Zechariah Carr Etheridge

Get medical care even if you feel okay, because some injuries appear days later. Take photos, get the police report number, collect the other driver's insurance details, and keep every bill and receipt connected to the crash.

Be careful before giving a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer, because your words can be used to reduce or deny your claim. You can politely decline until you have talked with a lawyer about your case.

Early offers are often made before the full cost of medical care, lost work and future treatment is known. Once you sign a release, the claim is closed forever, so it is worth understanding the value of your claim before accepting.

Most North Carolina injury claims have a three year deadline from the date of the injury, and claims against government bodies follow shorter, special rules. Missing the deadline usually ends the claim, so it is smart to confirm your exact date early.

North Carolina follows a strict rule called contributory negligence: if you are found even one percent at fault, you can be barred from recovering anything. That harsh rule is a major reason insurance companies argue hard about fault, and a lawyer can evaluate it before you give up.