Do I Have to Go to Court for a Car Accident in North Carolina?

You’ve been hurt in a car accident, and you know you didn’t cause the crash. You’ve learned that you have the right to file a personal injury claim against the person who did cause the crash, such as a reckless driver. But what is the process like for filing a claim, and is court going to be a part of that process?

You’re wondering: Do I have to go to court for a car accident in North Carolina? In most cases, you won’t be required to go to court. The personal injury claim process is outlined for you below.

The Car Crash Claim Process in North Carolina

The car accident claim process should follow the basic steps below.

Investigate the Accident

First, your accident needs to be investigated to find out who caused the car crash. Evidence needs to be collected that will show what happened and who was at fault. Was it a drunk driver who caused the crash, or did a negligent mechanic make errors when servicing a vehicle? Investigation brings this information to light.

Proving Fault and Injuries

Once the cause is determined, it’s important to gather evidence to prove fault and to prove the seriousness of your injuries. Anything can be used as evidence if it proves your case, but some common types of car accident evidence are witness statements, crash reports, crash scene expert statements, photo evidence, medical reports, and video evidence.

Calculating Your Claim

Next, you need to figure out how much your claim is worth. Add up your financial and nonfinancial losses to come up with a settlement amount.

Submitting the Claim to the Insurer

You will then put all of the pieces together into a claim and submit it to the insurance company. They can offer you a settlement to pay for your wreck. If the offer is fair, you can accept it without ever going to court. The only time you would go to court is if the insurer refuses to pay you fairly or is denying your claim altogether.

Connect with a North Carolina Vehicle Crash Attorney

Back to your question: Do I have to go to court for a car accident in North Carolina? It’s not likely, but it’s always a possibility. You shouldn’t worry about going to court, however, because your Charlotte car accident lawyer would litigate your case in court if it came to that. Call a car crash attorney at The Nye Law Group at 704-285-6319 or fill out the form below to get your free case review.