North Carolina gives most car accident victims three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court. For wrongful death claims arising from a car accident, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of death. These deadlines are strictly enforced; missing them permanently eliminates your right to file suit, regardless of how strong your case is. Although three years may seem like sufficient time, critical evidence disappears quickly: surveillance footage is routinely overwritten within days, witnesses become harder to locate, and memories fade. Contact our NC car accident attorneys immediately after an accident to begin preserving evidence and protecting your rights.