How to Get a NC Crash Report – Quick & Easy
After a motor vehicle accident, it is understandable to feel anxious. You might have difficulty thinking clearly due to stress, or possibly the physical effects of shock if you sustained an injury.
Car accidents in Asheville are often affected by negligence and our winding mountain roads. Also, car accidents can happen because of poor vehicle maintenance or mismanagement.
When people are injured in car accidents caused by someone else, they need to get as much evidence for their case as possible. Therefore, hiring an experienced car accident lawyer quickly is key. Call Fisher Stark, P.A. at 828-505-4300 for a free consultation.
Auto Accident Law in North Carolina
It is critical that you notify law enforcement, as soon as possible.
In North Carolina, a driver must notify law enforcement when any of the following occur:
- A wreck occurs in a city or county that requires a report
- Any one person is injured or killed due to the wreck
- Any one person suffers more than $1,000 in property damage
- When a crash report is required by your insurance company
The state also requires law enforcement officers to file a written report within 24 hours of the accident.
A certified Crash Report can be requested by completing the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles’ Crash Report Request Form (TR-67A) and mailing it along with a payment of $5.50 to the address on the form or by visiting the N.C. DMV operated License Plate Agency office at 4121 New Bern Ave., in Raleigh, NC.
Different local law enforcement agencies may also provide access to their reports, but often a quick search on the internet with the NC Dept. of Public Safety or a call to the NC DMV (919) 861-3098 can sometimes get faster results.
Each report must include the following information but can also include more detail if the officer is so inclined:
- The contributing cause(s) of the crash.
- The conditions existing at the time of the crash.
- The people and the vehicles involved in the crash.
- Insurance information of any driver that the law enforcement believes to be at fault.
Should I Call the Police for a “Fender Bender”?
It is always a good idea to file a police report, even if the collision seems minor. Not only is it required by law in most instances, but it can have a large impact on your ability to file a claim for repairs to your vehicle or recover compensation if you are hurt.
In some cases, you won’t have the ability to fully inspect the vehicle to accurately access the damages. With the large amount of electronics and expensive features on today’s vehicles, it is easier than you would expect to cause over $1,000 of damage.
In addition, you may not feel the immediate effects of the crash due to a rush of adrenaline masking any pain from injuries you suffered. It is far better to have the incident documented in case anyone needs medical care after the wreck.
And in many cases, your insurance company will require a police report to process any claim for vehicle repairs or medical treatment, even if the damage or injuries are minor.
The personal injury claim process is complicated and intimidating. Insurance companies use complexities to their advantage when they can. Having an experienced personal injury attorney helping you means you can focus on recovering from injuries instead of dealing insurance companies.
Insurance companies are in business to make money, which can come into conflict with paying an injured victim the full compensation that he or she deserves. Our lawyers have several decades of experience defending the rights of injury victims and assisting them on their road to recovery.
Asheville Personal Injury Attorneys
The time-consuming process of proving an injury claim can be complex and confusing.
Let us help.
The attorneys at Fisher Stark, P.A., are experienced at obtaining witness information, gathering medical documentation to substantiate your injuries, and reconstructing crashes with detailed analysis. A personal injury lawyer can protect your rights, if the insurance company tries blaming you for the crash and not their insured client.
Our attorneys and staff are experienced at gathering critical evidence, and maximizing the full amount of compensation the law allows. Call Fisher Stark, P.A. at 828-505-4300 for a free consultation.
We will work hard to get you the justice & fair compensation you deserve. Fisher Stark, P.A. is a highly respected personal injury law firm in Asheville, NC. We provide experienced legal help for clients in Asheville, NC, and all the communities in Western North Carolina. Collectively, our legal team – Perry Fisher and Brad Stark – have more than 50 years of trial practice and have participated in more than 1,000+ injury cases. Call 828-505-4300 for a free consultation.