Forest City Car Accident Lawyer

Were you or a loved one injured in a traffic accident? A Forest City car accident lawyer from our office wants to help. Our team can manage all legal tasks on your behalf, enabling you to pursue compensation without putting undue stress and responsibility on your shoulders.

Compensation in car wreck cases can take the form of both economic and non-economic damages. Also, a lawsuit enables you to hold a reckless driver or other party accountable for their negligence.

We Help Forest City Car Wreck Victims

• Why Hire Us?
• When to Start

For a legal consultation with a car accidents lawyer serving Forest City, call 828.286.3866

We Can Help You Pursue Damages

• Economic Damages
• Non-Economic Damages
• Settlements and Jury Awards
• Additional Damages

Forest City Car Accident Lawyer Near Me 828.286.3866

How Car Wrecks Happen

Getting Medical Help

• Traumatic Brain Injuries

Complete a Case Evaluation form now

Determining Liability for Your Forest City Car Accident

• How Insurance Works
• The Different Types of Insurance

Call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC for More Information

We Help Forest City Car Wreck Victims

When you have a car wreck in North Carolina, you have a right to pursue civil damages against the other, at-fault driver. A personal injury lawyer from our Forest City team can:

• File a personal injury suit against the liable party or parties
• Negotiate a settlement with liability insurance
• Locate and pursue other possible sources of coverage
• Collect evidence and subpoena witnesses
• Pursue economic and non-economic damages
• Represent you during hearings and depositions
• Argue your case in front of a jury
• Work with medical providers to help achieve solutions for getting your wreck-related bills paid
• Navigate Medicaid, Medicare, and other health insurance issues regarding wreck-related treatment
• Defer all attorney’s fees until you have received compensation

Why Hire Us?

Car wreck cases can be complex, because:

• The other driver and their insurance policy can both be liable
• You may have to recover economic losses from your own auto insurance policy instead of the at-fault party’s
• You may still be dealing with the aftereffects of the wreck, making it especially difficult to focus on your lawsuit

Personal injury victims may feel more at ease after speaking with an attorney from our firm about their case. This way, you can be sure that you fully understand all aspects of the suit and do not miss anything important, including possible sources of compensation.

When to Start

G.S. § 1-52 requires that you file a personal injury lawsuit within three years. Otherwise, you may be unable to collect any damages at all. It is therefore best to start pursuing damages as soon as possible.

Another reason to begin your case promptly relates to availability of evidence. The following types of evidence may be more valuable and less likely to have been destroyed or contaminated if a shorter amount of time has passed since the wreck.

• Expert testimony
• Witness testimony
• Photographs
• Video footage
• Police reports

We Can Help You Pursue Damages

If you can prove the other driver is at fault for the collision, you may be able to recover two main types of damages: economic and non-economic. This is true for both personal injury cases, where you are seeking compensation for yourself, and wrongful death cases, where you seek compensation on behalf of a deceased loved one.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are based on the costs you incurred as a result of your accident. They can include:

• Vehicle replacement and repair costs
• Transportation costs to and from medical appointments
• Ambulance bills
• Medical bills
• Prescription medication bills
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Inability to find and retain gainful employment
• Filing and attorney fees

Economic damages are generally uncapped in North Carolina, meaning that there is no limit on how much you can ask for. This makes it important to keep records of all bills you paid because of the accident. Your lawsuit may benefit from being as specific and detailed as possible.

Non-Economic Damages

When you suffer severe injuries, you often experience lifelong physical and emotional pain. Non-economic damages can compensate you for losses such as:

• Physical pain and limitations
• Depression, trauma, and anxiety
• Decreased quality of life
• Loss of enjoyment
• Loss of affection
• Physical or intellectual disability
• Scar tissue
• Disfigurement

As with economic damages, there is no limit to how much you can ask for in non-economic damages in car wreck cases. However, calculating the financial “equivalent” of your physical and emotional pain can be challenging. Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC can do so by applying precedent, legal formulas, and our experience to your case.

Settlements and Jury Awards

Once we have built the strongest case possible, it is up to the insurance company to decide if they want to grant you the settlement you are seeking or if they want to try to undervalue your suit. In the latter case, we can circumvent them by taking your case to trial and seeking a jury award.

Juries can consider factors such as:

• Your age
• The severity of your injuries
• How your injuries impact your daily life and your career
• Contributory negligence, if the liable party tries to claim that you are partially responsible for your own injuries, as is their right under G.S. § 1-139

Additional Damages

All of the above types of damages may apply in both personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Wrongful death victims could also be entitled to other economic and non-economic damages, such as:

• Loss of financial support
• Funeral costs
• Other end-of-life expenses
• Loss of society or companionship
• Grief

How Car Wrecks Happen

Although practicing proper safety while driving (e.g., following the speed limit) reduces the risk that you will experience a collision, you cannot control the actions of other motorists. Some car wreck causes include:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Aggressive driving
• Failing to yield
• Improper lane changes
• Failing to brake
• Running a traffic light or stop sign

Car wrecks can also be caused by poor weather, vehicle defects, or poor roadway design.

Getting Medical Help

The initial shock following a wreck can be overwhelming, which may cause you to believe your injuries are less severe than they really are. Shock can also temporarily relieve or distract you from pain.

That is why it is very important to seek medical treatment following an accident, no matter how you feel or what symptoms you do or do not exhibit.  Car wrecks can lead to severe and disabling injuries, such as:

• Torn ligaments and tendons
• Broken and fractured bones
• Lacerations
• Spinal cord injuries
• Disfigurement and scarring
• Organ damage

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Head injuries are another potential result of car wrecks. A traumatic brain injury, per the Mayo Clinic, can impact your cognition and cause migraine headaches. Even a minor concussion can lead to swelling and serious, long-lasting problems if left untreated.

Once you have received proper medical care for all of your injuries, you can begin to think about who to sue for compensation to cover medical and other costs.

Determining Liability for Your Forest City Car Accident

When you sustain injuries in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation from:

• The other driver
• The other driver’s insurance company
• The owner of the vehicle the other driver was driving
• The other vehicle owner’s insurance company
• The driver’s employer (if the accident occurred while the driver was working)
• A vehicle manufacturer (if the accident was caused by a defect)
• A maintenance team (if the accident was caused by poor vehicle or roadway maintenance)
• Your own automobile insurance coverage, in certain cases

The liable party – or combination of liable parties – is unique to each case. It is part of our job to determine how your accident happened, who is responsible, who owes you damages, and how to refute the liable party’s denial of responsibility.

How Insurance Works

North Carolina is an at-fault insurance state. This means the at-fault driver is liable for damages caused by the accident. You may be entitled to collect economic damages from the other driver’s policy, depending on their policy limits and the extent of your injuries.

The insurance company may be reluctant to pay what you deserve, even if their client was obviously at fault. We can meet with them on your behalf and present evidence that they are legally obligated to pay what you need.

The Different Kinds of Insurance

The Consumer’s Guide to Automobile Insurance published by the North Carolina Department of Insurance states that all drivers are required to maintain automobile insurance that covers a minimum amount of damages. Per Page 4, there are multiple kinds of insurance coverage, including:

• Liability insurance, which covers damages you inflict on others
• Uninsured/ underinsured motorist insurance, which covers damage done by drivers who do not have the legally required amount of insurance
• Collision insurance, for damage done to your car
• Comprehensive insurance, for damage done to your car by a wide variety of causes
• Medical payment insurance, for any medical or funeral expenses you incur

Of these, only liability and uninsured motorist insurance are legally required. The type of insurance that you and the liable party carry will determine how we go about pursuing the damages you need after a car wreck.

Call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC for More Information

Car accident injuries may result in mounting medical bills, pain, mental trauma, and even disability. You can further understand your rights and eligibility to recover compensation following a wreck by consulting a lawyer from our firm. We look forward to reviewing your case and fighting hard to pursue damages. To discuss your Forest City case, call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC at (828) 286-3866 for a free consultation.

Call or text 828.286.3866 or complete a Case Evaluation form