One of the more immediate concerns after an Outer Banks car accident is dealing with getting your car repaired. Even with a rental, which may be an option in some instances, it takes time to review the damages and schedule work to be performed. It also may take more than one shop, especially if there is substantial frame damage, bodywork, and the need for painting.

While a lot of focus is understandably placed on personal injuries, medical care, and outstanding medical bills, lawyers also provide legal representation for property damages, vehicle repair, valuation of the loss, and depreciation after a wreck.

Property damage after an car accident is an important aspect of the case legal presentation. Indeed, it often proves to be one of the more immediate needs of our clients. It’s also regularly a source for contention, as accident insurance companies often don’t want to pay the fair market value – Danny Glover, OBX lawyer

A lot depends on the nature and extent of the wreck. What type of vehicles were involved? Was is 18 wheeler vs car? UPS truck vs mini-van? Pickup truck vs Honda Prius? SUV vs motorcycle?

To some extent, it comes down to physics, the weight of the respective vehicles, the speed at impact, and whether any effort was made prior to the collision to change direction or stop prior to the accident. Vehicle damages can be complicated. Part of the calculation for damages also includes the make and year of your car. Older model vehicles depreciate over time and may be difficult to fix if parts are unavailable.

Who Is Liable For Accident Injuries?

It’s also relevant for the insurance defense attorney to deduct from the value “high mileage” and prior damages. And as a result, the type of vehicles involved in the OBX car accident (or motorcycle accident) is as important as how your car or motorcycle was damaged as a result of a traffic “accident.”

While it may be common for defense lawyers to use the term “car accident,” there really is no such thing as an accident. If you were injured as a result of negligence, that was not an accident. A decision was made, whether it be to not follow the NC traffic laws or the failure to operate a vehicle in both a safe and lawful manner.

Motorcycle wrecks are often a total loss. It doesn’t take much impact to completely destroy a motorcycle. There is an inverse relationship with motorcycle accidents in the Outer Banks NC. The property damages tend to be lower, because motorcycles aren’t as expensive as most cars. But the personal injury claims are substantially higher, because the person on the motorcycle has nowhere near the same protection as a car accident – Danny Glover, OBX motorcycle accident lawyer

Damages after a car accident involve more than exterior repairs

The way cars are designed and built nowadays sometimes disguise the true nature and extent of vehicle damages. Back in the 1950’s American cars dominated the roadways and everything was fabricated out out steel. If you crumpled a bumper back then, it wasn’t hard to imagine the level of impact.

You could look at a quarter-panel or smashed front-end and understand the relationship between vehicle speeds and the mass of vehicles in a car accident case.

Vehicles today are built with ultra-light and resilient materials. Indeed, some very smart engineers have learned to transfer and distribute loads associated with the force of impact after a car accident. An exterior bumper might “pop back out” with a minimal amount of work, disguising substantial vehicle damages to energy absorbers and brackets.

Under United States Federal Automotive Laws 49 CFR Part 581 a “Bumper Standard” was put into place to limit exterior damages at barrier impact speeds. Hidden under the exterior (attached to both front and back bumpers) of most newer-model vehicles are compressible, accordion-like rubber compression modules.

In inspecting for vehicle damages after a car accident, it’s important to look for telltale signs of the impact such as missing or cracked plastic facia. That often means putting your car on a lift and completing a visual inspection of the hidden areas of the car. It also may mean removing the bumpers and looking for damage to the energy absorbers and even to the frame of the vehicle.

If a frame is bent after a car accident, which is relatively common after semi truck accidents and large vehicle vs small vehicle collisions, very little can be done to repair the car. Contrary to what an insurance adjuster may tell you, vehicles with a bent frame will never ride the same, they’ll be subject to a host of consistent repair issues, and should in most instances be declared a “total loss” or “totaled.”

Am I required to get my car fixed after an OBX car accident?

You’re entitled to the full value of damages, which means either the total loss amount or the amount that it would cost to repair the vehicle, but it’s your car, and you’re not required to get it fixed if you don’t want to.

CALL NOW FOR FREE CASE EVALUATION 252-299-5300

Will insurance require my car to be repaired in NC? 1705z18

• What are the differences between a company car claim and personal car insurance claim?
• Do I need different insurance if I drive a company car?
• Who is liable? Who pays for damages?
• Can more than one person be responsible for a car accident?
• Can more than one insurance company pay for an NC wreck case?

If you were driving a company car and had a wreck in North Carolina, it’s important to immediately collect evidence and document things like the accident scene, roadway conditions, vehicle damages, witness contact information, proof of insurance coverage, and insurance policy numbers.

Your NC Outer Banks accident attorney will want to make sure you document things by taking pictures, ensuring you have good contact information, and otherwise protect your claim for damages. If you were in a car wreck and driving a company car, you should NOT assume they’ll handle everything.

That is especially true if the company car is self insured or under a North Carolina insurance policy. If you were hurt in a NC wreck and another person caused the personal injury it may be possible to make a “third party claim” for money damages. A lot of people hurt in an OBX wreck case ask: How much is my wreck case worth?

LEARN MORE: What Should I Do At the Scene Of A Wreck

If you’re hurt in a Outer Banks car wreck and you’re in your company car, nothing really changes about your ability to recover your damages from the at-fault person.

But being in the company car will oftentimes add extra layers of insurance coverage that will help protect you and make sure that you are fully compensated for all your losses.

Sometimes there may also be claims under the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Laws. There is no such thing as an accident when it comes to a car wreck case.

I’m Danny Glover with the Glover Law Firm. I am an OBX auto accident lawyer who helps people with different legal issues in Currituck County, Elizabeth City, Kitty Hawk, Corolla, Nags Head and Hatteras.

If you have any questions about your Manteo car wreck or need an outer banks lawyer give me a call. When can help explain things about filing a lawsuit and handling personal injury matters in NC via arbitration.

It’s completely free. We will give you free advice about what we think is the best way to move forward with your car wreck case.

It’s confidential. I’ll be happy to talk to you.

1705I

According to the American Automobile Association AAA, we should expect another 1,000,000 travelers this upcoming Christmas and New Year’s Holiday from this time last year.

Travel statistics are expected to exceed, by quite a bit, those of 2015 – Danny Glover

While it’s hard to believe, approximately 48,700,000 Americans will travel fifty or more miles from home. Although not everyone will be on the roads, that is up from last year’s high and amounts to an almost 2% overall increase.

What’s up with all this driving?

The quick answer: Gas Prices.

Better said, the decrease in gas prices is one of the more significant reasons people are hitting the roads and traveling more this year.

According to AAA estimates, it looks like Americans have saved more than 28 Billion so far this year on gas prices. Yes, we double-checked that number.

To give you an idea how much money that is, take a look at all the zeroes: $28,000,000,000

AAA President and CEO Marshall Doney adds, “Most will travel on the tried and true holiday road trip, thanks to gas prices that are holding at close to $2 per gallon. Others will fly, take the bus or set off on a cruise to celebrate with their loved ones.”

What are the Three Most Dangerous Days to Drive?

It may surprise you, but the days getting to and from Grandma’s House on Christmas don’t make the cut.

So here they are:

1. Memorial Day Weekend – Yep, somewhere around 400 people die during the start of the summer holiday.
2. The Start of Daylight Savings Time – This one may surprise you. Yes, the time change literally can kill you.
3. Black Friday – With an estimated 70+ Million Shoppers hitting the roads, rear-end collisions make up 12 1/2 % of insurance claims on Black Friday. Here’s another surprise, 11% other claims involve wrecks and parked cars.

What to Do After You’ve Been In a Traffic Accident this Holiday Season

There are simple steps to make the holidays more safe for you and your family. Take you time. Be Patient. Expect Delays. Get plenty of rest and most importantly, don’t drink and drive – Danny Glover

What are the best and worst times to drive during Christmas week?

Worst Day to Leave: December 23, 2016 FRIDAY

Best Day to Leave: Wednesday following Christmas, December 28, 2016, assuming you have that much vacation left

Worst Time to Drive: 3 p.m., Traffic will be heaviest during that hour on Friday

Best Time to Leave: 6:00 a.m. or earlier

See More Google Maps TRAVEL TIPS

Looking for a cool Travel App? Check Out Waze

First and foremost, do NOT try to enter information, plot routes, and map your trip while driving.

Don’t worry, there is a passenger mode, and worst-case-scenario, just pull over for a second and enter your information.

It’ll be safer and chances are good that you won’t end up accidentally driving to the Columbia instead of the District of Columbia.

WAZE is a free App that only takes a few seconds to download.

The graphics are pretty self-explanatory and there is not a steep learning curve.

While we would never encourage speeding, Waze users regularly report things like the location of wrecks, disabled vehicles, traffic conditions, and the locations of police on the roadways.

If you get into geeky technology, you can allow Waze access to one or more of your social profiles.

It’ll track you and your Waze friends en route. If you prefer to remain anonymous, Waze works just fine without entering user information, establishing a profile, or otherwise granting socials access.

Put simply, it’s a cool App that adds a fair amount of information to the standard Google Maps overlay.

A Little About Glover Law Firm

With decades of experience serving as legal counsel in Northeastern North Carolina, we encourage you to call if you have questions about legal matters involving:

• Criminal Defense
  • Felonies and Misdemeanors
• Impaired Driving
  • DUI – Driving Under the Influence
  • DWI – Driving While Impaired
  • “Drunk Driving” – N.C.G.S. 20-138.1
• Traffic Offenses
• Car Wrecks
• Insurance Claims
• Accidental or Wrongful Death
• Trucking Fatalities
• Motorcycle Collisions
• Recovery for:
  • Personal Injuries
  • Medical Bills
  • Lost Wages
  • Property Damage

We’re all about helping people through difficult times. That’s what we do day in and day out – Danny Glover

The attorneys at Glover Law Firm provide consultations to clients in Criminal Defense and Personal Injury matters free of charge.

Everything you tell our lawyers is confidential. That means we keep your secrets secret, even if you do not ultimately chose to retain our legal services.

If you or a loved one have a question, please call now.

And we sincerely hope and pray you have a safe, enjoyable Holiday Season in 2016!

Danny Glover, Jr.
Glover Law Firm
Danny@DannyGloverLawFirm.com
252-299-5300
Past President, North Carolina Advocates for Justice