What Is a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Hickory, NC?

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What Is a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Hickory, NC?

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If you live in Hickory, North Carolina, and have been injured in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. These lawsuits are meant to compensate those who have suffered from the negligence of another person or entity.

Whether you’re injured in a car accident on I-40 or slip and fall in a local Hickory supermarket, you may be able to pursue legal action against the party responsible for your injuries. At The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, we can help you determine if you have a valid claim for personal injury and represent you in court if necessary.

Our personal injury attorneys have a proven track record of success when it comes to representing clients who have been injured in accidents. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Personal Injury Lawsuits: The Basics

A personal injury lawsuit is a civil action filed in a court of law that seeks compensation for an injury or loss caused by another person’s negligence. These cases can involve injuries or deaths due to motor vehicle accidents, workplace injuries, medical malpractice, defective products, or premises liability. Personal injury cases can be very complicated and typically require the assistance of a qualified attorney.

Personal Injury Law in North Carolina

You may be entitled to compensation if you have been injured due to another person’s negligence.

The other party could be a driver or a doctor. The other party could also be a business or individual responsible for maintaining their property and did not do so correctly. The key is to prove that the other party acted carelessly or recklessly and that this action caused your injuries.

If you have been injured in an accident, contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Examples of Negligence in a Personal Injury Case

The following is a list of examples of negligence in a personal injury case:

  • A driver ran through a red light and hit you while crossing the street.
  • You were hurt when the supermarket failed to conduct regular inspections and you slipped and fell on a leak that had been there for some time.
  • Your doctor left surgical instruments inside your body after surgery.
  • A dog owner could not keep his pet on a leash, which resulted in the animal attacking you.
  • A company allowed defective products to be sold without warning consumers of the risk involved.
  • An employee failed to follow proper safety procedures and injured you while working at your place of business.

Proving Negligence in Hickory Personal Injury Claims

To prove that someone else was negligent in causing your injuries, there are several elements you must show:

  • The other party had a duty of care.
  • They breached this duty through action or inaction.
  • This breach caused your injuries.
  • You suffered damages as a result of the accident.

Negligence differs from case to case, but generally speaking, it is any action that falls below the standard of care. For example, if a driver is speeding or runs a red light and causes an accident, they have breached their duty of care by failing to slow down to safely make it through the intersection.

Another example is a medical malpractice case; a doctor who fails to diagnose an illness or injury and treats the wrong condition may have breached their duty of care if that failure to diagnose falls below the standard of care for that area of practice. 

As we’ve mentioned above, each case is unique. The best way to determine whether you have a valid negligence claim is to speak with an experienced Hickory personal injury lawyer about your specific situation.

Formal Lawsuits vs. Informal Settlements

In legal terms, a lawsuit is an official proceeding in which the plaintiff seeks financial compensation or another remedy from the defendant. A formal lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant, usually in person.

The complaint is a legal document that describes the facts of your case and states your legal claims in detail. It lists the names of all the responsible parties, such as doctors and medical facilities, as well as their addresses and phone numbers.

An informal settlement is a compromise or agreement between the parties, which may be reached at any time before or during the trial. Most personal injury claims are settled outside of court.

If you reach an informal settlement, it will include releasing your claim against the parties involved, such as the driver and owner of the at-fault vehicle. A release is a legal document that discharges one party from liability for a claim, injury, or debt. Going this route means you won’t be able to sue for any further damages, but it’s often the best way to resolve a dispute quickly.

The Statute of Limitations for a Hickory Personal Injury Claim

The statute of limitations is a law that states how long you have to file a claim. If you don’t file your lawsuit within this time limit, your case will be dismissed, and you’ll be barred from recovering compensation.

In North Carolina, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is three years from the date of the incident. It is important to talk to your lawyer about what the statute of limitations is in your particular case. 

Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?

If you’ve been injured in a car accident or other incident, you may wonder whether you need to hire a personal injury lawyer. Here are some of the reasons why it’s wise to seek legal help:

  • Your insurance company might try to take advantage of your situation and offer an unfair settlement.
  • The negligent party may try to escape liability for their actions.
  • You may need to file a lawsuit to receive compensation for your injuries.

If you have any questions about personal injury law, it’s always wise to seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney.

How Our Hickory Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You

If you have been injured in an accident, our Hickory personal injury lawyers can help. We will work with you to build the strongest possible case and get you the compensation you deserve. We know how stressful it can be when dealing with an insurance company on your own, and we want to ensure that your rights are protected as much as possible during this process. We will:

  • Work with you to establish and prove your case.
  • Communicate with the insurance company on your behalf
  • Handle the process of filing a lawsuit if necessary and guide you through each step along the way
  • Help you receive the compensation you deserve

We are dedicated to fighting for our client’s rights and providing them with the best representation. If you have been injured in an accident, please get in touch with us today for a free consultation.

Personal Injury Accident Victims Can Recover Damages

A personal injury accident can be a stressful and emotionally draining experience. You may have suffered injuries that require medical attention and damage to your personal property, and you may even lose wages due to time off work.

The last thing you need after an accident is to worry about your legal rights. The experienced attorneys at our firm can help you understand what types of damages are available to you, how they are calculated, and what steps you should take next.

young woman with pain in wrist, personal injury accident

Contact The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor Today

When you contact a Hickory, NC, personal injury attorney at our firm, you can rest assured that you are in good hands regarding personal injury litigation. Our law firm has a team of attorneys with the skills to take on any claim, no matter how intricate or complex.

Our attorneys understand the importance of personal injury litigation. They will work hard to protect your rights and financial interests by helping you recover medical bills, lost wages, and other damages related to your accident.

We want to help you get the compensation you deserve while keeping your costs down. Our attorneys’ in-depth experience and detailed knowledge of personal injury law in North Carolina means that you can be confident that your interests are protected. Contact us today to see if we can help.

120 3rd St NE
Hickory, NC 28601

Phone: (828) 327-9004
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

 

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120 3rd St NE
Hickory, NC 28601

Phone: (828) 327-9004
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

301 S McDowell St #1016
Charlotte, NC 28204

Phone: (704) 676-1093
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

130 Church St NE
Concord, NC 28025

Phone: (704) 787-9419
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

1348 Ebenezer Rd Suite 103
Rock Hill, SC 29732

Phone: (803) 980-5300
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

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Hickory Injury Lawyers & Attorneys at Law

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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.

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