Is North Carolina a No Fault State for Auto Accidents?

It’s good to have a lawyer on your side if you’ve been in a Charlotte car accident. In a handful of states around the country, insurance claims are primarily taken up with your own auto insurance provider first, regardless of who caused the accident. 

North Carolina, however, is not one of these so-called “no fault states.” In the Tar-Heel State, you’re free to file a claim with the insurance company of the at-fault driver regardless of the amount or severity of the damages you’ve suffered. 

Read on to learn more about how fault auto insurance works in North Carolina. 

How to File a Car Accident Claim in North Carolina

Because North Carolina is a “fault” state for car insurance purposes, you have three basic options for initiating the car accident claims process. By taking action, you can recover cash for the damages, injuries, and losses you suffered as a result of an accident.

These options are:

• Filing a Claim with Your Own Insurance Company – After an accident, it’s a good idea to let your insurer know you’ve suffered an accident. You can also file a claim with your insurance company, which will in turn go after compensation with the at-fault party’s insurer. 

• Filing a Claim with the At-Fault Party’s Insurance – Alternatively, you can file your car accident claim directly with the at-fault driver or party’s insurance. You can provide them with the other person’s insurance info before later submitting a written demand letter detailing your damages.

• File a Lawsuit – Finally, you could go ahead and take the step of filing a formal personal injury lawsuit. Given that most car accident claims settle out of court, this option is often reserved for cases where you’re unable to successfully negotiate a settlement with the insurer. 

You might find yourself in the position of filing a lawsuit if you’re unable to reach a satisfactory agreement out of court. Frequently, if there’s a question of liability, the insurance company may refuse to pay you at all. 

North Carolina’s pure contributory negligence system also means that if you’re found even one percent at fault for the accident in question, you’ll be unable to collect a settlement or jury award from the at-fault party. 

You can contact a car accident lawyer for help recovering the maximum amount of compensation available for you given the facts of your case. 

Learn More from a Car Accident Lawyer Now

Have you been injured in an accident? Let a car accident lawyer with The Nye Law Group review your case for free. Call us at 704-285-6319 or fill out the form below to learn more.