Get To Know North Carolina’s Personal Injury Laws

If you or someone you love has been injured due to the fault of another person, it is likely that there are some questions about your next steps.  However, the laws per state vary, and in this article, we will focus on North Carolina’s Personal Injury Laws.

North Carolina’s Personal Injury Laws in a Nutshell

In North Carolina, a personal injury case is a civil action brought by an injured party against the responsible party. The responsible party might be an individual, business, government agency or department, or any other legal entity that causes injury to another person through carelessness or inadvertence. A personal injury can occur in many ways: through negligence, recklessness, or intentional acts. The injured party may seek monetary damages like medical bills and lost wages in a personal injury case.

Getting a case evaluation from an experienced personal injury attorney is your best bet if you’re wondering if you can be compensated for an injury you sustained. 

North Carolina Personal Injury Law – What Can It Be Used For?

People are often injured due to another person’s negligence or carelessness. If you have been hurt, you can seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. When someone is driving an automobile and hits your vehicle or runs into you on foot, this is known as a car accident. Injuries from car accidents include whiplash, broken limbs or back injuries.

In North Carolina, if your automobile is badly damaged because of a collision with another vehicle, the other driver could be liable for the cost to repair or replace your vehicle. This damage is separate and in addition to any physical injuries you sustain in the accident.

If your injuries are serious, you could be facing medical expenses for treatment of your injuries, lost wages from time off work, and other losses. An experienced North Carolina car accident attorney,including us, will investigate your case and help determine who is liable for your damages. We can then negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company of the person who caused the accident.

How Can I Seek Compensation For Personal Injuries?

North Carolina residents are entitled to bring lawsuits against parties they feel are responsible for causing them harm. This is the concept of tort law, where claims are brought when an individual’s personal rights have been violated by the negligent or intentional acts of another. 

There are many different forms of personal injuries that can be brought before a court in North Carolina, One of the most common is wrongful death, which is an area of personal injury law that addresses claims brought on behalf of a decedent.

If an individual dies due to the negligent or intentional act of another, his or her family may be entitled to seek compensation for damages through a wrongful death claim. This can include medical expenses, funeral costs, and punitive damages in certain circumstances.

Personal injury claims (or lawsuits, if needed) aim at determining a fair financial settlement for the damages you have suffered. Call us today at  1-800-319-9000 for further guidance. 

The Most Common Causes Of Personal Injury In North Carolina

Common types of personal injury cases include:

Medical Malpractice

You may be able to file a claim for medical malpractice when health care professionals make mistakes or are just plain reckless. You can hold them liable for the damage they cause by obtaining the help of a personal injury attorney.

Automobile Accident

One of the most common causes of personal injury in North Carolina is an automobile accident. This can be due to a variety of factors such as careless driving, speeding, and lack of safety precautions like seat belts and child restraints.

Car accidents are extremely common in North Carolina. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 108 people die each day in car accidents across the country. Most of these fatalities occur on interstates and involve an automobile colliding with another vehicle, often at high speeds. Car accident cases usually require extensive investigation into any causes that contributed to the wreck.

When involved in an auto accident, contact the police and contact a North Carolina personal injury lawyer at  1-800-319-9000.

Motorcycle Accidents in North Carolina

Motorcycle accidents in North Carolina are common. Because motorcycles are more difficult to see than cars, they are often involved in crashes with larger, more visible vehicles. In addition, bikers do not have the same protections as car drivers and passengers when they are in an accident.

This makes motorcycle accidents potentially devastating events for bikers, their passengers, and the drivers of other vehicles involved.

Slip & Fall Cases

There are nearly one million people that suffer severe injuries due to slip and fall accidents each year. Some of these cases can be prevented by taking precautions like properly lighting walkways, cleaning up spills, using warning signs, or installing handrails.

Defective Products

Another common cause of personal injury is defective products. When a product has an unexpected defect that causes harm like a power tool with an electrical shock hazard, the manufacturer can be held liable for damages. The plaintiff must prove negligence on the part of the manufacturer and that the product was unreasonably dangerous.

Dog Bites

Liability for dog bites can depend on a number of factors such as whether the owner has taken steps to train and restrain their pet, if they were aware of any aggressive behavior by the dog or if there is proof that they were negligent. In the case of a dog attack, contact the police and contact a North Carolina personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

How long will it take to settle my NC Personal Injury Case?

The answer to this question depends on the severity of your injuries, how much money is at stake in the lawsuit, and other factors. The average settlement time for a North Carolina personal injury claim is about two years. However, some cases can be settled within weeks or months. In any event, our firm has been awarded with a $1.5 million settlement. 

 We are familiar with all aspects of these cases and can provide you with an accurate estimate of what you might expect from them. Our experience allows us to give you a realistic idea of when you should expect to receive a settlement offer.

Why Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer in North Carolina?

• The statutes of limitations for personal injury claims are strict. If you wait too long, then your claim may be barred forever. Our North Carolina personal injury lawyers know the deadlines and will make sure that you do not miss a beat when it comes to filing a claim.
• You Need An Advocate On Your Side. You have been injured and may be feeling down about your situation because of the trauma that you have been through. Take heart,  you will have an advocate on your side who is going to fight for maximum compensation for the pain you are experiencing. Your injury lawyer is going to advocate using every resource to seek justice for you.
• The Claim Has To Accurately Capture The Type Of Amounts Lost.  A claim is merely an accounting of an injury suffered. You should only be filing a claim if you are sure that you have been caused a monetary loss as defined by the relevant statute. The amount lost must be supported by thorough financial records and financial statements.

What Does a North Carolina Personal Injury Attorney Do?

Along with the detailed road map you will receive from your attorney, you will also receive plenty of advice. Some of this advice will be tailored to your particular case.

For example, you may get information to assist you in understanding the law and the ins and outs of the legal process.

While some of the information you receive may seem generic or general, remember that each case will be uniquely different. Personal injury lawyers spend years studying and interpreting the laws to create a helpful and effective strategy for any case.

You may find out about a potential lawsuit in just the first conversation with your attorney. This may include what you need to provide to prove your claim. After all, the biggest detractor in any personal injury lawsuit is usually the lack of proof. In a call or meeting with our attorney, you may have the chance to explain these matters more clearly.

A personal injury attorney will fight for you and your case in order to make sure the settlement and award are equitable and fair for all parties.

It’s important to hire a personal injury lawyer because not only will you have an expert on your side, but they will also ensure that you do not end up settling for less than you deserve.

Exactly What Does Contributory Negligence Mean In North Carolina?

North Carolina uses a doctrine called “Contributory Negligence” which means that if someone is even 1% at fault, they can be denied any compensation for their injuries. This is because North Carolina does not allow for comparative negligence.

This is why it is very important to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer who knows how to navigate these tricky legal waters. That’s where our personal injury attorney in North Carolina can help you.

What Is The Value Of My North Carolina Personal Injury Claim?

The amount of money you receive in a personal injury claim depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries, how long it takes to heal, and what type of damages you are seeking.

If you have suffered permanent disability as a result of an injury, such as paralysis, amputation, or brain damage, the amount of money you may be entitled to could be much higher.

The first step in recovering any monetary damages is filing a lawsuit against the person responsible for causing your injuries. Once you file suit, you must prove negligence on their part by showing they had a duty to protect you from a particular risk of harm, failed to perform that duty, and caused you damages as a direct result of their failure. This process is called proving liability.

Want To Speak To An Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer In North Carolina?

If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by another party’s negligence, it may be time to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer about the options available to you.

Our team of highly skilled legal professionals are dedicated to helping clients who have suffered injuries as a result of someone else’s carelessness. 

We believe that everyone deserves access to justice, which is why we work tirelessly to ensure that every client receives fair treatment and compensation for their losses. To learn more about how we can assist you, call us today at 1-800-319-9000.