Short Answer

In North Carolina, you should get medically evaluated as soon as you reasonably can, even if you have not started treatment yet. Early documentation helps connect your symptoms to the crash and reduces arguments that something else caused your condition. You should also preserve evidence (photos, witness info, the crash report number) and be careful with insurance statements until you understand what information you must provide. Keep the three-year lawsuit deadline in mind while you work through care and the claim.

Understanding the Problem

If you were in a North Carolina car accident and you have not started medical treatment yet, you may be wondering whether you can still make a claim and what you should do next to protect yourself. In your situation, the only clear fact is that a law firm reached out after the crash, but you have not provided details about injuries or treatment. This question matters because delays can make it harder to prove your injuries came from the wreck and can also create timing pressure as the case moves forward.

Apply the Law

North Carolina injury claims from car wrecks usually turn on (1) proving the other driver was legally at fault, (2) proving the crash caused your injuries, and (3) proving your losses with reliable records. Even if you have not started treatment, you can still take steps now that help with proof later—especially medical documentation and crash documentation. Most injury lawsuits based on negligence must be filed within three years, so waiting too long can permanently bar the claim.

Key Requirements

• Documented injury and causation: You generally need medical records (or other reliable evidence) showing what is wrong and that it is connected to the crash.
• Fault (negligence) proof: You need evidence showing the other driver did something unsafe (for example, failed to yield or followed too closely) and that it caused the collision.
• Consistent timeline: Gaps in care can be used to argue you were not hurt or that something else caused your symptoms, so prompt evaluation matters.
• Preserved evidence: Photos, witness names, and the investigating officer’s report can help establish how the crash happened.
• Careful insurance communications: What you say early (especially recorded statements) can be used later to dispute injury, causation, or fault.
• Deadline awareness: If a settlement does not happen, you must file suit before the statute of limitations runs.

What the Statutes Say

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52 (Three-year limitation period) - Sets a three-year deadline for many negligence-based injury lawsuits, including typical car wreck injury claims.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-166.1 (Accident reporting and officer report) - Requires notice to law enforcement for reportable crashes and describes the officer’s written report process.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-166 (Duties at the scene; information and assistance) - Covers duties to stop, exchange information, and render reasonable assistance after a crash.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-139 (Burden of proof for contributory negligence defense) - Places the burden on the party asserting contributory negligence as a defense.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: Because you have not started treatment and there are no details about your injuries, the biggest immediate risk is a lack of medical documentation tying your symptoms to the crash. The next risk is losing practical evidence (photos, witness contact information, and the crash report details) that helps prove fault. Finally, even if you are still deciding what care you need, the three-year filing deadline can become a problem if you wait to investigate and organize the claim.

Process & Timing

1. Who acts: You (the injured person). Where: A medical provider of your choice in North Carolina (urgent care, primary care, or ER depending on symptoms). What: Ask for a medical evaluation and make sure the provider documents that your symptoms started after the crash. When: As soon as reasonably possible.
2. Next step: Gather and save crash evidence: photos of vehicles and the scene, names/contact info for witnesses, and the law enforcement agency information so you can request the crash report. If you already have a report number, keep it with your records.
3. Final step: Put the insurance claim in a safe posture: notify the appropriate insurers of the crash, be accurate and consistent, and avoid guessing about injuries before you have been evaluated. If settlement is not reached, a lawsuit must be filed in time to preserve your claim.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• Delay in treatment: The longer you wait to get evaluated, the easier it is for an insurer to argue your pain came from a different cause or that it was not serious.
• “I’m fine” statements: People often say they are okay at the scene; later, that can be used to dispute injury. If you are unsure, it is safer to say you are shaken up and will be evaluated.
• Gaps and noncompliance: Starting care and then stopping without a medical reason can be used to argue you recovered quickly or did not need treatment.
• Contributory negligence risk: North Carolina follows a strict contributory negligence rule in many cases; if the insurer can pin any fault on you, it may try to deny the claim entirely. Preserve evidence that supports your version of events.
• Recorded statements and broad authorizations: Early recorded statements or signing broad medical authorizations can create avoidable disputes about your history and the cause of your symptoms.

Conclusion

If you were injured in a North Carolina car accident but have not started treatment yet, your best next step is to get a prompt medical evaluation so your symptoms and their connection to the crash are documented. At the same time, preserve crash evidence and be careful with early insurance communications. If the case does not resolve, you generally must file a lawsuit within three years, so start organizing the claim now rather than waiting.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney

If you're dealing with injuries after a car accident but you have not started treatment yet, a personal injury attorney can help you understand what documentation matters, what to avoid with insurance, and what timelines may apply. Call CONTACT NUMBER to discuss your options.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice for your specific situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If you have a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.