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North Dakota Car Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car crash in North Dakota, an Advocate can help you recover.

A Car Accident Attorney Can Help Your Case

After a car accident, you may be left feeling angry, confused, or worried about the future. Between injuries, emotional anguish, and financial damages, it is easy to feel like your life has been flipped upside down. 

You’re not alone. The personal injury attorneys with The Advocates will be there for you. We have been representing car accident victims for nearly three decades, and we are ready to help you too. From the moment you contact us, we will be by your side to listen to your story, help you build your case, and fight for a fair settlement for your damages.

If you’ve been injured by a negligent driver and need an experienced personal injury lawyer for your accident claim, contact The Advocates today for a free consultation.

The Next Steps In Your Case

Injury

Immediately after your accident, check for injuries

Hire Attorney

Contact The Advocates as soon as possible to begin the road to recovery

Treatment

Seek medical attention as soon as you can

Property Damage

Get any property damage assessed and repaired

Finish Treatment

Once you've completed treatment, your case can move forward

Demand

Your Advocate will send a demand letter to the other party

Frequently Asked Questions

Not every accident requires an attorney. However, if the accident resulted in injuries or significant property damage, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the claims process, which can be lengthy and complex. Your attorney will build your case, keep track of your medical records, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. Studies have shown that accident victims who hire a personal injury lawyer can receive settlements up to 3.5 times larger than if they settled on their own.

The best way to know if you have a case is to speak with an attorney. The Advocates offer free consultations—you can speak with a qualified legal team to understand what your case is worth without paying a dime. Once you have decided to hire an Advocate, we will investigate your accident to firmly establish liability.

Your initial consultation with us is always 100% free. There are never any upfront costs or hidden fees when you hire The Advocates.
Our attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that our attorney fees are calculated as a percentage of your settlement. You will not pay us unless we win your case, and you receive a settlement.

Every personal injury case is different. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to accident claims. The length of the claims process will depend on the severity of your injuries, the willingness of the other party to settle, the court’s caseload, and more.
In general, personal injury cases can take anywhere from several months to a few years. It’s important to contact an attorney as soon as possible to get your case started. Each state has a statute of limitations for personal injury cases, after which you will lose your right of action.

When you hire The Advocates, we will begin investigating your accident immediately while you finish medical treatment. Once all evidence and medical records have been compiled, your attorney will send a demand letter to the other party’s insurance company. At this point, negotiations will begin.
In many cases, a settlement can be reached during negotiations. If the other party refuses to make a fair offer, you may choose to file a suit. In the litigation phase, your attorney will represent you in court in front of a judge, jury, and/or arbitrator.

A Team of Legal Professionals Assigned to Your Case

For nearly 30 years, The Advocates have helped thousands of personal injury victims receive the compensation and care they deserve after their accidents, and we are prepared to do the same for you. 
We can help you:

  • Understand the claims process
  • Investigate your accident
  • Build your case
  • Negotiate with insurance adjusters
  • Obtain a fair settlement offer

You only pay if we win your case!

Talking to a Professional

Talk to a professional

North Dakota Car Accident Statistics

Where are car accidents most likely to occur?

  • Most fatal car accidents occur on I-94, particularly around Bismarck and Fargo
  • Burleigh and Grand Forks counties have the highest rates of crashes per million vehicle miles traveled, followed closely by Cass, Stark, and Stutsman counties
  • July through October see the highest number of motor vehicle accidents each year

North Dakota state car accident statistics  

  • Around 100 people are killed in car accidents in North Dakota each year
  • Statewide, there have been an average of 15,500 car accidents each year over the last decade
  • In 2020, people not wearing seatbelts at the time of a crash accounted for 60% of car accident fatalities
  • Around 75% of car accident fatalities are men, and around 60% are people between the ages of 25-34
Distracted driver on their phone while driving their car

Common causes of car accidents

  • Distracted driving: Motorists become much more dangerous and unpredictable when texting or talking on the phone
  • Impaired driving: Car accidents are far more likely to happen when one or more drivers is under the influence
  • Speeding: High speeds not only give drivers less time to react to hazards, they also make accidents more likely to result in serious injuries or death
  • Following too closely: Tailgating is a dangerous practice that can easily lead to rear-end collisions
  • Improper passing: Illegal passing on two-lane highways can lead to head-on collisions, which often cause devastating injuries
  • Poor conditions: North Dakota often sees severe winter weather, creating low visibility and slick roads

Common car accident injuries 

Depending on the nature of your accident, car accident injuries can range from mild to life-threatening. Some common vehicle collision injuries include:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Internal organ damage
  • Broken bones
  • Whiplash
  • Lacerations and bruising
Common car accident injuries

North Dakota Traffic Laws

What is the maximum speed limit in North Dakota?

The absolute speed limit on rural interstates in North Dakota is 75 miles per hour on interstate highways (I-94 and I-29). On four-lane and two-lane highways, divided or undivided, the maximum speed limit is 70 miles per hour.
Speed limits are set based on the following factors:

  • Size of roadway
  • Location of roadway
  • Frequency of accidents
  • Existence and location of intersections and traffic control devices
  • Road surface
  • Professional opinions of traffic engineers

What is considered “distracted driving” in North Dakota?

The North Dakota Department of Transportation defines three types of distracted driving: 

  • Visual: driver takes their eyes off the road, such as when looking at scenery
  • Manual: driver removes their hand(s) from the wheel
  • Cognitive: driver becomes mentally distracted

Some activities, such as texting, fall under all three categories. Others, like talking to passengers, do not require the use of your hands or eyes, but can still lengthen your reaction time and increase your risk of a crash.
Texting is against state law for drivers of all ages. Motorists under the age of 18 may not use any kind of handheld device, including cell phones, for any purpose.

Woman checks lane behind her on the driver's side
Man blows into a breathalyzer to check for blood alcohol content

What is considered “driving under the influence” under North Dakota law?

More than 40% of car accidents in North Dakota involve alcohol. This is one of the worst rates of impaired driving in the nation.
In the state of North Dakota, the legal blood alcohol concentration limit for drivers of passenger cars is 0.08, and for commercial vehicle drivers it is 0.04. However, even if a motorist’s BAC is lower than the legal limit, if their ability to drive safely is impacted due to the use of alcohol or drugs, they may still be charged with a DUI.
For a first or second offense, a DUI is considered a Class B misdemeanor, and may come with jail time of up to 10 days and fines up to $1,500. A third offense is a Class A misdemeanor that comes with 120 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. Any subsequent offense is considered a Class C felony with penalties of 1 year in jail and required participation in rehabilitation programs.
In the case of a drunk driving accident, the at-fault driver is typically the impaired motorist (although drivers can share fault in North Dakota). If you’ve been in a car crash with a drunk driver, contact a North Dakota car accident attorney with The Advocates to get started on the road to recovery.

What responsibilities do drivers have after an accident?

North Dakota Century Code 39-08-04 states that any driver involved in an accident that results in injury or death must remain at the scene of the accident, exchange information with the other driver, and render reasonable assistance to any injured person.
If you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident, be sure to do the following:

  • Move your car out of traffic (if possible)
  • Check for injuries
  • File a police report
  • Exchange contact information and insurance information with the other party
  • Seek medical attention, even if you do not believe you are injured
  • File a car accident claim with your own car insurance provider
  • Consider contacting an auto accident attorney
Drivers share paperwork at the scene of a car accident.
Attorney explains case to client

What is the statute of limitations for car accidents?

For any personal injury case, a plaintiff only has a certain amount of time to file their claim. After that time period is up, they lose their right of action. This is referred to as the statute of limitations.
North Dakota has a relatively long statute of limitations for car accident cases, at 6 years from the date of injury. However, it is a good idea to file your claim much sooner than that. Personal injury cases can take a long time to settle, so it is a good idea to give yourself as much time as possible before the statute of limitations is up. As soon as you think you may have a case, contact a personal injury lawyer so they may begin working on your claim.

When Should I Hire a Car Accident Attorney?

If you were injured in a car accident, you will need to prove that the other driver was at fault in order to receive any damages. North Dakota is a comparative negligence state, meaning that you must be found less responsible for the accident than the other driver(s) in order to receive a settlement. Your claim will be reduced depending on how much responsibility you are found to have had in causing the accident.
Insurance companies will often do everything in their power to avoid paying you a fair settlement for your personal injury claim. Attempting to fight these multi-million dollar companies on your own can be a frustrating and sometimes even futile endeavor.

The Advocates’ auto accident attorneys have been fighting insurance providers for decades, and we understand how difficult it can be. We know how to get you fair compensation for your injuries and other damages, so you can focus on feeling better.
From your free initial consultation to the day your case is settled, your Advocate will be by your side to listen to your story, provide sound legal advice, and fight for your rights under the law. You deserve an attorney who cares about all aspects of your recovery. You deserve an Advocate.

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