If someone’s negligence causes you harm, contact a Gastonia personal injury lawyer to evaluate your case.
It’s always in your best interests to choose legal representation carefully. Although it may appear obvious that someone’s negligence caused the harm, the manner in which it occurred could affect the outcome of your case. One of the advantages the Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys team offers is direct experience in a wide range of accident types.
What To Look For When You Consider Gastonia Personal Injury Lawyers for Your Case
If you or a loved one suffers a serious injury caused by another party’s negligence, you could find yourself facing difficult decisions. One of those decisions involves your choice of legal representation. Here are two important issues to consider when choosing a personal injury lawyer.
Does the lawyer you’re considering focus on handling personal injury cases?
Some lawyers handle a wide range of case types that include practice areas unrelated to personal injuries. The lawyers working for the insurance company involved in your personal injury claim, however, will have years of experience in one specific area. Their job is to save the insurance company money, which often involves lowballing settlement amounts or finding a reason to deny claims.
Consider choosing one of the experienced Gastonia personal injury lawyers who won’t get outgunned by a seasoned insurance company attorney.
Will the lawyer you choose take your case to court if the insurance company offers an unacceptable settlement?
Insurance companies usually know which personal injury lawyers are willing to take a case to court if a claim gets lowballed or denied. Some personal injury lawyers may have little courtroom experience or none at all. Other attorneys have track records of winning cases in court.
You could receive a more realistic settlement when an insurance company knows your attorney will bring your case to trial. An insurance company will often increase its settlement offer to avoid the costs of fighting a personal injury claim in court.
Why Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?
Going up against an insurance company on your own may not be the best approach to take if you suffered harm because of someone’s negligence. It’s not uncommon for an insurance company to argue that you shared some or a greater degree of responsibility for the harm you suffered.
Because of North Carolina’s doctrine of pure contributory negligence, an insurance company could deny your claim and accuse you of fault. You could also face an uphill battle if you’re seeking compensation for the pain and suffering or emotional distress an at-fault party caused.
The Gastonia personal injury lawyers on the Horton & Mendez team provide accident victims with skilled and experienced negotiators. They know what strategies the insurance companies will use to reduce a settlement amount, and they know how to overcome them. Our attorney team members’ experience as former defense lawyers for insurance companies gives them a unique advantage in obtaining settlements for our injured clients.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to the range of accidents that can cause injuries and harm. Our personal injury lawyers in Gastonia, NC represent accident victims in a wide range of injury claims that result from roadway and other accident types.
The vehicle injury cases we handle include accidents involving:
- Cars
- Trucks
- Motorcycles
- Pedestrians
- Bicycles
- Uber and Lyft rideshare vehicles
We also handle personal injury cases associated with:
You could lessen your injury-recovery concerns when you place your trust in an attorney experienced in the type of accident you suffered. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can do more than navigate the often complex issues involved in an accident case. Conducting an investigation and interviewing eyewitnesses could play an important role in obtaining a fair and just settlement.
How You Can Strengthen Your Personal Injury Claim
If you or a loved one suffered an injury as a result of someone’s negligence, you could have overwhelming medical bills and lost wages to contend with. You’ll want to obtain the maximum amount of a settlement to help you move forward and get your life back to normal.
Although our Gastonia personal injury lawyers will do most of the work involved in obtaining compensation for you, there are some things you could do to strengthen your case.
Call the police and get an accident report
If you become injured during a roadway accident, contact the police while at the accident scene. You also have a legal responsibility to do so, and the resulting accident report could help support your case. If there is another vehicle involved, obtain the driver’s insurance information, but don’t discuss or comment on the accident. If possible, you may also obtain contact information from eyewitnesses.
Don’t delay getting medical assistance, and be sure to stick to your doctor’s recovery program
If you wait to seek medical attention after your accident, an insurance company may argue that your injury was less serious than you claim. A similar argument could apply if you fail to stick to your doctor’s recovery advice. Seeing a doctor immediately also provides medical documentation that can help prove your case. Some injuries may not reveal themselves immediately, which is another good reason to get checked by a medical professional as soon as possible.
Don’t accept an insurance company’s settlement offer before speaking to a personal injury attorney
If you hope to get the most out of your settlement, let one of our Gastonia personal injury lawyers describe what a fair settlement should look like. You may have issues such as pain and suffering and future lost income that apply.
Show your attorney your employment records so that your requested settlement amount includes a realistic accounting of your lost income and future earnings.
Save all documents and make note of your recovery progress
Your medical bills, prescription receipts and personal recovery notes can help demonstrate the extent of your injuries. Our team of personal injury lawyers in Gastonia will use the materials you supply to strengthen your case.
You could also ask if your friends, family members or coworkers are willing to testify on your behalf. In cases involving pain and suffering or emotional distress, their testimonies could help show a jury how your injury affected your quality of life.
Don’t post anything on social media after your accident
Posting details or comments on social media about your accident recovery could provide an insurance company with ways to argue against your settlement expectations.
How Our Gastonia Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You
In addition to applying our skills to maximize your personal injury settlement, we’ll be there to answer your questions. You can remain focused on your physical recovery while we take care of all the details involved in getting you the injury compensation you deserve. We’ll bring in expert witnesses, such as accident reconstruction professionals if they’re needed to prove your case. If an out-of-court settlement offer doesn’t adequately address your injuries, we’ll be ready to take your case to a jury trial.
The Gastonia personal injury lawyers at Horton & Mendez Injury Attorneys won’t charge you for our services unless we recover compensation for you. You can contact us online or by phone 24/7. Get in touch with us now to set up a no-fee case evaluation.
Personal Injury Claim FAQs
Do I still need a personal injury lawyer if I have insurance?
You may have health insurance, but it could have a high deductible amount. Coupled with copayments, you could find yourself swamped with out-of-pocket medical bills. You may also lose income while you recover from your injuries. Your personal injury attorney will work to obtain compensation for these losses.
When should I file my personal injury case?
It’s best to file a personal injury claim as soon as possible after the injury occurred. This will allow your attorney to begin the investigation and interview witnesses while the accident is still fresh in their minds. Our Gastonia personal injury lawyers will also advise you on managing and documenting your injury recovery.
What is the statute of limitations for injury cases in Gastonia, NC?
You have up to three years in which to file a personal injury claim in North Carolina. The statute of limitations begins when the accident occurs or when the injury is first discovered. In cases in which an accident victim becomes disabled or incapacitated, the statute of limitations may pause until the disability or incapacitation clears up. If an accident involves a minor, North Carolina’s statute of limitations begins when the child reaches the age of 18.
What type of compensation could I receive for a personal injury case in Gastonia?
When someone’s negligence causes you or a loved one harm, North Carolina’s laws allow you to file a claim for damages against the at-fault party. The damages you could recover include financial losses, such as medical expenses and lost wages, along with non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering.
