Short Answer

Gather the information that identifies the people, vehicles, insurance coverage, crash location, witnesses, injuries, treatment, vehicle damage, and all communications with insurers. North Carolina law also requires drivers involved in certain crashes to stop, provide identifying information, and report the crash when required. The most important caveat is safety: do not risk your health or stand in traffic to collect evidence.

Start With Safety and Required Information at the Scene

After a Durham motor vehicle accident, the first priority is safety. Move out of danger if you can do so safely, check whether anyone needs emergency help, and follow instructions from law enforcement or emergency responders.

North Carolina law requires drivers involved in certain crashes to stop, remain at the scene when required, provide identifying information, and give reasonable assistance to injured people. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-166 generally requires exchanging information such as name, address, driver’s license number, and license plate number, and calling for medical help when it is apparent or requested.

If you are able to gather information at the scene, try to write down or photograph:

• The other driver’s full name, address, phone number, and email if available.
• The other driver’s license number.
• The license plate number, vehicle make, model, color, and approximate year.
• The insurance company name, policy number, and claim phone number from the insurance card.
• The registered owner’s name if different from the driver.
• The names and contact information for passengers.
• The names and contact information for any witnesses.
• The exact crash location, including road names, direction of travel, nearby intersections, and landmarks.
• The date and time of the collision.
• The name, badge number, and agency of any responding officer.

If you cannot gather this information because you are hurt, shaken, or transported from the scene, that does not mean your claim is over. Some information may be available later through the crash report, insurance communications, vehicle records, photos, or witness follow-up.

Photos, Video, and Scene Details Can Matter Later

Insurance companies often evaluate a North Carolina personal injury claim by looking for proof of how the crash happened, how strong the impact was, and whether the injuries and damages match the evidence. Photos and videos can help answer those questions before vehicles are repaired, moved, or destroyed.

If it is safe, preserve or take photos of:

• All vehicles from several angles.
• Close-up damage, broken parts, deployed airbags, and fluid leaks.
• Vehicle positions before they are moved, if that can be done safely.
• Skid marks, debris fields, gouge marks, damaged guardrails, signs, or poles.
• Traffic lights, stop signs, lane markings, construction zones, and road conditions.
• Weather, lighting, visibility, and anything that blocked a driver’s view.
• Your visible injuries, if any, and how they change over time.
• Damage to personal property, including child seats, phones, glasses, or items in the vehicle.

Do not assume a property damage estimate on a police report will fully describe the force of the collision. Vehicle damage can be more complicated than it looks at the scene. Repair estimates, total loss paperwork, towing records, and photos may give a clearer picture.

Also preserve digital evidence. This may include dashcam video, nearby business or doorbell camera footage, rideshare app records, GPS data, text messages about the crash, and photos taken by passengers or witnesses. Some video systems overwrite quickly, so acting early can matter.

Get and Save the Crash Report Information

For many reportable crashes in North Carolina, law enforcement investigates and prepares a written crash report. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-166.1 addresses notice, investigation, and crash reports for reportable accidents, including reports forwarded through official channels.

The crash report may include driver information, insurance information, the officer’s diagram, road conditions, contributing circumstances, vehicle damage areas, and witness information. It may also identify the agency that responded, which can help if additional records exist.

In a more serious collision, there may be other useful records besides the standard report, such as:

• Officer notes or diagrams.
• 911 call logs or recordings.
• Body camera or dash camera footage, if available.
• Photographs taken by law enforcement.
• Measurements or reconstruction materials.
• Commercial vehicle inspection records if a truck or company vehicle was involved.

Not every record is automatically available to every person, and some requests may take time. Still, making a list of what may exist helps an attorney or claims professional identify what should be requested before it disappears.

Medical, Work, and Expense Records to Keep

If you were injured or later notice symptoms, save records that show what happened after the crash. This article is not medical advice, but for a personal injury claim, documentation often matters.

Keep copies of:

• Emergency medical services records, emergency room records, urgent care records, and follow-up visit summaries.
• Medical bills, insurance explanations of benefits, pharmacy receipts, and mileage or parking expenses for medical visits.
• Discharge paperwork and written instructions from medical providers.
• Photos showing bruising, cuts, swelling, braces, casts, or other visible effects.
• A simple symptom and activity log that records what you are experiencing and how it affects daily tasks.
• Work excuse notes, pay stubs, missed work dates, and communications with your employer about time away from work.
• Receipts for towing, storage, rental vehicles, rideshare trips, replacement items, or other out-of-pocket costs.

Try to keep the records organized by date. A folder on your phone, a physical envelope, or a simple spreadsheet can help. The goal is not to create a perfect file. The goal is to prevent important details from being lost during a stressful time.

Insurance and Communication Records

Insurance adjusters may ask for statements, photos, medical authorizations, repair estimates, or signed forms. Before you respond in detail, it helps to know exactly which insurer is contacting you and what claim they are handling.

Save:

• Claim numbers for each insurer.
• Names, phone numbers, and email addresses of adjusters.
• Letters, emails, text messages, and portal messages from insurers.
• Recorded statement requests or summaries of any statements already given.
• Denial letters, reservation of rights letters, or requests for more information.
• Your own auto policy declarations page, if available.
• Repair estimates, total loss offers, rental car paperwork, and towing invoices.

Do not rely only on memory. After an accident, calls and emails can blur together. A short log with the date, person, company, phone number, and subject of each communication can be very useful.

Why Fault Evidence Is Especially Important in North Carolina

North Carolina allows contributory negligence as a defense in many personal injury cases. In plain English, that means the other side may argue that the injured person’s own careless conduct helped cause the accident. If that defense applies, it can create serious problems for the claim.

The party raising contributory negligence generally has the burden of proof. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-139 states that the party asserting contributory negligence must prove that defense.

Because of this rule, it is helpful to gather evidence about both sides of the story. Useful details may include your speed, lane position, traffic signal, use of headlights, seat belt use, turn signals, where you looked before entering an intersection, and what the other driver did. Photos, witness information, and video can help show not only that another driver made a mistake, but also why your own conduct was reasonable under the circumstances.

How This Applies to Your Situation

Based on the limited facts provided, you were involved in a motor vehicle accident and are interested in speaking with an attorney. Because there are no details yet about injuries, insurance, fault, or vehicle damage, the best first step is to build a basic accident file.

Before a conversation with an attorney, gather what you already have:

• The crash date, time, and location.
• Any crash report number or responding agency information.
• Photos or videos from the scene.
• The other driver’s information and insurance details.
• Your insurance information.
• Medical records and bills if you received care.
• Repair estimates, towing records, or total loss paperwork.
• All letters, emails, texts, and claim notes from insurance companies.
• Names and contact information for witnesses or passengers.

If you do not have everything, do not delay getting guidance solely because the file is incomplete. An attorney can often help identify what is missing and what may still be available.

Timing and Preservation Issues

Some information is easier to get early. Vehicles may be repaired or salvaged. Camera footage may be erased. Witnesses may become harder to reach. Road conditions may change. If the crash involved a commercial vehicle, company vehicle, rideshare vehicle, or serious injury, preservation may be especially important.

Also remember that insurance claim discussions do not automatically extend any lawsuit deadline. If you are unsure whether a deadline applies, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.

When Wallace Pierce Law May Be Able to Help

Wallace Pierce Law helps people with North Carolina personal injury claims understand the process, organize documentation, and evaluate next steps. For a motor vehicle accident, that may include reviewing the crash facts, identifying missing records, communicating with insurers, and helping preserve evidence that may affect fault, damages, or coverage questions.

The firm may also help sort out practical issues such as crash reports, medical bills, property damage paperwork, wage documentation, and insurer requests. Every case depends on its own facts, and no law firm can promise a particular result. The value of getting legal guidance is often in understanding the process before important evidence or deadlines are missed.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney in Durham

If your question involves injuries, insurance, fault, medical documentation, settlement paperwork, or a possible deadline, speaking with a licensed North Carolina attorney can help clarify your options. Call 919-313-2737 to discuss what happened and what steps may make sense next.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina personal injury law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. It is not medical advice, tax advice, or insurance policy interpretation. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If there may be a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.