What Types of Cases Do Our Hickory Personal Injury Lawyers Handle?
At our Hickory, North Carolina, office, our experienced legal team can represent you in a wide range of personal injury cases and wrongful death claims. Examples of some of the most common legal matters we handle include:
Car Accidents
Hickory’s population may only be around 41,000 people, but the area is a metro hub for over 365,000 people who visit for numerous outdoor activities, breweries, restaurants, etc. More people traveling to and from Hickory means the risk of accidents is higher. Our Hickory auto accident lawyers can help you fight for the damages you’re owed after an injury caused by a collision.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents often involve severe or catastrophic injuries, given the lack of safety equipment riders have. In many cases, a motorcycle rider’s body directly impacts the other vehicle during a collision. Motorcycle claims are typically very complex, and there are generally unfair stereotypes about motorcycle riders. You need someone to protect your rights. You want an attorney who has experience with these types of claims.
Truck Accidents
If a negligent truck driver injured you in Hickory, our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help. Truck accident claims can be complicated, especially since there may be multiple defendants and catastrophic injuries. That is one reason why you need an experienced legal advocate on your side.
Wrongful Death Claims
Understandably, it’s a devastating time when a loved one passes away from injuries sustained in an accident. You have unplanned expenses and financial burdens on top of grieving for your family member. Depending on the circumstances, you could have the legal right to bring a wrongful death claim.
Workers’ Compensation
If you are injured on the job and need assistance pursuing a workers’ compensation claim, our Hickory workers’ compensation attorneys are here to help.
Medical Malpractice
If you believe a medical professional caused you harm, you might have a valid medical malpractice claim against the doctor, anesthesiologist, surgical center, hospital, etc.
Other Cases We Handle
Our legal team can represent you for a variety of other cases as well, including:
- Slip and Fall Accidents.
- Dog Bites.
- Other Premises Liability Accidents.
- Rideshare Accidents.
- Boating Accidents.
- Construction Accidents.
- Defective Products.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries.
Why Should You Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?
While you could handle your personal injury case independently, the claims process can quickly become complex. You must be cautious of anything you say to the other party’s insurance company or their attorney. They will be looking for you to say something they can use against you and allow them to place more blame on you. When you hire the Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, P.C. to represent you, we will handle all communications with the other parties. Our goal is to protect you and fight for the compensation they owe you.
You need a legal advocate on your side to ensure that all possible liable parties are named in the claim and held accountable for your damages. You also have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit. Your attorney will ensure the statute of limitations is preserved and file a lawsuit within the deadline.
What Types of Damages Can I Recover in a Personal Injury Claim?
Depending on the circumstances of your claim, there are certain types of damages you could recover. The two main categories are compensatory and punitive damages.
Compensatory damages can be further broken down into economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are calculated damages that consist of items such as:
- Medical bills, both current and future.
- Loss of earnings and future loss of earning capacity.
- Property damage.
- Any other monetary losses.
Non-economic damages are damages that are more subjective and don’t correspond to financial losses like economic damages. Non-economic damages consist of items such as:
- Physical pain and suffering.
- Mental anguish.
- Loss of consortium.
- Loss of companionship.
- Disfigurement.
Punitive damages are potentially available in select cases where the defendant’s conduct was intentional or grossly negligent. Punitive damages “punish” the negligent party and keep them from engaging in similar behavior in the future. Examples of cases where the court might award punitive damages include:
- Drunk Driving Accidents.
- Road Rage Accidents.
- Medical Malpractice Cases.
- Product Liability Cases.
- Distracted Driving Accidents.
North Carolina is one of the only remaining states to use contributory negligence as a standard for liability. That means that anyone who has contributed to the accident by even 1% cannot collect any compensation. Insurance companies use this law to their advantage and work tirelessly to pin a portion of liability on you so they won’t have to pay any part of your claim. That is one reason why working with an experienced Hickory personal injury lawyer is so important. Your attorney will fight to protect your rights against the insurance company’s liability assessment.
What Is My Case Worth in Hickory, NC?
No two Hickory personal injury cases are identical, so it’s impossible to give a range or average of what your case is worth. Once we’ve had a chance to review the facts of your case, we can provide you with an honest assessment of value. We will go over all the strengths and weaknesses of your case. The Hickory personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, P.C. are very experienced with evaluating injury claims and can provide a complete breakdown on how they derived at your case value.
Here are several examples of personal injury cases we’ve successfully resolved for clients:
$3,000,000 Motorcycle Wrongful Death
Our client died when they ran into a trucking spill.
$2,225,000 Personal Injury
We recovered this amount in a medical malpractice case on behalf of our client, which involved a child’s death.
$1,750,000 Car Accident
We recovered this amount in a medical malpractice case on behalf of our client, which involved a child’s death.
$1,250,000 Motorcycle Accident
For a client who was hit while riding his motorcycle on Williamson Road in Mooresville, Iredell County.
$920,000 Car Accident
Recovered for our client who was hit head-on on NC 18 in Morganton, Burke County
$787,000 DUI Car Accident
For a client hit by a driver under the influence on Highway 150 in Catawba County crossing the lake into Lake Norm.
*Note, the above-referenced case results are illustrative only. They are not a guarantee of what your case could resolve for in a settlement or at trial.
How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Like other states, North Carolina has a statute of limitations on how long you have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Hickory. In most cases, it’s three years from the injury date. If you miss the deadline, the court will likely dismiss your entire case, and you will not recover any financial compensation
How Does the Personal Injury Claims Process Work in Hickory?
The civil litigation process is not fast-moving by design. Both sides need time to build their case, which is why most claims settle before they ever get to trial. The idea is that the courtroom is available for the most serious matters. In most cases, the process follows these steps:
- Plaintiff files a summons and complaint.
- Defendant(s) hire attorneys and file an answer.
- Discovery begins, where both sides gather evidence, ask questions of each other, and exchange documents.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): This phase involves mediation or arbitration in some cases. If both sides can reach an agreement, the case will resolve without going to trial.
- Prepare for trial if the case has not been resolved.
Cases in Hickory, North Carolina, can take months or longer to resolve. If the defendant is being unreasonable and refuses to settle, we have the skills and financial resources available to take your case to trial if necessary.
What Fees Do You Charge To Represent Me for a Personal Injury Claim?
We do not charge hourly fees or upfront costs to represent you for a personal injury case. We represent our Hickory clients on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay anything unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Hickory, NC
If you need assistance pursuing a personal injury claim in Hickory, our skilled team of injury attorneys is ready to assist you at our Hickory office. Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation.
