How do I select a lawyer?

You should recover past and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, scarring, pain and suffering and any other loss you have endured as a result of the accident. The value of your claim depends on many different factors. For severe injuries, your spouse may be able to claim loss of consortium or companionship. If the cause of the wreck was related to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, further punitive or punishment damages might be appropriate. The value of an experienced lawyer who is familiar with the jury verdicts and the range of settlements in a particular area is critical to making sure you are fully compensated for your injuries.

Yes. North Carolina is one of the few states in the country that continues to follow the "Contributory Negligence" doctrine of liability. This harsh law means that even if the cause of the accident is in a very small part your responsibility, you may not be able to recover any damages against someone who is almost totally responsible for the wreck. The law has been used for years by insurance companies to successfully lower the value of claims in North Carolina. It is extremely doubtful that the General Assembly will change this very unfair and unreasonable law in the near future. For this reason, you should not give any statements to insurance companies, adjusters, or other third parties until you have had a chance to...