Greensboro NC Car Accident Attorneys
Last edited September 25, 2006
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Auto Accident Information from Greensboro NC Car Accident Lawyers
 
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 6 million reported car accidents in 2004. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for every age from 3 through 33 years old. Who gets in accidents, and why? Statistics from NHTSA state that:
  • 40 percent of car accident fatalities occur because of a drunken driver.
  • 30 percent of car accident fatalities are due to driving above the speed limits.
  • 33 percent are due to reckless driving.
Dangerous intersections, poorly designed and maintained roads, crossing traffic lanes, turning vehicles, impaired, unlicensed or drunken drivers, obscured vision due to weather conditions  or improper highway design, faulty automobile equipment such as tires or airbags, worn or damaged roadway markings or other unsafe driving conditions lead to and contribute to accidents and collisions.
 
For more information about handling accident claims please visit The Horsley Law Firm's website: Greensboro Car Accident Attorneys or call toll-free 1-800-953-2542
Greensboro North Carolina Traffic Statistics
 
Activity
Jan 2006
Feb 2006
Mar 2006
Apr 2006
May 2006
Jun 2006
Jul 2006
Aug 2006
Sep 2006
Oct 2006
Nov 2006
Dec 2006
YTD 2006*
Offenses
 2,717
 2,275
 2,582
 2,537
 2,757
 2,729
 2,877
 2,901
 
 
 
 
 21,375
Criminal Arrests
 2,013
 2,387
 2,669
 2,394
 2,440
 2,461
 2,034
 2,049
 
 
 
 
 18,447
Criminal Charges
 2,769
 2,451
 2,719
 2,441
 2,466
 2,549
 2,794
 2,931
 
 
 
 
 21,120
Traffic Arrests
 4,101
 3,970
 3,620
 4,478
 3,718
 3,185
 3,535
 3,364
 
 
 
 
 29,971
Traffic Charges
 4,893
 4,690
 4,197
 4,482
 4,256
 3,645
 4,129
 3,898
 
 
 
 
 33,780
Traffic Accidents
 694
 681
 744
 769
 704
 773
 692
 814
 
 
 
 
5,871
Fatal Accidents
 3
 1
 1
 1
 1
 3
 2
 0
 
 
 
 
12
Persons Killed
 3
 1
 1
 1
 1
 3
 2
 0
 
 
 
 
12
Total Injuries
 349
 363
 381
 399
 396
 457
 434
 412
 
 
 
 
 3,191
Alcohol Related Accidents
 24
 26
 20
 37
 27
 30
 28
 24
 
 
 
 
 216
Alcohol Injury Accidents
 8
 19
 9
 18
 9
 14
 16
 13
 
 
 
 
 106
Driving While Impaired
 70
 89
 76
 91
 75
 62
 68
 75
 
 
 
 
606
Calls for Service
 23,350
 31,782
 33,601
 23,681
 23,369
 23,719
 24,586
 24,806
 
 
 
 
208,894

Source: http://www.greensboro-nc.gov/Departments/Police/Statistics/ 

Is a Car Accident Lawyer Necessary?
 
Not every personal injury case requires legal assistance. If injuries are slight and damages minor, it may not be in your best interest to retain a lawyer. However, if you are concerned about your ability to negotiate on an even basis with the insurance adjuster, you may feel more comfortable with legal help and hiring a lawyer can be justified.

Very often the injury is not trivial. There may be permanent injuries or scars, and an inability to return to the same work or activity level enjoyed before the injury. There may also be complicating factors involving insurance coverage, liability, and even medical causation which mandate getting professional help with your claim.

Remember, the insurance adjuster has been trained to minimize claims. The adjuster gets a "gold star" if he or she saves money for the insurance company, not by paying top dollar on claims. The adjuster is under no legal obligation to offer you advice or to protect your interests.

Common Car Accident Questions & Answers

What should I do if I am involved in a car accident?
If you have been involved in a car accident you should:

  • Stop. If you get in a crash, you must stop. If you leave, that's known as a "hit and run," and might be a felony. This includes hitting property, animals or pedestrians. Also, remain calm.
  • Call for help. If someone is injured, call 911. If not, your first call should then be to the police. The police will advise as to whether the crashed vehicles should be moved out of traffic, and will take statements from the drivers and passengers involved.
  • Call your insurer. As soon as you are able, call and file an accident report. You should also notify the other driver's insurer of the accident.
  • Don't sign anything. If an insurance adjuster shows up at the scene, don't give any statements and don't sign anything.
  • Gather information. Get the names, addresses and phone numbers of everyone at the scene, especially witnesses.
  • Go see your doctor. You may have injuries of which you're unaware. If you are examined by a doctor, make sure you are specific in explaining how the accident happened and any and all injuries and problems you sustained as a result.
  • Call an attorney. If you've been injured, you may want a lawyer to make sure you receive a fair settlement from the insurance company. Also, proving to another driver's insurer that its policyholder caused the accident might require the services of an attorney.
If I was injured in a car accident do I need to hire a lawyer or can I handle the claim myself?
The law does not restrict you from handling your own claims.  However, you should keep in mind, that the insurance companies and the insurance company lawyers are trained professionals.  It is their job is to resolve the potential "liability" by paying as little as possible to you. Insurance companies are just that - companies.  They, like most businesses, are in this business to make a profit for their owners and shareholders.
 
If I rear-end another vehicle am I at fault?
Typically, yes. The law states that you must maintain a safe distance to be able to stop safely if a car stops in front of you.  There are some exceptions, especially if the other driver makes a sudden and unexpected stop, or if you are involved in a chain reaction.  Contact your attorney today to protect your rights.
 
If was hit by a commercial vehicle is the employer also responsible?
It is possible that the employer may be responsible. The employer may be liable for the employee's negligence under the doctrine of vicarious liability.  Vicarious liability is where the company is responsible for negligent acts committed during the course and scope of normal activities in service to the company. If the individual does not have enough insurance to cover your entire claims then if there is another party with liability.
Example Greensboro Car Accident Cases

Automobile Accident. Bill Horsley represented a man who was terribly injured when his truck was struck by an 18-wheeler negligently operated by the defendant. Injuries included the loss of a leg and evisceration. Following settlement of the personal injury claim, the Workers' Compensation carrier, Liberty Mutual, refused to compromise its lien, claiming reimbursement of at least $750,000 out of the settlement proceeds. Following a lengthy hearing, the Court reduced the lien to $75,000 and then ruled that the carrier had to pay its pro-rata share of attorney fees and litigation costs, reducing the amount it was to be repaid to less than $50,000. The ruling was affirmed in an unpublished opinion by the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

Automobile Accident. Bill Horsley represented a man who suffered significant head trauma when his car was hit head-on by a sheriff's patrol car. The deputy sheriff was allegedly fleeing the husband of his girlfriend at the time, having been caught in flagrante. The client was left permanently disabled as a result of his injuries. The case was settled without suit. Following the settlement, Bill was able to arrange for a financial manager to handle the client's finances. Settlement funds were used to buy the client a house and car, and the financial manager pays the client's bills out of the remaining funds. If the client lives a normal life expectancy, at his death the corpus of the funds will still be intact, as he is completely supported by the income earned by investing the settlement proceeds.

Automobile Accident. Bill Horsley represented a young woman who, while still in high school, suffered a rotator cuff tear when her vehicle was rear-ended in the school parking lot by the school "Resource Officer," a deputy sheriff. She underwent surgery and anticipated additional surgery. The case was settled at mediation for $107,500.

North Carolina Car / Auto Resource Links
 
NCDOT Division of Motor Vehicles
Provides vehicle licensing, titling, and registration information, forms, driver records, driver study guide, service locations and offices
 
 
 
 
Insurance Company Claims Links:
AIG Insurance
Allstate Insurance
Amica Insurance
GEICO Insurance - http://www.geico.com/
Progressive Insurance - http://claims.progressive.com/
How to Find a Greensboro Car Accident Attorney
 
For more information, contact the Greensboro Car Accident Attorneys at The Horsley Law Firm:
Address:
500-D State Street
Greensboro, NC 27405

Telephone:
336-691-0077  -or-  1-800-953-2542

Email:
wfh@horsleylawfirm.com
Easy & confidential online case evaluation form.
 
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