What Should I Do Immediately After an Accident?

After an accident, prioritize your health. Seek medical treatment for any injuries. Document the scene by taking photos and gathering witness information. Finally, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your options.

How Long Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is three years from the date of the accident. It's essential to act promptly to preserve your rights and evidence.

What Is the Contributory Negligence Rule?

North Carolina follows the contributory negligence rule. This means that if you are found to be even 1% at fault for the accident, you may be barred from recovering any compensation. An experienced personal injury attorney can help navigate this complex issue.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

At Panchenko Law Firm, we operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay no legal fees unless we win your case. This structure ensures that everyone has access to quality legal representation.

What Types of Compensation Can I Recover?

You may be entitled to various forms of compensation, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. Each case is unique, so it's crucial to discuss your specific situation with a skilled attorney.

Will My Case Go to Trial?

While many personal injury cases are settled out of court, some may require litigation. Our team is prepared to represent you in court if a fair settlement cannot be reached. Your best interests are our priority.

How Long Will My Case Take?

The duration of a personal injury case varies based on factors like the complexity of the case and the willingness of the insurance company to negotiate. Our team will keep you informed throughout the process and work diligently to expedite your case.

How Can I Schedule a Free Consultation?

Scheduling a free consultation with our team is easy. Simply contact us through our website or call our office. We are here to answer your questions and help you understand your legal options.

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Please contact your insurance provider if you were at fault, as they will need to handle your claim.

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Endorsements from our clients

Panchenko Law Firm is truly outstanding! They took the time to thoroughly explain everything and made sure I understood all my options.

I can’t recommend Panchenko Law Firm enough! From the moment I reached out for legal assistance, I was impressed by their professionalism, knowledge, and genuine care for my case.

Highly recommend them for any form of accident cases, I was very satisfied and glad I had the opportunity to work with them! Thank you again!

Why Choose Us For Your Car Accident Case?

When you face the aftermath of a car accident, choosing the right legal representation is crucial. At Panchenko Law Firm, our car accident lawyers stand ready to support you through every step of your personal injury claim. Our team of dedicated car accident lawyers specializes in car accident cases, ensuring that you receive the attention and expertise necessary to navigate the complexities of your situation.

Our Practice Areas

Car
Accidents

A car accident can be a life-changing event, bringing physical injuries, emotional turmoil, and unexpected financial challenges.

Truck
Accidents

Truck accidents can cause severe injuries and overwhelming challenges, leaving victims in need of experienced legal guidance.

Motorcycle
Accidents

Motorcycle accidents often result in serious injuries, leaving victims facing immense physical, emotional, and financial hardships.

Frequently Asked Questions

SHOULD I HANDLE MY OWN AUTO ACCIDENT CLAIM?

Absolutely not! Today more than ever, you need effective counsel in order to recover the full value of your claim. Good faith claims handling and outstanding customer service are pledges often made by insurance companies and insurance adjusters. Unfortunately, the reality is often sadly different. Insurance companies will even promise to pay for your medical expenses, and even if by some miracle they make a full payment, which rarely happens, you will still miss out on other types of damages that you may be unaware of.

Today, most insurance companies are publicly held entities with the overriding mandate to their stakeholders to constantly and continuously improve the bottom line at the expense of the injured. More often than not, adjusters will offer low settlements, as they are aware that you do not have recourse and will likely accept it. In doing so, they improve their bottom line and maximize profits.

HOW WILL AN INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINE WHO IS AT-FAULT IN AN ACCIDENT?

The insurance adjuster investigating the accident will attempt to determine who is negligent or at-fault. He or she will consider a number of factors, which generally include: police report, pictures of the accident and property damages, witness statements, statements from both drivers, traffic signals sequence reports and other factors.

North Carolina Contributory Negligence Law (See our Blogs for more details) completely bars a driver from collecting any damages if determined to be even 1% at fault. Thus, in essence, if you contribute to an accident in any way, you may not be able to collect on a liability claim. Any disagreement will ultimately have to be resolved in a court of law, which can be extremely costly.

As such, the insurance adjuster will focus hard on finding fault on your part or for any other reason to deny your claim.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COLLISION COVERAGE AND COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE ?

Collision means physical damage to your covered vehicle caused by an impact with another vehicle or object. This coverage pays the cost of repair or actual cash value of your automobile, whichever is smaller.

Comprehensive coverage pays the cost of repair or an actual cash value of your automobile less any deductible. The following list of losses falls under comprehensive coverage:

Missiles or falling objects;

Fire;
Theft or larceny;
Explosion or earthquake;
Windstorm;
Hail, water or flood;
Malicious mischief or vandalism;
Riot or civil commotion;
Contact with a bird or animal; or
Breakage of glass.

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WILL MY INSURANCE PREMIUM GO UP?

No insurance points following an accident will be charged when:

There is property damage only;
The amount of damage is $1,800 or less;
There is no conviction for a moving violation in connection with the accident; and
No licensed operators in the household have convictions or at-fault accidents during the experience period (three years).

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT. HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE TO FILE A LAWSUIT?

In North Carolina, the statutory period in which you can bring an action for personal injuries is three (3) years.

The North Carolina statute also states that “no cause of action shall accrue more than 10 years from the last act or omission of the defendant giving rise to the cause of action.” Presumably, an action could be brought no more than ten years after the last act of the defendant, so long as the injury was discovered within ten years of that act and the action is brought within three years of discovery.

Steps to Follow After a Car Accident

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