Resources

Free Resources

Pursuing legal action requires careful planning, comprehensive research, and much more. The process can feel overwhelming and complex, prompting many to turn to experienced attorneys for expert guidance and support.

To assist you, we provide free resources designed to offer valuable insights into your case or any topic you wish to explore.

Blogs

Passenger in Rideshare Car
Blog

What Happens if My Rideshare Driver Gets Into an Accident?

Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have transformed transportation, offering convenience and accessibility to millions. However, accidents involving rideshare vehicles can introduce complexities that traditional car accidents do not, especially

Car Accident Lawsuit
Blog

Can I Sue After a Car Accident in North Carolina?

Being involved in a car accident can be a traumatic and overwhelming experience, especially for an accident victim who suffers physical injuries, emotional distress, and financial losses. If you’ve been

FAQs

DO I HAVE A DUTY TO REPORT AN ACCIDENT?

In North Carolina, your first duty, after stopping your car, is to check for injured persons. North Carolina law requires that you render reasonable assistance to any injured person. If someone is seriously injured, try to get a doctor or call an ambulance-whichever is quicker.

Comfort the injured persons, but do not move the person unless you are skilled in said practice. Even good intentions on your part could result in further injury to the person. You may need to transport such a person to a physician or hospital for medical treatment if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary or requested by the injured person.

Generally, anyone who renders first aid or emergency assistance at the scene shall not be liable in civil damages for any acts of omissions unless such services amount to reckless, wanton, or intentional wrongdoing. If the accident occurred in a city or town, the appropriate agency is the police department of the city or town.

If the accident occurred outside a city or town, the appropriate agency is the State Highway Patrol or the sheriff’s office or other qualified rural police of the county where the accident occurred.

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.

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.

The time limit to file, known as the statute of limitations, varies by state and type of case. In most personal injury cases, you have between one and three years from the date of injury. Failing to file within this window can result in losing your right to seek compensation, so it’s crucial to act promptly.
Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible, seek medical attention, document the incident, and file a workers’ compensation claim following your state’s process.
Deadlines vary by state, but most require you to report the injury within a few days to a month and file a formal claim within one to three years.
Contact Panchenko Law Firm Today! Get the Justice and Compensation You Deserve.
Get The Compensation You Rightly Deserve!

Injured due to someone else’s negligence? You can trust our team to provide dedicated and assertive representation to achieve the justice and compensation you deserve.