If you’ve ever experienced a personal injury, you may already know what it’s like to sue somebody for damages. Most of the time, the person responsible for your injuries has insurance. You put a claim into their insurance company and get a check a couple of weeks later. If this is the case, you probably won’t need a personal injury lawyer in Charlotte.
If your claim is denied, or if the defendant has no insurance, you’re likely going to want to consult with an experienced injury attorney in North Carolina. Your attorney will be able to do a few things to help you. First, they can let you know if you have a strong case. They will also give you an idea of what your case might be worth. The second thing your attorney will do is try to get your insurance claim paid. They have years’ worth of experience dealing with insurance adjusters. They know what it takes to get your claim settled. Finally, they’ll handle the negotiations so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
The goal of filing any sort of personal injury lawsuit is to get compensation for your injuries. The most common types of damages in North Carolina include the following:
- Medical Bills
- Future Medical Bills
- Property Damage
- Lost Wages and Future Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
In order to receive any of these, your personal injury lawyer in Charlotte will have to prove your damages. It’s not enough to say you were hurt. Your lawyer will need to prove each and every type of damages you demand. Some of these can easily be justified. For example, your attorney can submit copies of any medical bills to justify your medical expenses. They can also submit copies of your mechanic’s bills in order to get you reimbursement for property damage. It can be a bit harder to prove other sorts of damages. Here, we’ll talk about what kind of information your lawyer will need to get you compensation for lost wages.
Proving Lost Wages Can Be Difficult in North Carolina
Just because you’re involved in an accident, that doesn’t mean you’re entitled to damages. Your attorney needs to specifically prove what kind of losses you’ve suffered. If you’re physically injured during an accident, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to return to work right away. Perhaps you break your leg and can’t return to work for several months. Or, your injuries may be so serious that you aren’t able to return to work ever again.
There are two main types of damages. The first sort is lost wages. Let’s say you are out of work for three (3) months due to your personal injury. Your attorney can show how much you would have earned during this time. They would then have to deduct any money you received such as sick time or vacation time. The difference would be the amount you would demand for lost wages.
The second type of lost wages is a lot harder to prove. This would include two main types. You may be able to return to work but not in the same position as before. For example, you may be forced to perform administrative duty. This could cost you a lot of money. Your attorney could demonstrate the difference between what you’re earning in your new position versus what you would’ve earned in your old position.
Finally, you may not be able to work at all after your accident. You could be left permanently disabled. If this is the case, your Charlotte injury lawyer needs to prove it. They can show what you would have earned throughout the rest of your lifetime. They’ll subtract from this from the amount you’ll receive on disability. They will demand that you be compensated for the difference.
Call and Schedule Your Initial Consultation with a Skilled Charlotte Injury Lawyer Today
If you’ve suffered a personal injury, you may or may not be entitled to civil damages. If you didn’t lose any money out of pocket, you may not be entitled to any damages at all. Or, if you weren’t hurt, you won’t have a claim to file. However, in most personal injury cases, the plaintiff has suffered a variety of losses. It’s your Charlotte personal injury law firm’s job to prove that you did indeed suffer a loss.
The first thing you need to do is call and talk to one of our skilled injury lawyers in Charlotte. They have decades worth of experience getting victims the money they deserve. Call today and schedule your initial consultation. It’s absolutely free and you don’t pay unless you win.