Durham County saw more than 10,000 traffic crashes in 2024, according to state transportation data (NCDOT’s 2024 Durham County Crash Profile). A large share of them happened on just a handful of streets, including Fayetteville Road, Guess Road, Hillsborough Road, and North Roxboro Street.
What you do in the next 24 hours after a car accident can shape your health and your claim.
Call for Help First
Your safety comes first. Call 911 right away.
If you can move your car out of traffic, do it. If not, stay where you are. Wait for help to arrive.
Let paramedics check everyone involved. Some injuries, like concussions, don’t show symptoms right away. A medical check also creates a record. That record links your injuries to the crash.
Take Photos Before the Scene Clears
If you’re able, document what you see. Photograph the damage to both vehicles. Capture any visible injuries. Note the road and weather conditions too.
Get contact details from any witnesses nearby. Scenes change fast. Cars get towed. Witnesses leave. What you capture now may be the only record you get.
Request Your Crash Report
Police reports get filed with the NC Division of Motor Vehicles. You can request a copy using the Crash Report Request (TR-67A) form.
Submit it by mail, or in person at the License Plate Agency on New Bern Avenue in Raleigh. There’s a small fee. Processing takes about ten business days.
This report often becomes the starting point. Insurance companies and attorneys both rely on it.
Think Before You Talk to Insurance
An adjuster may call within a day or two. They might ask for a recorded statement. They may even offer an early settlement.
Slow down before agreeing to anything. Avoid guessing about your injuries. Don’t sign documents right away either. What you say early can affect your claim later.
Know When It’s Time to Call a Lawyer
Not every accident needs a lawyer. But serious injuries change that. So does unclear fault, or a crash involving multiple vehicles.
I’ve seen the strongest cases get built early, not weeks later. By then, memories fade. Evidence disappears too.
If you’re unsure where you stand, it helps to talk it through first.
Philip A. Mullins Law helps injured people preserve important evidence, understand available insurance coverage, and pursue compensation from those responsible in car accident cases.
Book a consultation with us today to review what happened and understand your options.
General information only
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and deadlines may change, and the result in any case depends on its particular facts.
