Charlotte Car Accident Attorneys

Motor Vehicle Accidents in Charlotte

Thank you for visiting My Charlotte Motor Vehicle Accidents Attorney. We will attempt to give you as much information about Motor Vehicle Accidents in Charlotte as possible on this site. Additionally, you can visit our “Why hire us” page to see what separates us from the other Motor Vehicle Accident lawyers in and around Charlotte.

If you have been in a serious automobile accident, it could immediately change your life. You will have to deal with pain and suffering and medical expenses. Call one of our attorneys at the Motor Vehicle Accident Law Offices of “insert attorney name” in Charlotte. We will work to get you the settlement you deserve.

Charlotte Car Crash Overview

Common causes of auto accidents in Charlotte are:
- Driver negligence – failure to use reasonable care to avoid harm
- Speeding or driving too slow
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Talking on cell phones, to passengers
- Changing lanes without signaling
- Ignoring traffic signs or signals
- Auto defects – manufacturer can be liable
- Road conditions – construction, potholes
- Weather conditions – rain, ice, fog
In Charlotte auto accidents are determined by using the law of negligence.
- If you are negligent during an auto accident, you will probably be required to pay damages

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics show:
- An auto accident occurs every 10 seconds.
- Auto accidents are the #1 cause of injury and death for people ranging from 3 to 35.
- Thousands of people are killed each year in an auto accident.
- Millions of people are injured in car accidents every year.
- Each year thousands of pedestrians die from traffic-related injuries.
- Alcohol-related deaths account for about 35% of all traffic deaths.

At the scene

Call the police – wait for them to arrive.
Move car off the road if possible.
If anyone is hurt, call an ambulance.
Do not settle with the other party or their insurance company.
Exchange information with the other driver:
- Name
- Address
- Telephone number
- Driver’s license
- Insurance company name
Get any passenger and witness names, phone numbers.
Keep a camera, pad and pencil in your car – take photos of your injuries, damages and the road.

Also:

Call your insurance company – give detailed account of accident.
See your doctor even if there are no visible bruises; keep copies of medical bills.
Get a copy of the police report.
Contact a Charlotte Auto Accident Attorney.

Uninsured/Underinsured Insurance Coverage

This coverage includes you and any members of your household that are listed on the policy who have been injured.

Uninsured
- A driver who causes injury to you and does not have insurance to pay for damages

Underinsured
- The at-fault driver does not have enough bodily injury liability insurance to cover your medical bills, lost income, etc

You are also covered in the event of a hit-and-run automobile accident.

It covers you if you are a pedestrian hit by an auto.

This coverage is for injuries, not property damage.

Personal Injury

If another driver is responsible for an auto accident, they must pay for any bodily injury or pain and suffering you incurred.

You must prove you suffered injuries (physical and emotional) and damages.

A judge or jury will determine how much you will receive for damages you suffered.
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Loss of wages – present and future
- Auto or property damages
  - Repairs
  - Car rental
  - Pain and suffering

Damages awarded are:

Punitive
- Punishes the at-fault driver for his or her negligence.
Compensatory – to make you whole (before the accident took place)
- Actual damages – out-of-pocket expenses
  - Medical and hospital expenses
  - Wages lost
  - Expenses incurred during recuperation period
  - Car expenses – repairs, rental
  - Costs associated with damaged property
- General damages – factors that you can’t put a $ amount on
  - Pain and Suffering
  - Permanent scars, disfigurement
  - Future medical expenses
  - Future wages lost

Nominal
- Awarded because you were legally wronged – injury is not required as evidence.
- Small amount is awarded

There is a statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit – 3 years.

Wrongful Death

A family member who dies as a result of a negligent act by a driver during an auto accident.
- North Carolina law allows:
  - The executor of the decedent’s estate to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
  - Only heirs share in a wrongful death award.

In North Carolina, wrongful death claims involve:
- Investigating the death
- Determining the insurance involved and setting up claims
- Administering the decedent’s estate
- Presenting any evidence surrounding the death

Recoverable damages include:
- Medical and hospital bills if the person did not die immediately
- Funeral expenses
- Financial support that has now been lost (salary, pension, retirement)
- Companionship

Wrongful Death statute – money recovered is not considered to be assets – cannot be applied to any debts owed by the decedent (except the funeral expenses and some medical expenses).

There is a statute of limitations to file a wrongful death lawsuit- 2 years.

Conclusion
If you were involved in a serious motor vehicle accident, let us help you seek justice. We will hold the guilty party accountable and make sure you receive a fair settlement. Contact an attorney at the Motor Vehicle Accident Law Offices of “insert attorney name” in Charlotte. Don’t delay your settlement; let us explain your choices to you today!