Do I Need a Lawyer for a Car Accident in North Carolina?

Each case is different, but here are a few important things to consider.

Car Accident Investigations Are Complicated (and Time May Be Running Out)

A lot of work goes into investigating a crash. This is especially true if there were few witnesses, or if the at-fault driver disagrees with you about what happened.

Key evidence that can prove what really happened may not stick around for long, either. For example, “black box” data from a crashed vehicle may disappear forever if you don’t take steps to preserve it.

An experienced car accident lawyer will know where to look, who to work with, and how soon it needs to happen. They may work with an accident reconstruction expert who can use photos of the crash scene, light signal timings, and other evidence to piece together what actually happened. They’ll also follow up with eyewitnesses, conduct interviews, obtain insurance policy information, and much more.

Damages Are Tough to Calculate

How much is your car accident case worth? Chances are it’s going to be a lot more than what the insurance company offers you at first.

Victims of car accidents are able to claim economic damages and non-economic damages that result from the crash. But calculating them is a lot harder than you might think, and the insurance company will likely have a very different set of numbers in mind. For example:

• Economic damages include things like medical bills, lost wages, medications, etc. And it’s easy enough to add up the bills you’ve already received. But you’re also allowed to claim future economic damages. Do you know how long you’re likely to be out of work, or how much you might lose in future salary if you have to switch careers? Are you going to need future treatments or surgeries as a result of your current injuries?
• It’s even harder to calculate non-economic damages, since these are entirely subjective. How do you put a price on dealing with chronic pain and depression? What is fair compensation for losing your ability to go fishing, or take your children to the park?

Even if you’re dealing with your own insurance company, their priority is to save money for themselves, not pay fair compensation on car accident claims. You shouldn’t rely on the insurance company to offer you the full amount you deserve right off the bat. If your car accident resulted in serious injuries—or at least serious enough to cause a lot of pain, a few trips to the doctor, and at least a couple of weeks of missed work—an attorney can help you gather the evidence you need to support a fair settlement agreement.

Contributory Negligence Is a Factor in North Carolina

North Carolina is one of just a few states that follows the strict (and unfair) legal doctrine of contributory negligence in personal injury cases.

In most other states, you can still obtain compensation from a car accident claim even if you were partly responsible. For example, in those states, if a court finds that you were 20% at fault for the auto accident, you will be awarded 80% of your damages.

But in North Carolina, if you are assigned any share of the fault—even 1%—you cannot recover any compensation. Auto insurance companies use the threat of contributory negligence as a tool to deny legitimate auto accident claims, or to pressure crash victims into taking much lower settlement offers than they deserve.

Peace of Mind

Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident is a stressful process. And the insurance company isn’t going to go easy on you just because you’re hurt, struggling financially, or lack legal representation.

During a difficult time in your life, you shouldn’t have to worry about investigating a crash, gathering witness statements, negotiating with an insurance company that doesn’t have your best interests at heart, staying on top of legal deadlines, and more. Hiring an experienced car accident attorney can take the stress and frustration off your shoulders and allow you to focus on recovering and being there for your loved ones.