Raleigh Car Accident Attorney

If you have been involved in a car accident in Raleigh, choosing the right attorney can be the difference between recovering full compensation for your injuries and financial losses or nothing at all. At Shipman Wright & Moore, LLP, our Raleigh personal injury attorneys are committed to helping you achieve the justice and compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced Raleigh car accident lawyer.

Why Work With Shipman Wright & Moore, LLP

• No Win, No Fee: You will not pay us a legal fee unless we win compensation for you.
• A Free Consultation: Start with a free case evaluation to discuss your options without any financial obligation.
• Our Experienced Legal Team: Our Raleigh personal injury attorneys bring years of successful practice in car accident litigation, maximizing your chances for a favorable outcome.

Understanding Car Accident Claims

A car accident claim is a request submitted to an automobile insurance company for financial compensation to cover the victim’s injuries and expenses, including medical bills and property damage repairs. If a settlement cannot be reached with an insurance provider, a car accident claim may end up in a lawsuit.

A car accident can lead to severe personal injuries, impacting your life and livelihood. The consequences can be long-lasting, often requiring substantial compensation. Unfortunately, however, auto insurance companies typically aim to minimize their payouts. Claimants represented by experienced attorneys like those at Shipman Wright & Moore, LLP generally recover significantly more compensation than those without legal representation, highlighting the importance of experienced legal guidance in these cases.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Raleigh

Understanding the cause of a car accident is the first step in assigning liability and holding the at-fault party accountable for the resulting damages:

• Speeding: Drivers exceeding speed limits contribute to the frequency and severity of accidents.
• Distracted Driving: Drivers texting, calling, or engaging in other distractions that divert their attention from the road is currently the leading cause of car accidents.
• Drunk Driving: Alcohol impairs a driver’s abilities, increasing the risk of drunk driving accidents in Raleigh.
• Failure to Yield: Drivers ignoring right-of-way rules at intersections or while merging often cause accidents to occur.
• Weather Conditions: Rain, snow, and fog can reduce visibility and road traction, leading to car and truck accidents in Raleigh.

Under North Carolina’s at-fault law, the person at fault for causing the crash is liable or financially responsible for the damages. This means crash victims must determine who is at fault before they can proceed with claims.

What Are the Most Common Types of Injuries After a Car Accident?

The force of a motor vehicle collision can inflict severe injuries on those involved – especially vulnerable road users such as bicyclists and pedestrians. Every year, thousands of car accident victims are rushed to emergency rooms with life-threatening injuries. 

Common injury types include:

• Broken bones: fractures caused by too much force exerted on the body of the victim, such as blunt-force trauma or crush injuries. Common broken bones are the ribs, collarbone, extremities, skull and pelvis.
• Traumatic brain injuries: head, skull and brain injuries can occur if the victim’s head strikes an object in the collision.

• Spinal cord injuries: a victim’s neck or back can suffer injuries such as herniated disks, sprains and strains, nerve damage, and paralysis.

• Whiplash: neck injuries and strains can occur due to the back-and-forth motion of the head and neck in a crash.

• Internal injuries: the internal organs can suffer damage, bleeding and significant harm from trauma to the abdomen.

At Shipman Wright & Moore, LLP, our lawyers can help you navigate a car accident claim if you suffered any type of injury, including catastrophic injuries, in a car accident in Raleigh. We also represent family members in wrongful death claims.

How Liability for a Car Accident is Established in North Carolina

Establishing liability for a car accident in North Carolina primarily revolves around proving negligence. This involves showing that someone’s lack of reasonable care directly caused the accident. Important aspects include:

• Determining Fault: A thorough investigation to gather important evidence collection is crucial to establishing who is legally at fault for a car accident.
• Violations of Traffic Laws: Evidence that a party violated traffic laws can strongly support claims of negligence.
• Contributory Negligence: North Carolina’s strict contributory negligence rule may prevent you from recovering any compensation if you are found even minimally at fault. (N.C. General Statutes, Chapter 1, sections 1-139)

The elements of negligence that must be proven are duty of care, breach of duty, causation and damages. A lawyer can help you find evidence to establish that one or more parties caused your crash. 

How Do I File a Car Accident Claim in Raleigh, NC?

If you’ve been injured in an auto accident in Raleigh, it is important to try to stay calm and remember the steps to take to protect your rights and physical health. If you wish to file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit for your accident, here’s what to do: 

1. Get medical care. Always seek medical attention after an auto accident, even if you don’t feel injured. You may have a hidden injury, and insurance companies need to verify that you received prompt care. Keep your medical records to serve as proof of injury during your claim.
2. Notify the police. Call 911 to report the car accident. This is a legal requirement for serious accidents, but should be done even after a minor collision, so that you receive an official crash report for evidence during your claim.  
3. Document the accident scene. Exchange names and contact information with the other driver. Collect other evidence, as well, such as witness names, photographs of the crash scene and video footage.
4. File an insurance claim. Notify your carrier about the accident promptly. Provide the basic facts, but avoid speculating about fault. If the other driver is to blame for the crash, call his or her insurance company to file your claim.
5. Take legal action. Though most car accident cases reach settlements, it’s possible to need to go to court if an insurance company refuses to offer a reasonable settlement or has denied your claim. A lawyer can help you file a lawsuit and represent you before a judge or jury.

The contributory negligence law in North Carolina makes it even more important to take the correct steps and document your car accident in detail to retain your ability to recover compensation.

Compensation For a Car Accident

In North Carolina, victims of car accidents can seek various forms of compensation, depending on the circumstances of their case:

• Lost Wages: Compensation for income lost due to the inability to work.
• Medical Expenses: Coverage for current and future medical treatments.
• Property Damage: Reimbursement for the costs to repair or replace a damaged vehicle.
• Pain and Suffering: For physical discomfort and emotional distress caused by the accident.
• Punitive Damages: Awarded in cases of egregious negligence to punish the wrongdoer.

Determining Your Damages in a Raleigh Car Accident Claim

Economic or monetary damages are calculated by adding together all of the bills and receipts associated with the car crash. Future medical expenses also need to be considered, including long-term physical therapy, rehabilitation and medications. If you have suffered a loss of the capacity to earn due to a permanent disability, this will also be part of the calculation.

Pain and suffering are more difficult to estimate, as they are subjective. They represent the personal or human impact of the car accident. You can get an idea of how much you may be awarded by multiplying your economic damages by a number between 1.5 and 5 that best represents the severity of your injuries. This is known as the Multiplier Method, and it’s commonly used to calculate non-economic damages.

Many factors can affect the value of your financial damages as a car accident victim, including the gravity of your injuries, whether you have permanent disability or disfigurement, the insurance coverage available, the number of defendants, and the strength of your evidence. An attorney can evaluate your particular car accident case to determine its value. 

What Is the Average Car Accident Settlement in North Carolina?

There is no “average” car accident settlement in North Carolina, as case values can vary significantly from person to person. Some claimants are awarded $30,000 or less for minor accidents while others achieve case results in the millions for catastrophic injuries. 

In general, car accident cases with severe to catastrophic injuries receive higher settlements due to the level of damage suffered by the victim. These cases often include long-term costs and losses that increase case value. 

Since no two cases are exactly alike, it’s imperative not to base your value on a perceived average. Instead, consult with an attorney at Shipman Wright & Moore, LLP for an accurate estimate of how much your case is worth based on your unique losses and situation.

The Statute of Limitations For Car Accident Claims in North Carolina

In North Carolina, a car accident claim must be filed within three years of the date of the accident, as per N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52. This statute of limitations sets the deadline for filing a lawsuit, although certain conditions may shorten or lengthen this timeframe. It is also important to note that while the statute of limitations determines the deadline for filing a lawsuit in court, an insurance claim should be initiated much sooner to ensure the best possible outcome. Starting early will also give your Raleigh car accident attorney a better chance to obtain and preserve the evidence needed to build a strong case.

How a Raleigh Car Accident Attorney Can Help

Dealing with a car accident claim alone exposes you to potential risks, as an insurance company may try to convince you to accept less than you deserve. Luckily, you have the right to hire a car accident attorney to represent you. With a lawyer standing up for your rights, you can have peace of mind knowing your best interests are being protected every step of the way.

Hiring a skilled Raleigh car accident attorney offers numerous benefits, including:

• Help with navigating the legal complexities
• Investigation of the car accident cause
• Identification of the liable party or parties
• Collection and preservation of important evidence
• Honest calculation of your damages
• Insurance settlement negotiation
• Litigation at trial, if necessary
• A greater chance of maximizing your compensation

At Shipman Wright & Moore, LLP, we will negotiate with the liable insurance companies on your behalf to ensure you are not taken advantage of. We will manage all the necessary paperwork and deadlines effectively. If necessary, our Raleigh car accident lawyers will provide you with robust representation in court.

Contact Shipman Wright & Moore, LLP for an Experienced Car Accident Attorney in Raleigh

Do not navigate the aftermath of a car accident alone. Reach out to Shipman Wright & Moore, LLP for compassionate and competent legal guidance. Our experienced Raleigh car accident lawyers are ready to help you secure the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a free consultation and take the first step towards recovering the compensation you need and deserve.

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