Winston-Salem Personal Injury Lawyer

Introduction

A crash changes an ordinary day into a long list of phone calls. You may be sore, your car may be gone, and an insurance adjuster may already want a statement.

This page is for people hurt in a crash or accident in or around Winston-Salem. It explains how a North Carolina injury claim usually starts, what to keep, and how the firm can help from a distance.

It also tells you plainly what the firm is and is not. That way you can decide whether a phone or video relationship fits your situation before you pick up the phone.

The Firm Has No Winston-Salem Office

What the firm does offer is a conversation with William J. Vásquez and the bilingual staff, in English or Spanish, from wherever you are recovering. Some people find that easier when driving is hard after an injury.

Personal injury consultations are not held in person. Call first so staff can set a time for your phone or video call.

The firm limits personal injury work to North Carolina. It does not handle medical malpractice, nursing home cases, mass torts or Florida cases.

How a Remote Case Works

People are sometimes unsure how a lawyer can work on a claim without a nearby storefront. In practice, most of an injury claim is paper, photographs, medical records and conversations with insurers. None of that requires a local office.

The first call is simple. Staff ask what happened, where you were hurt, whether you have seen a doctor, and which insurers have contacted you. You can ask your own questions, including how fees work.

If the firm and you decide to work together, you can send photographs, bills and letters by phone or email. Video calls cover the rest, such as walking through a form or reviewing a letter together.

Signing and returning documents can be done without a trip. Ask the firm how each step will be handled by phone, email or video.

Distance does not change the legal rules. A claim from a Winston-Salem crash is still a North Carolina claim, and the same state insurance and fault rules apply.

In our experience, the item people most often lack is a short written account made in the first few days. A few lines about where you were going, what you saw and when the pain began are easy to write at the kitchen table and hard to remember months later.

North Carolina Claim Basics After a Crash

The North Carolina Department of Insurance lists practical steps after an accident. It says to stop your car in a safe place and to call the police, especially when someone is injured or the other driver leaves.

The same page says to collect the other driver's name, address, phone number, license plate number, driver's license number and insurance information. It also says to record the insurer and policy number exactly as they appear on the proof-of-insurance card, and to get witness names, addresses and phone numbers.

North Carolina uses contributory negligence, so a person found even partly at fault for a Winston-Salem crash can be barred from collecting damages, with some exceptions. Before you talk with anyone about fault in a Winston-Salem crash, speak with a lawyer.

That rule is why a casual remark at the scene, such as "I did not see you," can matter later. Say what you need to say to the officer, keep it factual, and leave the argument about blame for later.

The state also warns drivers not to agree to forget about the accident. Hidden damage, an injury that shows up late, or a later lawsuit are all possible, so a handshake deal at the roadside is a risk.

Claims after a Winston-Salem crash have legal deadlines in North Carolina, and some are short. Letting a deadline pass can end a claim after a Winston-Salem crash, so ask a lawyer early which one applies to you.

When a Winston-Salem crash happens while you are working, the claim usually starts with workers' compensation, which the firm handles separately in North Carolina. If someone other than your employer caused a Winston-Salem crash, a separate injury claim may also exist. Ask about both. You can read about the firm's workers' compensation practice on its own page.

Different Crashes Raise Different Questions

People hurt in a car crash and people hurt by a truck have different questions.

After an ordinary two-car collision, the main questions are usually who was at fault and which insurers are involved. The firm's page on car accidents walks through the general picture.

A crash involving a large truck can bring in a driver, a trucking company and several policies. Records such as logs and inspection reports may exist, and some may not be kept forever. Ask the firm early how to preserve records from the trucking company. The page on truck accidents explains more.

A person on foot or on a bicycle has no steel frame around them, so injuries can be serious even at modest speeds. Pedestrian and bicycle claims often turn on exactly where the person was and what the driver could see. Photographs of the spot are valuable. See the firm's page on pedestrians hit by cars.

Motorcycle riders face a different set of problems. Gear, photos of the bike and medical records all matter. The motorcycle accident page covers the basics.

If an Uber or another rideshare vehicle was involved, more than one insurer may be in the picture. Which one applies can depend on what the driver was doing when the crash happened. Read the firm's page on rideshare accidents, and keep the app screenshots and trip details.

Whatever the type of crash, the same habits help: get care, document what you can, and be careful about what you say to anyone representing another party.

Insurance Coverage That May Matter

The at-fault driver's insurance may not cover everything, so learn what your own policy offers.

According to the North Carolina Department of Insurance, uninsured motorist coverage covers injuries to you and your passengers as well as damage to your car if an uninsured driver hits you. It also says underinsured motorist coverage pays injury claims when an at-fault driver does not have enough insurance to fully pay for your loss.

Those are your own coverages, so they depend on what you bought. Look at your declarations page, or ask your agent which coverages you carry. The firm's page on uninsured and underinsured motorist claims goes into more detail.

The Department also notes that medical payments coverage, if purchased, may provide some help with doctor and hospital bills regardless of fault. Bodily injury claims can include medical bills, lab fees, lost wages, and pain and suffering. The state sets no formula for pain and suffering, so people who cannot agree on a value with an insurer may want legal advice.

On repairs, the Department says you may choose your own repair shop even if the insurer recommends one. It also explains that a vehicle is a total loss if repair costs equal or exceed 75 percent of its pre-accident actual cash value.

Your own policy may require you to cooperate with your own insurer. A recorded statement to the other side's insurer is a different matter, and it is wise to speak with a lawyer first.

Checklist: What You Need

You do not need a perfect file to call. Bring what you have, and the firm can help you find the rest.

• The police crash report number, or the name of the agency that responded.
• Photographs of every vehicle from all sides, the road, signs and any visible injuries.
• The other driver's name, contact details, plate number and insurer.
• Names and numbers of anyone who saw the crash.
• Your own insurance card and policy information, including uninsured motorist coverage if you know it.
• Medical records, discharge papers, prescriptions and bills.
• Repair estimates, tow and storage receipts.
• Pay stubs or a note from your employer for any missed work.
• Every letter, email and voicemail from an insurance company.
• Your written account of what happened and how you feel each week.

Photograph your vehicle and gear from every side, and ask a lawyer before you repair, sell or release the vehicle. Watch for storage fees.

If something is missing, say so. An honest, incomplete file is better than a tidy one with guesses in it.

Timeline and Process

Every case moves at its own pace, so the firm does not promise dates. The table shows the usual order of events for a remote claim.

Treatment often continues while a claim is open. Ask your lawyer when to talk about settlement.

Cost Factors

The firm will not quote a number on a web page. The table lists common items and where the answer comes from.

Ask every fee question at the start. A clear answer before you hire anyone is reasonable to expect.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Agreeing to forget about the accident, which the state warns against.
• Discussing who was at fault with an adjuster before speaking to a lawyer.
• Giving a recorded statement to the other side's insurer without advice.
• Skipping the doctor because the pain seems minor.
• Posting about the crash or your injuries on social media.
• Signing a release or accepting a fast offer before you know the full extent of your injuries.
• Repairing or selling the vehicle before asking a lawyer.
• Assuming a lawyer must have a Winston-Salem storefront to help you.
• Waiting so long that a legal deadline passes.

A short call before you act can help you avoid them.

When to Contact Vasquez Law Firm

Contact the firm when you are ready, even if the crash just happened. Call before you sign anything from an insurer, and call if someone asks for a recorded statement.

Call 1-844-967-3536 or use the contact page. Conversations are in English and Spanish, weekdays 8am to 7pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm.

If you are in Winston-Salem and unsure whether the firm can help, a short call will answer that. Ask the firm whether it can take the claim and what it would need from you.

Family members may call for you while you recover. Ask the firm what it needs from you before any work begins.

You can also read about the firm's work across the state on its North Carolina personal injury page, or see the personal injury practice area overview. The Raleigh personal injury page covers the firm's injury work in the Triangle.

About Vasquez Law Firm

Vasquez Law Firm is led by attorney William J. Vásquez. Vasquez Law Firm does not have an office in Winston-Salem. The firm helps people in Winston-Salem with North Carolina personal injury claims by phone and video.

The Raleigh office is at 4426 Louisburg Road, Suite 206, Raleigh, NC 27616. The Smithfield office is at 612 South Brightleaf Boulevard, Smithfield, NC 27577.

Personal injury work is limited to North Carolina. The phone number is 1-844-967-3536. Consultations are in English and Spanish, and a free consultation is available when the case qualifies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and References

• North Carolina Department of Insurance: After an Accident
• North Carolina Department of Insurance: Automobile insurance, what's covered and what isn't

Other ways people search for this

People also search for winston-salem car accident lawyer, winston-salem truck accident lawyer, winston-salem personal injury lawyers, winston-salem truck accident attorney, personal injury attorney winston-salem, car accident lawyer winston-salem, winston-salem pedestrian accident lawyer, winston-salem bicycle accident lawyer, winston-salem motorcycle accident lawyer, winston-salem motorcycle accident attorney, winston-salem accident lawyer, winston-salem injury lawyers, winston-salem uber accident lawyer, and winston-salem car accident lawyers. Others type car accident lawyers in winston salem nc, winston-salem auto accident lawyer, auto accident lawyer forsyth county, accident attorney winston-salem, personal injury attorneys winston salem, personal injury lawyer in winston-salem, truck accident lawyer winston-salem, winston-salem pedestrian accident attorney, winston-salem bicycle accident attorney, winston-salem slip and fall accident lawyer, winston-salem drunk driving accident lawyer and distracted driving accident injury attorneys winston-salem.