Practice Areas

Types of Car Accidents

Our highly skilled attorneys have years of experience handling a variety of claims. Discover how we can make a difference.

From Wilkinson Boulevard on Charlotte’s west side to Interstate 485, car accidents happen across Charlotte every day. While no two accidents are exactly the same, many car accidents share common factors. Perhaps the driver who hit you was drunk. They driver might have been distracted by a cell phone or ignoring the speed limit, leading to the accident. There may be a combination of factors contributing to your car wreck.

At Hull & Chandler, P.A., our experience shows us that some types of car accidents are more common than others. Each type of accident carries its own specific causes and damages. Knowing how and why your accident happened is critical in determining fault for your accident. That’s why it’s so essential to contact an experienced attorney now. We’re ready to help obtain the compensation you deserve. Call 704-375-8488 today for a free case consultation. A delay may affect your right to pursue a claim.

We have experience handling car accident cases of all types, including the following:


Reckless Driving

Many car accidents in Charlotte are caused by reckless drivers who fail to obey traffic lights and stop signs. Other times, the driver is not paying attention and might change lanes without signaling or veering in and out of traffic lanes. You may even be dealing with a driver who causes a rear-end accident after following your vehicle too closely. Whatever the case, we can help you get the compensation you rightfully deserve.

Reckless driving encompasses a wide range of unsafe behaviors, typically resulting in a traffic citation. While all drivers understand how to operate their vehicles defensively and are aware of traffic laws, some drivers willingly choose to put themselves and others in danger. Other times, a driver’s conduct may be unintentional or accidental. No matter the cause of an accident, these drivers need to be held accountable if they cause a car accident.

Laws differ from state-to-state in defining reckless driving. Some behaviors are more common than others. Common forms of reckless driving in North Carolina include the following:

  • Failure to use traffic signals
  • Failure to yield
  • Speeding
  • Disobeying traffic signals
  • Veering across traffic lanes
  • Driving while distracted
  • Tailgating

If someone else caused your accident, we believe you shouldn’t have to face the aftermath alone. Medical bills add up fast. You may be unable to work or provide for your loved ones. You may have pain and suffering and emotional distress. We know what’s at stake, which is why Hull & Chandler, P.A., aggressively pursues compensation on behalf of people injured by reckless drivers. We believe injury victims in North Carolina shouldn’t have to suffer physically, emotionally and financially due to someone else’s negligent behavior.


Speeding

As any driver in North Carolina knows, speeding is a not unusual on the roads and highways in Charlotte and throughout the state. Speed limits exist for a reason. When a driver ignores the posted speed limit, not only is he breaking the law, but he’s putting others at risk. When an accident involves a car, truck or motorcycle traveling at a high rate of speed, there can be deadly consequences.

Speeding is the most common cause of car accidents in the country, and collisions involving speed are often the most serious cases we handle at our firm. While some drivers might dismiss speeding as “no big deal,” high-speed accidents are rarely minor. The significant forces involved in high speed accidents can result in a variety of serious injuries, from broken bones and whiplash to brain injury or spinal cord injury.

Such factors as road conditions, weather, and amount of traffic are more important in determining the safest speed as opposed to the posted speed limit. Traveling at an unsafe speed reduces the time available for slowing or stopping and makes it harder to control the vehicle, especially in turns and curves. Speeding drivers may also be driving under the influence of alcohol or texting, thus increasing chances of a drunk driving accident or a distracted driving accident.

If you are injured in a high-speed collision, whether as a driver, passenger or a pedestrian, you may have a right to compensation for your injuries. Our experienced legal team has seen first-hand how a speeding accident can lead to serious injuries. If you did nothing to cause your accident, you shouldn’t have to pay for somebody else’s careless mistake.


Driving While Drowsy and Tired

Fatigued drivers cause accidents every day in North Carolina and across the United States. However, simply being tired isn’t enough of an excuse for many drivers to avoid getting behind-the-wheel. Driving while drowsy and tired is an often overlooked and highly dangerous behavior that can lead to a serious car accident in a matter of seconds.

Falling asleep at the wheel is a very preventable situation. Everyone has the choice not to get behind the wheel. If you’re feeling yourself nodding off, pull over to the side of the road. Fatigued driving is a form of impaired driving. The lack of attention paid to the road when sleep deprived or drowsy is just as dangerous as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

What are the signs of fatigued driving?

  • Drifting between lanes
  • Yawning or blinking excessively
  • Hitting rumble strips on a highway
  • Trouble recalling details before the accident occurred
  • Missing an exit or failing to adhere to traffic signals

Although not intentionally malicious or pre-meditated, deciding to drive while tired is a decision that puts other drivers on the road in immediate danger. You have the right to be compensated for your injuries if you’ve been in an accident with a driver who was too tired to drive. She may deny falling asleep at the wheel. The insurance company may even try to say that you caused the accident. That’s when you need an aggressive advocate who can be your voice and stand up for you.

At Hull & Chandler, P.A., we work tirelessly to hold negligent drivers accountable. You shouldn’t have to pay for a fatigued driver’s careless mistakes. The person who caused your accident – and his insurance company – need to be held responsible for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages that may have been a result of the accident. 


Hit and Run Accidents

Car accidents can be frustrating and confusing under any circumstances. In most cases, you expect other drivers to stop and exchange insurance information. But when a driver chooses to flee the scene of an accident, you’re left wondering who will compensate you for painful injuries, property damage, and other possible losses. In such cases, you may have to file a claim against your own insurance company. These cases can be difficult, since your insurance company may turn into your adversary. That’s why you should call our car accident attorneys to learn about your options. Call 866-607-3620 for a free consultation.

There is no good reason not to stop after being in an accident. Hit and run accidents are considered criminal in North Carolina.

What should you do if you’ve been involved in a hit and run accident?

  • Try to make an identification of the driver and car, including the plate number and make and model of the vehicle.
  • Do not try to follow the driver. He or she may be dangerous and should not be confronted without the authorities.
  • Call 911 and report the event. Provide as many details as possible, including anything you can remember from the vehicle, such as license plate number.
  • Talk to witnesses and collect their contact information.
  • Take photographs of your car and scene of the accident.

Unfortunately, victims often have difficulty getting compensation for hit and run injuries or property damage because the at-fault driver has already left the scene. Drivers may not stop because they don’t have auto insurance, a driver’s license, or they may have an outstanding warrant for their arrest. While you may feel frustrated by a hit-and-run accident, you don’t have to deal with the insurance company alone.

You have legal rights. Hull & Chandler, P.A., can help you pursue the compensation you deserve for your hit-and-run accident. Remember, your own insurance may pay for the damages associated with the accident. We can look at your insurance coverage and the circumstances of your accident and find the best course of action.


Uninsured/Underinsured Accidents

Drivers in North Carolina are legally required to carry minimum amounts of auto insurance. This insurance is necessary to pay for damages in the event of a car accident. But just because drivers are required to have insurance doesn’t mean they follow the law. Others may have insurance, but not enough to cover the long-term costs of your accident.

Uninsured drivers who cause accidents may not be able to pay you for your losses, but you may have options. The most direct way to recover for your losses after an accident with an uninsured motorist involves making a claim against your own uninsured motorist policy. Unfortunately, not every insurance company is ready to respond in the way you deserve. You may face a dispute over your uninsured or underinsured motorist claim.

Insurance companies have certain legal obligations to handle claims with a reasonable degree of efficiency and ethical conduct when working with individuals who have suffered personal injury or property loss. Unfortunately, not all claimants are treated in this manner. If you are involved in an insurance company dispute, Hull & Chandler, P.A., is ready to help pursue the compensation you deserve.

Our attorneys work tirelessly for people involved in accidents with uninsured or underinsured motorists in Charlotte and across North Carolina. We don’t take no for an answer from insurance companies trying to push you into accepting a “low ball” settlement. We work hard to make sure auto accident victims get the compensation they rightfully deserve. Discover the difference we can make. Contact us today at 704-375-8488.