What Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Do for You?

An accident can change your life. From the physical and emotional consequences to damages in the form of medical bills and auto-repair invoices, the aftermath of an accident can be tricky to deal with. 

Fortunately, if your accident in Charlotte, North Carolina, was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to financial compensation through a personal injury claim. A personal injury lawyer can help you avoid the common pitfalls related to these claims in order to maximize your settlement in Charlotte. 

What Is a Personal Injury Claim?

Accidents happen all the time. Although it may be true that the person responsible had no designs to harm you, their carelessness has still left you with physical and emotional distress. 

A personal injury claim allows you, the victim, to seek damages from the at-fault party. These damages are typically paid out by the other person’s insurance provider. Furthermore, most personal injury disputes are resolved without the victim ever having to step foot in a courthouse. 

It sounds simple, but there are few considerations to keep in mind if you are going to file a personal injury claim. 

The Time Limit on Personal Injury Claims

First off, it’s important to understand that personal injury disputes have an expiration date. Every state has a deadline for filing personal injury claims known as the statute of limitations. 

In North Carolina, the timeline for filing most personal injury claims is three years. The clock starts ticking from the date of the accident onwards. Although it may be possible for that deadline to be “tolled,” or extended, in some limited circumstances, most claims submitted after the deadline has passed will be tossed out by a court. 

If three years sounds like a lot, it’s important to know that investigating and filing a personal injury claim can take months. It’s the same reason why most people file their claims as soon as possible—once the statute of limitations expires, you risk walking away empty-handed. 

Contributory Negligence and the Upshot for Your Personal Injury Claim

The other issue at the heart of any personal injury claim is fault. In fact, without proving that someone else failed in their duty of care in the lead-up to your Charlotte accident, you won’t have a case. 

In many states, accident victims are able to collect damages even if they are found to be partially responsible for the accident. This system, known as comparative fault, is more lenient toward the plaintiff. 

In North Carolina, however, contributory negligence is the name of the game. This system holds that a victim must be clear of fault in order to collect damages. 

This means that if the defendant can prove that you were at all responsible for causing the accident—even slightly—you again run the risk of walking away with nothing. 

The lack of comparative fault in North Carolina means that the person responsible for your accident in Charlotte may resort to any possible defense to prove that you were also negligent. Although this sounds daunting, hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer can increase your chance of getting a settlement. 

Speak with an Experienced Lawyer on Your Personal Injury Claim

Don’t let the defense dictate terms in your personal injury claim. The experienced personal injury attorneys at The Nye Law Group understand what it means to suffer an accident, and they can fight for you. 

Don’t hesitate to work with a personal injury lawyer from our firm. Call 704-285-6319 or fill out the following form to schedule a free consultation. You don’t pay unless you win.