Most people know that if they have been injured in a car crash, slip-and-fall accident, or any other incident caused by someone else’s negligence, the injured person generally has the right to seek compensation for their losses from the at-fault party. In such cases, most people think primarily about their physical injuries. However, some of the most lasting, debilitating injuries are of a psychological or emotional nature.

Mental trauma – known as emotional distress in the legal world – has serious implications that may prolong a victim’s path back to normal. It may be difficult to work, maintain relationships, and process emotions normally. The toll on the victim and their family can be enormous. The good news is that, in certain circumstances, damages for emotional distress can be recovered through a personal injury claim.

What Is Emotional Distress?

The definitions of emotional distress vary, as each victim experiences the condition differently. Most medical professionals understand the condition as a psychological response to trauma.

Getting in any kind of serious car accident can be a traumatic experience, to say nothing of the physical danger and potentially long-term health implications of such a crash. But suffering in a car crash because somebody decided to drive drunk can be one of the worst kinds of crashes to endure; not only will you have to deal with the painful and expensive healing and recovery process of a typical car accident, but you know that if not for the irresponsible driver’s actions, the accident would likely never have happened in the first place. If you or someone you love has been injured in a drunk driving car crash in North Carolina, you may be considering taking legal action against them. Having a personal injury attorney in your corner will help.

Is a Drunk Driver Responsible Always for a Car Accident? 

Although the driver of the vehicle you crashed into may have been drunk, that does not necessarily mean that he or she will be found responsible for the accident. In fact, if you contributed to the car crash at all, you likely will not be able to recover any compensation for the damage the accident caused. North Carolina personal injury claims fall under “pure” contributory negligence laws, so any contribution on behalf of the plaintiff bars recovery. It is important to talk to an attorney to determine whether you likely share fault for the accident, because shared fault can also result in an insurance company that is going to fight giving you fair compensation. 

How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit? 

Every state has a statute of limitations for bringing lawsuits in personal injury cases, and North Carolina is no exception. Generally, the statute of limitations for car accident lawsuits is three years from the date of the crash. However, if someone died in the accident, and a loved one wants to bring a wrongful death claim, they have only two years from the date the person died. 

Getting seriously injured in a car accident can upend your life. You may be unable to work, get around comfortably, or enjoy any of the things you used to be able to do. Even if your injuries are not life-threatening or severe, a car accident can have a major impact on your life, causing major disruptions that take time, effort, expensive medical treatment, and personal therapy to overcome. 

When these kinds of injuries happen because of someone else’s negligent or intentionally dangerous driving, you deserve to recover compensation. The other driver’s insurance company knows this - but they are also trying to stay in business and make money. This may lead to an insurance company lowballing you in an offer for compensation, hoping that you will not have a personal injury attorney who knows their tricks and who will fight for your rights. Here are five reasons a North Carolina insurance company does not want you to hire a personal injury lawyer after a car accident. 

Personal Injury Attorneys Know How to Prove Fault

Investigations are an important part of personal injury claims, especially when there is confusion or disagreement about why an accident happened and who is ultimately responsible. Personal injury attorneys know how to conduct thorough accident investigations, including collecting video evidence, witness testimony, and accident reconstruction evidence to prove liability on the part of the other driver. 

Accidents with public transit vehicles tend to result in serious injuries - after all, buses, trains, trams, and other forms of public transit are usually much larger than passenger vehicles, and collisions commonly cause catastrophic injuries or death. But public transportation agencies owe a duty of care to prevent avoidable injuries, and when the driver, operator, or a mechanical defect is responsible for an accident, the transportation agency could be held liable. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in an accident with a North Carolina public transit vehicle, read on to learn how a personal injury attorney can help. 

Why Do I Need a Lawyer in a Public Transit Accident Case? 

If a government agency’s liability in an accident is clear, the agency may want to work quickly with victims to settle a claim brought by the victim or his or her family. However, this settlement offer may not reflect the full extent of the harm done by the accident - for example, by not covering the full value of a victim’s lost wages, medical expenses, or a family’s long-term grief from the loss of a parent or child. 

An attorney can guide you throughout the claim process, handling complex paperwork and legal matters so you can focus on recovering. An attorney will complete a full investigation, determine who was responsible for the accident, and negotiate on your behalf to make sure the city compensates you for the full value of your claim. 

Drivers in the United States pay an average of about $150 per month for car insurance. While for some people, this does not seem like a lot of money, to others, it seems like too much to pay. Regardless of one’s personal finances, North Carolina requires drivers to have at least liability insurance so that if they cause a car accident, the person they hit does not suffer. Yet, estimates of uninsured drivers still hover around 10 percent.  

If you do get into a car accident that was caused by someone without car insurance, you may naturally feel distraught. After all, why should you pay for damages that you did not cause? With the help of a Raleigh personal injury attorney, you may be able to recover compensation for your injury and property damage, even if the other driver does not have car insurance.

What Steps Should I Take After Getting in a Car Crash with an Uninsured Driver? 

Taking the proper steps immediately following an accident can protect your options when it is time to pursue compensation. If you are hit by an uninsured driver, be sure to do the following if it is safe: