Do you need a Greensboro Personal Injury Lawyer? Being injured due to someone else’s negligence can knock you for a loop as well as cost you time and money! The Bishop Law Firm can help you recover.
We are a contingency fee basis law firm which means that we do not get paid unless you win (no upfront fees). Give us a call today for a free case evaluation at (919) 615-3095 or start your free case review online now.
NC Personal Injury Law
North Carolina is a contributory negligence state. This means that you must not be at fault (even 1%) to recover for your personal injury (but see The Last Clear Chance Doctrine). There are also time limits (Statute of Limitations ) on how long injury victims have to file a civil lawsuit.
The time limits are different for different types of personal injury cases, but, in general , you have three (3) years from the date of the accident.
Please note that filing a claim with the insurance company is different than pursuing litigation on your personal injury case. You must file a complaint in the county of accident before the time limit runs out if you are unable to obtain adequate compensation from the insurance company.
If you were injured while working, you may also have a Greensboro Workers Compensation claim. Workers’ Comp is governed by the North Carolina Industrial Commission. The Bishop Law Firm also handles Workers’ Compensation cases in Greensboro.
Unfortunately, a personal injury can cause lifelong disability. For serious injury that affects a victim’s ability to work, we offer Greensboro, NC Social Security Disability claims presentation.
Read: Greensboro Social Security Disability Lawyer and NC Personal Injury vs Workers Compensation
What can you recover?
The cost of medical bills, lost income, and Pain & Suffering (emotional trauma) are some of the types of recovery that you can receive from your personal injury case. According to NC Law, the at-fault party is responsible for compensating you for your accident-related medical bills .
If you miss time from work , the at-fault party should also pay for your lost wages.
Pain & suffering can be difficult to calculate. It would naturally follow that the greater your medical expenses, the greater your suffering, but that is not always the case. A personal injury attorney can help with calculating your pain & suffering damages. In our experience, photographs of injuries can be immensely helpful.
Read: Ways to Prove Pain and Suffering Damages
Types of Personal Injury Claims We Handle*
Unfortunately, personal injury victims can be hurt in many ways due to the negligence of others. Our firm can help with:
Car Accident Injury – If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident through no fault of your own, you need to be reimbursed for your losses. Unfortunately, car accidents today can be caused by distracted drivers who are texting and driving. Being hit head-on, rear-ended or T-boned can leave you with serious injuries that require expensive medical treatment. In NC, the at-fault party is responsible for your medical expenses, missed time from work and pain & suffering. But what if the at-fault party’s insurance company does not want to pay?
Truck Accident Injury – Cars never win against big trucks when an accident happens. Being hit by an 18-wheeler can leave you or your loved one with catastrophic injuries that can easily deplete any money you have saved and leave your family in debt for years to come. You should not have to pay twice for someone else’s negligence.
Motorcycle Accident Injury – Motorcyclists have no protection against cars or the road. Car vs. motorcycle accidents can result in severe injuries including traumatic brain injuries . The real effects of traumatic brain injury may not be felt or noticed immediately. What if you need more medical treatment after your case has been settled?
Pedestrian vs. Auto Accident Injury – Being hit by a car can destroy your body and have long term implications for the rest of your life. You need to ensure all your medical treatment or your inability to work is covered in your settlement, past, present, and future.
Wrongful Death Cases – A lost life can never be replaced. Losing a spouse, child or sibling because of someone else’s negligence is devastating. You need time to focus on saying good-bye, not dealing with the at-fault party’s insurance company on a wrongful death claim. A Personal Injury Lawyer can help you avoid extra stress through an already stressful time.
Work Injury Cases – If you have been hurt on the job, even after being a faithful, long-serving employee, your employer can deny your workplace injury claim or refuse to pay for medical treatment that you need. NC Workers Compensation claims are handled by the North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC).
Hospital Negligence Cases – Receiving negligent hospital treatment is unacceptable and can have far-reaching consequences for your body.
Dog Bite/Attack Cases – Some breeds are just more aggressive and territorial. Unfortunately, some home-owner insurance policies refuse to cover some breeds of dogs. How do you find out if your injury is covered?
Premise Liability Cases – Slip and Falls can be difficult to prove because not only does the negligence have to be present, it also has to be the proximate cause of your injury. Premises Liability cases rely heavily on the facts of your injury.
Social Security Disability - Being unable to work due to illness can be a devastating realization. Having a SSD attorney on your side can assist by knowing what information SSA uses to determine disability.
* If your case type is not listed, give us a call to see if we can help at (919) 615-3095.
Settle or Go to Trial?
If the at-fault party or their insurance carrier is not willing to cover all your expenses and compensate you for pain & suffering, should you still accept the settlement offer? What about future medical expenses related to the injury? There are no easy answers to these questions.
If you were injured in Greensboro, NC, your case will be heard in Guilford County Superior or District Court. Do you know the average Greensboro jury award in personal injury litigation case like yours? Is this number higher or lower than your settlement offer? What are the chances of losing at trial? Is your attorney willing to go to trial if the insurance offer is unfair? These questions should be discussed with your Personal Injury Attorney before any settlement offer is accepted.
At The Bishop Law Firm, our personal injury lawyers know the strategies insurance companies and defense attorneys use. We also have seen instances in which attorneys take settlement offers that are much less than what the client should receive all for the “sake of not going to trial.”
We believe that decisions to settle or go to trial should be made on a case-by-case basis. One size does not fit all when it comes to getting compensation for your serious injuries.
Read: NC Personal Injury – Settle or Go To Trial?
Next Steps
- Seek medical treatment as soon as possible so your injuries will be documented in the medical records
- Give us a call at (919) 615-3095 or start online now!
- Our Personal Injury Attorneys need to know some things from you to get started:
- Date of the accident and if you have a copy of the accident report
- How and where the accident happened
- Hospital visits and any subsequent medical treatment
- Name of at-fault party and their insurance company
- Your employer’s name, job title, etc.
- If you have health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid
- You need to take photos of your injuries, vehicle, passenger’s injuries, and the accident scene (if possible).
- Continue to receive medical treatment for your injuries if necessary and follow medical advice!
- If you are missing work, write down the days you are missing and how much your pay was on those days
- AVOID SOCIAL MEDIA & Read NC Personal Injury Pitfalls
Frequently asked questions
- What percentage do most personal injury lawyers take? Our contingent fee law firm charges 33.33% for representing car accident victims. This means that we are paid solely off how much money we recover for our clients. If we do not recover for our clients, we do not get paid.
- How long do you have to file a personal injury claim in NC? A personal injury claim can be filed with the insurance company after the accident up to when the Statute of Limitations runs out.
- What is the statute of limitations in North Carolina for personal injury? In NC, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is three years (See NC Personal Injury Statute of Limitations).
- How is pain and suffering calculated in NC? Some personal injury lawyers use medical bills as part of an equation to arrive at a suitable amount for pain & suffering. The equation is medical expenses + lost wages and accident related expenses x a multiplier (usually 1.5 – 5). For example, Minnie Mouse has $15,000 in medical bills and $5,000 in lost wages which results in losses of $20,000. You then multiply $20,000 X 3 which would result in a request of $60,000 for pain and suffering. The multiplier increases from 1.5 to 5 based on the severity, longevity, treatment and residuals of the injury, among other issues (also read Pain and Suffering in NC Personal Injury Cases)
- Is NC a no fault state? Yes, the victim must not be at fault in order to recover for their damages in North Carolina (see contributory negligence).
Do you need Personal Injury Lawyers Greensboro NC?
NC Personal Injury Lawyers can help you attain the most recovery for your case under North Carolina law. Do not expect the at-fault party, insurance company or their lawyer to inform you of all the recovery you are entitled to. It will be their goal to pay you as little (preferably nothing) as possible.
The Bishop Law Firm does not get paid unless we win your case AND we are only paid a percentage of the amount your recover. This means that we are motivated to help you attain fair compensation.
We are proud members of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. We also offer free case reviews, (919) 615-3095 or start your free case review online now.
Also read: North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyer and Greensboro Lawyers
