Charlotte Car Accident Lawyer

Damages in a Personal Injury Claim in Charlotte

Fighting for strong accident recoveries since 1979

At Price, Petho & Associates, we handle many different types of personal injury claims, including car accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, construction accidents, premises liability accidents, and accidents due to defective products. Our Charlotte personal injury lawyers represent accident victims who have catastrophic injuries, permanent injuries, chronic injuries, and serious injuries that heal with proper treatment. We aim to make you whole again – to obtain compensation that helps you live the rest of your life as closely as possible to the way you did before the accident.

Our record of results includes numerous recoveries resulting in millions of dollars.

What would you like to know?

What are the requirements for filing a claim for damages due to an accident?

To file a claim for personal injury damages, we must show that:

  • The defendant owes you a duty of care. These duties include driving safely, agreeing to provide competent medical care, and designing safe products.
  • The defendant breached the duty of care. Breaches include speeding, driving while distracted, failing to inspect public property, and failing to provide competent care.
  • The breach of the duty of care is the proximate cause of your injuries. We typically work with doctors who can verify that the accident is the reason you broke your leg, have burn injuries, or have any other type of suffering.

What economic damages can I receive if I’m in an accident in North Carolina?

Economic damages are damages that have a specific value. At Price, Petho & Associates, we work with professionals who can place the proper value on your damages.

Possible economic damages include the following:

  • Your medical expenses (to date and the future expenses you are reasonably likely to incur). Our Charlotte personal injury lawyers demand compensation for all of your medical expenses, including the following:
    • Emergency transportation
    • Emergency room (ER) care or burn center emergency care
    • Hospitalizations
    • Surgeries
    • Rehabilitative care – including physical therapy, occupational therapy, vocational therapy, speech therapy, and psychological counseling
    • Medications
    • Assistive devices and assistive technology
  • Income loss. This part of your claim for damages includes all the money and benefits you lose for as long as you cannot work, even if you can never work again. Income loss includes lost wages, lost verifiable business income, lost insurance coverage, and the loss of earning capacity.
  • Property damages. We seek payment for all your property damage. In vehicle accident cases, this amount includes the cost to repair or replace your vehicle (including a diminished value claim), depending on the amount of damage to your car. Personal injury damages can include damage to your home, clothing, and other property, depending on where the accident happens.

What non-economic damages can I receive if I’m in an accident in Charlotte?

Non-economic damages are damages that do have a certain value. This type of damage claim is subjective (open to interpretation), whereas economic damage claims are objective (verifiable). The non-economic damage part of your personal injury claim includes the following:

  • Physical pain and emotional suffering. If a defendant causes your injuries, that defendant should pay for every way and every day that you hurt. Pain and suffering damages should compensate you for every moment you have discomfort, including anxiety, insomnia, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or any other type of physical or emotional pain. This part of your claim is often the largest part of your damage settlement or damage award.
  • Inability to enjoy life. Accident victims in Charlotte can claim damages for the inability to do and enjoy all the things they did before the accident, from simple pleasures like walking a dog or enjoying music to caring for their children or all the members of their family.
  • Loss of consortium. You (and your spouse) can demand compensation because of your inability to enjoy the love, comfort, companionship, and intimacy of your spouse.
  • Loss of bodily function. You are entitled to compensation if you cannot see, hear, or use an arm, leg, or any other part of your body.
  • Scarring and disfigurement. You can claim compensation for psychological trauma, including loss of confidence and self-esteem if an accident causes the loss of a body part or the disfigurement or scarring of any body part – especially the parts of your body that are visible.

Google Reviews

I reached out to Price, Petho, and Associates after I found myself in need of an attorney for an accident I was in that led to personal injury. This was my first experience with something like this and they guided me through the process every step of the way. Every question I had was answered promptly and I truly feel they had my best interest at heart. I highly recommend them if you should find yourself in need of these services.

- C.P.

BEST ATTORNEYS

Price Petho and Associates are the best Attorneys in Law I’ve ever worked with. I was involved in a car accident last year and since I was injured, they handled my case and did not disappoint, they took care of everything. Also, my wife got rear ended in her car (total loss) about 6 months ago and my insurance company was delaying our claim and payment, we went to Price Petho and Associates again for some advice, Margaret E. Ford welcomed us right away, we explained the situation, she understood and explained to us what options we had. She was extremely knowledgeable about cases like this, she even called our insurance company for us and made them pay us the same day we talked to her. I’m very glad we asked for their help.

- Y. M.

Recent Case Results

$9,000,000

Motor Vehicle Collison-Traumatic Brain Injury-Motor Vehicle Accidents

$9,000,000

Recovered for a young woman who sustained a catastrophic brain injury as the result of an automobile collision with a large commercial vehicle. The firm retained expert witnesses in the fields of physical medicine and rehabilitation, life care planning and economics. Our firm prepared an extensive video settlement brochure. Following a nine hour mediation with the participation of our expert medical witnesses, the defendants agreed to pay $9 million which was put into a trust for our clients lifetime medical care.

$5,200,000

Motor Vehicle Collison – Traumatic Brain Injury – Motor Vehicle Accidents

$5,200,000

Recovered on behalf of the young woman who sustained catastrophic injuries when she was involved in a motor vehicle accident with a tractor-trailer truck while on the job. A workers' compensation claim was made as well as a liability claim against the at-fault trucking company. The settlement funds allow the plaintiff to live in a residential living facility for individuals with a traumatic brain.

$4,500,000

Negligent Highway Construction Spinal Cord Injury – Construction Accidents

$4,500,000

Recovered on behalf of a high school senior who was rendered a quadriplegic as a result of a rollover accident that occurred on I 40 in Iredell County, North Carolina. Our firm retained experts in the field of highway construction, accident reconstruction, life care planning and economics. The successful claim was made against the highway construction company based upon allegations that the construction work had created a lane shift with a significant drop off which caused our client's vehicle to roll over. Through extensive discovery, our firm learned of multiple other accidents that had occurred in the same location in previous months before the accident and that defendants were aware of the dangerous condition prior to the accident but took no steps to correct it. The case settled prior to trial.

Areas of Focus

How do you help show what my damages are?

At Price, Petho & Associates, we work with many different experts to verify your economic damages. These experts include:

  • Your doctors and our own network of doctors.
  • Your employers and other financial experts.
  • Lifetime planners for victims with catastrophic injuries.
  • Car mechanics and appraisers.

Our Charlotte damage lawyers understand how to maximize your non-economic damages by providing medical reports, your testimony, and the testimony of other people who understand all your pain and suffering. We understand the techniques and strategies insurance companies use to value damage claims, such as multiplying your non-economic damages by a specific number or using their own software database.

Generally, the value of your non-economic damages is the amount a jury is likely to award based on prior settlements and verdicts in North Carolina.

Price Petho & Associates in Charlotte, NC

Does North Carolina restrict personal injury damages?

Contributory negligence

North Carolina is one of just a few states that have a strict contributory negligence law. If you are even 1% responsible for an accident that causes you to suffer injuries, you cannot recover any damages. For this reason, insurance companies and defense lawyers will do everything they can to show that, in some way, you are partially responsible for the accident that is the basis of your claim.

Caps

North Carolina does cap the amount of punitive damages but does not cap the amount of compensatory damages (economic and non-economic damages). The punitive damage cap is three times the amount of the compensatory damages or $250,000, whichever is more. The punitive damage cap does not apply if your injuries are due to a drunk driver.

Do you have a Charlotte personal injury damage lawyer near me?

Yes. Our lawyers have three convenient locations:

  • 1430 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte, NC
  • 801 E Broad Ave, #17, Rockingham, NC
  • 224 N Main St., Rutherfordton, NC

If you are too ill or injured to come to our office, we can make alternate arrangements to meet with you. You can also call us or use our online video platform (by arrangement).

We’ve helped numerous personal injury clients like you obtain strong verdicts and settlements.

Talk with our Charlotte personal injury damage lawyers today

Our lawyers have tried hundreds of personal injury cases to verdicts. We have obtained more than $200 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients. Price, Petho & Associates will be your voice and your advocate from the moment we meet with you until the resolution of your case. Insurance companies respect us for our thorough preparation, our understanding of North Carolina laws, our advocacy skills, and our tenacity. Please call us or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We represent personal injury clients on a contingency fee basis.

Serving Charlotte, Rockingham, Rutherfordton, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Google Reviews

I reached out to Price, Petho, and Associates after I found myself in need of an attorney for an accident I was in that led to personal injury. This was my first experience with something like this and they guided me through the process every step of the way. Every question I had was answered promptly and I truly feel they had my best interest at heart. I highly recommend them if you should find yourself in need of these services.

- C.P.

BEST ATTORNEYS

Price Petho and Associates are the best Attorneys in Law I’ve ever worked with. I was involved in a car accident last year and since I was injured, they handled my case and did not disappoint, they took care of everything. Also, my wife got rear ended in her car (total loss) about 6 months ago and my insurance company was delaying our claim and payment, we went to Price Petho and Associates again for some advice, Margaret E. Ford welcomed us right away, we explained the situation, she understood and explained to us what options we had. She was extremely knowledgeable about cases like this, she even called our insurance company for us and made them pay us the same day we talked to her. I’m very glad we asked for their help.

- Y. M.

Recent Case Results

$9,000,000

Motor Vehicle Collison-Traumatic Brain Injury-Motor Vehicle Accidents

$9,000,000

Recovered for a young woman who sustained a catastrophic brain injury as the result of an automobile collision with a large commercial vehicle. The firm retained expert witnesses in the fields of physical medicine and rehabilitation, life care planning and economics. Our firm prepared an extensive video settlement brochure. Following a nine hour mediation with the participation of our expert medical witnesses, the defendants agreed to pay $9 million which was put into a trust for our clients lifetime medical care.

$5,200,000

Motor Vehicle Collison – Traumatic Brain Injury – Motor Vehicle Accidents

$5,200,000

Recovered on behalf of the young woman who sustained catastrophic injuries when she was involved in a motor vehicle accident with a tractor-trailer truck while on the job. A workers' compensation claim was made as well as a liability claim against the at-fault trucking company. The settlement funds allow the plaintiff to live in a residential living facility for individuals with a traumatic brain.

$4,500,000

Negligent Highway Construction Spinal Cord Injury – Construction Accidents

$4,500,000

Recovered on behalf of a high school senior who was rendered a quadriplegic as a result of a rollover accident that occurred on I 40 in Iredell County, North Carolina. Our firm retained experts in the field of highway construction, accident reconstruction, life care planning and economics. The successful claim was made against the highway construction company based upon allegations that the construction work had created a lane shift with a significant drop off which caused our client's vehicle to roll over. Through extensive discovery, our firm learned of multiple other accidents that had occurred in the same location in previous months before the accident and that defendants were aware of the dangerous condition prior to the accident but took no steps to correct it. The case settled prior to trial.

Areas of Focus