What should I do if I am involved in an automobile collision?
• Call 911 and request police and medical assistance, if necessary.
• Exchange important information with the other driver including name, address, phone numbers, insurance company name and policy number, and witness information.
• Take photographs of the damaged vehicles and the scene of the accident, if possible.
• Do not discuss the accident with anyone except the police and your attorney. Thereafter, you may be required to give a statement to your own insurance company. How soon after an automobile collision should I call an attorney?
You should call an attorney immediately. Do not give the other driver's insurance company a statement until you have talked with an experienced personal injury attorney. What if I am involved in a hit and run collision or the at-fault driver doesn't have insurance?
You will still be able to pursue your injury claim if you have uninsured motorist's coverage on your own insurance policy. What is my claim worth and how long will it take to settle?
It is not possible to determine the value of your case until after you have recovered, completed medical treatment, and returned to work. At Skager Law Firm, we will thoroughly review your case and prepare a demand package after obtaining all of your medical bills, medical records, and wage loss documentation. We will strive to obtain the best possible settlement on your behalf. The vast majority of our cases settle quickly, depending on the length of your medical treatment and recovery time. Will my case go to court?
At Skager Law Firm, approximately 95% of our cases settle out of court. However, we are prepared to litigate your case, if necessary, in order to obtain the best possible results for you. What is your fee?
All of our cases are handled on a contingency fee basis. Our fees are based on a percentage of what we are able to obtain for you. If your case settles out of court, that percentage is often less than the typical 33 1/3% you may hear quoted. You do not have to pay any money up front. We do not get paid unless we obtain a favorable recovery for you. What should I know about Traffic Tickets?
Being stopped for a traffic offense may seem a minor inconvenience, but a conviction for a moving violation can often lead to unforeseen consequences. Drivers license points, higher insurance premiums, and even revocation are some of the potential ramifications that may be incurred by those who simply pay off or plead guilty to the violation for which they are charged. Many of the tickets written on 1-85 and 1-40 in Guilford County are criminal charges that will appear on a criminal record check if a person is convicted for that offense, although many unsuspecting drivers are not informed of this fact at the time they are stopped. Jail time for these more serious offenses are also a factor to consider when deciding on how to handle the matter. When a driver receives a traffic ticket in North Carolina, the financial impact can be substantial. One insurance point will increase your rates 25%, and two points will raise them 45%. If you are convicted for speeding 81 in a 70 mph zone, your North Carolina driving privilege will be suspended. If you are a licensee of another state and that state shares information with North Carolina through the Non-Resident Violator Compact (nearly all of them do), you will also be facing a suspension. If an out of state driver decides to ignore a North Carolina citation, it is highly likely that you will be unable to renew or reinstate your license or get another license in a different state until the North Carolina matter is remedied. People are often misled into believing that a ticket for speeding less than 10 mph under the limit will not affect their insurance, often by the officer who has stopped them. While this may be true in some cases, it is not true if you are carrying at least one point in the last three years, or what is referred to as the Experience Period. Paying off a 44 in a 35 mph zone when you are carrying points from a previous citation will give you another insurance point. If a ticket for 9 mile over the limit is the only violation on your record and you are not currently paying an increased rate for that citation, be aware that if you receive another ticket for speeding less than 10 mph over the limit within three years of the former citation, you will be assessed points for both the first and second infractions. Please view the graph below to find out how insurance points are assessed by the North Carolina Safe Driver Incentive Plan and the resulting increases that will occur. Points 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12 | % Increase 25%
45%
65%
90%
120%
150%
180%
220%
260%
300%
350%
400% |
Points for various offenses and infractions: 12 Points Manslaughter or Negligent Homicide Prearranged highway racing or lending a car for such Hit and Run resulting in bodily injury or death Driving While Impaired Driving with a BAC level of .08 or more Driving a commercial vehicle with a BAC level of .04 or more Transporting an illegal intoxicating beverage
10 Points 8 Points 4 Points Reckless Driving Hit and Run property damage only Passing a stopped school bus Speeding in excess of 75 when the speed limit is less than 70 Speeding in excess of 80 when the speed limit is 70 or greater Driving by a person less than age 21 after consuming alcohol or drugs
2 Points Illegal passing Speeding in excess of 55 but less than 76 Driving on the wrong side of the road At fault accident that results in $1500 in property damage but less than $2500
1 Point All other moving violations or at fault accidents resulting in property damage of $1500 or less and bodily injury of $500 or less There are measures that can be taken to help you avoid any potential pitfalls that may lay ahead of you when trying to resolve your ticket. Speaking with an experienced traffic attorney who knows the law is always a good start. I am always willing to answer questions regarding traffic matters, and will consult with you free of charge. I can often dispose of your case without insurance or license points being assessed against you, or minimize the number of points and potential penalties associated with your charge. I can waive your appearance in most cases, so you will not have to put your life on hold to appear in coot. In short, I will fight to get you the best deal I possibly can, and will do it as affordably as I can.
It is my goal to be as accessible to prospective clients as possible. If you are unable to contact my office during business hours, I am available personally at 336-870-1673 until 9:00 p.m. seven days a week. Driving While License Revoked
Being stopped for Driving While License Revoked (DWLR) can have significant effects on your ability to drive in the future. The law regarding DWLR has a trap door many people unwittingly fall into. If your license is revoked and you are convicted of a moving violation, regardless of how minor during this period of suspension, the DMV will extend your suspension for one year. A second will add another year, and a third will result in permanent revocation. Even if you’ve had your license restored to you, a conviction for a ticket you received during a period of revocation in the past will allow the DMV to revoke your license again. DWLR is a misdemeanor, and carries a maximum punishment of 120 days in jail. It will also result in 8 insurance points and a year-long suspension. A second conviction is a two year suspension, and a third is a permanent revocation. The more revoked charges you have in your past, the more likely it is that you will spend time in jail. It is imperative that you speak with an attorney if you have been charged with DWLR.
I have had clients come to me as young as 21 with permanent revocations because they did not consult an attorney when handling the matters that landed them in that predicament, usually because they were afraid it would be too expensive. If you have been stopped for DWLR, I will find out why you are revoked and what can be done to get you back in good standing with the DMV. Even if you have pleaded guilty to DWLR in the past and have learned of the restrictive and harsh penalties associated with doing so, there are things that can be done to fix past mistakes. Don’t let yourself fall into the cycle that so many other people have. You have to be proactive when you are stopped for this charge. Consulting an experienced attorney is a good first step. As always, I am willing to consult with you regarding you ticket free of charge. If you cannot contact me during business hours, I am available personally at 336-870-1673 until 9:00 p.m. seven days a week. I try to keep my fees as reasonable as I can and I am willing to work with you to get the best result possible. | 
