The Concord personal injury attorneys at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor are experienced in helping our clients get the compensation they need after an accident or other type of personal injury. We know what to do to help you through this challenging time and ensure that your rights are protected throughout the process, whether a car accident case, a slip-and-fall case, or even a dog bite case.
You don’t have to fight this battle alone; let our firm help you. Our firm will take care of your legal needs, including taking statements from witnesses, investigating the accident scene and getting medical records, filing all necessary paperwork, and preparing for trial as needed. We will work tirelessly to ensure that you are fully compensated for your injuries, medical bills, and lost wages.
Types of Injuries Associated with Personal Injury Cases
Many different types of injuries can result from an accident, including:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Organ damage, including liver and kidney damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Amputation
- Loss of hearing
- Loss of vision
- Disfigurement
- Internal injuries
These are just a few examples of injuries that personal injury victims may suffer after an accident. Each case is unique, so if you or someone you love has suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence or carelessness, contact our firm today for a free consultation.
Understanding the Personal Injury Claims Process in Concord, NC
Personal injury claims are filed in district court, superior court, or small claims court depending on the amount of damages sought. Contact us today if you’ve been hurt in an accident and need to file a claim against a negligent party.
Hiring a Concord Personal Injury Lawyer
If you’re injured in an accident and have questions about how to proceed with hiring a Concord personal injury lawyer, there are several things you should consider. First, you should seek medical attention and get treatment for injuries. Even if you don’t think that your injury is severe, it’s essential to have it checked out by a doctor. If someone else’s negligence or recklessness caused the accident, a personal injury claim could help cover medical expenses and other damages like lost wages and pain and suffering.
When you’re ready to hire a Concord personal injury lawyer, it’s paramount to ensure they have experience dealing with cases like yours. You don’t want someone new to the area or unfamiliar with the laws in North Carolina fighting on your behalf. The best way to find an experienced attorney is by asking friends and family for recommendations, checking online reviews, and comparing firms before making a decision.
When you meet with your lawyer, be sure to discuss all of your questions and concerns. You want someone who will take the time to explain things clearly so you can understand what’s going on. The more up front you are, if there are “bad” facts about your case, the easier it will be for them to win your case.
Initial Consultation
When you first meet with a personal injury attorney, they will talk to you about the details of your case. The attorneys will ask questions about what happened, the parties involved, and how the accident occurred. Don’t hold anything back, good or bad. It’s easier to address challenges to the case head on than be caught unaware without a strategy on how to attack the issues.
The lawyer will also want to know if there was any medical treatment after the accident, what kind of work you do and whether there are witnesses to help corroborate your story.
A personal injury attorney can let victims know how much their claim might be worth by using financial models and other tools available through their firm’s resources–one of the most important being experience. However, this does not mean that a final settlement value has been determined yet. It is typically just a range of what you can expect based on the specific facts of your case and is subject to change as information evolves during the pendency of your claim.
Discovery
The discovery process is the process of gathering information about your case that you can use as evidence to support your claim, bolster the settlement amount or use at trial. During discovery, an experienced personal injury lawyer and their team of investigators and experts will usually do an independent investigation of your accident. The investigation helps determine the cause of the accident and how your injuries occurred.
Negotiations and Mediation
After your attorney has gathered the necessary evidence, they will present a demand to the negligent party’s insurance company. In some instances, a lawyer will demand a specific dollar amount to cover the damages a personal injury victim has incurred due to the accident. Other attorneys handle demand packages differently. Talk to your lawyer about how they handle demands to the insurance company to help you understand what to expect.
Just like you shouldn’t take the first offer, it is typical for most insurance companies to refuse the initial demand. This typically leads to lawyers negotiating with insurers to try and settle the claim. Most personal injury cases settle before going to court. Partly because both parties understand that taking a case to trial can be costly. However, sometimes it is necessary.
Filing a Lawsuit
If negotiations are unsuccessful, you should consider filing a lawsuit. This is the most formal way of resolving legal disputes and is typically seen as the last resort in many cases. North Carolina’s statute of limitations is vital in this case, as the lawyer must file the suit before the limitations period ends. In most personal injury claims the statute of limitations in North Carolina is three years. However, you should talk to your attorney early on about the statute of limitations in your particular case.
In some instances, filing a lawsuit may trigger an insurance company to become more willing to settle. In other cases, the insurer may become more determined to fight you in court.
Collecting Your Personal Injury Settlement
A personal injury settlement is a sum of money you receive from the person who caused your injuries. The funds can be used to pay for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. When you settle a personal injury case, you agree to give up your right to sue. This means that if your injuries weren’t fully compensated or you need treatment for an injury that wasn’t immediately apparent, you can’t sue the person who caused your injuries for additional damages.
Common Examples of Personal Injury Cases in Concord, NC
A personal injury case can be filed for a variety of reasons. Some examples include:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
If you have been injured in a car, truck, motorcycle, or other motor vehicle collision, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver and owner of the vehicle. North Carolina requires drivers to carry bodily injury liability coverage to protect car accident victims. This is called the Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Act.
When a driver fails to carry adequate coverage and gets into an accident with another motorist, they may be liable for any damages caused by their negligence. If you have been injured in such an accident, it is important that you contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible so that your rights can be protected.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip-and-fall accidents commonly occur when someone trips on a wet floor at a store or restaurant or when walking down stairs. Slip-and-fall accidents may also happen when someone trips over a curb or other object in the public right of way. However, these can be very tricky claims in North Carolina as a landowner is not responsible just because an injury happened on their property and trying to handle these types of claims yourself is almost never a good idea.
Construction Accidents
Construction workers are at risk for injuries and fatalities on the job site. Construction accidents can be caused by several factors, including poorly designed plans or materials that are not properly installed.
Contact the Concord Personal Injury Lawyers at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor
The Concord personal injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor can help you file your claim and get the compensation you deserve. With more than 25 years of experience, we have the skills, resources, and knowledge needed to achieve the best possible outcome in any case.
Our legal team has the experience and knowledge to fight for your rights. We will work diligently on your behalf, providing the representation you need during this difficult time. Contact us today for a free consultation.
