Wake Forest Car Accident Lawyers
Who Care About Your Claim
Wake Forest, NC, is home to over 45,000 residents and was named the 20th fastest growing suburb in America by Forbes Magazine. It hosts the Wake Forest Dance Festival each fall at E. Carroll Joyner Park. Nearly a dozen parks and community centers offer a variety of recreational opportunities. History buffs can enjoy more than a dozen places listed on the National Register of Historic Places right here in Wake Forest.
With such a growing population and so many places to visit, it’s no wonder that Wake Forest sees more than its fair share of auto accidents each year. In 2019, Wake Forest had 851 accidents, resulting in 299 injuries. While Wake Forest car accident attorneys from the Ricci Law Firm can’t erase your injuries, they can help you seek compensation for your damages.
Wake Forest Car Accident Claims: Time is of the Essence
After being injured in a car accident and possibly lacking adequate transportation, you probably have a lot on your mind. Filing an insurance claim or learning more about your legal options may not be on the top of your priority list. However, you need to know that your legal rights regarding compensation for your injuries have an expiration date.
Under North Carolina laws, personal injury victims, including those in car accidents, only have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury case. This is generally a strict deadline with no exceptions. If you miss the filing deadline, you won’t have the ability to seek compensation through the legal system. Contacting Wake Forest car accident lawyers as soon as possible after your accident can help ensure that you don’t miss this or any other essential deadlines.
Contacting an attorney sooner rather than later is also critical for other reasons:
- They can begin collecting evidence that supports your claim—such as witness statements or pictures of the accident scene
- They can help protect you from the insurance companies that will do nearly anything to make it seem like you are liable for your injuries and their client isn’t
The bottom line is that contacting Wake Forest car accident attorneys will only serve to benefit your car accident claim. When you partner with the Ricci Law Offices early on, you increase the chances that your case will be successful.
Determining Liability After a Motor Vehicle Accident
One of the first steps your Wake Forest car accident lawyers will take is to investigate how your car accident occurred. Then they can find out who is liable for your injuries. Sometimes, multiple parties are responsible.
Once it’s understood how your accident happened, your attorney will build a case to prove the following elements of negligence:
- Duty of Care: The person who caused your accident owed you a duty of care. For example, drivers are expected to obey local driving laws and generally prevent accidents whenever possible.
- Breach of Duty: Perhaps another driver who was speeding, a municipality who hadn’t yet replaced a missing stop sign, or a vehicle manufacturer produced a faulty part. In some way, they failed to uphold their duty to you.
- Injuries: Their breach of duty caused your car accident which is the direct cause of your injuries.
- Damages: You have compensable damages as a result of your injuries. These might include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, or even scarring and disfigurement.
While the first two elements are typically easier to prove, injuries and damages can be more of a challenge. Without experienced Wake Forest car accident attorneys on your side, it can be nearly impossible. Insurance companies like to argue that claimants caused their own injuries or that their injuries are from a pre-existing condition. Seasoned lawyers know how to refute their unfounded assertions.
Should You See a Doctor?
Getting medical attention is one of the most crucial steps you can take after being in a car accident. It’s best to do this as soon as possible. If your injuries are severe, go with the paramedics in the ambulance to receive emergency care or drive yourself to the emergency room if they think you are okay to do so.
For some people, pain and other symptoms may not show up right away. Sometimes an adrenaline rush from the accident can mask your pain, and some injuries only reveal symptoms later. You might feel okay and think you don’t need to see a doctor. However, even if you don’t feel like you are injured, it’s always in your bests interests to get a medical exam.
This goes back to proving your injuries and damages. Suppose you don’t seek medical care but three weeks later develop back pain. In that case, it can be even more difficult for your Wake Forest car accident lawyers to show the insurance company that your pain is related to the accident. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible after a car accident can help preserve your legal rights and options.
When you see a doctor, be sure you explain to them that you were in a car accident. Give them as many details as you can, as this will help them accurately assess your injuries. You should also provide them with your medical history, including any pre-existing conditions you might have.
To help your claim, it’s also imperative to follow your doctor’s treatment instructions. Keep your appointments and adhere to their instructions. If you feel like you can’t do what they ask you to, discuss it with them. These steps will help protect your rights to compensation.
Injured in a Car Crash? Meet with Experienced Wake Forest Car Accident Attorneys
Being involved in a motor vehicle accident can turn your life upside down physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially. The last thing you want to do is deal with the insurance companies alone. Our experienced Wake Forest car accident lawyers are focused on your case, so you can focus on getting better. If you have been in an auto accident, call (252) 777-2222 or use our online contact form to schedule your free consultation today.