- Medical costs including emergency treatment, hospital costs, medications, physician costs, surgeries, physical therapy treatment, medical supplies, and more
- Lost wages if you have been unable to work
- Future medical expenses, care, and special treatment as it relates to your injuries
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Property damages
- Pain and sufferingand other costs associated with your injuries.
Injured parties often find it challenging to get adequately compensated after an accident through an insurance claim. Most insurance companies try to rush through quick settlements that are woefully insufficient to compensate you for damages that take time to come to light fully. Because injury victims feel vulnerable and afraid, they often take the first settlement offered.
Having an North Carolina personal injury attorney on your side to negotiate a fair settlement that you genuinely deserve allows you the peace of mind of knowing that all legal avenues have been considered and pursued.
In North Carolina, we are a fault-based state. That means if the other driver caused your injuries, you are able to receive compensation from:
- Your own insurance company that will, in turn, get reimbursed by the at-fault party’s insurance company
- A claim filed with the at-fault party’s insurance company, or
- The at-fault party in a lawsuit
However, we are in a contributory negligence state. The law states that if you contributed to the accident in any way, you will not be able to recover compensation from the other party, no matter how little fault you have been assigned.
Because of North Carolina’s contributory negligence laws, it is essential that you prove the complete fault of the other driver to be compensated for your injuries. This is not something you want to leave up to the insurance companies.
An experienced attorney has the essential resources to gather crucial evidence and investigate the details of the accident to determine fault and negotiate a fair financial settlement from the insurance company. If a fair settlement is impossible, your lawyer will take your case to court.
Attorney Ashley McDuffie is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association. She is also a North Carolina certified mediator. Attorney McDuffie is a member of the NC Young Lawyers Division. She serves on the Wake County Adult and Home Advisory Committee. Attorney McDuffie also serves as a board member on the board of the Great Durham Black Chamber of Commerce. She is also a member of the Durham Young Professions and Raleigh Jaycees.
