The last thing vacationers want to deal with is an accident while on a get-away. Even a minor bump-up can be a hassle if you’re from out-of-town.

Most people know a local lawyer if they need legal help back home.

Calling friends, family, and co-workers for a referral and reference may take a bit of time, but it’s not an insurmountable task.

If you’re not from the OBX community, it can be a time-consuming process finding an accident attorney who is experienced not just with the area of law but where you were hurt. I firmly believe your case deserves a local attorney who understands the local protocols and nuances of the Outer Banks – Danny Glover, Outer Banks Accident Lawyer

What should I do after an accident?

Immediately following an accident, while still “on-scene,” first make sure you and your passengers are safe.

Some of the most serious, life-threatening wrecks take place during secondary collisions when people are still dazed, walking around the accident scene.

That is especially true on high-traffic roadways, highways, and areas with a substantial number of cars, pedestrians, bicycles, etc.

While travel speeds on highways, including those with 18-Wheeler traffic, have the potential for high-impact collisions, a substantial number of serious injuries occur in relatively low-speed areas and downtown areas.

A lot depends on the nature and circumstances of the accident. Pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles do not have the protections afforded by cars upon impact. Low speed collisions can and do result in traumatic injuries – Danny Glover

After confirming you are safe, you may wish to check on other vehicles and people involved in the accident.

It’s also a good idea to call 911, even in minor collisions as there may be important information to exchange, paperwork to complete, and at times, traffic tickets and citations to be issued.

OBX Bicycle Accidents

Take pictures of the resting positions of the vehicles involved. Take pictures of license plates, Take pictures of any information that is shared like driver’s licenses, registration, insurance cards, etc., if possible.

If your vehicle or other vehicles involved in the wreck are blocking the roadway, assuming it is safe to do so, move them either off the roadway or as far to the side as the road as is practicable.

There are certain duties under the NC accident laws and the NC Criminal Laws regarding remaining on the scene of the accident, rendering aid, and exchanging of information.

Failure to do so can not only adversely affect your accident claim. It can also result in criminal charges.

What information do I need to give to the police?

Again, how to handle things on an accident scene depends a lot on the nature, circumstances, and location of the wreck.

Generally speaking, medics, police, NC Highway Patrol, and other “first responders,” will want to assess the accident scene.

They will want to prevent additional collisions and injuries.

That includes both the safety of the people involved in the accident as well as other law enforcement officers, EMT personnel, tow-truck drivers, and other passing motorists.

That can involve removing people trapped in vehicles, transporting to the hospital, and in some instances, rendering emergency medical treatment, aiding people on-scene with life-threatening injuries.

Thereafter they may direct moving vehicles, assigning a process and personnel to an investigation.

There may be a division of labor among first responders, where some police officers gather evidence, speak to witnesses, and handle the accident investigation.

Should I hire a lawyer?

Other officers may be involved in crowd-control, directing traffic, and supervising moving vehicles and roadway cleanup.

When appropriate, officers may begin a “drunk driving” investigation, conducting dexterity tests, a breathalyzer, etc., if someone has had too much to drink and possibly caused the wreck.

As such, once official personnel arrives, let them take lead. Let them direct what needs to be done. Listen to their instructions and follow them.

Once the scene is “secured,” officers involved with the accident investigation, including the officer or officers responsible for preparing and filing an official Accident Report, will likely begin by gathering information.

Information gathering can be one of the most important aspects of a case. It’s not just a matter of looking at the cars and deciding what happened – Danny Glover

In addition to taking photographs of the accident scene, police officers (law enforcement) may want your driver’s license, a copy of the vehicle registration, rental agreement paperwork, if any, and your insurance card.

It’s also not unusual to separate the parties (the people involved in the accident) to determine what happened and who is at fault.

No such thing as an “Accident”

Outer Banks Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been hurt in an OBX wreck, we’re here to help.

Danny Glover Jr. is a local, Outer Banks Attorney with substantial courtroom experience helping people with serious personal injury matters, traumatic injury cases, and wrongful death claims.

My law firm is dedicated to compassionate legal representation for clients who have been hurt due to the negligence of others. We’re here to help – Danny Glover, OBX Attorney

Call now to schedule a confidential consultation. Talking to us is entirely free. We do not charge consultation fees.

Everything you tell lawyers in North Carolina, including during the initial consultation, remains subject to the attorney-client privilege.

Lawyers are trusted with sensitive information. As such, we keep and protect such confidences.

You may also email: Danny@DannyGloverLawFirm.com

It is important as a parent to discuss Halloween safety with your child before he or she goes out to trick or treat. There are many steps you and your child can take to minimize his or her chance of being injured in a car accident or on a neighbor’s property. Parents typically accompany younger children when they go trick-or-treating. Older children and adolescents can keep themselves safe without parental supervision by making sure they obey traffic laws and make themselves visible at all times.

No matter how well you prepare your child for Halloween night, there is always the chance that he or she can be involved in an accident. If your child is injured because of a distracted driver’s negligence, seek prompt medical attention for his or her injury. Getting immediate medical care is key to making a full, timely recovery. Once your child has received medical treatment, consult with a personal injury attorney to determine whether compensation may be available from the at-fault driver to cover the medical bills and other expenses. Work with an experienced car accident attorney to determine whether this is an appropriate course of action for your family. If so, your attorney can file your claim and work to get you the money you need to cover your expenses related to the injury.

Texting and Driving

When drivers stop focusing on the road ahead, they have slower reactions to changes in traffic conditions in front of them. Text messaging while driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving. North Carolina makes it illegal for drivers to send text messages from a moving vehicle. Studies have shown that distracted drivers are more dangerous than drunk drivers.

Distracted driving is not limited to text messaging, however. Using a cell phone to make phone calls, navigate, browse the internet, and use social media are all other ways a driver can put others at risk. Drivers can become distracted by eating or drinking behind the wheel, applying makeup, adjusting the car radio or on-board navigation system, or managing children or pets in the car.

Protect Yourself and Others

Protect yourself, your passengers, and those with whom you share the road by pledging not to use your phone while you are driving. If you need to use your smart phone to navigate, plug in your destination and start the navigation system before you begin to drive.

If you are driving with a passenger, have him or her handle navigation duties. Opt to use a hands-free headset for phone calls. This type of headset allows you to keep your hands on the steering wheel and your eyes on the road while you use your cell phone. If you do not have a headset, ignore all text messages and phone calls until you find a place where you can safely pull off the road and park.

If you can not trust yourself to ignore your phone while you are driving, turn its sound off before you leave home so you are not tempted to respond to its notifications. Another way you can prevent yourself from using your phone is making it inaccessible while you drive by storing it in the back seat or glove compartment.

Protect Children on Halloween

It can be easy for a child to be struck by a car if he or she is walking along the edge of the road at night wearing a dark Halloween costume. Make your child’s costume more visible by adding reflective tape to the outfit and candy bag or giving him or her a reflective pendant on a necklace to wear on Halloween night. Discourage black or dark-colored costumes that can be difficult to see. In addition, give your trick-or-treaters a flashlight or glow sticks to make them more visible in the darkness. If you are accompanying a young child, carry the flashlight and hold his or her hand at all times when crossing the street.

As a driver, be extra vigilant on the roads this Halloween. Drive more slowly than you normally would and stay alert for children crossing the street. Remember to have your headlights on 30 minutes before sundown and keep them on any time you drive at night. Do not keep your radio so loud that you miss the sound of footsteps approaching or people talking in vicinity of the car.

Elizabeth City Personal Injury Attorneys

If you or your child has been injured in a collision with a distracted driver on Halloween, you could be entitled to seek monetary compensation for your losses. These losses can include medical bills, lost wages due to time spent out of work (if you are the injury victim or your adolescent has a job), and the need for disability aids like a motorized scooter during recovery. Make the personal injury claim process easier by working with an experienced Elizabeth City accident lawyer. Glover Law Firm can help you get the money you need by providing quality legal advice and representation for your claim. We can explain every step of the personal injury claim process to you and determine the most effective way to handle your claim and get you the money you deserve. Do not wait to begin working on your claim with our firm – contact us today at 252-299-5300 to schedule your free legal consultation with us.