Personal Injury Cases in North Carolina
When you’re injured in an accident, it can feel like you’ve lost everything. An injury can take away the life you knew and the activities you loved, leaving you with questions about how you’ll recover. At times like these, it can feel like there’s no path forward and no way to pursue the justice you deserve. But there are ways to move forward, and a North Carolina personal injury lawyer can help.
At The Law Offices of John Drew Warlick, P.A., we understand what you’re going through, and we’re here for you. With three generations of attorneys serving the people of Jacksonville, N.C., our attorneys have decades of experience handling personal injury cases. We understand what an injury means for you, and that’s why we’re always available to talk and answer questions.
After an accident, let us help you understand your rights and your options. We offer a free, confidential consultation to discuss your case. Our personal injury lawyers can talk over the phone or meet in person anywhere that works for you. Call us or contact us online today for your case review.
When Should You Contact a Jacksonville Injury Firm?
Simply put, you should contact a Jacksonville personal injury attorney when you’ve been injured because of someone else’s negligence and suffered a loss because of it. This could include situations such as a car accident where someone runs a red light and hits you, a product liability case where a defective product causes you harm, and many other situations. If an accident causes you to incur medical bills, miss time from work, suffer pain, or experience other losses, you should talk to a personal injury lawyer about your right to compensation.
What Are Common Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle?
For three generations, our North Carolina personal injury law firm has served accident victims throughout the Jacksonville area, including service members and dependents based at Camp Lejeune. From accidents on the road to medical malpractice, we’re prepared to handle a wide range of cases, including:
What Types of Damages Can Be Recovered in a Personal Injury Claim?
In a personal injury claim, you could recover several different types of compensation for your losses. The types and amounts will depend upon the facts of your specific case. But a personal injury lawyer in North Carolina can help you understand your path to compensation. Some common types of compensation available in a claim may include:
- Medical costs. After an injury, you may have to spend time in the hospital or require medical care in the future. A North Carolina personal injury claim may compensate you for medical treatment now and in the future.
- Lost wages and income. You may be out of work and unable to earn the money you need after a serious accident. You may also suffer reduced earning capacity in the future because of your injuries. With a personal injury claim, you may pursue compensation for your losses.
- Emotional distress and pain and suffering. Not all damage in an accident can be concretely measured. Still, pain and suffering and emotional distress are real losses that can greatly affect your life. As part of a North Carolina personal injury claim, you may seek compensation for these harms.
- Punitive damages. In some personal injury lawsuits, North Carolina may allow punitive damages to be awarded. Punitive damages may be available when the person who caused your injury acted with willful or wanton conduct that resulted in harm to you. These damages are intended to punish the at-fault party for their behavior.
Depending upon the facts of your case, these and other types of damages could make up part of your compensation. Contact a North Carolina personal injury law firm today for a free consultation and evaluation of your case.
What Is the North Carolina Statute of Limitations For Personal Injury Lawsuits?
Under North Carolina law, each type of case has a time limit attached to it. This is known as a statute of limitations. If you don’t file your North Carolina personal injury lawsuit within the appropriate time limit, you may lose your right to bring a case. For most types of personal injury cases, you’ll have three years from the date you’re injured or the date your injuries become apparent. However, depending upon the facts of your case, there may be exceptions to these rules. There may also be types of personal injury cases where you’ll have more or less time than the typical three-year period.
If you’ve been injured, don’t wait. Talk with a North Carolina personal injury lawyer today. At The Law Offices of John Drew Warlick, P.A., our attorneys can work quickly to build your claim and secure the evidence you need before it’s too late.
How Our North Carolina Attorneys Can Help with Your Case
When you’re injured, the stress and headache of bringing a case can seem overwhelming. But people don’t realize how much a lawyer can help. From understanding your injuries to aggressively advocating for you in court, a personal injury lawyer will shepherd your case through every step of the process. Some key ways that a North Carolina personal injury lawyer from our firm can help you include:
- Providing a free and confidential consultation at a place and time that works for you. Many people who have been injured in an accident have questions about North Carolina law and how it applies to their injury. With a free consultation, you can ask the questions you need answers to and talk to a lawyer about your case with no pressure.
- Handling all communication with insurance companies. With a personal injury claim, there may be frequent and in-depth discussions with the insurance companies and those responsible for your injuries. A personal injury lawyer will serve as your advocate in these discussions to ensure you are not taken advantage of.
- Negotiating a fair settlement for your injuries. Settlement negotiations can be complex and highly technical. An experienced North Carolina personal injury attorney from our firm will advocate for the maximum settlement that covers your best interests.
- Aggressively advocating at trial for the compensation you deserve. In some cases, a North Carolina personal injury lawsuit will need to go to trial. If that happens, a lawyer from our firm can handle any court filings, prepare an aggressive case, and stand up for your rights before a judge.
After an accident, there’s no reason to try to handle a personal injury case on your own. Speak with a lawyer from The Law Offices of John Drew Warlick, P.A., about your case now. The consultation is free.
What Steps to Take to Protect Your Rights After an Accident?
The days and weeks after an accident can be chaotic and confusing, especially when you’re injured. The following steps can help you protect your rights after an accident:
- Keep copies of any evidence related to the accident. This could include photos, witness information, medical records, or any other information you think could be relevant. These documents could be essential to your claim.
- Go to a doctor as soon as possible. After you’ve seen your doctor, make sure that you follow the treatment plan. By following it, you’re protecting your health and your potential personal injury claim.
- Maintain a journal of how you feel. Injuries can harm you physically and emotionally, but you can forget the details of how you feel if you don’t write them down. A journal of your physical and emotional state and how the accident affected your daily life can be an essential part of a personal injury claim.
- Don’t discuss the accident or your injuries on social media. The other side could use your posts and statements against you. Protect yourself and your claim by not talking about your case with anyone but your attorney.
- Talk with a North Carolina personal injury lawyer. Do not wait to speak with a local lawyer about your case. An experienced lawyer can answer your questions and prepare you for every step of the claims process.
What Are Some Common Types of Catastrophic or Fatal Injuries?
Whether they result from a car accident or medical malpractice, catastrophic injuries are common in Onslow County personal injury cases. They can change your life irrevocably, taking away your ability to earn a living and preventing you from engaging in activities you love. Common types of serious injury cases that our firm handles include.
- Brain injuries can take away your ability to earn a living, your ability to communicate, and even your ability to take care of yourself day-to-day. As part of a personal injury claim, you can seek the compensation and support you need to put your life back together after a traumatic brain injury.
- Burn injuries can be painful and life-threatening. Serious burns can require multiple surgeries. Even then, injury victims may be left with scars and loss of sensation. Depending upon the burn injuries’ extent and depth, victims can face a lifetime of emotional and physical challenges.
- Spinal cord injuries can result in permanent damage. These injuries can lead to partial or full paralysis, life-threatening health problems, and chronic pain.
- Orthopedic injuries include damage to joints, muscles, and soft tissues. These injuries can cause lasting pain, reduce mobility, and may never fully heal.
- Facial injuries and disfigurement can be painful, cause severe emotional distress, and transform your life in an instant. As part of a claim, you may be able to seek compensation for these injuries.
- Broken bones are among the most common injuries that can happen in an accident. From painful leg fractures to skull fractures, broken bones can endanger your life, or at the very least, put you out of action for a time. Even with the best medical care, a broken bone can cause lingering pain.
Talk to a North Carolina Attorney Now
If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact The Law Offices of John Drew Warlick, P.A., today. Our North Carolina personal injury lawyers know how challenging your recovery can be. Let us help. With decades of experience representing personal injury victims throughout the Jacksonville area, we can take the burden off you.
For a free and confidential consultation about your case, call us or contact us online now.
