Legally Reviewed by, Elizabeth VonCannon: Feb 25, 2026
A car crash can be a traumatic and life-altering experience. In addition to any physical injuries, you may also suffer emotional trauma, financial strain, and other challenges in the aftermath of an accident. It would be best if you never had to worry about how you will cover these expenses and other consequences of someone else’s negligence. When a car accident was not your fault, you need legal advocates who are committed to getting you the full compensation you are entitled to under the law.
At Stewart Law Offices, we represent car accident victims throughoutNorth Carolina with the dedication and personalized attention every case deserves. Our team includes Elizabeth VonCannon, a licensed attorney with the North Carolina State Bar who brings more than 6 years of experience advocating for injured clients. We understand how overwhelming this time can be, and we’re here to handle your case with the utmost care and professionalism. When you work with us, you’ll communicate directly with your lawyer, ensuring you receive clear answers and genuine support throughout the legal process. Our goal is to make you feel heard, valued, and confident that your case is in capable hands as we fight tirelessly for the compensation you need to move forward.
Call us 24/7 at 866-783-9278 or contact us online to arrange your free and confidential case review.
Representing Victims of Car Accidents in North Carolina
At Stewart Law Offices, we will work to relieve your burden from the first time you call. Our North Carolina car accident lawyers understand what you are going through and have the drive, resources, and decades of collective experience needed to take your case through to a verdict. We will walk you through your rights and legal options for filing a car accident claim so that you can make optimal, informed decisions. You will have the full support of our compassionate team from beginning to end, and we will treat you like we would a member of our family.
If you cannot come to us, we will send one of our attorneys to your home or the hospital for free.
Why Do Car Accidents Happen in North Carolina?
Many wrecks in North Carolina are the result of negligence. Whenever a driver gets behind the wheel, they have a legal duty to observe all traffic laws and not behave in a way that may harm other motorists, bicyclists, or pedestrians. A driver’s conduct tends to become “negligent” when they violate this duty by breaking traffic rules or driving recklessly.
Our North Carolina car accident attorneys can assist you with an injury claim if you were in a crash caused by:
Distracted driving. Texting while driving or doing anything other than paying complete attention to the road can easily cause a wreck or a hit-and-run accident.
Intoxicated driving. It is unlawful for any driver to operate a vehicle when they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Intoxicated drivers may be arrested and charged with crimes, but you can separately hold them accountable through civil legal action.
Fatigued driving. No one should be driving if they cannot keep their eyes open. Unfortunately, some drivers will compromise their safety and the safety of others in their effort to complete long trips or get home after working a particularly long shift.
Aggressive driving. Tailgating, illegal passing, and purposeful dangerous breaking are just a few types of aggressive driving behaviors that can cause accidents.
Reckless driving. Excessive speeding, running stop signs or red lights, and changing lanes or turning without signaling are all examples of reckless behavior that break traffic rules.
What Should I Know About Dealing With Insurance Agents After a North Carolina Car Accident?
In the days after a car accident, you are likely to receive a call from an insurance adjuster who represents the other driver. They will probably explain they are trying to understand what exactly happened so that you can get the damages you deserve.
You must remember that the insurance agent representing the at-fault, negligent driver is never going to act in your best interest. They are looking to pay out as little as possible and will do everything they can to minimize what you recover. Anything you say can and likely will be used against you, so do not give any recorded or written statements without first consulting a legal professional. You should also never accept any payment or sign any documents, as doing so may relinquish your right to sue the negligent driver. Instead, when the insurance agent contacts you, tell them to call your legal representatives.
Our firm charges no fees unless we win money for you, so call 866-783-9278 or contact us online to request a complimentary, no-obligation case evaluation today.
What is the Statute of Limitations for Car Accidents in North Carolina?
You have limited time to take legal action against the negligent driver. In most cases, you will have three years from the date of the car accident to bring a personal injury claim. If you wait too long, you will be barred from filing a lawsuit and will not be able to recover any compensation, no matter the strength of your claim.
The deadline works a bit differently for cases where someone dies because of a car accident. In these tragic situations, certain survivors of the deceased must file a wrongful death lawsuit within two years of the date the victim passed.
Two or three years may seem like a long time, but it can go by faster than you think. Furthermore, it is always advantageous to contact an attorney as soon as you can after a crash, as evidence preservation becomes more difficult as time passes. Getting in touch with Stewart Law Offices right away gives us an opportunity to fully investigate the accident, ascertain liability, and build a compelling claim. Christian Gerencir, a licensed member of the North Carolina State Bar with more than 8 years of experience handling personal injury cases, including car accident claims. He understands the critical importance of timely evidence gathering and thorough case preparation to maximize your potential for recovery.
Can I Recover Compensation if I Was Partially Responsible for a Car Accident in North Carolina?
Not all car accidents are cut and dry. While some may be caused by the undeniable negligence of another driver, others may involve multiple parties making decisions that lead to a collision. If you know your actions contributed to an accident, you may consequently be concerned that you have no right to seek compensation.
Unfortunately, North Carolina is one of the handful of states that still follow “contributory negligence” rules, meaning you will be unable to recover anything if you are found to share any portion of the blame. This means that even if the other driver is found to have been 95% at fault in a civil trial, you will be barred from obtaining any damages if the jury decides you were only 5% at fault. Even if the percentages of fault break down to 99% and 1%, the same rules apply.
North Carolina’s contributory negligence system is part of why it is so important to work with attorneys who have a history of winning* cases in this state. You will need legal advocates who are capable of persuading a jury you share absolutely no fault. Keep in mind that contributory negligence rules will also influence settlement discussions and how an insurance adjuster approaches your case. We understand how to strategically navigate these realities and will do everything in our power to help secure a favorable outcome.
Our team will treat you with the respect and compassion you deserve. Give us a call at 866-783-9278 or contact us online to start exploring your legal options with our North Carolina car accident attorneys.
What Damages Can I Recover For Car Accident Injuries In North Carolina?
A personal injury claim is meant to help restore the financial position you were in prior to the accident. Specifically, you can typically recover two types of damages: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages include compensation for directly calculable losses, while non-economic damages refer to more difficult-to-calculate consequences stemming from the crash.
Our North Carolina car accident lawyers will aggressively fight to get you maximum compensation for all losses, including:
Past, current, and future medical bills
Lost earnings and earning capacity
Property damage
Pain and suffering
FAQs About North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer
Call 911 immediately and ensure law enforcement files an official accident report. This document is essential for your claim. Accept on-scene medical evaluation and follow up with a physician within 24 to 48 hours, even if you feel uninjured, as many serious injuries are not immediately apparent. Photograph all vehicle damage, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signals, and your injuries. Collect the other driver’s insurance information, license plate number, and contact details, and gather witness names and phone numbers. Do not admit any degree of fault; even a casual apology can be used against you under North Carolina’s strict contributory negligence rule. Do not give any statement to the other driver’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Contact Stewart Law Offices for a free consultation as soon as possible.
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.
North Carolina law allows car accident victims to pursue two categories of compensation. Economic damages cover quantifiable financial losses: emergency and ongoing medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, vehicle repair or replacement costs, and other out-of-pocket losses. Non-economic damages compensate for losses that are harder to quantify: physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and the impact on personal relationships. In cases involving egregious misconduct, such as drunk driving or extreme recklessness, North Carolina courts may also award punitive damages designed to punish the wrongdoer.
Yes. North Carolina law requires all drivers to carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage equal to their liability limits. If you were hit by an uninsured driver, you can file a claim under your own UM coverage for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If the at-fault driver was underinsured, meaning their policy limits are insufficient to cover your damages, your underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage makes up the difference. North Carolina also imposes serious legal consequences on uninsured drivers, and our attorneys can help you pursue all available avenues of recovery, including, in some cases, a direct personal lawsuit against the uninsured driver.
Being hit by a drunk driver in North Carolina entitles you to the same compensatory damages available in any car accident case, medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. However, because drunk driving represents particularly reckless conduct, North Carolina courts may also award punitive damages, which can substantially increase your total recovery beyond what you’d receive in a standard negligence case. The drunk driver’s criminal DWI conviction is powerful evidence in your civil claim. You should also be aware that NC’s contributory negligence rule still applies; do not make any statements that could suggest you contributed to the accident in any way.
The most important difference is North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule, which is one of the harshest fault standards in the country. Under NC law, if you are found even 1% at fault for a car accident, you are completely barred from recovering any compensation from the other driver, regardless of how negligent they were. This is dramatically different from South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence system, which allows recovery as long as you are less than 51% at fault. Because of this rule, insurance companies in North Carolina aggressively attempt to pin any degree of fault on injured victims. It is absolutely critical to have an experienced NC car accident attorney who can prevent insurers from shifting blame onto you.
At Stewart Law Offices, we represent car accident victims throughout North Carolina with the dedication and personalized attention every case deserves. Our team includes Elizabeth VonCannon, a licensed attorney with the North Carolina State Bar who brings more than 6 years of experience advocating for injured clients. We understand how overwhelming this time can be, and we’re here to handle your case with the utmost care and professionalism. When you work with us, you’ll communicate directly with your lawyer, ensuring you receive clear answers and genuine support throughout the legal process. Our goal is to make you feel heard, valued, and confident that your case is in capable hands as we fight tirelessly for the compensation you need to move forward.