Raleigh Attorney Advocating for Car Accident Victims Throughout NC
Rubbernecking is the act of turning one’s head to view an accident while driving. This is a form of distracted driving which often leads to serious collisions. Collision scenes do attract attention, but drivers who turn their attention away from the task of driving are legally responsible if they cause a collision. Raleigh car accident lawyer Carl Nagle understands the importance of considering all driver errors and establishing legal fault through documented evidence when pursuing compensation for accident victims. Before founding the law firm of Nagle & Associates, Mr. Nagle worked as an insurance claims adjuster and insurance defense attorney. His inside understanding of insurance defense strategies guides Mr. Nagle’s strategic car accident investigation and directs his method of mapping a strategy for securing damages. Throughout North Carolina, including in Wilmington, Asheville, and Winston-Salem, we have helped accident victims uphold their legal rights.
Pursue Damages from a Careless Driver for Your Injuries in a Rubbernecking Accident
As drivers pass an automobile accident scene, they place other drivers and emergency personnel at risk if they turn their attention away from the road ahead of them. Even though a collision scene may attract curiosity, drivers are legally required to focus on traffic conditions ahead and behind them and to never split their attention. It is important to maintain focus and not increase the chance of rear-ending the car in front of them or swerving into another lane. Careless drivers who rubberneck and gaze away from the path in front of them may miss a traffic signal or slow to a dangerous speed.
When rubbernecking causes an accident, that driver can be held legally liable and responsible to pay for all injuries and damage that occur. The act of rubbernecking is a form of distraction, and legally it will be deemed negligent conduct. Negligence is a failure to act as a reasonable person would behave under similar circumstances. Victims pursuing a personal injury claim following an accident must show that the other driver should have driven more safely and that they would not have been harmed had the other driver used reasonable precautions.
Distracted driving based on rubbernecking may lead to catastrophic injuries, particularly on highways. Victims may suffer injuries in a collision that renders them debilitated or disabled, and in some cases, rubbernecking accidents may lead to fatalities. After demonstrating the negligence of a defendant driver in a personal injury claim, a victim may be able to recover damages for their harm.
The compensation that may be available to victims of rubbernecking accidents includes present and future medical expenses, as well as lost wages and pain and suffering. Insurance companies may attempt to argue that the victim partly caused the crash, perhaps by slowing their speed or weaving in traffic. Since North Carolina uses a pure contributory negligence doctrine, it is imperative that victims show that they did not contribute to the accident. A finding that the victim was even minimally at fault will prevent them from recovering any damages from any other party.
Hire a Car Crash Lawyer in Raleigh or Surrounding Areas
At Nagle & Associates, we only represent motor vehicle accident victims. As we advocate for people injured by the carelessness of others, we document and prove the full extent of their injuries through documented medical evidence and expert testimony. Since Raleigh attorney Carl Nagle formerly worked in the insurance defense arena, he appreciates the importance of documenting physical harm to motivate insurers to compensate accident victims. Following a rubbernecking accident, we help injured individuals and their families on a pure contingency basis. We receive a legal fee only if and when we recover money on behalf of our clients. We are proud to represent people in Raleigh, Winston-Salem, Wilmington, Hickory, Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, and other communities in Wake, Forsyth, Guilford, Mecklenburg, Brunswick, Catawba, Cumberland, and New Hanover Counties. We can be reached at (800) 411-1583, or you can complete our online form to set up a free consultation with a motor vehicle collision lawyer.