qualify for pain and suffering compensation. Our legal team can help clarify the compensation that applies to your case.
When you get into an accident and the other party’s auto insurance provider offers to give you a check, do not accept it until you have spoken to a lawyer. In many cases, the check you receive from an auto insurance provider will limit your options for your case. By talking to a lawyer before you accept and cash the check, you are able to clarify your options without any complications to your case.
North Carolina is an at-fault state and it has a contributory negligence rule. That means that if you are partially at fault in your case, then you may not be able to file a claim against the other party. It may also impact your claim on your auto insurance policy, so you want to clarify fault and discuss your options with a lawyer before pursuing a case.
Evidence is a critical part of any legal case. For a car accident, you want to obtain a copy of the police report and take pictures of the scene of the accident. You also want pictures of the damages to your vehicle. Medical reports documenting your injuries will also help with your case. If witnesses were available, then ask for their contact information and for an official statement.
Contact our law firm when you have gotten appropriate medical care for your injuries and you have a copy of the police report. In North Carolina, the statute of limitations on auto accident cases is three years, so you want to file the case before the statute of limitations expires. The sooner you file the case, the better it is for your situation.
Call the police and emergency services immediately after an accident. By calling immediately after an accident, all parties have the details of the accident fresh in their minds and the information is provided in the police report. It also ensures that you, any passengers in your vehicle, and other parties involved in the accident get appropriate medical care.
In an ideal world, your auto insurance policy would cover the costs of medical care, damage to your car, and related costs after an auto accident. Sadly, the coverage you have on your vehicle may not always be enough to cover the costs of a major accident. The details of any policy will vary based on the type of insurance you purchase, so review your coverage to clarify what you can expect from your insurance provider.
Car accidents may cause a variety of injuries due to variations in the speed of both vehicles, the location of the accident, and your location in the vehicle. Soft-tissue injuries, like sprains, strains, and whiplash, are a common concern in most accidents. You may also have head or chest injuries after an accident. Broken bones may occur in head-on collisions or accidents that occur at a fast speed.
