A car crash can leave you with painful injuries and uncertainty about the future. Unfortunately, obtaining fair compensation is often challenging, even when another party clearly caused the wreck. Insurers frequently attempt to shift blame to avoid paying claims because North Carolina’s contributory negligence rules can bar financial recovery if a person is found to be even 1% responsible.
Because insurers are often willing to go to great lengths to avoid paying claims, Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers investigates your accident, preserves critical evidence, and counters blame-shifting tactics from the start.
Our car accident lawyers in Asheville understand these strategies and know how to push back against them. Since 1995, our firm has helped injured people by preserving evidence, negotiating with insurers, and building claims designed to withstand insurance company tactics that are designed to minimize payouts.
When you hire our firm, we handle the legal process from beginning to end so you can devote your energy to your recovery. Under our A&A Zero Fee Guarantee™, you owe no upfront attorney fees, and we only get paid if we obtain compensation for you. To learn more about your legal options, schedule a free consultation with an Asheville personal injury lawyer.
Why Choose Our Car Accident Attorneys In Asheville
Car accident claims are often more complicated than many people expect. Even when another driver appears clearly responsible, insurance companies may still look for ways to limit what they pay.
Since insurers in North Carolina often use the state’s contributory negligence rules to shift blame and deny claims, you need a lawyer who can fight back and protect your rights.
Having legal representation from an Asheville car crash lawyer can help level the playing field. Insurance adjusters handle claims every day and are focused on protecting the interests of the company they work for. At Auger & Auger, our family-owned firm is able to provide every client with the personal attention and experienced advocacy they need.
From the beginning of your case through its resolution, we will work tirelessly to put you in the best possible position. By getting to know you and the details of your case, we can better represent your interests. Our extensive experience means we are familiar with all insurance company tactics and can take effective countermeasures to protect your claim.
Our team carefully reviews the full impact of a car crash, including the long-term effects of your injuries. For more than 30 years, we have recovered over $100 million for injured clients while maintaining a 99.5% success rate. Our decades of experience help us recognize and counter the tactics insurers commonly use to undervalue valid claims.
Our Experienced Legal Team Can Help Recover Damages For Auto Accidents
Motor vehicle collisions can create financial, physical, and emotional challenges that extend far beyond the day of the crash. If another driver caused your injuries, you may have the right to seek compensation for the losses you have experienced and those you are likely to face in the future.
Our team will carefully examine how a car accident has affected every aspect of your life. Understanding the complete impact of your injuries helps us determine all the damages that apply so we can pursue the full value of your claim under North Carolina law.
Depending on your circumstances, compensation may include:
- Medical expenses for emergency treatment, hospital care, surgeries, and rehabilitation
- Future healthcare costs related to ongoing treatment or long-term recovery needs
- Lost wages while you are unable to work
- Reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to maintain the same type of employment
- Property damage to cover the repair or replacement of your car and any other personal property
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disabilities or lasting impairments
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Changes in family relationships or loss of companionship
- Punitive damages
Our team can review the details of your case to determine all the damages that apply.
How Acting Quickly After An Asheville Car Accident Can Improve Your Outcome
The steps you take in the days and weeks following a car accident can play a major role in the strength of your claim. In North Carolina, injured people generally have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit under G.S. § 1-52(16). Waiting too long could jeopardize your ability to pursue compensation through the courts.
Acting promptly also helps preserve valuable evidence. While insurance companies often begin evaluating claims immediately, proof can disappear over time. Witnesses may forget details, and physical evidence from the crash scene may no longer be available.
Starting an investigation early allows our Asheville car accident lawyers to gather and protect the information needed to support your case. Steps our team will take when investigating your crash typically include:
- Obtaining police reports and other official records
- Collecting photographs and documentation from the accident scene
- Preserving available video footage or electronic evidence
- Speaking with witnesses while events remain fresh in their minds
- Reviewing medical records and treatment information
- Working with qualified professionals when additional analysis is necessary
- Identifying every party that may share legal responsibility for the crash
Building a strong claim often depends on securing this evidence before it becomes difficult or impossible to obtain.
We Are Ready To Protect You Against Insurance Company Tactics
Insurance adjusters frequently reach out soon after a collision, sometimes requesting recorded statements or encouraging injured people to resolve claims quickly. Although these conversations may seem straightforward, information provided early in the process can later be used to dispute liability or challenge the extent of your injuries.
Before discussing your case with the insurance company, you should secure legal representation. Your car accident attorney serving Asheville can communicate with insurers on your behalf to ensure you don’t say anything that could inadvertently harm your case.
Our team has a long history of negotiating with insurers to achieve the best possible result for our clients. We are well aware of all the tactics they are likely to use to minimize or deny your claim and have effective strategies in place to counter them and protect your right to recover fair compensation for your losses.
Taking A Settlement Vs. Going To Court To Resolve Your Car Accident Claim
Many car accident claims are resolved through negotiated settlements, but deciding whether to accept an offer or continue pursuing legal action depends on the specific facts of your case. There is no single approach that works for everyone, which is why you need to carefully evaluate all available options before making a decision.
A fair settlement can provide compensation sooner and eliminate much of the uncertainty, cost, and time associated with litigation. For many injured people, reaching an appropriate agreement allows them to move forward without waiting for a courtroom outcome. However, insurance companies do not always make reasonable offers.
If an insurer refuses to fully account for your losses, pursuing a lawsuit may become necessary to protect your interests. We prepare every claim as though it could ultimately proceed to trial. Thorough preparation strengthens a case during settlement negotiations and ensures we are ready if litigation becomes the best path forward.
Steps we will take in our preparation include:
- Gathering evidence that supports liability and damages
- Organizing medical records, photographs, and other documentation
- Consulting with qualified professionals when specialized analysis is needed
- Identifying and addressing common insurance company defenses
- Building clear arguments regarding the full impact of your injuries and losses
This work helps position our clients to pursue the strongest outcome possible, whether through settlement discussions or courtroom proceedings.
In the end, the decision to accept a settlement offer or proceed with litigation always belongs to you. Our role is simply to provide the guidance and advocacy needed to help you make an informed choice.
Fatal Car Accidents And Wrongful Death Claims
Some car accidents cause injuries so severe that they result in the loss of a loved one. In these heartbreaking situations, certain family members may have the ability to pursue a wrongful death claim under North Carolina law.
While no legal action can replace a family member, a wrongful death case can help address the financial and personal consequences that often follow a fatal collision.
Depending on the circumstances, recoverable damages may include:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical bills related to the deceased person’s final injury or illness
- Loss of the income and financial support that the individual would have provided
- Loss of services, care, guidance, and companionship
- Other damages permitted under North Carolina law
When the worst happens, our team can help you pursue a wrongful death claim. Under North Carolina law, these claims can only be brought by the personal representative of the deceased’s estate.
If the deceased did not name a personal representative in their will, we can help you through the process of becoming the representative so that you can pursue a claim on behalf of any surviving family members.
Having an experienced legal professional by your side when filing a wrongful death claim can make all the difference, as North Carolina’s contributory negligence rules apply in these situations as well, and the insurance company will certainly try to shift blame onto the deceased to avoid having to pay a claim.
Steps You Can Take In Support Of Your Claim
The moments and days after a car accident can be overwhelming. Once you have received medical care, taking the right steps can help protect both your health and your ability to pursue compensation. While you focus on recovery, remember that insurance companies often begin evaluating claims immediately.
Steps you can take to help protect your claim include:
- Call an Asheville auto accident attorney: The sooner you secure experienced legal representation, the better position you will be in to protect your rights and recover the compensation you deserve. Our team will get started on your case immediately so you can focus on your health.
- Request copies of your medical records: Obtaining documentation of all of your medical care following an accident can go a long way when claiming medical damages.
- Preserve your clothing: Don’t wash or throw out any of the clothing you were wearing during the crash. Your clothes may contain evidence that can help support your claim.
- Keep a record of what happened: The sooner you act to write down or otherwise record your memory of the accident, the better. You may forget a key detail that supports your claim if you wait to record it.
- Identify witnesses to the accident: If there were any witnesses to the crash, you should try to collect their names and contact details. Their account can go a long way in persuading a judge or jury.
- Photograph your injuries over time: Periodically taking photos of your injuries as you heal can help prove the seriousness of the harm you experienced.
- Keep records of all accident-related expenses: Save all of your receipts after an accident. Any expenses that can be tied to your accident should be recoverable through your claim, but you need proof of your losses.
- Avoid posting on social media: Social media accounts now play a large role in many personal injury cases. You can expect an insurance company to scour your accounts for anything they can use to try to downplay your injuries.
- Be cautious in any interactions with insurers: Don’t sign anything from the liable party’s insurer or give a statement without first speaking with an experienced auto accident lawyer who can protect you from manipulative practices.
Speak With An “asheville Car Accident Lawyer Near Me” Today
For over thirty years, Auger & Auger has helped injured people pursue compensation when someone else’s negligence caused them harm. Our team understands the challenges that often follow a major collision, and we are committed to providing compassionate support and experienced legal advocacy throughout the process.
We handle the entire legal process, including investigating the accident and pursuing fair compensation. You will never have to deal with an insurer directly, as we will take over all communication.
Through our A&A Zero Fee Guarantee™, there are no upfront attorney fees, and we only receive a fee if we recover money for you. Contact us today for a free case review.
