How Much Is My North Carolina Car Accident Case Worth?

If you have been injured in a car accident, you may wonder how much your case is worth. The answer to this question can vary depending on the facts of your case and the severity of your injuries.

At The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, our experienced personal injury attorneys have a proven track record of success in personal injury cases. We will thoroughly investigate your case and build a strong claim to get you the personal injury settlement you deserve.

Damages Available to Car Accident Victims

Two types of damages may be available in a car accident claim: economic and non-economic.

Types of Economic Damages

Economic damages are those that have a specific dollar value attached to them. Examples of monetary damages include:

  • Medical bills (past and future)
  • Lost wages (past and future)
  • Property damage

Types of Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are more difficult to quantify than economic damages. Examples of non-economic damages include:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

Factors That Affect the Value of Your Case

Several factors can affect the value of your car accident case. Some of these factors include:

  • The severity of your injuries
  • The extent of your property damage
  • The amount of lost wages you have incurred
  • Whether you were partially at fault for the accident

The Severity of Your Injuries

The severity of your injuries is one of the most critical factors that will affect the value of your case. In general, the more serious your injuries, the more compensation you will be entitled to receive. The type of injuries you have sustained can also affect the value of your case. For example, a broken bone may be worth less than a traumatic brain injury.

Additionally, how much medical treatment you need and how long you will need it can also affect the value of your case. For example, if you require surgery or long-term hospitalization, your medical expenses may be more extensive, and your case will be worth more than if you only needed to see a doctor for a few weeks.

The Extent of Your Property Damage

Another factor that can affect the value of your car accident case is the extent of your property damage. The more damage your vehicle has sustained, the more your case will be worth. If your car was totaled in the accident, you would likely be entitled to receive more compensation than if it only sustained minor damage.

The Amount of Lost Wages You Have Incurred

If you have lost wages as a result of your car accident, you may be able to recover these damages in your case. The amount of lost wages you can recover will depend on your lost income and whether you can return to work.

Whether You Were Partially at Fault for the Accident

North Carolina follows the pure contributory negligence rule. This means that if you were even partially at fault for the accident, you would not be able to recover any damages in your case. However, if the other driver was entirely at fault for the accident, you may be entitled to receive total compensation for your damages.

Additional Factors to Consider When Valuing a Car Accident Case

In addition to the above factors, you should consider a few other things when valuing your car accident case.

  • The insurance policy limits the at-fault driver. If the at-fault driver has a low insurance policy limit, you may not be able to recover the full value of your damages from their insurance company. Once the at-fault driver has tendered their policy limits, you may have to file an Underinsured Motorist (UIM) claim with your auto insurance carrier in order to receive additional compensation. 
  • The Statute of Limitations. The statute of limitations is the time limit you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. The statute of limitations for car accident cases in North Carolina is three years. This means that if you do not file your lawsuit within three years of the date of the accident, you will not be able to recover any compensation.

Estimating the Value of Your Case

The best way to estimate the value of your car accident case is to speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. An attorney will be able to review the facts of your case and help you determine what type and amount of compensation you may be entitled to receive.

How Much Is the Average Car Accident Settlement in North Carolina?

There is no such thing as an “average” car accident settlement. The compensation you are entitled to receive will depend on your case’s specific facts and circumstances.

How Long Does It Take to Settle a Car Accident Case?

The time it takes to settle a car accident case depends on several factors, including the severity of your injuries and the insurance companies involved. Car accident cases can generally take a few months to a few years to resolve.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney in North Carolina Today

If you have been injured in a car accident, we encourage you to contact us today for a free consultation. Our experienced personal injury lawyers will review the facts of your case and help you understand what compensation you may be entitled to receive. We serve clients in Hickory, Concord, Greenville, Raleigh, Durham, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Contact Us Today

Free Consultation
Call one of our Operators 24/7
(800) 351-3008

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By entering your phone number, you agree to receive text messages and updates via SMS. Message and data rates may apply.

Practice Areas

Related Posts

Jason E. Taylor Rides for a Cause

Attorney Jason E. Taylor will join riders across the globe in the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride on May 18th. Riding for men’s health and prostate cancer awareness, Jason is leading the Charlotte ride with a personal fundraising challenge to raise $10,000 for Movember—with a promise to match it himself. Learn how you can support the ride, join the cause, or cheer on the team.

Notice of Data Security Event
Updated March 28, 2025

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor is providing notice of an event that may affect certain individuals’ information. Although we have no indication of identity theft or fraud in relation to this event, we are providing information about the event, our response, and additional measures individuals can take to help protect their information, should they feel it appropriate to do so.

What Happened? On October 28, 2024, The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor identified suspicious activity related to our email system. We quickly took steps to investigate and determined that an unknown actor may have accessed certain emails within our email system between August 7 and November 7, 2024. We then conducted a comprehensive review of the potentially affected emails and attachments to determine what information was contained therein and to whom the information related, which was completed on February 25, 2025. Unfortunately, we were unable to verify the addresses of certain affected individuals, so we are providing this notice to ensure potentially affected individuals receive information about the event.

What Information Was Involved? The information affected may include individuals’ Social Security number, driver’s license and state ID information, financial account number, and health information.

What We Are Doing. We are notifying individuals about this matter and providing guidance about free resources that are available to assist with monitoring relevant accounts, credit reports, and how to place a fraud alert or security freeze on one’s credit file. Further, as with our typical security practices, we will continue to evaluate our policies, procedures, staff training, and technical security measures to reduce the likelihood of an event like this reoccurring.

What Individuals Can Do. We encourage you to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing your account statements and monitoring your free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. We also recommend you review the below “Steps Individuals Can Take To Help Protect Personal Information”.

For More Information. If individuals have questions about this matter, we have a dedicated assistance line with agents ready to answer their questions. Please contact our toll-free dedicated assistance line at 1-800-939-4170, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. through 9 p.m., excluding holidays. You may also write to us at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, Attn: Compliance, P.O. Box 2688, Hickory, NC 28603.

Sincerely,

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor

STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT PERSONAL INFORMATION

Monitor Your Accounts

Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumer’s name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.

Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/

https://www.transunion.com/credit-help
1-888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

Additional Information

Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect their personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state attorney general. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state attorney general. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.

For District of Columbia residents, the District of Columbia Attorney General may be contacted at: 400 6th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001; 1-202-442-9828; and oag.dc.gov.

For Maryland residents, the Maryland Attorney General may be contacted at: 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023; and https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/.

For New Mexico residents, consumers have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in their credit file has been used against them, the right to know what is in their credit file, the right to ask for their credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting bureaus must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to consumers’ files is limited; consumers must give consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; consumers may limit “prescreened” offers of credit and insurance based on information in their credit report; and consumers may seek damages from violators. Consumers may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active-duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage consumers to review their rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580.

For New York residents, the New York Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; or https://ag.ny.gov.

For North Carolina residents, the North Carolina Attorney General may be contacted at: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6000; and www.ncdoj.gov.

For Rhode Island residents, the Rhode Island Attorney General may be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903; 1-401-274-4400; and www.riag.ri.gov. Under Rhode Island law, individuals have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this event.
STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT A MINOR DEPENDENT’S PERSONAL INFORMATION

Typically, credit reporting agencies do not have a credit report in a minor’s name. To find out if a minor has a credit report or to request a manual search for a minor’s Social Security number each credit bureau has its own process. To learn more about these processes or request these services, consumers may contact the credit bureaus by phone, writing, or online:
Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/help/article-list/-/h/a/request-child-credit-report/
https://www.experian.com/help/minor-request.html
https://www.transunion.com/fraud-victim-resources/child-identity-theft

1-800-685-1111 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013 P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

To request information about the existence of a credit file in a minor’s name, search for a minor’s Social Security number, place a security freeze or fraud alert on a minor’s credit report (if one exists), or request a copy of a minor’s credit report consumers may be required to provide the following information:
● A copy of their driver’s license or another government issued identification card, such as a state identification card, etc.;
● Proof of address, such as a copy of a bank statement, utility bill, insurance statement, etc.;
● A copy of the minor’s birth certificate;
● A copy of the minor’s Social Security card;
● The minor’s full name, including middle initial and generation, such as JR, SR, II, III, etc.;
● The minor’s date of birth; and
● The minor’s previous addresses for the past two years.

Join our newsletter and get 20% discount
Promotion nulla vitae elit libero a pharetra augue