Fayetteville Car Accident Lawyer
Car Accident Attorneys in Fayetteville
Have you been injured in a car accident in Fayetteville? A car accident lawyer at Riddle & Brantley may be able to help you get the justice and compensation you need and deserve. Since 1985, we’ve helped thousands of North Carolinians in the aftermath of auto accidents, recovering more than $600 million in total compensation for our clients since 2000 alone (see disclaimer below).
Please call (910) 387-9186 today for a free consultation with a car accident lawyer. In-person consultations are available at our convenient Fayetteville office by appointment only, and we can consult with you from anywhere by phone, email, text, and video conference. We can even come to you directly if it’s more convenient.
“It was nice to see Riddle & Brantley put me and my needs first.”
-R. Colley, Riddle & Brantley client
Fayetteville is close to home for the car accident lawyers and staff at Riddle & Brantley. Many of our employees have close ties to the military and we are proud to serve the Fayetteville area, including those stationed at Fort Bragg. Attorney Gene Riddle grew up in Aberdeen, not far from the bombing and training grounds on the back side of Fort Bragg.
Fayetteville Auto Accident Statistics
Fayetteville is served by Interstates 95 and 295, and busy US-401, US 301, US-13 and NC Highways 210 and 24 crisscross the region. With all that traffic, car accidents in Fayetteville are unfortunately common. In 2020, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reported 5,529 traffic accidents in Fayetteville, 2,678 of which resulted in injury. 31 car accidents in Fayetteville were fatal in 2020.
Types of Car Accidents We Handle in Fayetteville, NC
The experienced personal injury lawyers at Riddle & Brantley can handle all types of car accident cases, including those involving:
- Rear-end accidents
- Head-on accidents
- Hit and run accidents
- T-bone accidents
- Side-swipe crashes
- Pedestrian accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Lyft and Uber accidents
In addition to car accidents, our attorneys can also assist with cases involving truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, delivery trucks, mopeds, bicycle accidents, and more. In cases involving injuries suffered while on the job, our workers’ comp attorneys can handle those claims, as well. In the most heartbreaking cases resulting in death, our wrongful death attorneys can help surviving loved ones fight for justice.
In car accident cases resulting in long-term disability, Riddle & Brantley also has disability attorneys on staff to help victims appeal for the benefits they need and deserve.
What to Do After a Car Crash in Fayetteville
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, what you do in the minutes and hours immediately after the crash can have a major impact on the outcome of your potential injury claim. After a car crash, follow these tips to ensure your health and safety and help protect your legal rights:
- Call 911 — North Carolina law requires you to report any car accident resulting in injury. Call 911 right away so law enforcement and medical teams can get to the scene right away.
- Seek Medical Care — Your health and safety are most important. If you’ve been injured (or think you may have been injured), get medical attention right away. Follow the advice of first responders and go to the hospital if necessary. The treatment you receive and associated medical records will play an important part in any potential personal injury claim or lawsuit, as well.
- Take Photos — Document the accident scene and any injuries with photos. Take photos of injuries, vehicle damage, skid marks, debris, property damage, road signage, etc.
- Talk with Law Enforcement — Be open and honest with the responding law enforcement officer(s), and remember that anything you say can and will be used against you. Do NOT apologize or admit fault. Your recollections may not be certain, and you don’t want to jeopardize your potential car accident injury claim.
- Get Contact Info — Talk with potential witnesses and get their contact information. If you’re able, talk with the driver of the other vehicle and get their contact and insurance information. Do NOT apologize or admit fault, even if the facts and circumstances of the accident aren’t immediately clear.
- File a Claim — Call the insurance company and begin the claim process. However, do NOT give a recorded statement to the insurance company without first talking with an attorney.
- Get the Official Accident Report — After the official accident report has been filed, obtain a copy. The accident report can play an important role in proving liability in your potential injury claim or lawsuit. Your attorney can also help you obtain the report.
- Call an Attorney — Consult with an experienced car accident lawyer right away if you’ve been injured in an accident. At Riddle & Brantley, we offer a free, no-obligation consultation and would love to help however we can. Call (910) 387-9186 today and let’s review your claim.
“How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?”
In North Carolina, personal injury claims are subject to the Statute of Limitations, which is essentially the deadline for filing a claim or lawsuit in order to seek compensation. In most cases in North Carolina, you must file your claim within:
- 3 years of the date of injury in personal injury cases
- 2 years of the date of death in wrongful death cases
Don’t lose your right to compensation simply by missing an important deadline. A Riddle & Brantley car accident lawyer can help keep track of important dates and make sure that nothing falls through the cracks. Call (910) 387-9186 today and let’s review your injury case.
If a Car Accident Was My Fault, Do I Still Have a Claim?
Because North Carolina is a state with the contributory negligence doctrine, the state bars you from recovering financial compensation from the other driver if you are found liable in a car accident. This is true even if the other party was primarily at fault. This approach to negligence differs from how most states handle these cases — and can present serious challenges when trying to recover compensation in a car accident injury claim.
However, you should never assume that you were negligent in a crash — and you should never simply admit fault, or even apologize to the other driver or insurance company in the immediate aftermath. Liability is a legal determination that is best left to your attorney to handle. You might be surprised to learn that you were not technically liable and still qualify for compensation.
What is Contributory Negligence?
As noted, North Carolina car accidents are covered by a legal doctrine called contributory negligence. This doctrine guides the court when both parties in an accident share the blame.
Additionally, car accidents can have many causes, and liability is not always clear-cut. While it is easy for a jury to rule against a party that is clearly at fault, the process is more complex when both sides are to blame. Unlike many other jurisdictions, North Carolina takes a strict approach to shared liability. If you are found to share any degree of fault for the accident—even one percent—you are barred from recovering any compensation in North Carolina.
The unfortunate reality for car accident injury victims is that contributory negligence laws give insurance companies an easy excuse to deny claims. Even when their driver is clearly at fault, insurance adjusters know they only need to show a tiny fraction of negligence to block any compensation after an accident. These are cases in which an attorney can generally help.
Talk to an Attorney
When dealing with a personal injury claim, you can generally count on the insurance adjuster to argue that you were partially at fault. You might even feel a sense of guilt for how the accident occurred. In both cases, you should never assume you are legally liable for a car accident. An experienced accident attorney can review the facts of your case and help you understand whether or not you have a viable claim for compensation. Sometimes, insurance adjusters that deny your claim do so in bad faith. A skilled attorney could help you navigate the process and fight for your right to fair compensation.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident and believe you may be at fault — do NOT admit fault, do NOT apologize, and do NOT give a recorded statement to the insurance company without first consulting with an experienced injury lawyer. At Riddle & Brantley, we’re ready to help. Call 1-800-525-7111 and let’s review your claim for free.
There is no obligation, and if you decide to hire us, you won’t pay any attorney fees unless we win your case and you receive financial compensation. It’s as simple as that. Call 1-800-525-7111 and see firsthand that at Riddle & Brantley, Justice Counts.
What Our Attorneys Can Do for You
Pursuing a car accident injury claim or lawsuit can be complicated, time-consuming, and stressful. If you’ve been injured in a Fayetteville auto accident, you don’t have to do this alone. An experienced car accident lawyer at Riddle & Brantley can handle all aspects of your case, including:
- Organizing a thorough crash scene investigation
- Hiring experts, such as an accident reconstructionist, for investigation and testimony if necessary
- Identifying and interviewing potential witnesses
- Collecting and preserving key evidence
- Calculating damages
- Helping prepare you for official statements to the insurance company
- Connecting you with appropriate medical care as necessary
- Negotiating with the insurance company and defense counsel
- Obtaining the official police accident report
- Preparing a lawsuit and filing if necessary
- Conducting depositions
- Litigation
- Drafting and filing court briefs and other legal documents
- Representing you in arbitration and/or mediation proceedings
- Representing you at trial before a judge or jury
- Helping establish trusts and/guardianships for long-term care
- And much, much more…
Investigation Capabilities
Proving liability is important in any personal injury claim. At Riddle & Brantley, our Fayetteville car accident attorneys are supported by a team of experienced investigators to help prove fault and strengthen our clients’ cases. These investigators are retired law enforcement officers who have experience investigating complex crash scenes, evaluating evidence, interviewing witnesses, and more. In some cases, we’ll also bring in outside experts like accident reconstructionists to help determine what happened.
Results for Car Accident Victims
At Riddle & Brantley, we’re proud of our record securing justice and compensation for our clients. Since 2000 alone, our Fayetteville car accident lawyers have secured more than $600 million in total compensation for deserving victims across North Carolina (see disclaimer below). While there are never any guarantees, we try our best to secure maximum compensation for each and every one of our clients.
Recent wins include:
- $9.45 Million | Tractor-Trailer Accident & Wrongful Death — Our attorneys fought for justice for the surviving loved ones of a family of four who were killed in a terrible crash involving several tractor-trailers on I-95 just north of Fayetteville in Harnett County. We tirelessly pursued this claim, organizing a thorough accident investigation, filing multiple lawsuits and ultimately securing more than $9,000,000 in total compensation.
- $2.75 Million | Car Accident — Our client suffered serious injuries in a major, head-on auto accident, including multiple fractures to his leg, neck, and arms. Attorney Donald Dunn handled the matter, securing total compensation of $2,750,000 through arbitration. This settlement was immediately followed by a separate $1 million judgment against one of the insurance companies involved.
- $2.25 Million | Auto Accident & Truck Crash — A speeding truck crossed the center line and slammed into a car head-on, killing the plaintiff instantly. The deceased’s mother turned to Gene Riddle, who knew her daughter personally. Attorney Riddle tirelessly pursued justice in the case, organizing a comprehensive accident investigation and advising defense counsel of his intent to file suit. The case ultimately settled out of court for $2.25 million in total compensation.
*** Disclaimer: The results mentioned are intended to illustrate the type of cases handled by the firm. These results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and they should not be construed to constitute a promise or guarantee of a particular result in any particular case. Every case is different, and the outcome of any case depends upon a variety of factors unique to that case.
“Riddle & Brantley found me all the available money from the insurance companies.”
–David Howard, Riddle & Brantley client
Talk with a Fayetteville Car Accident Lawyer
When you’ve been injured in an auto accident, Justice Counts. Our car accident lawyers have more than 220+ years of combined legal experience and would love to help you seek justice and compensation for your injuries. For a FREE, no-obligation consultation with an experienced car accident injury attorney, call (910) 387-9186 or complete the fast and easy form below.
There are no upfront costs and you won’t pay any attorney fees unless we win your case and you receive compensation. Call (910) 387-9186 and let’s talk.
Why Riddle & Brantley?
You have many choices when seeking an attorney for your car accident claim or lawsuit. At Riddle & Brantley, we’re proud of how our clients describe their experience working with our attorneys and staff, as well as the recognition we’ve received from prestigious membership groups and awards (see disclaimer below), including:
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40
- Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers “Rising Stars”
- The National Association of Distinguished Counsel
- The Litigator Award
- AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell
“You’ll walk in the front door as a client but leave as family. They’re the absolute best.”
–Susan S., Riddle & Brantley client
*** Disclaimer: The results mentioned are intended to illustrate the type of cases handled by the firm. These results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and they should not be construed to constitute a promise or guarantee of a particular result in any particular case. Every case is different, and the outcome of any case depends upon a variety of factors unique to that case.
*** Disclaimer: An attorney must meet certain requirements to join these organizations or receive these awards. For more information on Membership Criteria for Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, The National Association of Distinguished Counsel, AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the Litigator Award, and other memberships, awards, and accolades, please visit our Membership Criteria page. These awards and memberships should not be construed as a promise or guarantee of a similar result. Each case is different and must be evaluated separately.