Raleigh Car Accident Lawyers
If you were injured in a car accident, you have the right under North Carolina law to receive compensation for your injuries from the negligent driver. Our experienced Raleigh car accident lawyers - who are rated among the best in North Carolina - can help.
Our compassionate team helps clients with medical care, medical bills, property damage, and dealing with the stress of their physical recovery. We provide support, care, and concern in the aftermath of tragedies.
As former insurance defense attorneys, we know how to fight for every penny you deserve.
Car Accident Lawyers Serving North Carolina
Our Raleigh Car Accident Settlements and Verdicts:
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In 2022, we represented a client who suffered catastrophic injuries in a motor vehicle accident caused by a drunk driver, who was grossly intoxicated after being over-served alcohol by a wedding venue. Our team of Raleigh dram shop lawyers settled the case against the drunk driver and wedding venue for the maximum limit of insurance coverage available, which amounted to $1,025,000. Read more here.
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In 2021, we represented a client who was injured after she (a pedestrian) was struck by a vehicle in an unmarked crosswalk. Our team of Raleigh car accident lawyers settled the case against the driver for $400,000.00. Read more here.
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In 2019, we represented a motorist who sustained serious injuries in a motor vehicle collision, and our team of car accident lawyers in Raleigh settled the case for $250,000, which was the full amount of insurance coverage possible. The insurance carrier claimed that our driver was involved in a “road race” and blamed him for the accident though he was simply driving to work. Our car accident attorneys fought back against the insurance carriers defenses and convinced the insurance carrier to pay the full limits of its policy to settle the case in order to avoid trial. Read more here.
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In 2023, we represented a client (a passenger) who was injured when the driver of his vehicle lost control of the vehicle and drove off the roadway. Our team of Raleigh car accident lawyers settled the case against the driver for $100,000 and obtained an additional $150,000 from our client’s underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) for a total settlement of $250,000. Learn more here.
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In 2020, we represented clients in a motor vehicle accident caused by a drunk driver and negotiated a settlement more than 13x our clients’ medical bills. Our Raleigh car accident lawyers obtained a combined settlement of $160,000 because we established that one client suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and uncovered the drunk driver had prior DWI convictions. At the time of the incident, the drunk driver’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.27, which is nearly four times the legal limit. Read more here.
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In 2022, we represented a client who was injured after he (a pedestrian) was struck by a vehicle while he was crossing the street not in a crosswalk. Our team of Raleigh pedestrian accident lawyers settled the case against the driver for $100,000.00 (limits of available insurance coverage) without filing a lawsuit. Read more here.
Determining Fault in a Motor Vehicle Accident in Raleigh, NC
Determining fault in a car accident can be a complex process because there are many factors that can contribute to an accident, including the actions of other drivers, road conditions, and weather. There are several types of fault (or negligence) that can be considered in a car accident case:
Distracted driving:
This includes activities such as texting, eating, or using a navigation system while driving. Distracted driving is a leading cause of car accidents in North Carolina and can result in significant fines and penalties for those who are found to be at fault.
Impairment:
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can significantly impair a person's ability to operate a vehicle safely. In North Carolina, it is illegal to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher. If a driver is found to be impaired at the time of an accident, they may be held liable for any damages or injuries that occur.
Speeding/Unsafe driving Maneuvers:
This includes actions such as speeding, tailgating, or failing to follow traffic laws. Reckless driving can be extremely dangerous and can result in serious accidents and injuries. If a driver is found to be reckless, they may be held liable for any damages or injuries that occur.
Failure to maintain a vehicle:
It is the responsibility of a driver to ensure that their vehicle is in good working order and safe to operate. If a driver fails to maintain their vehicle and this leads to an accident, they may be held liable for any damages or injuries that occur.
In some cases, more than one party may be found to be at fault for a car accident.
Common Injuries Caused By Car Accidents in Raleigh, NC
Car accidents in North Carolina can cause minor and serious injuries bodily injuries to everyone involved. Some of the most common types of injuries our car accident attorneys in Raleigh see in their cases are:
Back and spine injuries
Neck injuries
Brain injuries (concussions and traumatic brain injuries or TBI)
Sprained and bruised knees, ankles, wrists, hips, and shoulders
Broken bones
Fire, electrocution, and burns
Eye injuries
Hearing loss
Amputations
Chest and abdominal injuries
Anxiety and psychological injuries
Damages Our Raleigh Car Accident Lawyers Can Recover for Your Accident
The personal injuries you suffered in your car accident may entitle you to monetary payments and compensation. Some of the most common types of damages (explained in more detail here) recovered in the cases handled by our Raleigh car accident attorneys are:
Medical bills paid/reimbursed
Future medical expenses
Lost wages and income for time you missed at work
Pain and suffering/mental anguish
Loss of consortium if your accident affected your relationship with your spouse
Permanent disability, scarring, or disfigurement
Punitive damages to punish the other party for particularly bad, reckless, or outrageous conduct that caused your injuries
A Guide to North Carolina Car Accident Claims
Most car accident injury victims have questions about what they should/shouldn’t do and how the legal system works. It’s understandable because this kind of tragedy rarely happens to a person more than once. Unfortunately, there is little reliable or correct information about car accident claims that is available to the public, which causes confusion about the car accident process and hurts injury victims’ chances for recovery. Here’s what our team of Raleigh car accident lawyers believe you should know:
1. What Should I Do After I’m Involved in a Car Accident in Raleigh, NC?
The initial moments and days after your car are critical, not only for your well-being but for your chances for compensation as well. These are the most important steps to take after your injury accident:
Take photos of your injuries
Take photos of the damage to your car and the other vehicles (including vehicle positioning)
Visit a doctor if you haven’t already
Follow the doctor’s recommendations and attend all follow-up appointments
Write down a narrative of what happened while it’s still fresh in your head
Make a list of witnesses and their contact information if you know it
Follow any additional instructions from your attorney
2. How Do I File a Car Accident Claim in Raleigh, NC?
A car accident case begins when you file legal documents called a “summons” and “complaint” in the appropriate North Carolina court, usually in the county where you live or where the accident occurred. The specific details are outlined in Rule 4 of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure. Filing a case is as simple as taking the summons and complaint to the court clerk of the court where you’re filing the case.
The clerk accepts the filing and returns your copies so that you can serve the defendant with their copy of the filing documents. “Serving” a defendant means providing them with a copy of your file-stamped summons and complaint in a very specific, formal way, which is explained in Rule 5 of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure. Your complaint must include all of the grounds to bring your case and all of your demands for compensation.
3. Will My Car Accident Claim Go to Trial in Raleigh, NC?
95% of car accident cases, according to government statistics, resolve before needing to go to trial. The vast majority of car accident cases will settle before the trial date arrives (sometimes even before a lawsuit is filed), and others will settle in the middle of trial. The most common reasons cases go to trial are:
The defendant’s insurance adjuster and company believes they will win the case, so they offer a very low settlement or none.
The insurance company doesn’t want to set a precedent for settling your type of car accident lawsuit.
The monetary amount demanded by your attorney is too high for the insurance company to settle without fighting the claim.
Liability (meaning who is at-fault) or the injured person’s damages are too contested or questionable to find a middle ground.
The more time spent in preparation and building the case, the more likely your case will reach an appropriate settlement. But there are a lot of variables, and if your case is in the small percentage that go to trial, a Raleigh car accident attorney can help prepare you for what to expect.
4. How Much Will My Car Accident Claim Settle for in Raleigh, NC?
There’s no way to precisely value your claim, but an experienced car accident injury attorney may be able to give you an approximate value based on their experiences and prior results in other cases. The value of your claim includes your economic damages like costs for medical treatment, lost wages, future medical care, paying for help you need around the home, and physical therapy.
To approximate a total case value, you can add up your total economic damages and then multiply that figure by 1.5 or 2 (for moderate injuries) to account for pain and suffering, which will give you a rough range of what a jury might award might be or how an insurance company could value your claim. For serious injuries with significant permanent injury, you might multiply your total economic damages by 4 or 5 for those severe cases. For incidents that “shock the conscience,” like car accidents involving drunk drivers, we have seen victims awarded damages 10x or more of their economic damages. In a recent drunk driving case, our team of car accident attorneys in Raleigh negotiated a settlement for our clients that was 13x their medical bills.
5. What If I’m Partially At-Fault for Causing My Car Accident in Raleigh, NC?
Whether it’s true or not, you are likely going to be blamed for causing your accident or injuries, even if just partially. You might even believe that you are responsible for the accident. However, there is a big difference between what regular people think about fault and what the law says. For instance, you might think a man stepping into a clearly visible 23 ft x 3 ft open service pit at an auto repair shop that he’s frequented for years is to blame for his own injuries. But the $1,800,000 settlement our team of Raleigh premises liability lawyers secured in that case in 2020 suggests otherwise.
North Carolina does follow the doctrine of contributory negligence, which could prevent you from recovering damages from your accident if a jury believes you are partially to blame. However, an experienced Raleigh car accident lawyer understands that defense and how to work around it.
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6. How Long Does a Car Accident Claim Take to Reach a Settlement in Raleigh, NC?
A small of number of cases resolve very quickly before a lawsuit is even filed. It may take 3-4 months to obtain your medical bills and records and 1-2 weeks to negotiate with the claims adjuster. However, these cases are in the minority and are usually limited to very specific circumstances (like when liability is clear and the damages are so severe that they clearly are worth more than the limits of available insurance).
In most other cases, litigation can last for a year or more. The more complicated or contested your case, the longer you can expect it to take. You do have some control over the length of your case because it’s up to you to accept or reject settlement offers.
7. How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Raleigh, NC?
There is limited amount of time you have to file a claim, also known as the statute of limitation. In North Carolina, for most car accident cases, you have 3 years from the accident or injury to bring a claim. For accidents that resulted in death, you have 2 years from the date of the death. There is no wiggle room or do-overs when it comes to deadlines to file a car accident claim, so it is in your best interest to get a Raleigh car accident attorney involved as early as possible after your accident.
8. What is the Process for a North Carolina Car Accident Claim?
Car accident liability in North Carolina is determined by the state's laws and regulations, which outline the rules and guidelines for determining who is responsible for damages and injuries resulting from a car accident.
According to North Carolina's laws, the driver who is found to be at fault for the accident is responsible for any damages or injuries that occur as a result of the accident. This includes medical bills, property damages, and other costs related to the accident.
The General Car Accident Claim Process
Notify insurance carriers
Insurance adjuster inspects vehicles and estimates damages
The property damage amount is negotiated and settled
If there are injuries, the injured driver receives medical treatment
Once the medical treatment is concluded or the injured driver reaches maximum medical improvement (MMI), the bodily injury claim is negotiated and settled
If the property damage or bodily injury claim is not settled, then a lawsuit is filed
9. How Much Does a Car Accident Lawyer in Raleigh, NC Charge?
Many Raleigh car accident attorneys will agree to work on your case with no money up front or out-of-pocket. If you succeed in your case, they will take a percentage of the compensation you receive either in your settlement or judgment from a jury verdict. This is also known as a contingency fee. In most of our cases, we charge a contingency fee equal to 1/3 of the amounts we recover on your behalf. That means we have a financial incentive to help you recover every amount you’re owed, not one penny less.
10. What Does a Raleigh Car Accident Lawyer Do to Help?
Hiring an experienced Raleigh car accident lawyer can provide you with numerous benefits. Injury attorneys know how to conduct initial investigations and save important evidence (before it could be destroyed) that might be needed for your case. They are able to work with experts, law enforcement, and first responders to prove what happened in your accident. They can assist with getting you the appropriate medical care and treatment.
Good North Carolina car accident attorneys can also negotiate with the at-fault parties, their lawyers, and insurance adjusters to get you fair compensation for your injuries. But perhaps most importantly, an injury lawyer can take the weight and burden of the legal aspects of your case off your shoulders so you to focus on your recovery.
11. What Happens After I File a Car Accident Claim in Raleigh, NC?
In a North Carolina car accident lawsuit, the injured party (victim) files a formal demand for compensation called a Complaint. Once you file the case, you serve the other side with a copy of the paperwork. Then you wait for them to file an Answer, which is just a legal document that admits or denies the allegations in your Complaint. At the time same, you have time to build your case by contacting witnesses, gathering medical evidence, and collecting evidence from the other party. This is known as “discovery.” At that time, you may be asked to give a “deposition,” which is sworn testimony under oath. An experienced North Carolina car accident lawyer, like our team in Raleigh, NC, can help, guide, and prepare you through this process.
12. What Is the Statute of Limitations in North Carolina for Car Accident Claims?
There is limited amount of time you have to file a claim, also known as a statute of limitation. In North Carolina, for most car accident cases, you have 3 years from the accident or injury to bring a claim. For accidents that resulted in death, you have 2 years from the date of the death. There are different and separate time limits for contracts cases, criminal cases, and cases about property damage.
13. What is the Average Settlement for a Car Accident Claim in Raleigh, NC?
Determining the average settlement for a North Carolina car accident claim is difficult because there are so many different types and severity of injuries. In North Carolina, according to statewide statistics, car accident cases settle for an average of $25,700, but a number of facts go into the value of a case. Those include:
The amount of auto coverage the defendant has
The severity of your injuries and damages you sustained
Who is at-fault and how bad their conduct was
However, cases may settle for more than the average when a good North Carolina car accident injury lawyer is on your side.
14. How Do I Maximize My Car Accident Settlement in Raleigh, NC?
The first step to maximizing your car accident settlement is hiring a car accident lawyer. On average, cases where the victim is represented by an injury lawyer settle for larger amounts than when victims are unrepresented and try to handle their claims by themselves. It isn’t fair, but insurance carriers simply don’t take car accident claims seriously if the injured person isn’t represented by a lawyer.
15. Does Pain and Suffering Include Medical Bills (and What’s the Difference)?
No, pain and suffering is different from economic damages like medical bills and lost wages. Pain and suffering relates to the hassle, anxiety, stress, actual pain, and trauma you suffered as a result of the injury. But you have a right to claim full compensation for your injuries, which means medical bills, other economic damages, permanent disability, AND pain and suffering. Pain and suffering is on top of and in addition to your economic damages, like medical bills.
16. How Do You Calculate Pain and Suffering for a Car Accident Claim in Raleigh, NC?
There is no magic formula for determining what amount of pain and suffering is fair in your case. In general, pain and suffering is proportional to the injuries you suffered. If your injuries are severe and/or caused permanent disability, the more pain and suffering compensation would be fair to award in your case. In a case with severe injuries and lifelong suffering, you might be awarded pain and suffering that is 5x or more of your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, etc). In minor injury cases, your pain and suffering may be slightly less or equal to the amount of your medical bills.
However, sometimes there is a disconnect between what is just and fair in your case vs. what an insurance company or at-fault party will actually pay. A good Raleigh car accident lawyer has experience and even tools that can investigate recent judgments and settlements in your area to give you the best leverage in settlement negotiations so you can recover what is fair.
17. How Long are Car Accident Judgments Valid in North Carolina?
A judgment in North Carolina is valid for 10 years from the date it was awarded by the Court, but it can be renewed once for another 10 years. The specific statutes surrounding judgments can be found here. The laws surrounding recovering or enforcing a judgment in North Carolina can be tricky, and we recommend speaking with an experienced car accident lawyer to make sure you take advantage of all of the mechanisms available to recover from the at-fault party.
18. Do I Have a Claim If My Car Is Run Off the Road Without Contacting the Other Driver in North Carolina?
Sometimes referred to as “ghost” accident, we often get potential client inquiries regarding “near misses.” In these cases, another driver may recklessly or negligently steer into your lane and, in an attempt to avoid a collision, you steer off the roadway and damage your vehicle. Unfortunately, North Carolina is a contact state meaning you will not be able to recover from the other driver or your own uninsured motorist coverage without proving that the other vehicle made contact with yours.
19. Can I File a Car Accident Claim Without a Lawyer in Raleigh, NC?
Yes, you can file a car accident lawsuit without a lawyer. However, if you bring your case on your own, you’re subject to the same rules and standards as you would be if you had an attorney. You are required to follow the same formalities and rules when filing court documents. The rules of discovery, admission of evidence, and civil procedure will still apply to you in your case. If you make a mistake, there is a chance that you case will be dismissed or thrown out. While you can file a civil lawsuit without an attorney, your best chance to recover the maximum amount possible is working with an experienced car accident lawyer.
20. How Do I Find the Best Raleigh Car Accident Lawyer for My Case?
Like every profession, injury lawyers vary in experience, skills, style, dedication, and levels of customer service so “best” can mean different things to different people. It’s a good idea to see if the injury lawyers you are considering have positive client testimonials, good (and recent) case results, and are passionate about helping others. It depends on whether you want to hire a law firm that works with thousands of clients every year or a smaller firm that only focuses on a limited number of cases. The relationship between lawyer and client requires a significant amount of trust and communication over an extended period of time, so the most important factor is choosing a lawyer that “feels right” to you.
Raleigh Car Accident Statistics
According to the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, the number of people injured in car accidents and killed in car accidents has increased since 2020. More than 70% of car accidents occur during normal working and commuting hours from 7 am to 7 pm. Roughly 25% of all car accidents were caused by speeding. When compared to other similarly sized cities in the country, Raleigh ranks #50 in total car accidents per capita. The increase in fatal car accidents is believed to be related to cell phone usage, an increased practice of not wearing seatbelts, and more speeding than in prior years.
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Case Evaluation
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident and want to know your legal rights, our experienced Raleigh car accident lawyers are available to help.
Raleigh Car Accident Claims We Handle
Two car collisions
Multiple-vehicle accidents
Rear-end collisions
T-bone accidents
Head-on collisions
Rollover accidents
Commercial vehicle, trucking, 18 wheeler, and semi-truck and trailer accidents
Motorcycle and scooter collision
Hit-and-run accidents
Bicycle accidents
Pedestrian and walkway accidents
Alcohol-related accidents and drunk driving collisions (Dram Shop Liability)
Raleigh Car Accident Lawyer Cost
For transparent, upfront pricing on what our Raleigh car accident attorneys charge to help you with your accident, please click below.
Raleigh Car Accident
Lawyer FAQs
Areas Our Car Accident Lawyers Serve:
The Best Raleigh Car Accident Lawyers Will:
THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE YOUR ACCIDENT
EXPLAIN YOUR OPTIONS
GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE CLAIMS PROCESS
NEGOTIATE WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY
FILE A LAWSUIT IF NECESSARY
ABOVE ALL ELSE, FIGHT FOR YOU
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Accident Lawyers
Why Our Raleigh Car Accident Lawyers Provide Free Consultations
Free legal consultations play a vital role in ensuring access to justice as well as promoting fairness, justice, and the well-being of accident victims. That’s why our award-winning Raleigh car accident lawyers always provide free consultations for potential clients
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Raleigh Car Accident Lawyers
Although the cause of a car accident may be obvious, insurance companies will often argue that your damages aren’t significant or weren’t caused by the collision. Our experience Raleigh car accident lawyers can help.