Charlotte is the most populous city in North Carolina. With attractions like the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Bank of America Stadium, and the Charlotte Motor Speedway, it’s no wonder that people flock to this city. But when you’re injured in a car accident or other incident, you may need legal help to recover damages for your injuries.
If you need a personal injury lawyer, you can turn to the Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor. We have over 25 years of experience helping injured victims recover damages for their injuries. We will work to help you get the compensation you need to recover from your injuries and any other losses that resulted from your accident. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
What the Charlotte Personal Injury Lawyers at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor Will Do For You
A Charlotte personal injury lawyer will work with you to gather evidence and investigate your claim. They will send demand letters and negotiate with insurance companies to settle your case for a fair amount and do what is necessary to maximize your recovery.
Unfortunately, not all cases settled without having to go file a lawsuit or go to court. If needed, they’ll prepare for trial, gather evidence and witnesses, call expert witnesses to testify, and prepare opening statements and closing arguments. Once the trial begins in court, they’ll present evidence to prove their case while cross-examining witnesses presented by the defense.
Investigate Your Claim
To make sure that your case is as strong as possible, it’s essential that you work with a lawyer who knows how to investigate what happened. An attorney should be able to get the information from relevant witnesses or people involved in the incident, such as police officers and medical professionals. They can also help you collect evidence about any injuries you sustained for them to be used as proof of your damages caused by another.
Another thing that many attorneys do is hire an independent third party called an expert witness who specializes in specific fields related to personal injury claims like auto accident cases involving drunk drivers, slip-and-fall accidents at grocery stores because they hadn’t cleaned up spilled milk properly, dog bites caused by aggressive dogs running loose without leashes near playgrounds where children play regularly without supervision, the list goes on and on.
Gather Evidence
Once you have hired an attorney, they will begin collecting evidence. This can include:
- Taking pictures of the accident scene
- Taking pictures of your injuries and any damage to your vehicle or other property
- Collecting statements from witnesses who saw what happened
Send Demand Letters
After investigating the claim, an attorney may send a demand letter to an insurance company. These are packages that contain the information about your case, such as the collision report, photographs of your injuries, medical records and your medical bills.
Negotiate with Insurance Companies
A personal injury attorney will negotiate with insurance companies and attempt to get the best settlement for you. The lawyer can negotiate for a fair settlement or a larger settlement than what you expected. If you have been injured in an accident, contact us today so we can start negotiating on your behalf!
Prepare Pleadings
If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation or denies your claim, the lawyer may prepare a complaint against the liable party. A complaint sets out the legal arguments regarding why the at-fault party is responsible for the accident. The complaint is what starts the litigation process towards taking your claim to court. In North Carolina, most personal injury claims only set forth a threshold amount to establish whether the case belongs in Magistrate (Small Claims), District or Superior Court rather than a specific amount you are seeking.
Discovery
Discovery is the process of gathering evidence in a civil case and can be done by both parties. The discovery phase includes:
- Depositions (oral testimony)
- Requests for the production of documents
- Requests for admission
- Interrogatories (written questions about you, your injuries and the facts of your case)
Preparing for Personal Injury Lawsuits
If the case goes to trial, personal injury attorneys provide legal representation in court. The lawyer will meet with the client before the trial to review their testimony and know what needs to be done during discovery. They will also ensure that any documents or evidence needed for the case are gathered and available for presentation at court and do their best to make sure that evidence is actually admissible, which is up to the judge.
Common Types of Personal Injury Claims in Charlotte
A personal injury claim can arise from any accident that is caused due to the negligence of another party. Some common cases we see include the following:
Slip & Fall
It’s important to know that in North Carolina just because an injury happened on someone else’s property, doesn’t automatically make them responsible. However, the property owner could be liable for damages if they knew or should have known about the dangerous condition that caused the injury but failed to correct it reasonably after being notified.
Auto Accidents
Collisions between motor vehicles can also cause severe injuries. Liability for damages depends on whether one driver was negligent and therefore responsible for causing the crash and the injuries therefrom.
Dog Bites
Dogs bite people all too often, resulting in serious injury requiring extensive medical attention and sometimes even surgery if there are deep puncture wounds from canine fangs tearing into flesh and skin punctures. Under North Carolina personal injury law, the dog owner could still be held liable for injuries caused by a dog bite even if they did not know the dog was dangerous or if the dog had a history of biting people or other animals.
Wrongful Death
Suppose a loved one died due to an accident caused by someone’s negligent actions. In that case, wrongful death lawsuits are typically brought by a surviving spouse, child, or parent against the person who caused the accident that resulted in their loved one’s death. The purpose of these lawsuits is to recover compensation for the survivors’ economic and non-economic damages, such as funeral expenses, medical bills and the value of any support they would have provided throughout their life if the person had lived.
How Do I Know If I Have a Valid Personal Injury Case?
If you have been injured in an accident, it is vital that you take action immediately. A Charlotte personal injury lawyer can help. They will be able to assess your case and advise you on whether or not you should make a compensation claim. They can also help ensure that the insurance companies pay out all the compensation they owe to claimants.
If someone else’s negligent actions caused your injury, such as when a car crashes into yours after the driver fails to stop at a red light or when someone slips and falls in a public place due to poor maintenance; then it could be argued that there was negligence involved in these situations and therefore a person may be eligible to receive personal injury compensation if they are found responsible for causing injuries through their carelessness or negligence – this includes being hit by another vehicle while walking down the street!
It does not matter how severe or minor your personal injuries are. Suppose someone else’s carelessness has caused them. In that case, it is possible for them (or their insurers) to compensate those who have suffered financial loss by paying out damages, usually via an insurance policy specifically designed with this purpose in mind.
Most importantly, regardless of whether they were caused intentionally (criminal act) or unintentionally (negligence), both types deserve pursuit through legal means so as not only to recover any losses sustained but also to prevent future occurrences from happening again, which could cause further harm.
Types of Compensation You Can Receive in Charlotte Personal Injury Cases
After an accident, you may face many different expenses, including medical bills and lost wages. These costs can add up quickly, so getting the compensation you deserve for your injuries is essential. Compensation for a personal injury case can include the following:
- Medical costs include all reasonable expenses related to your injuries, such as emergency room and doctor visits.
- Lost wages – If you are unable to work due to your injuries after an accident, you may be able to recover any lost wages that resulted from not being able-bodied while recovering.
- Pain and suffering – If you have experienced physical or mental anguish due to your injuries, you may be eligible for pain and suffering compensation.
- Property damage – If an accident resulted in damage to your property, such as a vehicle or home, you could recover the cost of repairs.
- Wrongful death damages – If a loved one was killed in an accident, you could recover damages for their wrongful death.
- Other damages – In some cases, it may be possible to recover additional damages depending on the circumstances of your case and the parties involved.
Contact a Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Today
Charlotte is a lively city with many great attractions, but it’s also where you can get into an accident. If this happens to you, don’t hesitate to contact a personal injury attorney in Charlotte today. At The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, we can help you get the compensation you need to recover from your injuries and move on with your life. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.