Durham Car Accident Lawyer

Despite advances in technology and safety features, auto accidents are far too common across the United States — including here in Durham, North Carolina. In 2018 alone, 281,685 motor vehicle accidents happened across North Carolina. In those crashes, 1,442 people were killed and an additional 125,454 people were injured.

If you were hurt in a car accident caused by another person, then you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. A personal injury lawsuit can help you get justice after a Durham auto accident. Through a personal injury claim, you may be able to recover money for medical bills, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

At Johnson & Groninger, we are dedicated to helping people who have been hurt in all types of accidents, including victims of car wrecks and their loved ones. Our Durham auto accident attorneys will aggressively advocate for your right to compensation. Our law firm offers free consultations to all prospective clients, and we never charge a fee unless we recover money for you.

We Handle Auto Accidents

From our offices in Durham and Charlotte, we represent clients throughout the state in car accident lawsuits. We have both the experience and the resources to obtain the best possible result for you. 

If you decide to work with us after a free case evaluation, we will start the process by conducting a thorough investigation of the accident. We will send private investigators and accident reconstruction experts to the scene to gather evidence and witness statements. We will then analyze all of the evidence, research North Carolina law, explore all possible sources of insurance coverage, and put together a strong argument for why the other driver is responsible for any losses that you have suffered.

In addition, we work closely with our car accident clients to make sure that they get the medical care that they need. We will also handle any claims from your health insurance company that may arise after a settlement or judgment in your case. 

We handle a range of motor vehicle collision cases, including:

• Car accidents (rear-end, head-on, intersection collisions, rollover)
• Trucking accidents (head-on collisions, wide right turns, improper passing)
• Motorcycle personal injury claims
• Automobile vs. scooter injuries
• Bicycle Accidents
• Pedestrians hit by trucks and automobiles
• Fatal car, truck and bicycle accidents (wrongful death)

If you have been hurt in any type of motor vehicle accident, we can help. Our team has a track record of success, and will work hard to get you the money that you deserve.

Understanding North Carolina Accident Law

Auto accident claims are a type of personal injury case. Most often, these claims are based on a theory of negligence, which is the failure to use the care that a reasonable person would in a similar situation. If you can prove that the other driver (or some other entity) was negligent, then you may be able to recover damages.

To prove that someone was negligent, you will need to establish four things:

1. Duty: the other driver owed you a duty of care to drive in a safe manner
2. Breach: the other driver breached (violated) that duty.
3. Causation: this violation caused injury to you, and was the “but for” cause of your injuries (i.e., but for the other driver’s breach, the accident would not have happened and you would not have been injured).
4. Damages: you suffered actual damages as a result.

For example, another motorist was texting and driving, and rear-ended your vehicle because he wasn’t paying attention to the road, causing you to suffer whiplash and other losses. All drivers owe others on the road a duty of care to drive safely, and the other driver breached that duty by texting and driving (a violation of North Carolina law). If the driver had been paying attention, the crash wouldn’t have happened (causation) — and you have medical expenses, lost wages, and more damages from the accident.

Importantly, North Carolina is one of the few states that follows the rule of contributory negligence. This means that if you are even partially at fault for the accident, you cannot recover for your losses. Using this rule, insurance companies may try to assign some blame for the crash to you so that they can deny your claim. An experienced Durham auto accident lawyer can push back and work to get you the money that you deserve.

After an accident, you have three years to file a lawsuit. If you fail to file your claim within this time period, known as the statute of limitations, then your case may be barred. Consulting with an attorney as soon as possible after a collision can help to protect your rights and ensure that your claim is filed on time.

What to Do After an Durham Accident

If you have been hurt in a car crash, the first and most important thing to do is to get medical attention for any injuries that you may have suffered. Even if you think that you weren’t hurt — or that your injuries are minor — you should still get checked out by a doctor. An early diagnosis is often key to getting the proper medical treatment. It may also prevent the insurer from arguing that your injuries are worse than they otherwise would have been had you gotten medical care immediately.

If you are able to do so, collect information and evidence at the scene. This may involve taking pictures of the accident, getting contact information from witnesses, or asking for a copy of any police report. Do not apologize to the other driver; instead, simply provide them with your contact and insurance information.

The other driver’s insurance company may try to contact you by phone, letter or in person. Do not talk to the insurance company or an adjuster without talking to a Durham accident lawyer first. The insurance adjuster’s goal is to deny or minimize your claim to maximize profits for their employer, not to give you the maximum recovery.

Similarly, do not sign anything without first consulting with a Durham car accident attorney. Even if a settlement agreement seems fair, you could be giving up important rights by signing it. An experience car accident lawyer will represent your best interests and make sure that you do not inadvertently say something that could jeopardize your recovery.

Hurt in an Accident? Reach Out Today.

There are few things more frightening than being in a car accident. The aftermath can also be devastating, with mounting bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A personal injury lawsuit may help you get the money that you are entitled to so that you can move forward with your life after a crash.

Johnson & Groninger is devoted to helping injury victims throughout North Carolina. If you have been hurt in a car accident, we will stand by your side throughout the process, from the initial consultation to the final resolution of your case. Contact us today at 919-240-4054 or email us to schedule an appointment with a member of our team.

Different types of accidents require different approaches

Sometimes after a free consultation with one of our experienced auto accident attorneys, we have given so much information that an injured person decides to handle the case on their own.  In smaller cases we encourage that, since fortunately many car accidents are painful and inconvenient but they are manageable.

For a more serious accident, which has caused you to have significant medical bills, or to miss more than a few days from work, you will benefit from having an experienced car accident personal injury attorney.

In a serious auto accident, we hope that you will hire one of our Durham car accident attorneys. Even if you don’t hire us, be sure to hire someone experienced and respected. You want the best auto accident attorney for your case.

Talk To A Durham Car Accident Lawyer First

You definitely don’t want to talk to the insurance company without talking to an accident lawyer first! Insurance companies handle thousands of claims, and the other driver’s insurance adjuster who contacts you has a number one goal of saving money for her insurance company, not you.  You should not sign anything without talking to an auto accident lawyer first so that you know ahead of time what to expect.

Insurance Matters

Often the outcome of an auto accident case depends on how much insurance the at-fault driver has. The outcome of the case can also be affected by how much insurance you have. Whether it is for this car accident, or to protect yourself against any future auto accident, you can learn more about what kind of insurance you should have.

Download our free brochure, Eight Questions Your North Carolina Insurance Agent Should Answer Before You Are Ever in a Wreck.  We wrote this guide to help you when you are buying car insurance so that you will know how to protect yourself against irresponsible drivers.

The law of contributory negligence

In North Carolina, we have the doctrine of contributory negligence. This is a rule imposed by the courts in just a handful of cases, and it says that anyone who was partly at fault in causing a wreck can’t be compensated at all.  This is something that the insurance company for the other driver may say about you, and then they may deny your claim.  This is our North Carolina rule and it is harsh, but it has exceptions.

Don’t let the insurance company make your decisions

First of all the insurance company may be mistaken and it could be that you weren’t the least bit at fault.  Or, perhaps the other driver was so much to blame that it doesn’t matter if you were somewhat at fault.  For example, if the other driver was willful or wanton or had the last clear chance to avoid the accident, the defense of contributory negligence may be overcome.

Contact us first

If you are involved in an accident, don’t admit to anything without first consulting an attorney who understands North Carolina law.  You could be making your claim more difficult without even knowing it!