Injured in a Car Accident as a UNC Student or Staff Member? Here’s Why You Should Call Me
If you’re a UNC student, faculty member, or staff employee and you’re injured in a car accident, your situation is often more complicated than you realize—especially if you assume it’s going to be easy and the insurance companies involved will just “do the right thing.”
They often don’t.
I regularly help people connected to UNC Chapel Hill who are hurt in automobile accidents, and there are some unique issues that come up for university-affiliated folks that make having an experienced personal injury attorney especially important.
You May Be Dealing With Multiple Systems at Once
After a crash, UNC students and employees often find themselves navigating more than just auto insurance. There may be:
- University health plans
- Student health services
- Employment-related leave issues
- Missed classes, research deadlines, or teaching responsibilities
Insurance companies don’t care about any of that. My job is to make sure your injury claim reflects how the accident actually disrupted your life—not just what shows up on a billing statement.
North Carolina Law Is Not Forgiving
North Carolina follows a pure contributory negligence rule. That means if an insurance company can argue you were even 1% at fault, you could recover nothing. Adjusters know this and will look for ways to use your statements, your actions, or even your campus commute habits against you.
This is one of the reasons I’ve written about why you should call an attorney right after an injury—especially before giving recorded statements.
“Minor” Accidents Can Still Mean Major Problems
Many UNC students and staff are hit in rear-end collisions or low-speed crashes near campus, Franklin Street, or I-40. Those cases are often dismissed as “minor,” even when the injuries aren’t.
Neck and back injuries, concussions, and soft-tissue trauma are common—and frequently underestimated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains why these injuries can be serious even when vehicles aren’t heavily damaged:
👉 https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/whiplash/index.html
Why I’m a Good Fit for UNC-Affiliated Clients
I’m not a billboard firm. I don’t pass your case off to an inexperienced “case manager” (whatever that is) with no training and with whom you’ll never meet. I work directly with my clients, explain what’s happening, and make sure nothing gets missed—especially when you’re balancing an injury with academic or professional responsibilities.
If you’re part of the UNC community and you’ve been injured in a car accident, it’s worth having someone on your side who understands both the law and the practical realities you’re dealing with.
📞 Call me if you’re a UNC student or employee injured in a car accident.
🖥️ jeffreyhowardlaw.com