Personal injury claims allow you to pursue financial damages against a party whose actions caused you to suffer harm. Injuries from a tort can leave you disabled or unable to financially provide for yourself or your dependents. Severe injuries can require prolonged hospitalization, which can cause excessive medical bills to accumulate. Speaking with a Rutherfordton personal injury lawyer can help you to understand if the harms you suffered qualify you to file a personal injury claim.
Another complication of the civil system is that you may be entitled to compensation from multiple parties. If the other driver involved in your car accident was working when the accident occurred, it may make their employer liable for your losses. Likewise, accidents involving rideshare drivers can involve multiple liable parties.
Injuries from a car accident can entitle you to collect compensation for:
- Property damage
- Vehicle repair and replacement costs
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Burial costs
- Pain and suffering
While auto insurance policies only cover economic losses, a Rutherfordton car accident lawyer can pursue noneconomic damages by filing a personal injury lawsuit. While North Carolina typically does not limit the amount of damages you can recover, the state practices a contributory negligence rule that prevents you from collecting damages if you are partially responsible. Unlike comparative negligence rules that allow you to recover damages if you are partially at-fault, contributory negligence bars damages if you are found to be at least 1% responsible for the cause of action that resulted in your injuries.
Call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC today at (828) 286-3866 to discuss your legal options.
Personal Injury Claims
Often, negligent drivers do not mean to injure others. When they do, they commit an unintentional tort. Criminally negligent accidents, however, may be intentional.
Intentional Torts
Victims of car accidents involving a drunk driver or road rage incidents have the right to pursue an intentional tort, as impaired driving is a crime. Injuries caused by intentional torts can allow you to recover compensation. We can help you if you were injured by:
- Drunk driving
- Vehicular homicide
- Aggressive driving
Negligence
Many personal injury claims involving car accidents involve negligent and reckless behavior. Negligence cases involve injuries that occurred because another person or entity violated a duty of care and acted with poor judgment. Actions are considered negligent if a reasonable person would not have engaged in the behavior.
Motorists have an obligation to follow traffic laws to ensure the safety of passengers and drivers. Some causes of car accidents in North Carolina involve negligent conduct, like:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Improper lane changes
- Failure to stop
- Failure to yield
For a legal consultation with a car accidents lawyer serving Rutherfordton, call 828.286.3866
Car Accident Injuries
Car accidents can lead to serious and minor injuries. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reported that in 2018, 125,454 individuals sustained injuries in motor vehicle accidents in North Carolina.
Car accidents allow you to file a personal injury claim because motorists have an obligation to follow traffic laws. Serious injuries may prevent you from working or engaging in the same activities you enjoyed before the accident, as car accidents can cause:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken and fractured bones
- Dislocated joints
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries
- Organ damage
- Trauma
It is for this reason that you may be able to recover lost wages or lost earning capacity. It is important to receive immediate medical treatment following an accident. Medical records can prove your injuries and losses and can be used as evidence during your personal injury case.
Serious accidents can cause your losses to exceed the amount covered by the involved insurance companies. When this occurs, a Rutherfordton car accident lawyer may be able to pursue damages against the liable party for unreimbursed economic losses.
To discuss the details of your personal injury claim, call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC today at (828) 286-3866 for a free consultation.
Rutherfordton Car Accident Lawyer Near Me 828.286.3866
Damages You May Be Able to Recover
If you can establish the other party is 100% at-fault for your injuries, you can recover economic and non-economic damages.
Economic
Actual damages are the costs that you incurred because of your injury. When your injury involves an insurance claim, policies will only cover economic damages. You can estimate the amount of economic damages you may be entitled to by reviewing receipts, invoices, and bills that are associated with your injury.
Economic costs can include lost wages if you are forced to miss work because of your injuries. If you receive unemployment benefits, those can reduce the amount of money you can collect for lost wages. To prove lost wages, you need to provide pay stubs and proof that you lost income or hours because of your absence from work caused by your injuries.
Common economic losses victims of car accidents incur include:
- Medical and hospitalization bills
- Costs to tow your vehicle from the accident scene
- Transportation costs to and from medical appointments to treat your injuries
- Prescription medications and medical devices you need because of your injuries
Non-Economic
Non-economic damages compensate for the non-actualized losses you suffered, which can include loss of affection, mental anguish, and a diminished quality of life. G.S. § 90-21-19 does not cap noneconomic damages in personal injury cases involving car accidents.
The amount of noneconomic damages you may receive is based on a variety of factors, such as:
- Future lost earnings
- Ability to provide for dependents
- Whether you can continue pursuing professional or educational goals after the injury
- If the injury resulted in mobility impairments
- If the injuries you sustained are chronic
Click to contact our Rutherfordton Personal Injury Lawyers today
Rutherfordton Traffic Law Lawyer
A simple speeding ticket or other minor traffic violation can have significant consequences if not handled properly. Insurance premiums can increase greatly, and under certain circumstances a person’s license may be suspended for a period of time. In many cases, there may be alternatives to pleading guilty to the specific charges listed on a traffic citation. These alternatives must be carefully considered to determine which one is the most appropriate. Our goal in handling traffic matters is to keep our clients’ insurance premiums as low as possible, and to protect our clients’ driving records. Please contact our firm to assist you with your traffic violations.
Attorneys Mark Morris and Gabrielle Valentine handle traffic tickets in Rutherford County and Polk County.
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Contact Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC Today
When you suffer injuries that impact your daily life, you can have difficulty living independently or providing for yourself. If you were the victim of tortious conduct, a Rutherfordton car accident lawyer can pursue economic and non-economic damages against the responsible parties.
If you believe you have a personal injury case, call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC today at (828) 286-3866.
Call or text 828.286.3866 or complete a Case Evaluation form