Nobody gets into the car in the morning expecting that they’ll be in a car crash. Unfortunately, traffic accidents happen to even the most careful people in Shelby, North Carolina. If you’ve found yourself living that unfortunate reality, you’re probably in pain, worried about the cost of medical care, and unsure of how your injuries could affect your future. At Dr. Ted Injury Law, we want to help you during this challenging time — and at no upfront cost to you.
Our founder, Dr. Ted A. Greve, earned his chiropractic license before becoming a trial attorney. Though he only practices law today, his medical training allows him to discover hidden injuries and long-term complications that other lawyers might never see. Led by Dr. Ted, our car accident law firm has more than 100 years of combined experience taking on insurance companies and winning.
Call the Lawyer Who’s Also a Doctor and maximize your recovery. Reach out to us today for your free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced Shelby, NC car accident attorney. There are no upfront costs, no out-of-pocket expenses, and no attorney fees unless we recover money in your car accident case.
Why You Should Hire an Attorney for Your Car Accident Claim in Shelby, NC
When you’ve been in an auto accident, the insurance company starts building its defense against your car accident claim within hours of the crash happening. They’re not waiting to see if you’ll be OK; they’re looking for ways to pay you less than your case is worth, or maybe even nothing at all. That friendly-sounding adjuster who calls you up isn’t your friend. They’re trained to get you talking, hoping you’ll say something they can twist against you later.
A Shelby, NC car accident lawyer can protect you from these tactics while building a strong case for maximum compensation. We know the area’s roads, the dangerous intersections, and how Cleveland County juries think about injury cases. Moreover, Dr. Ted’s medical knowledge helps him understand your injuries, what may have caused them, and the warning signs of future problems that can limit you for years.
Without legal help, you’re one person against a corporation with practically unlimited resources. They have lawyers, investigators, and doctors who are all working to minimize your car accident case. We level that playing field and fight for maximum compensation using every tool at our disposal.
Contact our law firm today to speak with a car accident attorney in Shelby, NC. Your consultation is free and fully confidential.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident
The choices you make after a motor vehicle accident affect both your health and your legal rights. You should do the following:
- Call 911 and Ask for the Police — Officers document the scene, interview witnesses, and create an official record of what happened. The report they compile could prove helpful to your claim.
- Document Everything Possible at the Scene — If you’re able to, photograph vehicle damage from every angle, skid marks on the pavement, traffic signals, weather conditions, and your visible injuries. Get contact information from everyone who saw the vehicle accident.
- Exchange Basic Information but Avoid Discussing the Accident — Get the other driver’s insurance details, license plate number, and contact information. Don’t apologize, don’t admit anything, and don’t say you’re fine.
- Get Medical Attention Immediately, Even for “Minor” Injuries — Adrenaline could mask serious symptoms. Internal bleeding, brain trauma, and spinal damage might not hurt initially, but they can be life-threatening. Moreover, insurance companies use any delay in treatment against you.
Most importantly, call Dr. Ted Injury Law before speaking with any insurance company. Adjusters will pressure you for a recorded statement, hoping to lock you into saying something harmful. Let us handle all communication while you focus on recovering.
How Our Lawyers Investigate Car Accident Cases
It takes detective work to build a winning case. Our investigation seeks to uncover the evidence that insurance companies hope stays hidden, and we go far beyond what’s noted on the police report.
We start at the accident scene, examining details officers might miss. They include sight line obstructions, faded road markings, or dangerous conditions that the city should have fixed. Next, our lawyers hunt for video evidence, including security cameras at nearby businesses, traffic cameras, and even doorbell cameras from homes near the accident. We know how to track down footage before it’s deleted or overwritten. Our attorneys also interview witnesses promptly, while memories remain fresh, getting detailed written statements about what they saw.
Dr. Ted will personally review all your medical records, using his chiropractic knowledge to identify injuries and predict complications other attorneys would miss. When necessary, we bring in accident reconstruction experts who use science to prove how the crash happened and who’s at fault.
Our goal is simple but challenging: to identify anything that contributed to the auto collision so that we can hold all responsible parties accountable to you. Get in touch with us today for your free, no-obligation case review with a car accident lawyer in Shelby, NC.
What Compensation Could You Recover in a Car Accident Claim
Your car accident compensation needs to cover every loss – obvious and hidden, current and future. We fight for maximum recovery in all areas, including the following:
- Medical Bills – Emergency room visits, surgeries, hospital stays, doctor appointments, physical therapy, and prescription medications all qualify. Dr. Ted knows which future treatments you’ll need that insurance companies pretend don’t exist.
- Lost Income – We calculate not just missed paychecks but also lost opportunities for advancement, bonuses, and benefits.
- Reduced Earning Capacity – If your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous work, we will pursue compensation for your decreased earning capacity over your entire career.
- Property Damage – We calculate your vehicle repair/replacement costs as well as rental car expenses and decreased vehicle value after repairs.
- Pain and Suffering – Physical pain, emotional trauma, lost enjoyment of life, and strain on relationships are all real losses, even if they don’t come with receipts.
In some cases, such as drunk driving accidents or other instances of extreme recklessness, an accident victim may be entitled to punitive damages, a monetary award on top of what a jury or judge awards. While the victim receives this money, its primary goal is to punish the wrongdoer and deter others from similar behavior, rather than to compensate the victim for a specific loss they suffered.
Who Could Be Held Liable for a Car Wreck?
Anyone who played a role in causing your car wreck could owe you money, so maximizing your potential compensation means identifying all at-fault parties. While the other driver may bear primary responsibility, our investigation often reveals additional defendants, such as the following:
- Employers share liability when their employees cause crashes while on the job. We examine hiring practices, training programs, and whether companies pushed drivers to meet unsafe deadlines.
- Vehicle manufacturers face liability for defective parts causing accidents, such as faulty brakes, exploding airbags, or tires that fail without warning.
- Government entities might be responsible when poor road design or maintenance contributes to crashes.
- Uber/Lyft/rideshare accidents involve complex insurance coverage depending on the driver’s status when the crash occurred.
For hit-and-run accidents, we explore every option, including your own uninsured motorist coverage, to get compensation even when the at-fault driver flees the scene.
Could You Recover Compensation if You’re Partly to Blame for a Car Accident in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a “pure contributory negligence rule,” which is very strict and unforgiving. If you’re determined to be even 1 percent at fault, you get no compensation at all.
Insurance companies love this rule because any tiny mistake eliminates your entire claim. They’ll argue you were speeding slightly, should have honked your horn, or could have swerved to avoid the collision. Their investigators are searching for any evidence to pin partial blame on you.
This is why it’s so important to have an experienced car accident attorney in Shelby, NC. We know how to prove that you bear zero fault or to take advantage of exceptions to show the other party is to blame for what happened.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in North Carolina?
Under most circumstances, you have three years from the auto wreck date to file a car accident lawsuit in North Carolina. If you miss this deadline, you won’t be able to pursue any compensation for your accident case.
Some situations have even shorter deadlines, such as the following:
- Government vehicle accidents might require notice within six months.
- Hit-and-run insurance claims have specific reporting requirements.
- Wrongful death claims have only two years.
There are other practical reasons to get started as soon as possible. Evidence disappears fast. Stores erase video, witnesses move away, and accident scenes change. Insurance companies count on these delays weakening your case.
Don’t risk losing your opportunity to demand the money you deserve for your injuries. Protect your rights immediately by contacting Dr. Ted Injury Law today for a free, no-obligation case review.
Common Types and Causes of Car Accidents
While there are many different auto accident causes in Shelby, the most common include the following:
- Distracted driving, such as texting and driving
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Inclement weather
- Driver fatigue
- Drunk driving accidents
Typical Injuries Resulting from an Auto Collision
The force of an auto collision causes injuries that can be permanently disabling. Dr. Ted’s medical expertise helps us understand each car accident injury and its long-term impact, such as the following:
- Whiplash may sound minor, but it causes chronic neck pain, headaches, and limited mobility lasting years.
- Head injuries can have permanent effects on memory, concentration, and personality.
- Back injuries often require surgery and cause lifelong pain and mobility issues.
- Broken bones may require invasive surgeries, metal hardware, and extensive therapy.
- Internal injuries can hide life-threatening dangers that may not immediately show symptoms.
- Psychological trauma (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) often accompanies physical injuries.
Contact a Shelby, NC Car Accident Lawyer Today
Don’t face the insurance company alone after your accident. Instead, get help from Dr. Ted Injury Law. We combine medical insight with aggressive legal advocacy with the goal of delivering maximum results.
You pay nothing unless we win; there are no fees and nothing upfront. Call the Lawyer Who’s Also a Doctor today for your free consultation with an experienced Shelby, NC car accident attorney.
Don’t be misled — call Dr. Ted!