Rear-End Collision Lawyers
Charlotte | Huntersville | Hickory
Helping You Fight for Fair Compensation
Advocating for Rear-End Accident Injury Victims
A completely normal day can be turned upside down due to negligent drivers. You could literally be sitting at a dead stop for a red light, and a distracted driver can run right into you. In fact, such rear-end collisions are the most common car crashes seen on America’s highways. In many instances, these collisions lead to little more than property damage. Sadly, there are also times when serious injuries can be sustained — and even death. If you or a loved one have suffered losses due to the negligence of another driver, you might be entitled to financial compensation. A rear-end collision lawyer in North Carolina may be able to help.
At Harman Law, we know that the majority of rear-end collisions are the fault of the rear driver. Of course, this isn’t always the case — and even when it is, the at-fault driver and their insurance company are likely to fight back. This can result in delays, an unfair settlement offer, and drawn-out court cases. Fortunately, you don’t have to shoulder such burdens on your own. The North Carolina personal injury lawyers at Harman Law are ready to advocate on your behalf. We provide a free consultation to injury victims in need of legal advice, and since we work on a contingency fee basis, you have nothing to lose by contacting us today.
Are You Entitled to Compensation?
When you’re involved in a rear-end crash, the first question you might ask is whether you’re entitled to compensation. Perhaps you sustained no serious injuries, but even in those cases, you can still recover financial compensation to pay for property damage. If you’ve suffered either minor or severe injuries, however, you may be entitled to far more. Even minor physical harm can cause significant disruption to your life, and if you or a loved one were more seriously hurt, the consequences of the accident can be disastrous. However, whether you’re entitled to compensation will come down to identifying if someone is liable for your injuries.
In the simplest cases, an insurance company will reimburse you for losses related to sustained injuries and associated damages. Having a North Carolina rear-end collisions attorney on your side can prove invaluable in this endeavor. Insurance adjusters are far less likely to try to “get one over” on experienced legal professionals. If your case goes to court, however, a few things will need to be proven. To recover compensation, it must be shown that the other party had a duty of care, that they violated their duty, and that the violation resulted in the damages you suffered. Doing this in court can be an uphill battle, but a skilled attorney can help.
What Compensation Might You Be Entitled To?
There are a variety of compensation types you may receive following a car accident. A rear-end collision lawyer in North Carolina can give you a better understanding of what you may be entitled to, but it typically comes down to compensatory damages and punitive damages. There are two types of compensatory damages — known as special and general — that relate to the type of losses suffered. For instance, general damages cover economic losses like medical bills and lost wages. Special damages are awarded to compensate victims for non-economic losses — such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship.
Punitive damages are not meant to compensate the injury victim, but this money still goes to the victim. These damages are meant to punish a liable party — a punitive measure — for extreme negligence, recklessness, or other particularly egregious behaviors. This is geared toward reducing the likelihood that the at-fault party will ever again engage in such actions. For instance, your North Carolina rear-end collisions attorney may discover that a suspected instance of distracted driving was actually willful road rage. The liable party could face criminal consequences, but they may also have to pay out extra as a punitive measure.
Is the Rear Driver Always At Fault for Rear-End Accidents?
There are many inaccurate legal beliefs that find their way into the rumor mill. “Police have to admit they’re cops if you ask” and “an arrest is invalid if the officer doesn’t read your Miranda rights” are among them. One that has a grain of truth, however, relates to fault in rear-end car accidents. There’s a prevailing sentiment that the rear driver is always at fault in these collisions. This belief is so popular because — statistically speaking — it’s true more often than not. However, there are a few instances where the driver at the front of the collision may actually be the liable party in the incident.
The following are the most common examples of when this is the case:
- Intentional attempts to get hit (e.g., "brake checking")
- Putting a vehicle into reverse on the road
- Driving vehicles with defects (e.g., broken tail light)
- Making an unsafe or sudden maneuver
- Ignoring a mechanical problem (e.g., flat tire)
In each of these instances, the trailing driver in a rear-end accident could be entitled to compensation. These are some of the many situations where an experienced personal injury lawyer in Charlotte can prove invaluable. Even if you’re in a position where it’s clear that the other driver is at fault, though, you have to be very careful with how you proceed. That’s because North Carolina is a pure contributory negligence state. This means even partial fault on part of the victim — even if they have as little as 1% shared liability — can disqualify a person from recovering any damages.
There are some exceptions to this rule, but this should make it clear just how complex liability can be in our state. Fortunately, you can receive a free case review with our experienced legal team to better understand the unique circumstances of your case.
Is There a Statute of Limitations on Car Accidents in North Carolina?
When it comes down to it, rear-end accidents are typically just personal injury cases. Since North Carolina has a three-year statute of limitation on such cases, this is the deadline you’ll face when filing a lawsuit. Of course, litigation is only one of your legal options. If the insurance company and your attorney can reach a fair settlement, you’ll save the time and hassle of going to court. If this is impossible, it’s imperative to file a claim within the three-year statute of limitations. Failure to do so will typically forfeit your legal rights while also giving an insurer little incentive to offer a fair settlement.
If someone else’s negligence led to the loss of a loved one, you only have two years from their death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. If you fail to file within this time, you’ll face a similar outcome of missing the three-year statute of limitations for North Carolina personal injury cases. There are also nuances to this rule, though, and your time to file could be shorter if your loved one survives for some time after the accident. This is why it’s so important to speak with an attorney who has substantial experience in rear-end crashes as soon as possible. Don’t risk losing your right to compensation. Schedule a free case evaluation with Harman Law today.
Contact a Rear-End Collisions Lawyer in North Carolina Today
You’re more likely to be involved in a rear-end car accident than any other collision type. If you’re lucky, this will be a minor incident and you’ll simply need to seek compensation to cover the property damage to your vehicle. Unfortunately, more than 10,000 people lose their lives to such accidents every year — and far more suffer significant injuries. If you or a loved one find yourself in this situation, you’ll likely face lost wages, significant medical bills, and a variety of other associated expenses. You may feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to proceed. However, a North Carolina personal injury attorney can take on some of this burden.
At Harman Law, we’ve spent years helping the people of North Carolina secure fair compensation. Any auto accident will invariably lead to stress and difficulties, but when a rear-end collision occurs, it’s particularly disheartening because victims have no way to avoid such a crash. If you hope to recover compensation that’s both just and sufficient to cover your losses, you need quality legal representation on your side. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Harman Law. Contact us today by calling (704) 286-0947 to schedule a free case evaluation. Let our rear-end collision lawyers in North Carolina fight to get what you deserve.
