Important Things to Know about Car Accidents in Durham
Everyone in Durham, and all of North Carolina, should know that car accident cases in Durham will be handled under the laws of contributory negligence. Contributory negligence means that if the person who has the injury claim is even 1% at fault, they might not be eligible to recover damages. A finding of contributory negligence can be a detriment to someone who is severely injured if the facts indicate that they were somewhat to blame in causing the accident.
If you have been injured in a car accident and are worried about your potential to recover, contact a Durham car accident lawyer today so we can begin taking on your case while alleviating some of your stress and enabling you to begin your road to recovery.
Contributory Negligence
Contributory negligence often comes up in car accident cases that involve intersections or stop lights, because if the person who is bringing the claim, called a plaintiff, is found to be even 1% at fault in the accident, they may not be able to recover money to cover medical expenses or to compensate them for pain and suffering.
This is often seen in intersection cases when some people say a driver had the green light and others say the driver had the red light. A lot of times, juries in that type of scenario may just throw their hands up not knowing who is at fault and figure that everyone is to blame, and therefore, not award any monetary damages for injury. The facts about how the accident happened are important to assure that any defenses, such as contributory negligence, can be dealt with. An injury lawyer is prepared to face these defenses, and will do everything they can to seek damages for their client.
Important Reasons to Contact a Lawyer
It is important to contact a Durham car accident lawyer to make sure that an investigation is done quickly toward determining the at-fault party, and to speak with any witnesses that may have information about the accident while the accident is still fresh in their minds, or witnesses who were already interviewed. It is also important to be able to talk to the police officers who investigated the accident to make sure that all of the issues were documented appropriately.
When to Contact an Attorney
It is important to get that available free legal advice before taking any further steps. It is absolutely imperative to seek medical treatment immediately if the injuries are serious, and once stabilized, get in touch with a personal injury law firm. It is important to contact an attorney early on, because most car accident cases are very fact-driven. Witnesses who have may have seen the collision or the conditions of the light are going to be critical as to whether or not that individual was able to recover. Getting out to the scene early and talking to the witnesses a day or two after the accident provides a better chance of being able to get accurate and truthful information from the witnesses so that the attorney can help make sure that their client gets compensated.
