Wilmington Personal Injury Lawyer
When a sudden accident in Wilmington turns your life upside down, Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers offers dedicated legal advocacy, personalized client care, and decades of experience to help you get through this difficult time. We combine thorough investigation and strategic case preparation to pursue maximum compensation for the financial, physical, and emotional struggles you’ve faced.
Table of Contents
- Why Choose Our Wilmington Personal Injury Lawyers?
- Cases Our Wilmington Personal Injury Lawyers Handle
- How a Wilmington Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help After an Accident
- What Compensation Can You Recover in a Wilmington Personal Injury Claim?
- What Must Be Proven in a Wilmington Personal Injury Claim?
- How North Carolina’s Contributory Negligence Rule Can Affect Your Claim
- How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in North Carolina?
- Wilmington Personal Injury Frequently Asked Questions
- Speak With a Wilmington Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Call 800-525-7111 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation with our Wilmington personal injury lawyers. We’ll explain your rights and walk you through your legal options at no cost.
Why Choose Our Wilmington Personal Injury Lawyers?
When Justice Counts™, you can count on Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers. Our family-run personal injury law firm has served injured North Carolinians for over 40 years, focusing on protecting their rights and fighting for the fair and full compensation they deserve. We’ve recovered over $900 million in case results since 2000 alone (see disclaimer below).
Our firm employs case managers with insurance industry experience and investigators with North Carolina law enforcement backgrounds. This unique insight helps us anticipate insurance tactics and conduct detailed investigations early in the case.
We also make legal help easy and accessible, with bilingual staff, around-the-clock availability, and flexible consultation options. We prioritize clear communication and quick response times, so you know what to expect every step of the way. Our injury attorneys in Wilmington work on a contingency fee basis, so there is no upfront cost to hire us, and no fee unless we win your case.
Proven Personal Injury Case Results
| Recovery Amount | Case Context |
|---|---|
| $3,600,000 | auto accident, wrongful death. Our client was in a construction zone where the construction company used unsafe and negligent signage and flags to warn of the danger. |
| $2,750,000 | auto accident - Our client was seriously injured in an auto accident. This award was followed by a $1M declaratory judgment against an insurance company. |
| $2,250,000 | auto accident - A company truck traveling at an excessive rate of speed crossed the center line of travel and crashed into the Plaintiff head on. |
Testimonials From Our Wilmington Personal Injury Clients
Our team is proud to serve the Wilmington community and provide award-winning legal services (see disclaimer below) to accident victims and their families. Here’s what our clients have shared about working with our team:
“Had a car accident that left me with a concussion for two-and-a-half months. The other person’s insurance company offered a settlement that would have left me in the red. Riddle & Riddle got that nearly doubled and put me in green. High praise and recommendation deserved.”
– Trevor Reed
“I’m in the process of using Riddle & Brantley for my accident injury case and so far I am very pleased! I highly recommend them thus far and I love that you don’t have to pay anything up front.”
– Colleen Richardson
“Overall my experience was really good. Both Mr Donald fuller and Adam smith did a wonderful job. Every question I had Mr fuller answered it and made sure the process was easy. They did an outstanding job and I’m so thankful for all of their help.”
– Zoe Grice
Cases Our Wilmington Personal Injury Lawyers Handle
After being hurt in a Wilmington accident, our team can handle the claims process from start to finish, so you can focus on your health and recovery. The types of personal injury cases we handle include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Rideshare accidents
- Boat accidents
- Slip and fall injuries
- Medical malpractice
- Workplace accidents
- Wrongful death claims
Even if you’re unsure whether you have a valid claim, you can speak with our Wilmington personal injury attorneys to learn more about your options. We’ll explain your rights and help you find the best path forward.
How a Wilmington Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help After an Accident
Figuring out what to do after an accident can be stressful, but you don’t have to face it alone. A personal injury lawyer in Wilmington, NC, can guide you on your next steps and take care of the legal process, including:
- Gather critical evidence: Our team collects police reports, medical records, witness statements, and other details that can support your claim.
- Calculate total losses: We’ll carefully value your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
- Apply local experience: We use our knowledge of Wilmington courts and insurance tactics to build your case.
- Manage insurance companies: We handle all communication and negotiations with insurance adjusters on your behalf.
- Provide trial advocacy: Our attorneys are prepared to fight in court if insurers refuse to make a fair offer.
Video Transcript
Filing a lawsuit in North Carolina sounds intimidating, but filing the suit is more structured than you think. And that’s where we come in. At Riddle and Riddle, we make sure that we have everything we need in your case before we file suit. Once we file suit, we’re going to go through an extensive process of discovery. We’re going to give the other side all of our documents. They’re going to exchange documents with us. We’re going to take depositions of all witnesses. and of your doctors. And if we need to try the case, we will try the case in front of a jury.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Wilmington Personal Injury Claim?
Following an accident, the compensation you recover can provide financial relief for current expenses and security for your future. Our Wilmington accident attorneys will pursue the full value of your claim to help you rebuild your life.
The types of damages that may be available after an accident include:
- Economic damages: These cover concrete financial losses, such as hospital bills, ongoing rehabilitation costs, future medical treatments, lost wages, loss of future earnings capacity, and property damage.
- Non-economic damages: These represent the intangible, emotional impact of your injury, including physical pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, psychological trauma, and permanent scarring.
- Punitive damages: In limited cases, punitive damages may be available if the defendant is liable for compensatory damages and the injured person proves fraud, malice, or willful or wanton conduct by clear and convincing evidence. These damages are intended to punish egregiously wrongful conduct and deter similar conduct.
Video Transcript
Your case is not just about the medical bills. It could be worth a lot more than you think. Your damages can include the following: medical bills, lost wages, compensation for scarring, pain and suffering, past, future, and present. So, your case is not just about the medical bills. It’s about the value of the injury that you suffered.
What Must Be Proven in a Wilmington Personal Injury Claim?
To recover compensation after an accident, our team must show that someone else’s carelessness caused your injuries. We do this by establishing the elements of negligence, including:
- Duty of care: The other party had a legal responsibility to act safely. For example, drivers have a duty to follow traffic laws and operate their vehicles safely.
- Breach of duty: They failed to meet that responsibility by acting carelessly, such as a driver speeding or running a red light.
- Causation: Their specific careless action directly caused your accident and injuries.
- Damages: You suffered actual losses from the accident, such as physical pain or medical bills.
Our team will handle the heavy lifting of collecting evidence and proving each of these elements to hold the negligent party accountable.
How North Carolina’s Contributory Negligence Rule Can Affect Your Claim
North Carolina follows the contributory negligence rule. In an ordinary negligence case, an injured person who contributed to the accident may be barred from recovering compensation, even if the other party was primarily responsible. However, exceptions and related doctrines, such as last clear chance, may apply in some cases.
Insurance companies may try to use this rule to shift blame and avoid paying a claim. Our Wilmington accident lawyers can gather evidence, speak with witnesses and evaluate any allegations that you contributed to the accident.
How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in North Carolina?
Under North Carolina’s statute of limitations for personal injury, the deadline to file a lawsuit is three years from the date the claim accrues. In an accident case, that is often the date of the injury. However, different deadlines and special rules apply to certain claims. For example, a wrongful death lawsuit generally must be filed within two years of the person’s death, while medical malpractice claims are governed by separate accrual and repose rules. Claims involving minors or government entities may also require a different analysis.
Because the applicable deadline depends on the facts and type of claim, consider speaking with a Wilmington personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Our attorneys can determine which deadlines apply, preserve time-sensitive evidence and file required documents on time.
Wilmington Personal Injury Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Have a Personal Injury Case?
You may have a case if your injury was caused by another party’s negligence and resulted in financial or emotional damages. Our team can assess specific details of your accident during a free consultation.
What Is My Wilmington Car Accident Claim Worth?
The value of your claim depends on your medical bills, lost wages, future care needs, and the severity of your pain and suffering. Because every case is unique, we carefully identify and calculate your total losses to pursue the maximum compensation available.
What Evidence Helps Prove My Claim?
Vital evidence that may support your case includes police reports, medical records, photos of the accident scene, and witness statements. Surveillance footage and expert testimony can also significantly strengthen your claim.
How Long Does a Personal Injury Case Take?
A case can take anywhere from a few months to over a year, depending on the complexity of the accident and the length of your medical recovery. Speak with a Wilmington personal injury lawyer for an estimated timeline for your situation.
Will My Case Go to Court?
Most personal injury claims are settled out of court through negotiations with the insurance company. However, if the insurer refuses to offer a fair settlement, our skilled lawyers are fully prepared to take your case to trial and fight for you in court.
What if the Insurance Company Already Contacted Me?
It’s often a good idea to speak with a lawyer for legal guidance before giving a recorded statement. Insurance adjusters may try to twist your words to minimize your payout or deny your claim entirely. Our team can handle all communication with insurers to help protect your rights.
Speak With a Wilmington Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one is dealing with the painful aftermath of an accident, our compassionate Wilmington personal injury team can advocate for you and your family, handle the insurance companies, and fight for the full financial recovery you deserve. Our staff is available around the clock to answer your questions and explain your options to seek compensation.
Call 800-525-7111 or contact us online today for a free case review with an experienced injury lawyer.