North Carolina Car Accident Lawyers

Types of Car Accidents We Handle

Car accidents may share a common outcome—injury and disruption—but the way they happen varies widely. At Lanier Law Group, we represent clients injured in all types of motor vehicle collisions, each with its own legal and investigative considerations. Understanding the nature of your crash helps us build a stronger case and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end accidents are among the most frequent types of crashes, particularly in high-traffic areas like downtown Raleigh, Charlotte, or near ECU in Greenville. Often caused by distracted driving or following too closely, these accidents can result in whiplash, soft tissue damage, and spinal injuries. While they may seem minor, the long-term effects can be significant, especially when injuries are not immediately diagnosed.

Head-On Collisions

Head-on crashes are some of the most dangerous accidents we see, often occurring at high speeds on rural roads or undivided highways. The impact can be devastating, leading to broken bones, internal injuries, or fatalities. These cases require a thorough investigation to determine whether driver fatigue, intoxication, or distraction caused the vehicle to veer into oncoming traffic.

Intersection Accidents

T-bone or side-impact collisions frequently occur at intersections where one driver fails to yield or runs a red light. These crashes are particularly dangerous because the sides of vehicles offer less protection than the front or rear. Injuries in intersection accidents often include head trauma, pelvic fractures, and internal bleeding. Dashcam footage and eyewitness accounts are crucial in establishing fault.

Rollover Crashes

Rollover accidents typically involve SUVs, trucks, or vehicles with high centers of gravity, and are often caused by overcorrection, excessive speed, or striking a barrier. These crashes can lead to ejection, roof crush injuries, or multiple trauma points. Proving liability in a rollover often involves analyzing vehicle design, roadway conditions, and driver behavior.

Multi-Car Pileups

Pileups usually occur on highways like I-40 or I-85 during heavy traffic, poor weather, or chain-reaction braking. Determining fault in these cases is complex, as multiple drivers and insurance policies may be involved. Our legal team works with accident reconstruction experts to untangle the sequence of events and hold all responsible parties accountable.

Understanding North Carolina’s Contributory Negligence Rule

One of the most important legal concepts affecting car accident claims in North Carolina is the state’s contributory negligence rule. Unlike many states that allow partial recovery when both parties share fault, North Carolina follows a much stricter system.

What Is Contributory Negligence?

Under contributory negligence, if you are found to be even 1% at fault for the accident, you may be completely barred from recovering any compensation. This rule applies regardless of how severe your injuries are or how clear it is that the other driver was primarily responsible.

For example, if you were hit by a speeding driver but failed to use your turn signal, an insurance company may argue that your minor oversight contributed to the crash—and attempt to deny your claim entirely.

Why Legal Representation Is Critical

Because of this harsh legal standard, car accident cases in North Carolina are often contested more aggressively than in other states. Insurance companies may look for any small detail they can use to shift partial blame onto the victim. This is why working with an experienced legal team is essential.

At Lanier Law Group, we anticipate these tactics. Our attorneys gather comprehensive evidence, consult accident reconstruction experts, and prepare your case with the goal of proving zero fault on your part. In a contributory negligence state, success hinges on building an airtight claim from day one.

Injuries Commonly Sustained in Car Crashes

Every car accident is different, but certain types of injuries appear again and again in the cases we handle. These injuries can range from short-term pain to lifelong impairment—and the full impact is not always visible at first. Understanding the range of possible injuries is essential to evaluating the true cost of a crash.

Whiplash and Soft Tissue Injuries

Whiplash is a common injury in rear-end collisions and can cause lasting neck and shoulder pain. Ligament strains, muscle tears, and other soft tissue damage may not appear on X-rays but can severely impact your daily life. These injuries are often underestimated by insurance adjusters, but we know how to document and present them clearly.

Fractures and Broken Bones

The force of a crash can easily break bones, especially in the arms, legs, ribs, or face. Recovery may require surgery, physical therapy, and time away from work. In some cases, fractures lead to permanent loss of mobility or chronic pain.

Head Injuries and Concussions

Even a minor blow to the head can cause a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Symptoms may include memory loss, difficulty concentrating, headaches, or mood changes. TBIs are among the most misunderstood injuries and often require neurological evaluation to fully assess their long-term effects.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Damage to the spine can lead to partial or complete paralysis. These injuries are life-altering and typically involve substantial medical costs, long-term rehabilitation, and personal care needs. We work with medical experts to calculate future expenses and losses to ensure your claim reflects the full scope of your condition.

Internal Injuries

Blunt force trauma in a crash can damage internal organs or cause internal bleeding, sometimes without immediate symptoms. Delayed diagnosis can be life-threatening, which is why prompt evaluation is essential—even if you feel fine right after the accident.

The Importance of Prompt Medical Attention

After a car accident, your first instinct may be to shake it off and get back to your routine—but that can be a serious mistake. Seeking immediate medical attention is not only important for your health but also essential for protecting your legal rights.

Early Treatment Can Save Your Life

Some injuries, like concussions, internal bleeding, or spinal damage, may not present symptoms right away. The adrenaline rush after a crash can mask pain and other warning signs. Getting evaluated by a medical professional ensures that hidden injuries are diagnosed early—before complications set in.

Emergency rooms, urgent care centers, or your primary doctor can perform necessary scans and assessments. Facilities like Duke Raleigh, UNC Rex, or WakeMed in central North Carolina have the tools and experience to identify accident-related trauma quickly.

Medical Records Build Your Case

From a legal standpoint, medical documentation is critical. Insurance companies will look for gaps between the accident and the first recorded treatment. If you delay getting help, they may argue that your injuries were not serious—or were unrelated to the crash altogether.

By seeking care right away, you create a clear link between the collision and your injuries. These records become key evidence when negotiating with insurers or presenting your case in court. Our legal team works closely with your healthcare providers to ensure everything is properly documented and included in your claim.

What to Do After a Car Accident in North Carolina

The moments following a car accident are often chaotic, and the days afterward can be just as overwhelming. You may be dealing with physical pain, transportation issues, and growing medical bills—all while trying to figure out what to do next. If you are in this situation, you are not alone. Many of our clients come to us feeling the exact same way.

What matters now is taking the right steps to protect your health, your finances, and your future legal claim. While you cannot go back and change what happened at the scene, there are still critical actions you can take to strengthen your position moving forward.

Start Building Your Case With Documentation

One of the most helpful things you can do after a crash is gather and preserve information. This includes any photos you took at the scene, the contact details of witnesses, and the official police report. If you visited the emergency room, keep all discharge paperwork. If you’ve seen a specialist, get copies of imaging or test results.

Even if some time has passed since the accident, it is not too late to start organizing these materials. Our legal team can help fill in the gaps by requesting official documents, locating surveillance footage, or speaking with witnesses on your behalf.

Notify Your Insurance Company

You should report the accident to your insurance provider, but be cautious about how much detail you provide. Stick to the facts—time, location, parties involved—and avoid speculating about fault or downplaying your injuries. Anything you say could be used against you later, especially if your claim becomes contested.

If you are already in contact with the at-fault driver’s insurer, it is a good idea to let an attorney step in. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts, and early conversations can affect the strength of your case.

Track Your Recovery

Medical records are only part of the story. To fully understand how the accident has affected your daily life, it helps to keep a personal record. Note days missed from work, physical limitations, emotional stress, and any impact on your ability to care for your home or family. These details help quantify your non-economic damages—like pain, suffering, and lost quality of life.

Determining Liability in Complex Car Accident Cases

Establishing who is legally responsible for a crash is at the heart of any personal injury case. In some situations, fault is straightforward. But many collisions—especially those involving multiple vehicles, commercial drivers, or dangerous road conditions—require a more detailed investigation.

At Lanier Law Group, we take nothing at face value. We build every case from the ground up, using expert resources and local knowledge to uncover the full picture of what happened and who should be held accountable.

Evidence Is Key

In complex cases, strong evidence is often the difference between success and disappointment. We begin by securing the crash report and identifying any available video footage—whether from traffic cameras, nearby businesses, or private dashcams. We also look at vehicle damage, road markings, and physical injuries to help reconstruct the sequence of events.

Eyewitness testimony is another valuable tool. People who saw the crash unfold can provide critical details about speed, behavior, or conditions that are not always clear from official records.

Commercial Vehicle and Employer Liability

Accidents involving commercial vehicles—delivery vans, utility trucks, rideshares, or tractor-trailers—require deeper analysis. In these cases, responsibility may fall not only on the driver but also on their employer. Businesses may be liable for negligent hiring, poor training, unrealistic scheduling, or failure to maintain their fleet.

Our attorneys review company policies, driver logs, inspection records, and hours-of-service violations to hold all responsible parties accountable.

Coordinating With Experts

In particularly complex collisions, we work with accident reconstruction specialists and engineers to interpret the data and provide expert opinions. These professionals help us prove causation and clarify technical issues for both insurance adjusters and juries.

When a Defective Vehicle or Road Condition Is to Blame

Sometimes, the cause of a crash goes beyond driver error. Defective vehicle parts or hazardous road conditions can also lead to accidents—and in those situations, other entities may be liable. Identifying these issues takes experience, persistence, and a willingness to look beyond the surface.

Product Liability and Auto Defects

Modern vehicles are made up of thousands of interconnected systems—and when one fails, the results can be catastrophic. We’ve handled cases involving faulty brakes, defective airbags, failed steering columns, and more. These failures may not be obvious at first but can often be confirmed through expert analysis or vehicle recall records.

In cases like these, we pursue claims against the manufacturer, parts supplier, or dealership responsible for putting an unsafe product on the road. Product liability cases require extensive documentation and specialized legal knowledge, both of which our team brings to the table.

Roadway Hazards and Government Liability

Potholes, missing signage, overgrown vegetation, and malfunctioning traffic signals can also cause or worsen accidents. When road design or maintenance is to blame, the city, county, or state agency responsible for upkeep may bear legal responsibility.

These claims follow a different legal process and are subject to tight notice deadlines. That is why early legal involvement is critical. We know how to document these hazards and file the required paperwork to preserve your right to seek compensation.