If you were injured in a car crash, slip and fall, or another type of accident that was caused by someone else, you could pursue compensation for your losses through a personal injury claim. Filing a personal injury claim can be complicated. Insurance companies will do everything they can to pay you as little as possible. However, a knowledgeable North Carolina personal injury lawyer can help simplify the process and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
At Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC, we know that you may be overwhelmed by the financial, physical, and emotional strain caused by your injuries. Our personal injury lawyers will handle every detail of your case so you can take the time you need to heal. For more than 40 years, our firm has been standing strong for individuals and families who are struggling to recover from life-changing accidents. From the first time you meet with us, we will put your mind at ease.
Contact us today to discuss the details of your case in a free, confidential consultation.
What Do You Have to Prove in a Personal Injury Claim?
When you file a personal injury claim, you must prove that another person or entity was at fault for causing your injuries. To prove this, you will need to provide evidence of three key elements:
- The at-fault party had a responsibility to avoid causing you harm. For example, another driver may have been responsible for driving safely to avoid causing an accident, or a business owner may have been responsible for keeping a premises safe for visiting customers.
- The at-fault party was negligent in their responsibility. Maybe another driver was drunk behind the wheel, or a business owner failed to repair a broken staircase railing.
- The at-fault party’s negligence was the cause of your injuries. If the driver in our example hadn’t been drunk, or the business owner had repaired the railing, you wouldn’t have been injured.
Under North Carolina law, you may not recover compensation from a personal injury claim if you are even partially at fault for the incident. Insurance companies will try to use this to their advantage by pushing blame on you. An attorney can help you craft a strong case to protect your rights and establish who was responsible.
Compensation in a Personal Injury Claim
In a personal injury claim, any money you receive is largely intended to compensate you for the losses you incurred due to your accident or injury.
If your claim is successful, you could obtain compensation to cover the following injury-related losses:
- Incidental Costs – Any expenses you incur to accommodate your injuries. This includes transportation costs to medical appointments and costs of durable medical equipment or home accessibility modifications.
- Lost Income – If you are forced to miss work while you recover from your injuries, you could receive compensation for lost wages.
- Lost Future Earning Potential – If you suffer long-term disabilities from your injuries, you could also recover compensation for losses in your future earning potential.
- Medical Expenses – The cost of any past or current medical attention you need to treat your injuries. If you suffered serious injuries that will require long-term treatment, you could also recover money for expected future medical expenses.
- Pain and Suffering – You could receive compensation for the subjective costs of any pain, suffering, limitations, or losses in your quality of life due to your accident or injuries.
- Punitive Damages – If your injuries were caused by an at-fault party who was egregiously negligent or intentionally malicious, you could potentially recover punitive damages. Punitive damages are intended to punish wrongdoers and deter similar behavior in the future.