In the moments following an auto accident, you will have many concerns. Brad Schulz, our Beaufort-Morehead City car accident injury attorney, has compiled the following guidelines for handling auto accident claims. At Schulz Stephenson Law, we want you to take the appropriate steps to ensure the claim is resolved in your favor.
- Take pictures at the accident scene. If you have a cell phone with a camera, we advise you to take pictures of all the vehicles involved in the accident as well as any injuries you have. For example, if you have bruising or lacerations, those can heal before the claim is resolved. Documentation of all injuries is important.
- Seek medical attention. Some injuries may be obvious and require an immediate ER visit. Other injuries may not be as obvious and can take a few hours or days to develop. It is wise to seek medical treatment after the accident to ensure your medical records are complete and accurate. After you have received medical care, be sure to follow your physician's orders regarding pain medication, follow-up visits and other instructions.
- Speak with Beaufort car accident attorney Brad Schulz. In North Carolina, the insurance companies are going to want a recorded statement from you about the accident. TALK TO A LAWYER BEFORE AGREEING TO A RECORDED STATEMENT. Attorney Schulz has more than 25 years of experience and can effectively guide you through the process of making a recorded statement.
- Report the accident to your insurance company. Inform your insurance company as soon as you can after the accident. For most people, this is usually within one to three days after the accident. If you are in the hospital, your medical treatment will take precedence.
- Speak with our Carteret County attorney about your property damage. Attorney Schulz can talk to you about your rights and responsibilities regarding property damage. This includes damage to your vehicle as well as any items that were in your vehicle at the time of the accident. Our attorney can protect your rights in property damages claim issues that need to be negotiated with the insurance company. Our attorney can also help you obtain a rental car while your car is being repaired.
- Remember that North Carolina is a liability state. Some of our injured clients are not native to North Carolina — they come from no-fault states. In North Carolina, you deal with the other person's insurance company, and they are out to settle your claim as fast and cheap as possible. In North Carolina especially, it is important to speak with an attorney who understands how the fault system works.
- Do not sign anything without having your attorney review it. This includes a statement, property damage report and proposed settlement by the insurance company.
We represent auto accident victims on a contingency basis. That means that you will not have to pay anything for our time unless we get compensation for you.
Contact Our Beaufort Car Accident Injury Attorney
To learn more about how our experienced lawyers can help you successfully resolve an auto accident claim, please call us at 252-728-7300 or send us an e-mail.
Our office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Evening appointments are available upon request. If you are unable to travel to our office, we can make accommodations as needed.
