Is There a Minimum Amount of Damages to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in North Carolina?

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you’re going to be feeling a lot of different emotions. You’re going to be angry more than anything else. If someone else was responsible for your crash, you’re going to want them to pay. You’re also going to be scared. If you’re seriously injured in your accident, you’re going to need a lot of medical care. This can be scary and quite painful. The last thing you’re going to want to do is fight with insurance adjusters.

One of the first things people think to do after their North Carolina car accident is to call a personal injury lawyer. And, this is what you should do. You may have no idea what your car crash lawsuit is worth in the days and weeks following your accident. It could be worth a few thousand dollars or it may be worth nothing. There’s no way to know until you talk to an experienced motor vehicle accident attorney in Charlotte. Once they review your case and look at your medical records, they’ll have a better idea of what your case is worth.

Generally speaking, if your case is only worth a couple of thousand dollars, it may be hard to find a lawyer to take your case. Personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis. This means that they get a percentage of your damages or settlement. They also rely on this money to cover the money it costs to prosecute your case. If they don’t feel your case is worth the money it will take to file a car crash lawsuit, they may suggest you try to settle the case quickly rather than take legal action.

Here, we’ll talk about how large your personal injury case needs to be in order to warrant legal action. We’ll also discuss how the courts handle smaller cases. If you still have questions about whether your case is worth pursuing, call our office and schedule your free initial consultation.

Your Car Crash Lawsuit May Be Filed in Small Claims Court in North Carolina

The civil courts in North Carolina are set up based on the size of your case. If your damages are less than ten thousand dollars, your case will be filed in small claims court. Cases handled here do not get tried before a jury. If your case doesn’t settle, it will be tried before a judge. These cases aren’t handled like to trials you see on television or in the movies. They are actually handled quite simply. And, more than 95% of all small claims’ cases are settled long before trial.

If your case involves pain and suffering damages, it more than likely will not be handled in this court. The same is true if you have a lot of medical bills related to your case. These damages add up quickly. The cases that are handled in small claims court typically include the following:

  • Cases that involve nothing more than property damages
  • Cases where no significant injuries were sustained
  • Cases where insurance covered most of your damages
  • A case where your only injury is whiplash

If your case is worth less than $10,000, there is a chance that an attorney would recommend you handle it on your own. This isn’t because they don’t feel you’re entitled to damages. It’s just that they believe the case will settle easily and for a lot less than $10,000. They would not want to waste your time or theirs on a case worth a couple of thousand dollars.

Call Today and Schedule Your Free Initial Consultation

If you’ve been injured in any sort of crash, call our motor vehicle accident law firm in Georgia. Take a moment to set up your free initial consultation. You can meet with one of our seasoned car accident lawyers who can answer any questions you may have. You can even conduct your consultation by phone or online. This way, you can find out early on if you even have a case worth pursuing. Like it or not, some cases are just too small to warrant legal action. But that doesn’t mean you can’t settle your claim with the insurance company. Our expert attorneys in North Carolina have been negotiating with insurance company for years. They know what it takes to get their clients the money they deserve.

Call today and schedule your free initial consultation. And remember – you don’t pay a dime until you settle or resolve your case.