Kinston, North Carolina, has just under 20,000 residents. However, it has a relatively high number of traffic accidents, particularly impaired driving collisions, according to recent Kinston car accident statistics. These crashes can result in serious injuries, including short- or long-term disabilities that interfere with the victim’s ability to work or tend to their daily needs.
Under North Carolina law, crash victims can seek compensation from negligent drivers who cause car accidents. A Kinston car accident lawyer from Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers will take on the at-fault driver and their insurer to secure fair compensation for your crash-related injuries.
How Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in Kinston, NC
Our family-run law firm has been serving clients in Kinston, North Carolina, for decades. Our attorneys have close to two centuries of combined legal experience.
When you get injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s actions, our lawyers can provide the following legal services:
- Analyzing the strength and value of your case
- Building a strong claim using medical records, accident reports, and other evidence
- Filing your claim with the other driver’s insurance carrier and negotiating to resolve it
- Taking your case to court if the insurer denies your claim
Car accidents can have long-lasting effects on your health and finances. Contact us today to schedule a no-cost consultation with a Kinston car accident attorney and find out how we can help you pursue compensation from those responsible for injuring you.
Kinston Car Accidents Overview
According to the North Carolina Traffic Crash Facts report, Kinston had 459 traffic crashes in 2023. These collisions included eight pedestrian accidents and one bicycle accident. Among the remaining incidents, eight involved motorcycles and 14 involved commercial motor vehicles, according to the Statewide Crash Dashboard.
Importantly, these crashes included both collisions between two or more road users as well as single-vehicle crashes. Single-vehicle accidents occur when a vehicle runs off the road, collides with a fixed object or animal, or rolls over.
Injuries and Deaths From Traffic Crashes in Kinston
The crashes in Kinston in 2023 included one fatal accident and 336 non-fatal injury accidents. The state doesn’t break down the severity of the injuries these accidents cause, but generally, it rates crash severity by the most serious injury suffered in the collision. Thus, a fatal accident might include both fatalities and non-fatal injuries.
Pedestrian accidents in 2024 caused eight non-fatal injuries. Similarly, collisions with bicycles caused one non-fatal injury. From these numbers, it can be extrapolated that 100% of pedestrian and bicycle accidents caused injury. This makes sense, as pedestrians and cyclists have little or no protection when hit by a car.
Causes of Collisions in North Carolina
Most traffic accidents result from a relatively small set of contributing factors. These factors mostly comprise risky driving behaviors, including the following:
Speeding
Speeding contributed to 21 crashes in 2023, according to the Statewide Crash Dashboard. Speeding happens when drivers exceed the speed limit for the type and location of the road. Driving too fast can result in crashes because the traffic conditions and road design can’t accommodate high velocities.
Speeding can also occur when drivers travel too fast for the current conditions. Slick roads, poor visibility, and traffic congestion all require slower speeds. If a driver fails to slow down when facing these conditions, they can cause accidents for which they bear responsibility.
Failing To Yield
State law specifies when drivers must yield to other vehicles. These right-of-way rules are intended to maintain order on the roads. They dictate the flow of traffic at intersections, as well as mid-block turns across and into traffic.
For example, a failure to yield may happen when a driver makes a left turn across an active lane without waiting for a gap to open. If an oncoming vehicle collides with the driver, the driver who failed to yield is likely responsible for the resulting injuries.
Impaired Driving
According to the 2023 Crash Facts report, 4.73% of collisions in Kinston were caused by drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol. These intoxicants can impair a motorist’s judgment and physical coordination. They can also make a driver drowsy or jittery and affect their ability to judge the speed or distance of other vehicles.
When a driver gets behind the wheel after using drugs or alcohol, the liability for any resulting crashes often falls squarely on their shoulders.
Contact Our Kinston Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Kinston car accidents can occur in many ways that expose negligent drivers to liability for the injuries they cause. Contact Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers for a free consultation with a Kinston car accident attorney.