Mooresville Personal Injury Lawyer

Mooresville Personal Injury Attorney

Those who experience a personal injury can face difficult challenges. Besides the need for immediate and ongoing medical treatments, they may have to worry about missing work. Some victims of personal injuries may never be able to work in the same capacity again. While personal injury claims can provide crucial compensation, the process of filing a claim can be difficult. Many people find that working with a Mooresville personal injury lawyer comes with important benefits.

At Law Office of Lyndon R. Helton, PLLC, we have vast experience with a wide range of personal injury cases. We understand the difficulties that can arise after a severe injury, and we treat our clients with compassion and respect. Whether your claim involves nursing home negligence or dog bites, we’re prepared to represent you in negotiations and, if necessary, trial. We strive to secure compensation to cover the full costs of your damages.

Common Personal Injuries

A personal injury claim in Mooresville could result from a variety of types of accidents. These cases usually involve physical injuries, but they can also include mental or reputational injuries.

• Motor vehicle accidents: Injuries may result from car, motorcycle, truck, or pedestrian accidents. These can range from minor cuts and bruises to severe trauma like broken bones, head injuries, or spinal cord damage. When trucking companies are involved, they can have powerful law firms that fight against paying settlements to victims. Typically, accidents involving semi-trucks, bicyclists, pedestrians, or motorcyclists result in more severe injuries.
• Slip and fall: Injuries may be sustained from slipping, tripping, or falling because of hazards on another person’s property, such as uneven surfaces, wet floors, or poor lighting. Common injuries include fractures, sprains, and head injuries. These types of injuries fall under the personal injury field of premises liability.
• Medical malpractice: Harm can be caused by negligent or improper medical treatment by healthcare professionals, including surgical errors, misdiagnosis, or medication mistakes. These injuries can result in prolonged illness, additional surgeries, or even death. A successful medical malpractice suit often requires showing that the doctor deviated from commonly used standards of care.
• Product liability: Injuries may be caused by defective or dangerous products, like dangerous machinery, poisoned food, or unsafe toys. Victims can suffer burns, poisoning, or other harm. Symptoms of physical injuries from defective products can take months to fully manifest. Manufacturers have a duty to produce safe products and warnings, so you may have grounds for a civil claim if you’ve been injured by a product.
• Nursing home negligence: While nursing homes and their staff should keep patients safe, their negligence can result in devastating injuries. Failure to move patients can lead to bedsores, and untreated infections could become septic. If staff members give patients the wrong medication or dosage, the effects could lead to serious illness or death. Furthermore, failure to provide patients with sufficient nutrients and fluids can lead to severe malnutrition and dehydration.
• Dog bites: Dog owners have a responsibility to keep their dangerous pets from harming others. Injuries from dog attacks can result in puncture wounds, infections, and psychological trauma. Victims may require medical treatment and sometimes face long-term physical and emotional consequences.
• Assault: Physical injuries can result from intentional acts of violence by another person. These injuries can include bruises, broken bones, and internal injuries, often accompanied by emotional distress.
• Wrongful death: Fatal injuries may be caused by the negligence or wrongful actions of another. For instance, car accidents, medical malpractice, or slip and falls could result in death. The victim’s family may seek compensation for their loss, including funeral and burial expenses, loss of consortium, medical expenses, and loss of income.

If you suffered one of these or another type of injury, meet with a personal injury lawyer who can research the circumstances surrounding your accident. With their help, you can receive compensation from the at-fault party.

How to File a Personal Injury Claim

A personal injury claim involves several steps. In an initial consultation, the client and attorney discuss the case, injuries, potential defendants, an estimated settlement amount, and legal fees. Make sure you bring relevant documents, bills, and evidence to this first meeting.

After reviewing your information, your lawyer may decide to send a demand package to settle the case. The letter can include supporting documents. The opposing party can accept, counter, or decline the offer. If no settlement is reached, the next step is for your lawyer to file a claim that begins the legal process. The case must be filed in the county where the incident took place or where the defendant lives. This gives the court jurisdiction over the case.

Once the claim is filed, the court will issue a summons to notify the defendant. The defendant can respond by filing an answer, a counterclaim, or not responding, which could result in a default judgment against them.

The next phase is called discovery. Both parties exchange evidence through interrogatories (questions), document requests, admissions, and depositions. This phase helps both sides build their cases and evaluate the potential for settlement. An experienced personal injury lawyer can use this process to strengthen their client’s case and position them for a favorable settlement offer.

In North Carolina, certain cases must attempt alternative dispute resolution (ADR) before going to trial. Mediation, a voluntary process, involves a neutral mediator who helps both parties negotiate a settlement. Arbitration, which can be ordered by the court, involves a binding decision made by an arbitrator after hearing arguments and reviewing evidence.

How a Mooresville Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You File a Claim

A personal injury can be a source of considerable stress and financial hardship. There are medical bills to pay, treatments to undergo, and concerns about how to return to work. One way to reduce the burden you are dealing with is by allowing a personal injury lawyer to handle your claim. From the initial claim filing to discovery, negotiation, and (if needed) trial, your lawyer can fight for your interests. At each step in the process, your lawyer will keep you updated about the status of your case.

Defendants often try to portray the plaintiffs as partly to fully blame for their own injuries. Having legal representation can protect you from those false allegations. A personal injury lawyer also has experience calculating a fair settlement.

FAQs

Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury in North Carolina?

A: The statute of limitations for personal injuries in North Carolina in three years. This means that anyone who suffered a personal injury has three years from the date of the incident to file a claim with the help of a lawyer. If you have concerns that your eligibility to file a claim may be set to expire, consult with an attorney to determine your legal options.

Q: What Is Personal Injury in North Carolina?

A: Personal injury refers to certain types of injuries that are caused by the actions of another party. The most common types of injuries include slip-and-fall accidents, car accidents, and other vehicle accidents. Victims of others’ negligence or intentional actions have the right to seek compensation for their damages, which can include pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages.

Q: How Long Will My Personal Injury Case Last?

A: The amount of time that a personal injury case takes varies on a case-by-case basis. Complex personal injury cases can take much longer due to the amount of research that has to be completed. If the case cannot be settled outside of court, it will go to trial, where a judge or jury will decide the merits of the case. A civil trial can greatly extend the timeline of any case.

Q: What Is the Burden of Proof for Personal Injuries?

A: In personal injury cases, the burden of proof falls on the plaintiff, who must demonstrate that the injury was caused by the defendant. The legal standard is a preponderance of the evidence, meaning that a judge or jury believes, based on the evidence presented, that it is more likely than not that the plaintiff’s argument is true.

Q: How Is Pain and Suffering Calculated in North Carolina Personal Injury Cases?

A: In North Carolina personal injury cases, pain and suffering is calculated using either the multiplier method, per diem method, or another method of your lawyer’s choosing. The specific amount awarded depends on factors such as injury severity, impact on daily life, and other factors that cause pain and suffering.

Schedule Your Mooresville Personal Injury Lawyer Consultation Today

If you were recently injured because of another’s negligence, you are likely dealing with immense physical pain, mounting bills, and concerns about how you are going to return to work.

The team at Law Office Of Lyndon R. Helton, PLLC, is here to help. We can handle the legal process on your behalf so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. To schedule your consultation, please contact our office today. In addition to Mooresville, we also provide Catawba, Burke, and Caldwell Counties with excellent legal services.