What to Do After a Car Accident in Charlotte

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What to Do After a Car Accident in Charlotte

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According to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, over 35,000 car accidents occurred in Charlotte in 2019. If you are in a car accident in Charlotte, you may feel shocked and overwhelmed, but it is important to know what to do. Unfortunately, many car accident victims don’t know the proper steps to take after an accident, leading to further complications when they try to recover compensation for their damages.

At The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, our car accident attorneys have represented car accident victims in North Carolina since 2005. We are here to help if you need legal assistance after an auto accident. We have years of experience dealing with car accident cases, and we know how to get results. We force the liable parties to accept the consequences of their actions and provide you with the compensation you are entitled to.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Check For Injuries

After a car accident, the first thing you should do is check for injuries. If you are injured, seek medical attention immediately. Even if you don’t think you are injured, it is still a good idea to get checked out by a doctor as some injuries don’t manifest immediately and, if left untreated, can lead to long-term complications.

Get to a Safe Place

After you have determined that everyone is okay, the next thing to do is get to a safe place. This means getting out of the way of oncoming traffic if you are in the middle of the road. If it is safe to do so, move your car to the side of the road. Once you are in a safe place, turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers. However, if possible, take pictures before you move your car. 

Call 911

Even if there doesn’t seem to be any damage, it is important to call the police. The police will create a report which can be helpful later on if any property damage or injuries end up being more severe than initially thought, or the person who admitted fault at the scene has now changed their mind as to what happened.

Exchange Information

If there is any damage to either vehicle, it is important to exchange information with the other driver.

Collecting the Right Information

When you are exchanging information, make sure to collect the following:

  • The names, addresses, and phone numbers of all drivers involved in the accident
  • The make, model, and year of all cars involved in the accident
  • The other driver’s insurance company information
  • A description of the accident scene
  • The driver’s license number of the other driver

Collect Evidence

If there is any damage to the vehicles involved, it is essential to gather whatever evidence you can. This can help with insurance claims later on.

Take Pictures or Video of the Crash Scene

If it is safe to do so, take pictures or video of the scene and the vehicles involved, not just your own. This can be helpful if there is any dispute later on about what happened.

Get the Names and Contact Information of Witnesses

If there are any witnesses to the accident, be sure to get their names and contact information. Their testimony may be helpful later on.

Get a Copy of Your Charlotte, NC Car Accident Report

After a police report is filed, it is essential to get a copy. This report will be helpful later on if you need to file a car accident claim.

Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company

After gathering all of the necessary information, the next step is to call your insurance company to report an auto insurance claim. It is crucial to put your own insurance company on notice, even if you are not at fault. 

What to Expect From the Insurance Company After an Auto Accident

After filing an auto insurance claim, the insurance company will open an investigation. The insurance company will assign an adjuster to your case to gather information about the accident.

The insurance adjuster may contact you to get a statement about what happened and contact witnesses. It is important to contact a lawyer before giving any statements about what happened or accepting any settlement from an insurance company. A lawyer will protect your interests and ensure you get fair compensation for your damages.

Contact a Charlotte Car Accident Lawyer

If you are injured due to a car accident or there is damage to your vehicle, it may be necessary to contact a Charlotte car accident lawyer. A lawyer can help you file a lawsuit against the at-fault party, if necessary, and get the compensation you deserve.

North Carolina Car Accident Laws

Knowing the North Carolina car accident laws is important before filing a claim. These laws can impact the amount of compensation you are entitled to.

The Statute of Limitations

In North Carolina, you generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you do not file within this time frame, you will be barred from filing a claim and recovering compensation. It is important to talk to your attorney about the statute of limitations early on to make sure your cases does not fall into an exception.  

Contributory Negligence

North Carolina is a contributory negligence state. This means that if you are even partially at fault for the accident, you will not recover any compensation. For example, if you were speeding at the time of the accident, you may be found to be partially at fault. You may not recover compensation for your injuries or damages if the speeding is found to have contributed to the collision. Intersection cases are notorious for possible contributory negligence and there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration.  

Speak with a Charlotte car accident lawyer to see if you have a case against the at-fault driver and before giving any statements to the insurance company.

Damages You Can Recover After a Motor Vehicle Accident

If you are involved in a car accident in Charlotte, you may be able to recover the following damages:

  • Medical expenses – this can include medical bills related to hospitalization, surgery, doctor’s visits, physical therapy, and medication
  • Lost wages – if you are unable to work because of your injuries, you may be able to recover your lost wages
  • Property damage – this can include the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle
  • Pain and suffering – this is non-economic damage that can be awarded for the physical and emotional anguish you have suffered due to the accident.

If you are involved in a car accident, it is important to take steps to protect your rights. Contacting a Charlotte car accident lawyer can help you understand your rights and options. A lawyer can also help you get the compensation you deserve.

Shot of firefighters on a car accident scene protected with cordon tape, fire engine in background, damaged cars in foreground.

Call the Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor to Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Charlotte Car Accident Lawyer Today

Car accidents can happen at any time, and if you have been injured in one due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you deserve fair compensation for your injuries. Our Charlotte car accident lawyers are well versed in North Carolina law. We take on insurance companies and negotiate with them to ensure that you receive fair treatment. We are also not afraid to go to trial when it’s in our client’s best interest.

Contact us today for your free initial consultation and learn more about what we can do to help you. We will answer your questions and explain all of your legal options.

301 S McDowell St #1016
Charlotte, NC 28204

Phone: (704) 676-1093
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

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120 3rd St NE
Hickory, NC 28601

Phone: (828) 327-9004
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

301 S McDowell St #1016
Charlotte, NC 28204

Phone: (704) 676-1093
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

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Concord, NC 28025

Phone: (704) 787-9419
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Charlotte Injury Lawyers & Attorneys at Law

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Notice of Data Security Event
Updated March 28, 2025

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor is providing notice of an event that may affect certain individuals’ information. Although we have no indication of identity theft or fraud in relation to this event, we are providing information about the event, our response, and additional measures individuals can take to help protect their information, should they feel it appropriate to do so.

What Happened? On October 28, 2024, The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor identified suspicious activity related to our email system. We quickly took steps to investigate and determined that an unknown actor may have accessed certain emails within our email system between August 7 and November 7, 2024. We then conducted a comprehensive review of the potentially affected emails and attachments to determine what information was contained therein and to whom the information related, which was completed on February 25, 2025. Unfortunately, we were unable to verify the addresses of certain affected individuals, so we are providing this notice to ensure potentially affected individuals receive information about the event.

What Information Was Involved? The information affected may include individuals’ Social Security number, driver’s license and state ID information, financial account number, and health information.

What We Are Doing. We are notifying individuals about this matter and providing guidance about free resources that are available to assist with monitoring relevant accounts, credit reports, and how to place a fraud alert or security freeze on one’s credit file. Further, as with our typical security practices, we will continue to evaluate our policies, procedures, staff training, and technical security measures to reduce the likelihood of an event like this reoccurring.

What Individuals Can Do. We encourage you to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing your account statements and monitoring your free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. We also recommend you review the below “Steps Individuals Can Take To Help Protect Personal Information”.

For More Information. If individuals have questions about this matter, we have a dedicated assistance line with agents ready to answer their questions. Please contact our toll-free dedicated assistance line at 1-800-939-4170, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. through 9 p.m., excluding holidays. You may also write to us at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, Attn: Compliance, P.O. Box 2688, Hickory, NC 28603.

Sincerely,

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor

STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT PERSONAL INFORMATION

Monitor Your Accounts

Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumer’s name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.

Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/

https://www.transunion.com/credit-help
1-888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

Additional Information

Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect their personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state attorney general. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state attorney general. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.

For District of Columbia residents, the District of Columbia Attorney General may be contacted at: 400 6th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001; 1-202-442-9828; and oag.dc.gov.

For Maryland residents, the Maryland Attorney General may be contacted at: 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023; and https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/.

For New Mexico residents, consumers have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in their credit file has been used against them, the right to know what is in their credit file, the right to ask for their credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting bureaus must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to consumers’ files is limited; consumers must give consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; consumers may limit “prescreened” offers of credit and insurance based on information in their credit report; and consumers may seek damages from violators. Consumers may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active-duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage consumers to review their rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580.

For New York residents, the New York Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; or https://ag.ny.gov.

For North Carolina residents, the North Carolina Attorney General may be contacted at: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6000; and www.ncdoj.gov.

For Rhode Island residents, the Rhode Island Attorney General may be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903; 1-401-274-4400; and www.riag.ri.gov. Under Rhode Island law, individuals have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this event.
STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT A MINOR DEPENDENT’S PERSONAL INFORMATION

Typically, credit reporting agencies do not have a credit report in a minor’s name. To find out if a minor has a credit report or to request a manual search for a minor’s Social Security number each credit bureau has its own process. To learn more about these processes or request these services, consumers may contact the credit bureaus by phone, writing, or online:
Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/help/article-list/-/h/a/request-child-credit-report/
https://www.experian.com/help/minor-request.html
https://www.transunion.com/fraud-victim-resources/child-identity-theft

1-800-685-1111 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013 P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

To request information about the existence of a credit file in a minor’s name, search for a minor’s Social Security number, place a security freeze or fraud alert on a minor’s credit report (if one exists), or request a copy of a minor’s credit report consumers may be required to provide the following information:
● A copy of their driver’s license or another government issued identification card, such as a state identification card, etc.;
● Proof of address, such as a copy of a bank statement, utility bill, insurance statement, etc.;
● A copy of the minor’s birth certificate;
● A copy of the minor’s Social Security card;
● The minor’s full name, including middle initial and generation, such as JR, SR, II, III, etc.;
● The minor’s date of birth; and
● The minor’s previous addresses for the past two years.

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