Contributing Circumstances Codes

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Accident Contributing Circumstances Guide

Understanding your North Carolina Crash Report or DMV-349 requires interpreting the official North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicle codes. This code protocol was created by the NC DMV to assist investigating officers in gathering a large volume of information from any accident scene and processing that data into a manageable format. Your North Carolina Crash Report cannot be interpreted or understood without knowing the code protocol. This guide will provide you with official codes related to the “Contributing Circumstances” boxes No. 14 – 19. By comparing all numbers entered on your accident report in boxes No. 14 – 19 to the corresponding numbers contained in this guide, you may be able to gain a deeper understanding as to whose actions the officer determined to be the cause of the accident.

The investigating officer’s opinion of who caused the accident is possibly the most important information in your case. Please do not proceed any further with your claim unless you are certain that you completely understand the mechanics of this information and how it relates to your claim.

Contributing Circumstances Codes for Boxes No. 14-19:

  1. No contributing circumstances indicated
  2. Disregarded yield sign
  3. Disregarded stop sign
  4. Disregarded other traffic signs
  5. Disregarded traffic signals
  6. Disregarded road markings
  7. Exceeded authorized speed limit
  8. Exceeded safe speed for conditions
  9. Failure to reduce speed
  10. Improper turn
  11. Right turn on red
  12. Crossed center line/going wrong way
  13. Improper lane change
  14. Use of improper lane
  15. Over corrected/over steered
  16. Passed stopped school bus
  17. Passed on hill
  18. Passed on curve
  19. Other improper passing
  20. Failed to yield right of way
  21. Inattention
  22. Improper backing
  23. Improper parking
  24. Driver distracted
  25. Improper or no signal
  26. Followed too closely
  27. Operated vehicle in erratic, reckless, careless, negligent, or aggressive manner
  28. Swerved or avoided due to wind, slippery surface, vehicle, object, non-motorist
  29. Visibility obstructed
  30. Operated defective equipment
  31. Alcohol use
  32. Drug use
  33. Other* (write in the narrative)
  34. Unable to determine
  35. Unknown
  36. Driver distracted by electronic communication device (cell phone, texting, etc.)
  37. Driver distracted by other electronic device (navigation device, DVD player, etc.)
  38. Driver distracted by others inside the vehicle
  39. Driver distracted by external distraction (outside the vehicle)

For more information on understanding your accident report, please read Understanding Your Accident Report.

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