North Carolina has complex car accident laws that are important to understand as a car accident victim. It is crucial to consult the attorneys of Tippens & Zurosky after you have been involved in a car accident so that you don’t accidentally make a mistake that leads to less compensation for your damages – or no compensation at all. After a serious car crash, contact the experienced car accident lawyers at Tippens & Zurosky as soon as you can for information about your specific accident. Speaking to the other side’s insurance company without talking to a lawyer can be highly detrimental to your case. We can help you navigate the laws pertaining to your case.
Statute of limitations. One of the key laws to know is your statute of limitations, or deadline for filing a claim. In North Carolina, all crash victims have three years from the date of their car accidents to file injury claims and three years for property-damage only claims. If someone is under 18 at the time of accident then the statute of limitations is either three years from the date of the car accident, or one year past their 18th birthday, whatever is longer.
Fault-based car insurance. North Carolina follows fault-based car insurance laws. All drivers must carry adequate vehicle insurance. The minimum North Carolina bodily injury coverage is ($30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident) and the minimum North Carolina property damage liability ($25,000). After an accident, injured parties can file claims with the at-fault party’s insurance provider for personal injury and property damage recovery.
Liability laws. The State of North Carolina follows the doctrine of contributory negligence, which bars recovery by the plaintiff if they’re even just partially at fault. The majority of other states follow the doctrine of comparable negligence, in which the amount of damages is reduced in proportion to the plaintiff’s degree of fault. An attorney from our firm can help defend you against a contributory negligence defense. There are many times when insurance companies assert the defense of contributory negligence, even when the facts and evidence don’t necessarily support it. Insurance companies know how to use the laws in ways that are most favorable to them. Tippens & Zurosky evens the playing field, so that an insurance company cannot take advantage of you.
One of the reasons clients hire Tippens & Zurosky LLP is for our deep and working knowledge of North Carolina’s car accident laws. We stay updated on the latest changes in the law – and zealously advocate for our clients to try and achieve the best possible result based on the evidence of the particular case. Clients also love our customer service, and appreciate our knowledge with the firm having handled thousands of personal injury cases to a successful conclusion. Call us at 704-343-0018 to schedule a consultation so that we may assist you.
