How Does a North Carolina Personal Injury Attorney Evaluate an Accident Case? | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

When you have been injured in an accident caused by the negligence or recklessness of another party or parties, North Carolina law allows you to file a claim or lawsuit against that party for financial compensation for the losses the injuries have caused you to suffer. These losses often include medical expenses, loss of income and benefits, pain and suffering, emotional anguish, disability, and more.

Although the law does not require a victim to retain the services of a North Carolina personal injury attorney to pursue a claim, it has been proven time and time again that victims are more likely to obtain the financial compensation they deserve for their injuries if they have an attorney advocating for them. With an attorney, many victims end up with far less. Having an attorney representing you is especially crucial if no settlement can be reached with the insurance company and your case needs to go to trial.

 

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What Does a Carolinas Personal Injury Attorney Consider Before Accepting a Case?

When evaluating an injury case there are certain elements that an injury attorney looks for in determining whether or not the victim has a legal claim:

Liability: The first element the attorney will look for is who was liable for the accident, other than the victim. There will need to be actual evidence proving this liability. For example, if you were in a car accident, then one piece of evidence that would prove liability would be a police report stating the other driver caused the crash.

Losses: Your North Carolina injury attorney will also evaluate your case to see what losses your injuries have caused. Some of the things he or she will look for is whether or not you incurred medical expenses for your injuries, was unable to work while you recovered, if your injuries caused you pain, and if you have been left with any permanent disability or scarring.

Financial Issues: Your attorney will also determine if it will be possible to obtain the amount of your financial losses from the at-fault party. Using the example above of a car accident, an attorney will determine what, if any, car insurance policy the at-fault party had. If they were underinsured or uninsured, your attorney will evaluate your car insurance policy to determine if financial compensation from your insurance company.

In some accidents, there may be more than one at-fault party can be held liable for losses. If the at-fault driver was drunk at the time of the crash and it can be proved that the driver was over served at a drinking establishment before getting in their vehicle, North Carolina dram shop laws allow victims to pursue damages against that establishment.

Another example of multiple at-fault parties would be a trucking accident, where the truck driver and trucking company could be held liable for one accident.

Contact Shapiro & Appleton for Help

If you have been injured in an accident caused by another party or parties, contact a North Carolina injury attorney for a free and confidential consultation.

Our firm has successfully represented many accident victims and we understand how frightening these injuries can be for families, not only dealing with the uncertainty of your loved one’s health, but also the financial worry about how you will be able to take care of their medical and personal needs. We are available to meet and discuss the circumstances of your case and advice you on what your legal options are and how we can help.