Personal Injury Law in Durham, NC

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Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Durham? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Durham, NC can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law in Durham relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.

Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Durham, NC

Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.

A few of the most common personal injury claims are:

  • Car Accidents
  • Slip and Fall
  • Dog Bites
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Workplace Accidents
  • Burn Injuries

Most Common Injuries in Durham 

According to the Durham County Health Assessment, unintentional injuries are the fourth leading cause of death, and the third leading cause of hospitalizations in Durham County. Motor vehicle accidents, poisonings, and falls were the leading causes of injury deaths. Falls were the leading cause of injuries leading to emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Durham, NC

Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in North Carolina

A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either settlement or a court appearance.

After consulting with your Durham attorney, you will file a complaint, typically with the Durham County Superior Court. Once the complaint is filed, the defendant will be issued a summons, or obligation to answer, which usually leads to the discovery process. After the discovery process, the case will either be dismissed, reach a satisfactory settlement, or proceed to trial.

North Carolina Personal Injury Settlement

With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and factors that impact the final amount.

It is difficult to find a predictable personal injury settlement amount in Durham because there are so many variables like medical bills, injury severity, and pain and suffering that can influence a total settlement amount. In fact, most cases settle outside of court between $3,000 – $75,000, on average. Durham personal injury cases involving serious injuries are typically filed with the Durham County Superior Court because that Court handles cases over $25,000.

If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in NC, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all.

Damage Awards in North Carolina

If your North Carolina personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted.

Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses.

General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant compensate you for the pain and anguish.

Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. 

In North Carolina, there is no cap on either economic or noneconomic damages in personal injury cases. However, there is a $250,000 cap on punitive damages.

Statute of Limitations in Durham, NC Personal Injury Law?

The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized.

In North Carolina, the statute of limitations for personal injury suits is 3 years. If you live in Durham, this means you only have 3 years from the date of your injury to file a suit.

We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury. 

Work With an Experienced Durham, NC Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Durham against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across North Carolina state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!

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