Auto Accidents – Car wrecks crush, kill & destroy

Unfortunately, with the number of vehicles on our roads today, traffic accidents occur at an alarming rate. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are more than 6 million motor vehicle accidents per year in the U.S. So in 2016, over 37,000 people were killed in car and truck wrecks.

In North Carolina, the problem is getting worse. Most notably, according to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, in 2016 the number of traffic crashes increased by 6.3 percent from the previous year. The number of fatalities also increased by 4.4 percent compared to those in 2015. Consequently, with more than 267,000 motor vehicle accidents in North Carolina alone, being injured in a wreck is not as remote as it seems.

Car accidents in Asheville are often affected by negligence and winding mountain roads. Also, truck accidents can happen because of poor vehicle maintenance or mismanagement. So, people injured in accidents caused by someone else need to get as much evidence for their case as possible. Therefore, hiring an experienced car accident lawyer quickly is key.

Car accident causes

Motor vehicle accidents having a number of potential causes are common. Consequently, wrecks happen for many reasons including speeding, driving while impaired and lane departure to name a few. Alarmingly, more than 1 in 5 crashes in North Carolina were caused by distracted driving in 2015. And those numbers are growing.

Distracted driving is rising in Asheville, North Carolina. As a result, circumstances here are even more dangerous considering the addition of winding mountain roads and reduced reaction times. So, at Fisher Stark, P.A., helping victims of crashes involving pedestrians, motorcycles, trucks and other types of passenger vehicles often means going to court.

When drivers make poor decisions or negligence, others suffer. Consequently, we think those responsible should be held accountable.

What should I do after a car wreck?

Car accidents happen to good people, every day. No one asks to be hit. So, if you are involved in a car accident, there are some important considerations to consider, helping move through the process.

Always thinking clearly after a car accident is difficult. So, some people are unaware that minimizing the pain and aggravation caused by an accident can have long-term effects.

First and foremost, take care of your health and well being by:

Making sure your vehicle is in a safe place, away from other traffic. (It’s the law in North Carolina to move your vehicle to the shoulder of the road, if you can do so safely and no one is injured.)

Turning off the vehicle.

If anyone is injured, calling 911 and offering assistance.

Contacting law enforcement and staying at the scene until they arrive.

Moving yourself to a safe location and instructing others involved to do the same.

Not attempting to move people who are injured unless they are in immediate danger.

Collecting car crash evidence

Collecting evidence at the scene of an accident is important, because it can quickly disappear. So, gathering materials at the scene to document the accident, if you can do so safely, is key.

Consequently, gathering evidence includes:

Taking pictures of the accident from multiple angles;

Gathering address and email of eyewitnesses and those involved in the crash;

Collecting phone numbers, including cells, from eyewitnesses and those involved in the crash;

Recording license numbers of vehicles involved in the crash;

Detailing year, make, and model of vehicles involved in the crash;

Gathering insurance carriers and policy numbers of those involved in the crash; and

Getting the police report number from responding officers.

Documenting the accident includes:

Taking photos of the accident scene, all vehicles, and the people involved;

Having photos taken of you, if someone is available to take them;

Reporting the crash to your insurance company; and

Being truthful and cooperative with the investigating officers.

Getting help at the scene of an accident

Adrenaline and shock accompanying accidents can mask serious injuries. So don’t be afraid to be transported in an ambulance from the scene so medical professionals can diagnose and treat any potential injuries. Your health and well being are the most important things after a crash.

Then, once you are medically stable and it’s safe to do so, you may consider contacting a personal injury law firm for advice and guidance.

Your health is very important. So, when possible, complying with recommended medical treatments are critical. Therefore, following up with your physician or other healthcare provider as advised is important too. Consequently, receiving the proper treatment and documenting all your injuries is important to any future legal case. Likewise, after an accident, insurance companies are immediately amassing their resources to minimize payments to you.

Consequently, for the strongest claim, getting experienced legal help to even the odds is important.

Experience legal help matters

After a crash, victims are often facing physical and emotional harm. Also right after an accident, there’s an insurance company working diligently, taking as much advantage of the situation. They are counting on your inexperience dealing with the complicated issues arising after a car accident.

Many injured people think settling a claim is easy. Consequently, folks assume that the insurance company will simply pay what’s fair without putting up a fight. But most often, nothing could be further from the truth.

The insurance company’s goal is simple… to pay you as little as possible. And, because the insurance company IS experienced, it’s only a fair fight with someone experienced on your side.

Asheville accident attorneys

Don’t rely on the insurance companies! Fisher Stark, P.A., wants to help protect your rights. Consequently, we recommend NOT accepting any settlement or resolving your claim without first consulting an experienced personal injury attorney.

Insurance adjusters may be calling, wanting a statement or talking about resolving your claim. You are not obligated to speak with insurance companies. In fact, speaking with or giving a recorded statement will likely be used against your case throughout the legal process. And that may not be clear. Many adjusters are very personable and friendly, but they are not your friend and are not there to help you. Again, adjusters share the same goal as the insurance company… paying you as little as possible and closing the file quickly.

Personal injury claim process

The personal injury claim process is complicated and intimidating. Insurance companies use complexities to their advantage when they can. Having an experienced personal injury attorney helping you means you can focus on recovering from injuries instead of dealing insurance companies.

The time-consuming process of proving an injury claim is complicated. The attorneys at Fisher Stark, P.A., are experienced with obtaining witness information, gathering medical documentation to substantiate your injuries, and reconstructing crashes with detailed analysis. Personal injury lawyers are protecting your rights if the insurance company tries blaming you for the crash and not their insured client.

Our attorneys and staff are experts at gathering critical evidence, maximizing the full amount of compensation the law allows.

Cases accident lawyers handle

The personal injury attorneys at Fisher Stark handle all types of motor vehicle accident cases, including:

Head-On Collisions

T-Bone Collisions

Rear-End Collisions

Texting and Driving Accidents

Auto vs. Pedestrian Accidents

Automobile vs. Bicycle Accidents

Distracted Driving Accidents

Driver Fatigue Accidents

Hydroplaning Accidents

Motorcycle Accidents

Failure to Yield Accidents

Tailgating Crashes

Impaired Driving Crashes

Tractor Trailer Accidents

Injuries caused by accidents

Being in a wreck can mean any number of injuries. The attorneys at Fisher Stark have experience handling a wide variety of both permanent and temporary injury claims, including:

Soft tissue injuries

Herniated discs

Spinal cord injuries

Paralysis

Broken bones

Ligament and tendon injuries

Whiplash

Back injuries

Neck injuries

Brain injuries

Hearing loss and tinnitus

Death

Asheville NC Attorneys, Perry Fisher, Brad Stark, and Megan Silver will assist you with your personal injury, property loss, and court-related issues: Telephone: 828-505-4300