North Carolina Car Accident Attorney

What Losses Can You Recover After a Car Accident in North Carolina?

Car accidents often have long-term impacts on those involved. Serious car accident injuries, such as those involving the spinal cord or brain, can mean you are no longer able to work or need assistance with your daily life because of changes in your cognitive or motor functions. You may have mounting medical bills and fear a financially uncertain future. A North Carolina motor vehicle accident attorney can seek fair compensation to help you face the new challenges in your life.

Fair compensation can include damages awarded to cover:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Diminished earning capacity
• Property damage
• Home modifications
• Mileage and gas to and from doctor appointments
• Mobility devices
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life

A North Carolina car accident lawyer will carefully examine your losses and may consult experts about the losses you are likely to face in the future so that they can advocate for the maximum compensation allowed in your case.

How a North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer Can Support Your Case

From completing complicated paperwork to gathering evidence to support your injury claim, recovering compensation can be challenging. When you’re also in physical pain and under stress, the legal process may feel insurmountable. A North Carolina car accident attorney will take it on for you so that you can focus on healing instead.

Your lawyer can:

• Complete and file paperwork
• Communicate with all involved parties
• Investigate your accident to determine the blame
• Gather evidence to support their findings and demonstrate your need for compensation
• Negotiate for a fair settlement
• Advise you on any offers you receive from the insurance company
• Represent your case in court if necessary

The Goldwater Law Firm, with 20 years of experience, has been a helping hand to injury victims. We understand the fear and uncertainty you’re experiencing, and we are here to connect you with our co-counsels. You don’t have to face the big insurance companies alone. Contact us today to explore your legal options.

Who Is at Fault in Your North Carolina Car Accident?

The causes of car accidents can include weather or road conditions. However, in many cases, a driver’s negligence is the cause of the crash. Legally, negligence is defined by four key elements: someone owed a duty of care and breached that duty, which directly led to an accident and resulted in losses for a victim.

In North Carolina, proving negligence is essential for recovering compensation. North Carolina is a pure contributory negligence state. Under this system, you cannot pursue compensation if you hold even a fraction of fault for your accident. Insurers may try to use this against you by arguing that you acted irresponsibly or were partially to blame for your injuries. Your lawyer will build a compelling case to combat these aggressive tactics.

However, proving that someone has been negligent can be difficult. Some examples of negligence which may result in car accidents include:

• Drunk driving
• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Failing to yield or follow other traffic signs
• Driving aggressively

Liable parties are often other drivers, but in some cases, they may also include government entities, mechanics, or companies (such as when the accident involved a rideshare vehicle). If your auto accident involved a commercial truck, a North Carolina truck accident attorney could help you seek compensation from multiple liable parties.

To determine the at-fault party (or parties), your North Carolina car accident lawyer will investigate your accident thoroughly. They may do so by:

• Taking witness statements
• Consulting with The Goldwater Law Firm’s extensive network of experts, including accident reconstruction specialists
• Reviewing video footage and photographs from the accident scene
• Obtaining police reports, driving records, and other official documentation related to your case
• Analyzing physical evidence, such as skid marks

Evidence can be time-sensitive, so contact The Goldwater Law Firm as soon as possible to get started on your case.

How North Carolina’s Statute of Limitations Affects Your Car Accident Case

In addition to evidence collection, moving quickly is essential because of North Carolina’s statute of limitations on personal injury cases. You typically only have three years to file a personal injury lawsuit. In cases where a loved one passed away due to a car accident, and you wish to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit, the typical timeframe is even shorter at two years.

Your North Carolina motor vehicle accident lawyer will move quickly to gather evidence and build your case within the required legal timeframe.

What Should You Do After a Car Accident in North Carolina?

Once you have sought medical attention and reported your accident to the police, a few additional steps can be helpful for your health and accident claim.

These steps are:

• Continue Your Medical Treatment: If you stopped or delayed any medical treatment, the insurance companies could use that against you. They may argue you stopped treatment because your injuries were not serious. Additionally, stopping or delaying treatment can impede your recovery. It’s always best to follow your doctor’s treatment plan. If you wish to change your treatment plan, discuss it with your doctor before making any changes. 
• Avoid Taking Blame When Speaking to Insurance Companies: When speaking to the insurance adjusters, stick to the facts and avoid saying anything that can be construed as taking fault for the accident. Even saying you feel fine could be twisted against you. Have your North Carolina car accident lawyer either in the room with you or direct the insurance adjuster to speak directly to them.
• Avoid Posting: While scrolling social media can be a needed break while recovering, avoid posting about your accident or your recovery process. Any public posts you make can be used against you.

Affording a North Carolina Car Accident Attorney 

Despite the financial strain of medical bills and other post-accident pressures, it’s important to remember that legal representation is not a luxury reserved for the wealthy. It should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Personal injury attorneys, such as a North Carolina car accident lawyer, use a contingency fee system. Under this system, there are no upfront costs for their clients. Instead, you only pay their fees if they recover compensation.