Motor Vehicle Crashes

An accident in Marvin can happen in the split of a second and forever change the lives of the people involved. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has indicated that, on average, one person dies in a motor vehicle crash every 16 minutes in the United States. Injuries that result from a motor vehicle accident can vary from being minor to severe and causing temporary to permanent disability. Adding on to the physical and financial stress of a car accident is the fact that insurance companies almost always do whatever they can to avoid financial liability.

Like many states across the nation, North Carolina’s roads are witness to all sorts of car accidents in Union County and throughout the state. Some examples of the common types of car crashes include:

• Hit-and-run accidents;
• Rear end crashes;
• Driver fatigue-related accidents;
• Speeding accidents;
• Distracted driving crashes;
• North Carolina highway accidents;
• Defective car crashes;
• Pedestrian accidents;
• Bicycle crashes;
• Driving while impaired (DWI) accidents; and
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist car crashes.

There are also several common types of injuries suffered by victims who are involved in a car accident. These include, but are not limited to:

• Whiplash injuries;
• Shoulder and/or neck damage;
• Back injuries;
• Cuts, scratches, and bruises;
• Head injuries;
• Broken bones and fractures;
• Psychological damage; and
• Wrongful death.

Just like all other personal injury claims, a victim of a motor vehicle accident can seek monetary compensation for damages suffered as a result. Referred to as the plaintiff, the injured party or their estate (if deceased), must prove the other party’s negligent acts caused the accident and their injuries were a direct result of those actions.

Negligence is important because it determines how much - if anything at all - the plaintiff will receive in monetary compensation if successful. The state of North Carolina is one of two that uses the contributory negligence doctrine. This doctrine allows for the complete barrement of recovery of monetary compensation by a plaintiff if the defendant can prove he or she contributed to the accident by not taking reasonable care under the specific circumstances. Unlike most other states in the United States, which use a comparative negligence theory, if a plaintiff is partially at-fault for injuries suffered, his or her monetary award is reduced by amount he or she is found to be negligent in the crash.

Of note, either the plaintiff or defendant may bring in a medical expert and other expert witnesses - such as an accident reconstruction specialist - to testify in support of their side of the case. That being said, not all individuals who call themselves experts are truly experts in their field. An experienced and aggressive North Carolina personal injury attorney can counter the defense’s expert witnesses and even challenge the methodology of their testimony.

The injuries the plaintiff suffered as well as the monetary compensation that may be collected by the accident victim in a personal injury case are both referred to as damages. There are several kinds of damages - or monetary compensation - that an accident victim may seek in his or her North Carolina personal injury case. Some monetary damages available to a personal injury plaintiff include money to pay past and future medical bills, past and future lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Beyond the previously mentioned monetary damages, many automobile insurance company policies contain medical payments coverage - commonly referred to as MedPay. MedPay may be used to pay for medical bills incurred up to the policy holder’s coverage limit. MedPay is available regardless of who is at fault for the crash. Not surprisingly, trying to seek payment from MedPay and other insurance companies involved in a motor vehicle accident can be a complicated and frustrating process. For this reason, it is key to contact a skilled North Carolina personal injury attorney to handle your matter.

Being hurt in a car accident caused by the negligence of another can be devastating. If you or someone you care about has been hurt in Marvin, or any other area of North Carolina, know that there is legal help available. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC operate on a contingency fee basis when it comes to motor vehicle cases. This means that if our attorneys do not recover any money on your behalf for your claim, we do not collect any attorneys’ fees. If we do recover monetary compensation for you in your personal injury case, it will be a flat percentage of the gross recovery. Let our skilled attorneys investigate your case while you focus on your healing and well-being. Contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC today for an initial consultation with one of our car crash personal injury attorneys.