In North Carolina, in order to make liability claims for property damage and bodily injury in an auto accident, you must be able to prove who was at fault for the wreck. Reviewing the police report about your accident is one way the North Carolina auto accident attorneys at Henson Fuerst evaluate your case.
Understanding the DMV-349 Key
If your car accident meets certain conditions, a police officer will fill out a standard crash report form called the DMV-349. A series of numbers and codes in the report can help you understand the police officer’s observations, findings, and conclusions about your wreck.
Under North Carolina law, if you are involved in an accident, a Crash Report Form—or DMV 349—must be completed if the crash occurred on a traffic way (any public land) and resulted in at least one of the following:
- Fatality
- Non-fatal personal injury
- Total property damage amounting to $1,000.00 or more
- Property damage of any amount to a vehicle seized
- A vehicle has been seized and is subject to forfeiture under G. S. 20-28.2
A law enforcement officer—either on the scene of the accident or after the accident at the police station—will file a DMV 349 for you. You can use the DMV 349 Manual to guide you through the form or the North Carolina auto accident attorneys at Henson Fuerst can help you interpret the form.
If you need to obtain your DMV-349 crash report, you must fill out a Request for Motor Vehicle Information with the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
If you already have a copy of your report but need help understanding it, you can view our DMV-349 Key. This PDF from the DMV will help explain the codes on your report.
Henson Fuerst Can Help
Reading the DMV-349 can be confusing, but you’re not on your own. Our North Carolina auto accident lawyers read these forms all the time, and we can help you understand yours.
Call Henson Fuerst today at (919) 781-1107 or complete a free initial consultation form to find out how our team of experienced North Carolina auto accident lawyers can help you after an accident. When you call Henson Fuerst, you will speak with one of our experienced North Carolina Car Accident attorneys absolutely FREE. We will investigate every detail of your accident and fight hard to ensure that your rights are protected.
