Why Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Personal injury cases can be complex, involving long-term medical needs, proving the other party’s fault, and dealing with insurance companies seeking to settle. Speak with one of our Greenville attorneys shortly after an accident to ensure your medical bills are covered, and accident records are readily available. Hiring an attorney to represent your interests can be beneficial for the following three key reasons:
- You have disabling or severe injuries from an accident. Permanent disabilities and severe injuries can have long-term expenses requiring an experienced attorney’s resources to calculate. Medical care, lost earning capacity, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering can reach high dollar amounts. Attorneys may seek to add punitive damages above and beyond economic and non-economic damages in severe negligence cases.
- Liability isn’t clear, or multiple parties are potentially responsible for the accident. In Greenville, our personal injury attorneys have experience with effective communication with the insurance companies and others involved in a case. They will also advocate for their clients when multiple accident victims seek a settlement, protecting accident victims against counterclaims and cross-claims.
- An insurance company is uncooperative or unfair in its actions. Insurance companies may refuse to agree to a fair settlement. Some insurance companies may engage in bad faith practices, such as denying claims without reason, failing to properly investigate an accident, or offering an insufficient settlement amount.
A personal injury attorney from our Greenville office will be able to navigate complex circumstances and help you understand your rights and the settlement you’re entitled to receive. When considering an attorney, be sure to provide details surrounding the accident and bring any documentation you may have. This information will help our attorneys advise you on the best course of action.
Case settlement can occur in three different ways. The first, a negotiated settlement, is quite common. Jury trials are another way and may be required if parties cannot reach a satisfactory settlement. A third option is alternative dispute resolution. Known as ADR, this method uses decision-makers who assist with mediation or arbitration. Mediation involves a facilitator who brings both sides together for a resolution. Arbitration is similar to a jury trial, but it involves a small panel of approximately three participants who deliver a binding decision.
What Is the Standard Fee for a Greenville Personal Injury Lawyer?
Personal injury lawyers often work on a contingency where they get paid only upon a case’s successful resolution. Fees vary from about 25% to 40%, depending on the law firm and the case’s circumstances. On average, fees are about 33%. These fees come out of the settlement amount and include attorney fees, investigation costs, court costs, expert witness fees, and other expenses.
Personal injury lawyer fees may vary depending on when a case gets resolved. Sliding scales may result in lower fees if a case results in a prompt resolution. Cases that involve a jury trial or other complexities may result in higher fees. Accident victims may also have additional costs such as document filing fees or separate fees that the courts assess.
What Qualities Should I Look for in a Personal Injury Lawyer in Greenville, North Carolina?
Seek a reputable personal injury attorney who has experience handling your type of case, values the attorney-client relationship, and puts your needs first. You shouldn’t feel pressured to agree to representation or feel uncomfortable with the situation. Look for an attorney who first offers free consults. Our team of Greenville personal injury attorneys believes in being highly effective communicators and being transparent about information, including fees and details about your case — the approximate dollar amount of the settlement sought, a timeline for resolution, and other critical details.
A personal injury attorney will also have to work with insurance companies and other attorneys while building your personal injury case. Cooperation is essential during the discovery phase, a period in which both sides exchange facts and documentation. Personal injury attorneys also conduct investigations, especially when police or insurance investigations are missing key details. Investigations may bring in expert witnesses or accident reconstruction, as well as new evidence such as online communications.
At our Greenville office, we take pride in guiding clients through their cases using facts and legal advice while not letting emotions control the situation. Injured people should focus on recovery, but they may feel rushed into making decisions based on emotions during this difficult time. Our attorneys will be able to negotiate on your behalf and uncover facts that will make your personal injury claims case stronger.
Do Personal Injury Lawyers Handle a Range of Cases?
Personal injury lawyers in Greenville can represent individuals with a range of injuries and circumstances leading to these injuries. They can also help accident victims recover property losses. Personal injuries themselves can be diverse, including catastrophic injuries, amputations, and other injuries with long-term expenses. Knowing fair compensation for injuries requires knowledge of short- and long-term effects. Common types of cases our personal injury attorneys in Greenville, NC handle are:
Car Accidents
Car accidents are the leading cause of injury in the United States and can happen to anyone at any time. Personal injury attorneys in Greenville need to be well-versed in the area of car accidents to get you the compensation you deserve. This includes damages to your vehicle, medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and any funeral expenses that may result from the accident.
Motorcycle Accidents
When a motorcyclist becomes involved in an accident, the individual may sustain more serious injuries. Experienced motorcycle attorneys in Greenville can help get you the settlement you deserve to cover hospital bills, lost income, and possible long-term care.
Truck Accidents
If you’re involved in an accident with a big rig in Greenville, you risk significant damages to your vehicle and possible serious injury. You’ll want an attorney who possesses knowledge of commercial driving laws and the details of handling a truck accident.
Medical Malpractice
If you believe you’re a victim of medical malpractice or medical negligence, you’ll want a Greenville attorney who is knowledgeable about the complex issues surrounding medical malpractice claims.
Other Cases We Handle
Personal injury attorneys also handle cases related to:
- Wrongful death
- Workplace injuries
- Boating accidents
- Defective drugs
- Nursing homes
- Faulty products
- Dog bites
- Premises liability
- Ride-share accidents
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Construction accidents
- Defective products
What Type of Damages Can You Claim in a Personal Injury Case?
In Greenville, North Carolina, personal injury lawsuits may seek three types of damages:
- Economic damages cover lost income, medical care, medications, property losses, and other injuries that are both current and future.
- Noneconomic damages, which aren’t as easy to quantify, include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental health issues.
- Punitive damages provide additional compensation to victims where a high degree of negligence is proven. Punitive damages are further punishments to deter negligence.
States have laws regarding personal injury cases, and many states follow the doctrine of comparative negligence, which reduces damages proportionally up to 50% based on the victim’s fault. North Carolina is an at-fault state. In North Carolina, the responsible party must pay the injured party for medical and property damages resulting from an accident. North Carolina also has contributory negligence, which means that if you’ve been involved in an accident in Greenville, it must be proven that the party responsible for the accident was 100% at fault for recovery to be made. Negligence or partial fault on the part of the accident victim may prevent compensation.
Contact our Personal Injury Attorneys in Greenville, NC
Our team of personal injury lawyers are skilled at ensuring all applicable laws get upheld to ensure a successful case. We place client needs first and make sound decisions based on facts and research, steering clients away from being pressured to settle for an insufficient amount. We will follow a case through to ensure the distribution of claims and adherence to contracts. If you or a family member has been affected by an injury resulting from someone else’s negligence, contact us at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, P.C.
