A serious car accident can leave you facing medical bills, missed work, and an insurance company that seems more interested in protecting its own bottom line than covering your losses. North Carolina's laws around fault and liability make these cases especially tricky, and a single misstep early on can significantly affect the outcome of your claim.
No matter where in North Carolina your accident occurred, our firm is prepared to investigate what happened, identify every liable party, and fight for the compensation you need to recover. We represent clients throughout the state, from Raleigh to smaller communities, bringing the same thorough approach to every case regardless of size or location.
Portner & Shure, P.A. represents injured drivers throughout North Carolina, helping them navigate the claims process and pursue full and fair compensation after a serious crash. Call us today at (410) 995-1515 to talk through what happened and find out how we can help.
Why Injured Drivers in North Carolina Trust Portner & Shure, P.A.
For more than two decades, Portner & Shure, P.A. has built a nationally recognized reputation across Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., and Kentucky, recovering over $500 million in verdicts and settlements for injured clients along the way.
We take the time to understand how a crash has actually affected your life, from your physical recovery to the financial strain it has placed on your family, and we build our cases around that full picture rather than treating every claim as a simple formula.
North Carolina Car Accident Laws
North Carolina has some of the strictest fault rules in the country when it comes to car accident claims and understanding how they apply to your situation is critical to protecting your rights.
North Carolina's Contributory Negligence Rule
North Carolina is one of only a handful of states that still applies the pure contributory negligence rule in personal injury cases. Under this rule, if you are found to be even one percent at fault for the accident, you may be completely barred from recovering any compensation.
This is one of the harshest liability standards in the country, and insurance companies know it.
Adjusters will look for any opportunity to argue that you share some degree of fault for the crash in order to eliminate their obligation to pay. Having an experienced Raleigh personal injury attorney in your corner from the beginning is critical to protecting your ability to recover under this unforgiving standard. At Portner & Shure, P.A., our attorneys anticipate these arguments and can counter them with evidence before they gain traction.
How Liability Is Proven in a North Carolina Car Accident Claim
To recover compensation after a car accident in North Carolina, you must establish that another party was negligent and that their negligence caused your injuries. Proving negligence requires demonstrating four key elements:
- The at-fault driver owed you a duty of care
- They breached that duty through careless or reckless conduct
- The breach caused the accident
- The accident resulted in actual damages
Evidence used to establish liability in a car accident case typically includes the police report, witness statements, photographs of the scene and vehicles, traffic camera or surveillance footage, cell phone records, expert accident reconstruction analysis, and medical records connecting your injuries to the crash. Our attorneys know how to gather and preserve this evidence and present it in a way that clearly supports your claim.
Statute of Limitations for North Carolina Car Accident Claims
North Carolina generally requires car accident lawsuits to be filed within three years of the date of the accident. Missing this deadline typically means losing the right to pursue compensation through the courts entirely, so it is important to speak with an attorney well before time runs out.
Car Accident Cases Our North Carolina Team Handles
Our firm handles a wide range of car accident cases throughout North Carolina, including:
- Rear end collisions
- Head on collisions
- Intersection and T-bone accidents
- Multi vehicle pileups
- Rollover accidents
- Accidents involving drunk or distracted drivers
- Hit and run accidents
- Accidents involving uninsured or underinsured drivers
Common Injuries in North Carolina Car Accident Cases
Car accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, from relatively minor to catastrophic, including:
- Whiplash and soft tissue injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Wrongful death
Compensation Available After a North Carolina Car Accident
Depending on the specifics of your case, you may be entitled to recover compensation for damages including medical expenses, both current and future, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent disability or disfigurement, and property damage. In cases involving a fatal crash, surviving family members may also be able to pursue wrongful death damages.
Who May Be Held Liable in a North Carolina Car Accident
Liability in a North Carolina car accident case depends on the specific facts of the crash, including who violated traffic laws, whether road conditions or a vehicle defect played a role, and whether more than one party shares responsibility.
Because North Carolina's contributory negligence rule can completely bar recovery if you share even minimal fault, insurance companies often work hard to shift some blame onto the injured driver, making a thorough investigation essential to protecting the full value of your claim.
Our Approach to Building Your Car Accident Claim
Our team investigates every angle of your accident, gathering evidence such as police reports, witness statements, and any available surveillance footage, while working with medical providers to fully understand the extent of your injuries.
Your attorney will handle communications with insurance companies on your behalf, negotiate for a fair settlement, and are prepared to take your case to trial if the insurance company refuses to offer what your claim is truly worth. With over $500 million recovered for clients across five jurisdictions, we know what it takes to build a case insurance companies take seriously.
Representing Crash Victims Throughout North Carolina
We proudly represent injured drivers throughout North Carolina, including Raleigh and the surrounding communities. If your accident happened in the Raleigh area, our personal injury attorneys are ready to help.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in a car accident in North Carolina, do not wait to get legal guidance. Contact Portner & Shure, P.A. at (410) 995-1515 for a free consultation and let us help you understand your options.
North Carolina Car Accident FAQs
Is North Carolina a No-Fault State?
No. North Carolina is an at-fault state, meaning the driver responsible for causing the accident is generally responsible for covering the resulting damages, rather than each driver relying on their own insurance regardless of fault.
What Is Contributory Negligence in North Carolina?
Contributory negligence is a legal rule that completely bars an injured person from recovering compensation if they are found to be even slightly at fault for the accident, generally as little as 1%. North Carolina is one of only a handful of states that still follows this strict standard.
Can You Still Sue if You Were Partially at Fault in North Carolina?
Generally, no. Because North Carolina follows a pure contributory negligence rule, being found even minimally at fault can bar you from recovering any compensation at all, which makes it especially important to have strong evidence establishing the other driver's fault.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in North Carolina?
North Carolina generally requires car accident lawsuits to be filed within three years of the date of the accident.
What Happens if You're Hit by an Out-of-State Driver in North Carolina?
If you are hit by an out-of-state driver in North Carolina, North Carolina law, including its contributory negligence rule, generally still applies to the claim since the accident occurred within the state. An attorney with Portner & Shure, P.A. can help determine how jurisdiction and applicable law may affect your specific case.
