The law in North Carolina protects us if another person or party’s negligence or misconduct causes us to suffer harm. Whether you sustained the injury in an accident in the workplace, in a public place, or in an auto accident, if another’s fault caused your injury, you may be able to recover a financial award for damages.
For years, the skilled and experienced trial attorneys of Ted A Greve & Associates have dedicated their practice to fighting for the rights of people who are injured by the actions of another person or organization. We handle injury cases throughout North Carolina from Wilmington to Raleigh to Charlotte, and no location is too far for our legal team to reach. We are committed to providing aggressive and compassionate representation for our clients, and we get results.
Early legal intervention in formulating a winning lawsuit is crucial if you or a loved one has sustained an injury attributable to another person or entity. You don’t have to fight for the compensation you deserve on your own! Please turn to the highly experienced and dedicated Wilmington personal injury lawyers that many others have trusted when it matters most. Contact us online or call (800) 693-7833 to set up a free initial consultation with a Wilmington personal injury lawyer.
What Should I Do After An Injury?
Whatever kind of accident you are involved in, it can be disorienting when you sustain an injury as it may be physically and emotionally damaging. However, knowing what steps to take after sustaining an injury can help you get on the path to justice, medical and financial recovery. And that can be key in helping you or your loved one start reclaiming your lives.
After an accident resulting in injury, follow the steps below:
Seek Immediate Medical Treatment
Whatever type of accident caused your injury, your first step should always be to get medical care right away. Depending on the severity of the injury, you or your loved one may need emergency medical attention, and getting it right away can be essential to prevent further health complications.
Taking this step will also mean there will be a record describing your injuries, which is crucial for your future personal injury case.
If you receive medical care, make sure to keep every medical document, including the bills you receive. These documents can be pivotal in calculating the compensation to which you may be entitled later.
Take Photos Or Record Videos Of The Accident Scene If Possible.
If you can, snap photos of the area where the accident happened and your injuries as soon as possible following the incident. These pictures can catch details that show the other person or entity’s negligence, again possibly serving as crucial evidence for a future personal injury case.
Get Names And Contact Info Of Others Involved, Including Witnesses
If possible, talk to other parties involved, including eyewitnesses, and get their contact information. Statements given by eyewitnesses could help support your version of events, which can help prove your claim.
Report The Incident
No matter where the accident occurred, at work, on the road, or other premises, make sure to get the incident on record. If you were injured in North Carolina in a vehicle accident, report the incident to the police. If your injury occurred at a store, at a friend’s house, or on a sidewalk, report the incident to the owner, manager, or landlord. If you were injured in the course of doing your work, report the accident to your employer.
Remember to get a record of the incident in writing – ask your employer, the manager, or police (depending on the type of accident) to make a written report, request a copy.
Never Admit Fault
Limit your communication with people at the scene of the incident. Do not place blame – and don’t apologize or admit any blame as well. Remember what your words may impact future financial recovery.
Call A Personal Injury Lawyer!
Taking this step after sustaining an injury is the single best way to protect your interest and rights. Contacting a personal injury attorney is crucial because they can take care of everything associated with the incident, including lodging your claim. At Ted A Greve & Associates, we are aggressive and dedicated injury lawyers with a track record of success to recover the financial award and justice you deserve.
Why Do I Need A Lawyer?
Personal injury claims in North Carolina can be complex, even when determining liability seems straightforward. These cases can be complicated, time-consuming, and frustrating. Even if you believe you have taken the necessary steps to support your claim, it’s a good idea to talk to a lawyer so they explain what your legal options are and the strengths and weaknesses of your case.
After a personal injury, getting expert advice from a trusted lawyer is the best way to ensure your interests and rights are protected. Here are a few ways the experienced Wilmington personal injury lawyers at Ted A Greve & Associates can use their resources and expertise to protect your right to compensation:
Case Preparation / Filing a Lawsuit
- Explain North Carolina law to you and your legal options
- Investigate the incident, gather evidence, including medical records, police reports, interview witnesses, etc
- Determine liability and calculate the value of your claim
- Start the claim process
- Complete and file court forms within set time limits
Settlement Negotiation
- Protect you from abusive or underhanded insurance company tactics
- Negotiate a settlement with the insurance company or the at-fault party’s attorney to recover a fair compensation
- Collect money owed to you after a settlement agreement
Trial Preparation & Representation
- Take your case to trial
- Represent you in court and fight for your full compensation there
- Advice you about the possibility of appealing your personal injury case after trial
- Represent you in an appeal court
The above are only a few of the many ways our personal injury lawyers can add value to your case. We are committed to protecting your rights at every step of the case and helping you secure fair compensation. Schedule your free case evaluation today.
What Type Of Damages Can I Recover?
While each personal injury case is different, in North Carolina, there are generally three types of recoverable damages for personal injury cases, namely:
Economic Damages
These are the damages that can be assigned a specific financial cost. They can include:
- Medical treatment
- Property loss
- Lost income
- Rehabilitation and therapy bills
- Household expenses
Non-Economic Damages
Rather than providing compensation for financial losses, these damages compensate you for the losses you have suffered but have no specific monetary value. They may include:
- Mental Anguish
- Pain & Suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Physical impairments
- Decreased enjoyment or quality of life
Punitive Damages
Unlike economic and non-economic damages – which are common and compensatory, i.e., they seek to compensate you for the cost of losses suffered, punitive damages are rare but can be awarded in North Carolina based on the egregiousness of the defendant’s conduct. Egregious refers to outstandingly bad behavior, meaning the intentional and conscious disregard of the safety and rights of others.
In North Carolina, punitive damages are calculated in addition to (or separate from) economic and non-economic damages as a punishment to the defendant and a deterrent to others.
Damage Caps For Personal Injury Cases In North Carolina
Some personal injury cases have damage caps – or maximum recoverable amounts that a plaintiff can recover for injuries. But don’t worry! There are no damage caps for economic and non-economic damages, which means you can recover damages without a limit or cap on the amount. However, personal injury cases involving medical malpractice are an exception to this rule. As of January 1, 2020, plaintiffs can only recover a maximum of $562,338 for non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases.
It’s also important to note that damage caps only apply when you’ve been awarded other compensation, like punitive damages – which is capped at 3x the amount of compensatory damages your recover or $250,000, whichever is higher. The damage cap for punitive damages does not apply to drunk driving cases.
How Is Liability Determined In North Carolina?
Regardless of the type of accident that caused your injury, a personal injury can turn your world upside down. It may leave you with severe discomfort and pain, mounting medical bills, reduced income if you can no longer work, and even permanent disability.
Sadly, while you can lodge a personal injury claim to pursue compensation, recovering compensation is not always easy. As the injured party, the onus is on you to prove every aspect of the case, including the at-fault person’s negligence and the extent of your injuries.
Importantly, in North Carolina, to obtain financial compensation, you must prove negligence by satisfying four critical criteria:
- Duty of Care: You must show that the at-fault party is legally obligated not to act in a way that could cause your harm, i.e., they owed you a duty of care.
- Breach Of Duty of Care: You must prove that the person or entity conducted themselves in a way that failed to observe the duty of care they owed you. This could be something as simple as warning you about a slippery floor.
- Causation: You must show that the person or entity’s failure to observe their duty of care caused you to sustain an injury, i.e., you would not have suffered the injury if it were not for the at-fault person or entity’s actions.
- Damages: You must prove that you suffered damages, i.e., a physical or mental injury, because of the at-fault person or party’s failure to observe their duty of care to you.
If these criteria are present, you may have a personal injury claim and are entitled to fair monetary compensation.
North Carolina’s Contributory Negligence Law
While our Wilmington personal injury lawyers will work hard to prove the at-fault party’s negligence by satisfying the four criteria of negligence, the other party’s lawyers and the insurance company will try to place some blame on you. If they succeed, you won’t be entitled to any compensation.
This is because under North Carolina’s pure contributory negligence law if the court finds that your own negligence caused your injuries – even just 1% compared to the other person or party’s 99% – you will be barred from recovering any damages whatsoever for your injuries.
Contributory negligence is the first thing the at-fault party’s lawyers and the insurance company will look for. For this reason, if you are not sure if you shared any fault in your accident or believe that the other may try to place partial blame on you, you need to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer right away.
How Long Do Injured Victims Have To File A Personal Injury Lawsuit In North Carolina?
There are strict deadlines, referred to as statutes of limitations, for lodging a personal injury claim in North Carolina.
North Carolina General Statute (N.C.G.S) §1-52 (16) states that all civil actions involving “injury to a person” must be filed within three years from the injury date.
So, if another person or party’s negligent or intentional act causes you injury, and you want to pursue a civil remedy for your losses in North Carolina’s courts, you have a three-year window to get the initial documentation filed in court.
If you miss this vital time limit, you won’t be able to file your personal injury claim to recover compensation. The skilled and committed personal injury attorneys at Ted A Greve & Associates will work with you to meet all set deadlines for your case.
Personal Injury Claims Process
On the surface, the stages of a personal injury claim in North Carolina may seem straightforward:
- Appoint a representative/lawyer,
- Investigation to identify at-fault party.
- Send notification you’re filing a claim.
- Lodge your claim in North Carolina civil courts,
- Make your demand for compensation,
- Negotiate a potential settlement,
- Resolution, and
- When settlement negotiations fail, you take your case to court.
However, things can get complicated pretty fast, as timescales and regulations may vary. It is imperative to take professional advice when filing a personal injury claim.
How Much Will A Wilmington Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
The Wilmington personal injury lawyers at Ted A Greve & Associates can meet with clients and hold free initial consultations with clients via phone, in person, or video conference.
If you need to contact us, but you’re hesitant because of the cost, please don’t fret. Not only is our legal team happy to speak to you about your needs, situation, and how we can help during your free case consultation, but we work on personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. In other words, we won’t charge you any upfront fees for representing your case, and you won’t be charged any additional costs or attorney fees unless our lawyers recover compensation for you.
Complete our online free case review form or call us at (800) 693-7833 to get started!
Types Of Personal Injury Cases We Handle At Ted A Greve & Associates
The injury lawyers at Ted A Greve & Associates have a successful track record for various personal injury cases for clients all over North Carolina. Our team of dedicated and experienced lawyers works together to help injured persons and their loved ones reach the most favorable outcomes to their cases.
So, whatever your accident, and regardless of how it happed, the skilled lawyers at Ted A Greve & Associates can help. Below is a list of some of the different personal injury cases we regularly assist clients with:
Car Accidents
Auto accidents are an overwhelming and emotional experience. Tragically, deadly car accidents happen every day in North Carolina. At Ted A Greve & Associates, we represent the injured victims of auto accidents and can demand justice and compensation after your car accident.
Medical Malpractice
Injury lawyers at Ted A Greve & Associates proudly serve medical malpractice victims in North Carolina. For years, we’ve workers with many medical malpractice victims with a community and compassionate-minded approach helping them recover the compensation they are owed. Were you or your loved one hurt because a medical practitioner failed to provide the expected level of care? Let our injury lawyers hold the negligent practitioner or facility accountable.
Truck Accidents
When semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, big rigs, and other trucks collide with a passenger car or hit a pedestrian, the occupants of the vehicle and pedestrians usually suffer the worst of the impact. Our Wilmington truck accident lawyers are here when it matters most; please call us if you’ve sustained an injury in an accident involving a commercial truck.
Motorcycle Accidents
The legal team at Ted A Greve & Associates understands the many ways a motorcycle accident can impact your life or that of your loved one. We fight for motorcycle accident victims to recover the fair compensation they need to recover and get their lives back on track.
Other personal injury cases that we handle include but are not limited to:
Even if your type of accident is not listed above, our experienced Wilmington personal injury lawyers will be able to help. Get in touch with our legal team for more information.
Contact Ted A Greve & Associates For Expert Representation
There’s no question about it. If you or a loved one sustained an injury because of another’s intentional, careless, or negligent action/inaction, you have legal rights, and you absolutely should contact a skilled personal injury lawyer. Personal injury cases in North Carolina can be especially tricky because of the contributory negligence law. What’s more, the at-fault party may exploit every little loophole they can find to discredit your case.
The skilled, dedicated, and aggressive Wilmington injury lawyers at Ted A Greve & Associates have helped injury victims just like you fight for fair compensation for years. We are dedicated to helping injury victims throughout North Carolina get their lives back on track. Call us at (800) 693-7833 to discuss your situation during your free consultation.
