Durham personal injury attorney

Steps to take after being hurt

Your safety is the priority. After being injured, protect yourself by following these steps.

1.  Find a safe place away from the source of injury

If you can, get away from the scene where you were injured. For example, if you were on your bicycle and a car hit you, get away from the street and oncoming traffic. If you’re too injured to move, stay where you are and wait for emergency services to arrive.

2. Perform a self-evaluation

Evaluate yourself to see if you have any visible bleeding or wounds. Can, move your arms and legs? Can you think clearly? Did you lose consciousness? The more information you can provide to emergency personnel, the better.

3. Call 911 and ask for an ambulance and the police

When you dial 911, ask the dispatcher to send a police officer along with the ambulance. The responding officer creates a report of the incident that may include witness information and other important details. Tell the officer what happened to the best of your recollection, but don’t speculate about things you can’t remember and don’t admit the slightest bit of fault.

4. Take notes and photos of the scene

Take pictures of the scene, property damage, your injuries, and anything else you might feel could be important. These photos could be used as powerful evidence that can strengthen your case.

5. Collect contact information from witnesses

If anyone saw the incident, get their name, email address, and phone number. Your Durham personal injury attorney can contact them to get their statements and any evidence they might have such as photos or videos.

 6. Keep a written or digital record of your experience in the minutes, hours, and days after the incident

Make a note of your physical pain, changes in your mood or behavior, changing or worsening symptoms, and when you’ve missed work due to your injury. Be thorough and consistent in your notes.

7. Visit your primary care physician or specialist

See a doctor as quickly as you can. Although some injuries don’t show symptoms for several days, waiting to receive medical attention could cause your injuries to worsen significantly. Also, the insurance company might claim you’re not as badly hurt as you claim or that your injuries weren’t caused by the insured party. 

8. Speak with an attorney

Your North Carolina personal injury attorney can launch an immediate investigation to determine how the incident occurred and who is to blame. They’ll then pursue compensation against the at-fault party or parties by filing a claim against them.

Don’t miss the deadline to file your personal injury claim

The statute of limitations, or deadline to file your claim is three years from the time of the collision in North Carolina. If you miss that deadline, you’ll likely be unable to obtain compensation for your injury-related financial losses.

Possible damages you can claim

The losses you’ve suffered in a personal injury incident are referred to as “damages.” Here are just a few examples of what you may be able to recover with the help of a skilled personal injury lawyer in Durham.

Economic damages

Expenses incurred or that you’re expected to incur for your injuries are classified as economic damages. These include medical bills, lost wages, and lost earning capacity, among others. These are more easily quantifiable because they’re supported by things like receipts and bills.

Non-economic damages

Your intangible losses such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment in life, are categorized as non-economic damages. These are more difficult to calculate because they’re based on a subjective consideration of the impact your injuries have on your life, but often, these damages are actually more than the amount of your medical bills and lost wages. 

How to find the right Durham personal injury lawyer for your needs

Choosing the right attorney is a personal and important decision, so you should take great care in researching and interviewing candidates. Check online reviews and testimonials of lawyers you’re considering. 

We’ll fight the insurance company to get you the maximum compensation

The attorneys with Johnson & Groninger PLLC aren’t intimidated by huge insurance corporations. In fact, we defeat them on a regular basis. We work tirelessly to fight for what you rightfully deserve, so you can choose our firm with complete confidence that we’ll do everything we can to win your case.

Parties who may be liable for your injury

Personal injury cases can be complex because more than one party could have played a role in causing the incident. Take a truck crash, for example. The driver of the truck could be to blame for driving while fatigued. The trucking company may be liable for failure to maintain the vehicle. The manufacturer of a defective part may face liability as well.

How our injury attorneys prove liability

In order to have a successful case, we must prove that someone caused or was liable for your injuries. Most personal injury claims are based on negligence by establishing four elements:

1. Duty – Someone owed you a duty of care.
2. Breach – That person violated or breached their duty.
3. Causation – Their breach of duty caused your injury.
4. Damages – You incurred financial losses (damages) as a result.

We prove these elements by conducting an investigation into the incident to build a compelling case on your behalf. We’ll gather evidence such as medical records, surveillance footage, witness statements, photographs, and more. 

The earlier the investigation begins, the better because some critical evidence can disappear or fade over time which can make it more difficult to prove that someone is liable for your losses. 

Personal injury lawsuit process

Here’s a brief look at some of the basic steps of a personal injury lawsuit.

1. Legal consultation

The consultation is where you get to know an attorney and decide if you want them to represent you. You’ll tell the lawyer what happened, and then they can outline the strengths and weaknesses of your case. You’ll both need to agree to their representing you before you can proceed.

2. Incident investigation

Depending on the number of involved parties, the extent of your injuries, and where the incident occurred, the investigation could take weeks or even months in order to have the information necessary for drafting a full and complete demand for compensation.

3. File demand for compensation

Once your Durham personal injury attorney determines all liable parties, they either send a demand letter for compensation or file a lawsuit. In either instance, your attorney highlights the facts of the case and demands rightful compensation.

4. Negotiation

The insurance companies of the at-fault parties will negotiate settlements with your personal injury attorney. Most personal injury cases end with a settlement as opposed to going to trial, but several offers might be necessary before everyone reaches an agreement.

At Johnson & Groninger PLLC, we advocate for your best interests and fight for the maximum amount of compensation to which you may be entitled.

5. Take the case to trial

If the insurers don’t want to settle, your attorney can take them to court. A jury will then decide if your claim is legitimate and how much compensation you should receive. 

Why it’s important to visit the doctor

Seeking professional medical help right away is important because there are several serious injuries that might not present symptoms right away, but delays in treatment could cause irreparable damage. Your doctor’s visits also provide a paper trail connecting your injuries to the incident, which is important for proving causation.

Cost of hiring a Durham personal injury lawyer

Hiring a Durham personal injury attorney with Johnson & Groninger PLLC won’t cost you anything. We’re only paid if we win your case, and our eventual payment is received as a predetermined portion of your settlement or jury award. 

Why hire Johnson & Groninger PLLC

You won’t find another law firm that will work as hard or provide strong representation as Johnson & Groninger PLLC.

Here’s just a sampling of the cases our personal injury lawyers have handled:

• A man who was rear-ended in Union County and suffered spinal cord injuries that left him paralyzed
• A paving truck driver was seriously injured after a worker negligently allowed him to be sprayed with hot paving materials
• A healthcare manager suffered severe burns after a service technician leaked natural gas into an enclosed room and caused an explosion

Our wrongful death lawyers have helped clients like:

• =A woman whose husband was killed after a dump truck crashed into his work van in Wake County
• A man whose wife was killed by a drunk driver while she was taking a walk in Chatham County
• A husband whose wife was killed by a truck driver while she was participating in a charity bicycle ride in Craven County

Our Durham personal injury lawyers are here to help

Speak with a North Carolina personal injury attorney with Johnson & Groninger PLLC as soon as possible. You can schedule a free consultation by calling (919) 240-4054 or contacting us online.