North Carolina Law Firm Advocates for Those Injured in Auto Accidents
Charlotte Personal Injury Attorneys Help Clients Deal with Insurance Companies
Insurance companies play a significant role in an auto and truck accidents. However, the companies involved will view the claim from dramatically different viewpoints, depending upon whether their insured is the at-fault driver or the injured victim.
If you have full coverage and collision coverage, your insurance company will cover your property damage or car repairs until fault is determined and will then negotiate with the other driver’s insurance company to decide who will ultimately pay for the damages.
Insurance defense lawyers work with insurance companies to defend their policyholders–meaning that they act on behalf of the insurance company, not injured people. Therefore, you should always contact an experienced attorney before speaking with any insurance representative if you make an injury claim. At the Law Offices of Estwanik and May PLLC, we work for you, not insurance companies.
Determining Liability for an Auto Accident
Assigning liability is left up to the insurance companies and is seldom a simple matter. For example, when an accident claim is filed, a claims adjuster – an employee of the insurance company – will investigate to determine who was at fault for the accident by interviewing the claimant as well as witnesses, reviewing police reports and any other evidence available.
A driver does not have to be 100 percent at fault for an accident to be assigned some degree of liability in most states. However, North Carolina is one of a handful of states that does not allow a plaintiff to recover any damages at all if they are determined to be even slightly at fault for the accident and their subsequent injuries. Under the state’s pure contributory negligence rule, an injured person’s chance to recover is essentially “all or nothing,” a stance that insurance companies favor since it makes it more difficult for victims to obtain fair compensation.
But there is hope, even if an insurance company thinks you were somehow at fault for your injuries. We could still obtain a favorable outcome and settlement as experienced Trial Attorneys at Estwanik & May. Because an Insurance Adjuster is Not an Attorney, the skilled personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Estwanik and May PLLC have the experience to find ways to help you.
Contact a Knowledgeable North Carolina Auto Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been seriously injured in an automobile accident in North Carolina, the Law Offices of Estwanik and May PLLC want to help. Call us at 704-817-2004 and schedule your free consultation to discuss your options today.