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What is a Personal Injury Lawyer: NC Personal Injury Law

Author: Whitney Wallace

Published: Wednesday, May 9, 2018

What is a Personal Injury Lawyer: NC Personal Injury Law


When you get to the point where you need a personal injury attorney, it usually means that you’ve sustained an injury or property damage or loss from an accident or due to someone else’s negligence. No one wants to ever get to that point, but if they do, a lawyer is a good ally to have on your side. This guide provides some information on personal injury law.

Personal injury lawyer definition

Also known as a trial lawyer or plaintiff lawyer, a personal injury attorney is a civil litigator who represents people who have sustained physical or psychological loss or injury because of someone else’s careless or negligent actions. The other party may be an individual, corporation, or organization. The personal injury lawyer job description involves giving legal advice, filing legal complaints, preparing legal documents, and representing his or her client in court or during legal proceedings.

One of the best-known examples of personal injury is the car accident. However, other examples include medical malpractice, slip and fall incidents, and product defects. Some cases, like assault claims can be tried in criminal court as well as civil. On the civil side, it is considered a personal injury case.

Is it worth hiring a personal injury attorney?

If you have been in an accident or are filing a lawsuit against someone to get compensation for injuries or loss, you have your best chance at getting full compensation if you hire a personal injury attorney. Most of the time, when a person tried to handle their case on their own, they wind up negotiating a settlement with the insurance agency – who then gives them a lowball offer. The person accepts because they don’t know that they can do better. Letting a personal injury attorney handle the case usually results in full compensation for the plaintiff.

How to find a personal injury lawyer

A simple internet search will give you the names of several personal injury lawyers in your area. However, if you may want to ask your family or friends if they have had any experience with attorneys and see if they have any recommendations. Review sites like Yelp and AVVO can also give you attorney ratings and reviews. If you aren’t certain how to choose a personal injury lawyer, these tips will help.

  • Look for an attorney who has experience in personal injury.
  • Read any reviews or testimonials from former clients or request references from former clients.
  • Sit down and talk face to face with the attorney. Do you feel like you are heard? Is the attorney letting you talk or are they talking over you? Do you feel valued?

Questions to ask a personal injury attorney

  • What areas of law are their specialties?
  • Have they ever handled a case like yours?
  • Do they have time to take on your case?
  • How many personal injury cases have they handled? What were the outcomes?
  • How long does it usually take for a personal case to be resolved?
  • What happens if you don’t agree with the insurance company’s settlement offer?

When you go to your first appointment, bring along any documentation that you’ve already collected on your case, including accident scene photos, police reports, witness statements, documentation of injuries and medical treatment, and other information. Keep a copy of all the records for yourself as well. Also, jot down any questions you have that are specific to your case so that you can ask your attorney. The more you understand the process and your case, the easier it will be on you.

Personal injury attorney in Salisbury NC

If you are looking for a personal injury attorney in Salisbury, NC, look no further than Wallace & Graham Law Firm. With more than 35 years representing claimants in personal injury cases, they have the knowledge and experience to get their clients the compensation they deserve.