Each year, tens of thousands of people are seriously injured due to car accidents, slip and fall accidents, healthcare errors and more. If you or a loved one have experienced a catastrophic injury or lost a loved one, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and even the pain and trauma you’ve experienced. Attorney Harry H. Albritton of Irons & Irons P.A. represents injury victims who are in need of an experienced personal injury lawyer in Winston-Salem. With over two decades of knowledge and expertise, he has a track record of favorable outcomes and has secured millions of dollars in damages for his clients. Our law firm will work to get you the compensation you deserve and help you move forward with financial security.
Understanding Personal Injury Law in North Carolina
If you sustained an injury or lost a loved one due to someone else’s reckless or negligent behavior, North Carolina allows you to seek monetary damages in civil court. However, winning a personal injury claim is very difficult.
In order for a jury to award damages in your lawsuit, three criteria must be met.
- The defendant had a duty of care to act in a way that would prevent injury, such as following traffic laws or keeping their property well-maintained and safe.
- The defendant breached the duty of care by failing to act in a way that would prevent injury. This may include driving recklessly, such as texting while driving or running a red light.
- The plaintiff’s cause of injury was specifically due to the defendant’s breach of duty. This means that the plaintiff would not have experienced serious injury had the defendant acted in a responsible manner.
Contributory Negligence
In addition to meeting the listed criteria, the jury must also determine fault, whether they find the defendant 100 percent at fault for the accident and subsequent injury or if both parties contributed to the accident. If they find that both parties contributed to the accident, even if the plaintiff’s fault was minimal, they can not award monetary damages. Due to the doctrine of contributory negligence, the defendant must be 100 percent at fault.
For example, if the lawsuit is due to a car accident, and the defendant was speeding and struck the plaintiff who was walking, the jury may find that the defendant was solely at fault. However, if the plaintiff was walking against the light or not in the crosswalk, the jury may find that the plaintiff was also at fault and thus, can not award compensation.
Often, an insurance company will try to paint the plaintiff as being at least partially at fault to avoid a payout, which is why it’s so important to have a personal injury attorney with litigation experience fighting on your behalf to establish liability and recover compensation.
Legal Representation After an Accident
Even a minor accident can cause a serious injury. The most common injuries from car accidents, premises liability, and other cases include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord trauma and whiplash
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Chronic pain
- Paralysis and loss of mobility
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
It’s important to receive medical treatment as soon as possible after an accident because many injuries, particularly spinal cord trauma and traumatic brain injury, do not show symptoms immediately but can lead to chronic pain and limited mobility.
Representing Clients in All Practice Areas of Personal Injury Law
Our law firm represents clients in all practice areas:
- Automobile accidents
- Commercial truck accidents
- Rideshare accidents
- Slip & fall injuries (premises liability)
- Medical malpractice
- Dental malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
Why Choose Irons & Irons for Your Personal Injury Lawyer?
After you are injured, you may be contacted or approached by the insurance company offering a settlement. Before making any decision, it’s important to consult with experienced personal injury lawyers who have the resources and knowledge to take on your case. Often, personal injury cases require a thorough investigation, analyzing medical reports, and interviewing witnesses. In truck accidents, there may be several defendants to investigate, including the driver and trucking company.
While insurance companies have the resources to investigate, an accident victim often does not. Attorney Albritton is an experienced personal injury lawyer who not only has the investigative resources but also works with expert witnesses to gain a better understanding of his clients’ medical outcomes and can value a case to ensure greater financial security for his clients.
At Irons & Irons P.A., our law firm offers high-quality legal services, not high-volume legal services. We limit the number of cases we take in order to provide a more personalized experience for our clients, ensuring that we are always available to answer questions, provide legal counsel, and keep you well-informed about your case. Whether we are settling out of court or taking the case to a jury, you can feel confident that we are always looking out for your best interests.
Frequently Asked Questions
We know you have questions related to the legal process, and to help you better understand what to expect, our personal injury attorneys are answering our most frequently asked questions.
How Long Do I Have to Bring My Personal Injury Claim to Court?
In North Carolina, the statute of limitations to bring a claim is three years from the time of the accident. In a wrongful death case, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the victim’s death.
Often insurance companies will attempt to slow down settlement negotiations in order to run the clock out on the statute of limitations and keep a plaintiff from filing a lawsuit.
How Much Is My Case Worth?
Every case is worth a different amount. Personal injury attorneys will look at existing and future medical bills, lost wages, and whether the plaintiff will be able to go back to work, and they will also look at the emotional pain and physical trauma the victim has experienced.
Using this information, our lawyers will determine how much your case is worth and work to negotiate a settlement. If a settlement can’t be reached, we will look at taking your case to court.
Will My Case Go to Court?
The overwhelming majority of personal injury claims are settled out of court. This is often beneficial as it allows our clients to receive compensation faster than if the case goes to court. However, as we said above, if we can’t reach a fair settlement, we will fight for you in court.
How Much Are Your Fees?
Our law firm only accepts fees on a contingency fee basis which means that we don’t accept payment until you receive compensation for your case.
Should I Accept a Settlement without Legal Counsel?
We would highly recommend not talking to anyone about your case without first consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney. Insurance companies are more invested in their profits and avoiding large payouts than they are in helping accident victims. They will often offer minimal settlements that are far below your needs or will even attempt to downplay tour injuries.
Having a personal injury attorney on your side improves your chances of recovering compensation and achieving a more favorable outcome.
Request a Free Consultation with our Winston-Salem Personal Injury Lawyer Today
When an injury caused by someone else’s negligence has disrupted your life, there is hope for a brighter future. At Irons & Irons P.A., we will work to secure the compensation you deserve and help you move into your future with confidence and security. In addition to serving Winston Salem, NC, we also accept personal injury cases in Lewisville, Lexington, Salisbury, Thomasville, and the surrounding area. To learn more about our services or schedule a free initial consultation, reach out to us today at (252) 215-3000 or fill out the contact form below.
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