Car Accidents
Raleigh Car Accident Attorney
At The Whitley Law Firm, we understand how difficult it can be to deal with the physical injuries and financial difficulties that an auto accident may cause. We are therefore committed to helping victims and families of victims of auto accidents throughout North Carolina from our offices in Charlotte, Raleigh, Jacksonville, New Bern, Winston-Salem, Kinston and Greenville. If you would like to get more information regarding what an attorney can do to assist you in this trying time, we welcome you to call our offices for a free initial consultation at 800-598-0456.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2010, 32,885 people died in auto accidents in the United States and an estimated 2.24 million people were injured in motor vehicle collisions. In 2010, motorcycle fatalities accounted for 14 percent of fatalities for that year accounting for 4,502 deaths. In 2010, the percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers actually declined for most vehicle types with the largest decline being for drivers of pickup trucks (8.1%).
In 2010, the NHTSA reported an 8.7 percent increase in the number of fatal crashes involving large trucks, with the number of fatalities involving large trucks increasing in all categories. Fatalities occurring in rural crashes decreased by 6.7 percent in 2010, while the fatalities in urban crashes increased by 0.3 percent. In 2010, there were 1,319 total auto accident fatalities in the North Carolina. (NHTSA)
There are three dominating factors that contribute to auto accidents and fatalities, these include: drunk driving, speeding and distracted driving. The NHTSA reports that in 2010 alone, 3,000 people were killed as a result of distracted driving crashes; therefore, the NHTSA continues to encourage states to adopt tough laws that ban texting and cell phone use, especially for commercial drivers.
In 2010, alcohol-impaired motor vehicle accidents took the lives of more than 10,000 people, which comes to one life lost every 51 minutes. (NHTSA) In 2002, 13,713 people died in a motor vehicle collision as a result of excessive speeding – accounting for about a third of all fatalities for that year. Not only has that, but research from the NHTSA indicted that driver impairment (driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs) is highly correlated with speeding among drivers that are involved in fatal crashes. The NHTSA reports that in 2002, approximately 41 percent of drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher were also speeding as compared to just 14 percent of sober drivers.
A Raleigh car accident lawyer at our law firm may be able to help you with a case involving a car accident, trucking accident, motorcycle accident or auto accident that involved a pedestrian, bicyclist or drunk driver. Compassionate and personal service is our mission as we work to protect your interests and financial needs in your personal injury claim.
What You Need to Know About North Carolina's Traffic Laws
North Carolina is a contributory negligence state, which may limit your ability to recover in a trial if you are determined to be partially at fault in causing an auto accident. Accordingly, it is even more important that you contact an experienced Raleigh auto accident lawyer. At our law offices, our attorneys work daily with numerous insurance companies and keep current with the specialized laws and regulations affecting accident cases. For more information, click on the links below:
You do not have to be alone in dealing with the wake of a car accident. If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident anywhere in North Carolina, one of our injury lawyers may be able to help. We have office locations throughout the state for your convenience and offer a complimentary consultation to see how we can help you. Remember, some minor accidents may not need the formal assistance of a Raleigh car accident attorney, we will still be glad to talk to you and give you free information on how to deal with your claim.