Sideswipe Car Accident Lawyer in Raleigh, NC

sideswipe accident aftermath

If you have been injured in a sideswipe car accident due to another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to seek significant compensation for your injuries. Sideswipe accidents are common and contribute to thousands of injuries each year.

A sideswipe car accident can happen so quickly that determining exactly what happened can be challenging. If you believe another driver caused the sideswipe collision that injured you, then the experienced attorneys at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. are ready to help you pursue just compensation.

Contact us today at 919-661-9000 for a free consultation.

What Is a Sideswipe Accident?

A sideswipe accident occurs when the sides of two vehicles collide while both vehicles are going in the same direction. One driver may attempt to change lanes without checking to be sure the lane is open and strike the side of a car. These accidents are sometimes known as blind-spot accidents because one vehicle is typically in the other driver’s blind spot prior to the collision.

They are also common when a driver fails to merge from two lanes into one, hitting another vehicle.
The side of a vehicle does not have as much structure as the front or rear of a vehicle to absorb the impact of the collision. The impact of a sideswipe accident often causes injuries that can be serious.

Causes of Sideswipe Car Accidents

Some factors that can lead to a sideswipe accident include:

If a motorist fails to check their blind spots or yield the right of way when required, the motorist could cause a severe injury accident. Recovering compensation will typically require demonstrating how the other driver failed to act responsibly and how their actions caused the collision.

Common Injuries After a Sideswipe Car Crash

The severity of a person’s injuries depends in part on the size of the vehicles, the speed at which the vehicles were traveling when the collision occurred, the angle of the collision, and whether one or both vehicles are knocked off the road to strike another object in a secondary collision.

In general, a person injured in a sideswipe accident might suffer:

Some injury symptoms are immediately noticeable, while others might appear within a couple of days of the accident. It is important to tell a doctor about all of your symptoms following a sideswipe car accident, even if your injuries seem minor. This will allow you to receive all necessary treatment. It also creates written documentation of your injuries, which may be used as evidence.

What To Do After a Sideswipe Collision?

Document the scene of the accident by taking pictures and getting the contact information of witnesses. If you were injured and unable to gather this type of information following the accident, contact our attorneys can so they can gather it for you.

To protect your claim in the weeks and months following a sideswipe collision, you should:

  • Attend all medical appointments as scheduled
  • Follow through with instructions from your medical provider
  • Avoid providing recorded statements to the other driver’s insurance company without your attorney present
  • Avoid posting comments about your accident or injuries on social media
  • Contact an attorney as soon as possible
  • Get written out of work notes from your doctor for any time you have to miss from work because of your injuries.

Who Is at Fault in a Sideswipe Accident in North Carolina?

North Carolina is one of the few states that still uses a pure contributory fault standard in evaluating personal injury claims. This standard means that if you are even only partially at fault for the accident, you will be barred from seeking compensation for your injuries.

Because the other driver or the insurer may try to argue that you were partly at fault, it’s important to have an experienced attorney advocating for you.

When handling car accident injury claims, our attorneys at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks move promptly to:

  • Investigate the sideswipe crash
  • Preserve crucial evidence before it is lost, destroyed, or cleaned up
  • Reviewing your medical records and crash-related documentation
  • Evaluate the full extent of your present and future losses from the accident

Once you finish the healing process, your attorneys prepare a demand letter and supporting documentation to the liability insurance company seeking full compensation for the harm you’ve suffered and the losses you’ve incurred. If the other side refuses to agree to a fair sideswipe accident settlement, your lawyer may recommend filing a lawsuit and seeking compensation in court.

Because proving fault is critical to these cases, it is important to hire a sideswipe accident attorney with the experience and resources to handle your case. Not every lawyer is prepared to handle a sideswipe accident case involving significant injuries. Choose a legal team that you can be confident will make a difference for you.

Get in Touch with an Experienced and Caring Attorney

When you get in your car, you have a right to expect that other drivers will exercise caution and good judgment to avoid causing collisions. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. The results of a crash can be devastating. If you were injured in a sideswipe car accident that was not your fault, you may seek fair compensation from the at-fault party.

At Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. our attorneys have extensive experience handling all types of car accident cases, including sideswipe crashes. We know what it takes to build a strong case. We have the determination to fight for the full compensation our clients deserve.

Contact us online or at (919) 661-9000 for a free consultation. When you hire Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. we will handle your personal injury claim on a contingency-fee-basis. You won’t owe us anything until we obtain compensation for you through an insurance settlement or court award. Don’t delay in seeking the qualified representation you need. Reach out to us now.