Car Accident Lawyers Serving Greensboro, North Carolina

Car accidents are one of the most common dangers facing residents of Greensboro and people throughout North Carolina. According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, there were 285,074 crashes reported statewide in 2019 alone, resulting in 125,232 injuries and 1,470 deaths. A fatal car accident is an undeniable tragedy, but even in cases where someone is not killed in a crash, they may suffer grievous injuries and pile up thousands of dollars in medical bills.

We know there’s no such thing as a silver lining after a serious car accident, but crash victims can find solace in the fact that they can file a personal injury claim against the party responsible for their injuries.

The Greensboro car accident lawyers from Hardison & Cochran have spent more than 30 years defending the rights of crash victims and helping them recover fair compensation for their injuries. During our time as auto accident lawyers, we’ve collected significant compensation for our clients and earned many honors and awards from our peers.

We would be honored to represent you in a Greensboro car accident injury claim. To learn more about our services, call our office today or visit our contact page for a free initial consultation.

Common Injuries From Car Accidents in Greensboro

Depending on the force of the crash, the angle of impact, and other factors, car accident victims can sustain many kinds of serious injuries.

Some common injuries suffered in Greensboro car accidents include:

• Lacerations and bruises – Shards of glass and other objects may go flying in a crash, leading to deep cuts that can prove fatal if they cause severe blood loss. More blunt objects may leave deep, painful bruises if they hit a driver or passenger after the initial impact.
• Fractures and broken bones – Broken bones are one of the most common types of injuries sustained in a major car accident. Bones may break due to the initial impact, objects flying through the vehicle’s cabin, or when someone hits an airbag after it deploys. Victims often suffer fractured ribs or broken bones in the arms, wrists, hands, legs, feet, hips, or face.
• Soft-tissue injuries – In addition to breaking bones, a car accident can severely damage other tissues in your body. This includes your muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other connective tissues. A sprained or torn muscle can be extremely painful, and a torn ligament or tendon can severely impact your ability to move certain parts of your body.
• Internal organ damage – The internal organs in our bodies are crucial to keeping us alive and healthy, so any time they’re damaged is a cause for concern. Internal organs can be damaged from the force from the initial impact in a crash, and they can also occur if an object penetrates the body cavity.
• Spinal cord damage – Your spinal cord relays nerve signals from your brain throughout your body, and any damage to it can severely affect your ability to move and perform certain bodily functions. Car accidents can lead to ruptured or herniated discs that support your vertebrae, cracks or small fractures in the vertebrae, and a complete break in your spinal column. Severe spinal cord injuries often lead to partial or complete paralysis, which may be permanent.
• Back and neck injuries – A car accident can also affect the muscles and connective tissues in your back and neck. These injuries can be quite painful and make moving around difficult. Whiplash injuries suffered in rear-end accidents can make turning or moving your head painful, if not impossible. Neck injuries can also lead to paralysis.
• Facial disfigurement – If shards of glass or other objects cut or become embedded in your face after a crash, you could sustain serious scars. These scars often require plastic surgery to help minimize them.
• Burns – Hot metal or other surfaces can lead to burn injuries if you touch them after a crash. Burn injuries can also occur if one of the vehicles involved catches on fire.
• Traumatic brain injuries – A traumatic brain injury is always serious because of how crucial our brains are to all our bodily functions. Brain damage is frequently permanent, and rapid medical intervention is required to minimize the harm. In car accidents, traumatic brain injuries are generally the result of a hard blow to the head or an object penetrating the skull.

What Types of Injuries Can Be Compensated?

North Carolina law allows car accident victims to recover compensation for their injuries and financial losses after a crash. A Greensboro car accident injury lawyer can help you file a personal injury claim or lawsuit to help you collect compensation for the different losses you’ve suffered in a crash, such as:

• Your medical bills – If you’ve been badly hurt in a car accident, you could run up tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills in a matter of days. Just the ambulance ride to the hospital could cost several thousand dollars. When you add in the cost of surgeries, diagnostic imaging tests, lab work, physical therapy, prescription medications, and the cost of transportation to your various appointments, your medical bills after an accident can take a massive toll on your finances.
• Missed wages – Depending on the extent of your injuries in a car accident, you may miss several days, weeks, or months of work. This is income you most likely won’t be able to make up. Losing a large portion of your income right after incurring major medical bills is an added insult to the injuries you’ve already suffered, but you can get this money back with help from a personal injury attorney in Greensboro.
• Reduced earning capacity – Serious car accidents can result in long-term or permanent injuries that can impact your ability to earn a living. A spinal cord injury, for example, may leave you without the use of your legs, while a traumatic brain injury may impact your ability to speak and communicate. Being unable to work when you have many years of life left can be a devastating blow, and a car accident lawyer can help you get the money you need to take care of yourself.
• Damaged personal property – Many car accidents result in extensive damage to your personal property. If nothing else, you’ll likely have to repair or replace your vehicle. You may have other property that was damaged or destroyed in the accident as well.
• Pain and suffering – The pain from your injuries in a car accident and the effect on your quality of life can be substantial. It may take months or years for your injuries to fully heal, and you could be in intense pain until that happens. Car accidents also frequently result in psychological trauma, including nightmares, heightened anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Greensboro

There’s no single cause of major car accidents in Greensboro, but some of the more common reasons accidents occur include:

• Drivers being impaired by drugs or alcohol
• Drivers being distracted
• Drivers getting behind the wheel while fatigued
• Speeding and other forms of reckless driving
• Mechanical defects
• Poor weather conditions
• Poor road conditions

What to Do After a Car Accident in Greensboro

Here’s what to do after a car accident to protect your rights and help ensure you have the best chance of collecting compensation for your losses:

• See a doctor as soon as you can – You may have major injuries that require immediate medical treatment. Delayed medical treatment could also be used as an excuse by the other side to deny you compensation for your injuries.
• Document the accident before leaving – Make sure to give a statement to the police when they arrive on the scene and avoid using phrases like “I’m sorry” that could imply guilt on your part. Take pictures of the crash, any injuries you’ve sustained, and the area surrounding all the vehicles involved. If there are any eyewitnesses, get their names and contact information for later use.
• Stay away from social media – Don’t say or post anything about the accident. Anything you say could potentially be used against you later on, so your best bet is to say nothing.
• Don’t talk to any insurance companies, even your own – Your insurer or the other driver’s insurer will likely contact you for a statement about the accident. Politely decline and say you need to speak to an attorney first. They’ll likely pressure you into accepting a quick settlement, but doing so eliminates your ability to recover additional compensation.
• Talk to a car accident attorney – An attorney can deal with insurance companies for you while you recover, as well as assist with other crucial tasks like gathering evidence, identifying who’s liable for your injuries, and filing a personal injury claim on your behalf. The sooner you talk to a lawyer, the greater your chances of getting a fair settlement for your losses.

Contact a Greensboro Car Accident Lawyer

Dealing with the aftermath of a serious car accident can be a challenge, but an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer can take the pressure of pursuing an injury claim off your shoulders so you can focus on your recovery. Get a free initial consultation with the Greensboro car accident lawyers at Hardison & Cochran today by calling our office or visiting our contact page.