Have you been injured in an auto accident that wasn’t your fault? The Bishop Law Firm can help. Filing a claim with the help of an experienced Raleigh Car Accident Lawyer is your best chance to seek compensation for medical bills and other expenses.
The Bishop Law Firm takes pride in protecting the rights of car accident victims in the Raleigh area and understands how complex the car accident claims process can be for those injured through no fault of their own.
Call us today for a free case review, (919) 615-3095, or start online now.
What to do after a Raleigh Car Accident?
- After a Raleigh Car Accident, call 911 as soon as possible.
- Wait for the police to arrive. If you can safely do so, ask the other party if they are alright. Please refrain from arguing with the other driver about who is at fault.
- While waiting, take photos of the accident scene, your car, the other driver's car, and any injuries you have sustained. The pictures of your bodily injury are imperative to your personal injury case.
- Now is not the time to be heroic! If you are in pain, stay in place until the ambulance arrives.
- Call a friend or loved one who can help you stay focused after the shock of the auto accident, and they can also help you get the photographs you need for later.
- When the police arrive, be polite and let them know what happened.
- If your car is not drivable and needs to be towed, be sure to get the tow truck information, as you will need to give this information to the insurance company when you file a property damage claim.
- If you are injured, ride in the ambulance or report to a medical facility immediately for treatment. If you delay getting medical treatment, you will have a hard time getting the insurance to pay for your injuries.
- Follow all medical advice. Do not miss medical appointments. This isn't good for your case and most importantly, your health!
- File a property damage claim with the at-fault driver's insurance company so you can begin the process of getting a rental and getting your car repaired (or totaled).
- Call the Experienced Car Accident Attorneys at The Bishop Law Firm for a free case review!
- We do not get paid unless you win.
Raleigh Car Accident Statistics
Raleigh is the second-largest city in North Carolina, with a population of 493,589 as of 2025 (according to WPR). Unfortunately, cities with larger populations tend to have more car accidents.
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, in 2023, Raleigh experienced 16,778 car accidents, resulting in 6,424 injuries and 44 fatalities. Those numbers average to almost 46 car accidents and 18 car accident injuries per day (via the North Carolina Department of Transportation) in Raleigh.
In Wake County from 2019 to 2023, there was an average of 99 deaths, 11,643 injuries, 257 pedestrian injuries, 76 bicycle accident injuries, and 251 motorcycle accident injuries per year.
Read more at Raleigh Car Accident Statistics & Raleigh Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
North Carolina Car Accident Laws
North Carolina Law regarding car accident injuries primarily focuses on determining fault, assessing damages, and adhering to the statute of limitations.
Fault - Who caused the car accident?
Negligence is required in North Carolina personal injury claims.
If someone violates a traffic law and that violation results in injury, negligence has occurred.
Negligence, defined, is a failure to exercise the amount of care that a reasonable person should. A "reasonable person" would follow traffic laws to avoid harm to others and themselves.
North Carolina is also a contributory negligence state, meaning that if the injured person is even 1% at fault, they cannot recover in a personal injury case (but see the Last Clear Chance Doctrine).
For car accident cases, fault is often established when a police officer issues a citation to the at-fault party; however, this is not always the case.
In some types of auto accidents, it can be challenging to determine who is actually at fault, and police reports are seldom changed.
The fault of the other party must be established for a victim to recover.
Damages: What Can a Victim Recover?
In North Carolina, if you have been injured in an accident through no fault of your own, you can recover the costs of your missed time from work, medical expenses, and be compensated for your pain and suffering. Punitive damages are awarded in a few cases.
For auto insurance policies issued or reissued after July 1, 2025, liability policy limits are at least the NC minimum ($50,000 Bodily Injury for each person, $100,000 total Bodily Injury for all persons in an accident, and $50,000 for Property Damage). However, they could be higher if the at-fault driver purchased a policy with higher limits.
Read more about North Carolina Punitive Damages & NC Insurance Policy Limits
Medical Bills After a North Carolina Car Accident
Medical bills after a North Carolina Auto Accident can be handled in a few different ways.
Many of our clients initially file claims with their own health insurance. You can enter into a payment arrangement (lien) with the medical provider if you do not have health insurance.
Next, you should file a claim with the at-fault driver’s car insurance company.
When compiling medical bills to send a demand to the insurance company, medical bills for injury-related care are calculated based on the amount paid, not the billed amount (Rule 414).
If your auto insurance has medical payments coverage (Med-Pay) you may be able to recover some of your medical expense that way.
If the driver who caused the accident does not have car insurance, your last resort is to file a claim under your own uninsured motorist coverage.
Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) is required in NC, while underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) is optional.
Keeping track of all the places you have received medical treatment for your injury is crucial to prevent being left with unexpected bills later.
All medical records and bills must be sent to the insurance company.
Read: UM vs UIM & NC Personal Injury Medical Bills More Than Settlement?
Have you lost wages due to your car accident injuries?
If your doctor has taken you out of work because of your injuries, save all of your pay stubs and ask your employer to provide you with a copy of your timesheets to preserve evidence of your lost wages.
To seek recovery for a lost wage claim, an injured accident victim has to have documentation of the actual days he or she has missed from work due to their injuries.
The employer of the injured accident victim must verify the lost wage documentation. The employer should provide payroll records stating the number of days the accident victim missed work and the injured accident victim’s rate of pay.
Also read How much will my car accident injury settlement be?
What is pain & suffering, and how is it calculated?
In North Carolina, pain and suffering covers the physical pain and mental anguish that a victim has to endure due to the injury they have sustained.
If you break your leg, you will experience not only physical pain but also mental and emotional distress. Unfortunately, injuries can leave us with scars that affect our self-esteem.
You could develop depression, vehophobia, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder after your injury. This is what pain and suffering damages attempt to compensate you for.
Since all of us have different pain tolerance levels and mental dispositions, how do you determine the damages in individual cases?
Some personal injury lawyers use medical bills as part of an equation to arrive at a suitable amount for pain & suffering. The equation is medical expenses + lost wages and accident-related expenses x a multiplier (usually 1.5 – 5+).
Car Accident Settlement Example
For example, Minnie Mouse has $15,000 in medical bills and $5,000 in lost wages, totaling $20,000 in losses. You then multiply $20,000 X 3, which would result in a request of $60,000 for pain and suffering.
The multiplier increases from 1.5 to 5 based on the severity, longevity, treatment, and residuals of the injury, among other issues.
Read: Ten Ways to Maximize Recovery in NC Personal Injury Cases & Ways to Prove Pain and Suffering Damages
Statute of Limitations
In North Carolina, motor vehicle negligence has a three-year statute of limitations, which means that a complaint must be filed in the county where the accident occurred within three years of the accident date.
Please note that filing a claim with the insurance company does not preserve the statute of limitations.
It does not matter if the person is still receiving medical treatment for their accident-related injuries or is currently in negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Read: Raleigh Car Accident Reports & Twenty Tips to Avoid Raleigh Car Accidents
Reasons To File a Car Accident Injury Claim
Do you have serious injuries that were caused by the auto accident? If you do not have injuries, then you do not have a Personal Injury case.
If you have injuries, you should seek medical care as soon as possible, continue to receive treatment, and document all the medical bills you incur.
Do not delay getting medical treatment for your car accident injuries! The longer you wait to receive medical treatment, the more difficult it will be to prove that your injury came from the car accident.
Medical care will generate medical bills that need to be paid. This is the primary reason most people file car accident injury claims: to have their medical bills paid.
The Raleigh Car Accident Attorneys at The Bishop Law Firm can help you through the process of filing a claim so you get the compensation you deserve.
Also read Twenty Steps to Take After Raleigh Car Accident & 15 Things Not To Do After a Raleigh Car Accident
Serious Car Accident Injuries:
Unfortunately, under the wrong circumstances, a relatively minor accident can result in serious injuries. Traumatic Brain Injury, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and even wrongful death can result from auto accidents. Common car crash injuries:
- Back Injury After Car Accident
- Neck Injury After Car Accident
- Chiari Malformation After Car Accident
- Brain Injury After Car Accident
- Blunt Force Trauma To Head From Car Accident
- Shoulder Injury After Car Accident
- Leg Injury After Car Accident
- Foot Injury After Car Accident
- Skin Injury After Car Accident
- PTSD After Car Accident
- Vehophobia After Car Accident
- Chronic Conditions From Car Accidents
- Delayed Symptoms After Car Accident
*If you were injured in a car accident while working, you may also have a Raleigh Workers' compensation case. Workers' compensation would not apply if you are on your way to work or on your way home.*
Also read Raleigh Car Accident Injuries
Do You Need a Raleigh Car Accident Lawyer?
After a Raleigh Car Accident, the insurance adjuster may refuse to offer fair compensation or even deny that their insured is at fault.
Also watch: Raleigh Car Accident Lawyer - Seven Reasons Why You Need One
A Raleigh personal injury law attorney can help determine if you have an injury claim and give you legal advice about recovering your losses from the car accident.
Another consideration is the liability insurance policy limit of the at-fault party. In most cases, (punitive damages are an exception), victims are limited to the at-fault parties' insurance policy limits and any UM or UIM coverage that the victim may have under their auto insurance policy.
Finding out insurance policy limits is something that a car accident attorney should help you with, as well as paying medical providers their pro-rata share of your settlement.
Read NC Rear-End Collision Injuries & North Carolina Car Accident Insurance Policy Limits
The choice to hire a personal injury law firm to help with your claim can set the tone for how the insurance company treats you. Without the proper inspiration from an attorney, your claim may gather dust on an adjuster’s desk or get lost in the shuffle.
Also read What does a Raleigh Car Accident Lawyer do?
Unfortunately, insurance adjusters can use an injured person’s financial hardship against them and force them to take little to nothing for their car accident case.
Even worse, some insurance adjusters will hold onto claims until the statute of limitations expires, leaving the injured with no recourse to recover their losses.
Simply put, a personal injury lawyer who handles car accident injury cases can make sure your Raleigh car accident claim goes as smoothly as possible and help you decide if you should take the insurance company's offer or pursue litigation.
Car Accident Cases We Handle
Our Raleigh Car Accident Lawyer handles all types of motor vehicle accidents, including but not limited to the following:
- Car Accident Injury - On any given day on I-40, 440, or 540 in Raleigh, you will see auto accidents. We all hope that no one gets injured in a car accident, but if they do, hiring an experienced car accident lawyer can help a victim recover compensation.
- Truck (18-wheeler) Accident Injury - Commercial Drivers can become complacent about the cars around them in traffic due to the size of their vehicle. This can result in car wrecks that cause devastating injury.
- Motorcycle Accident Injury - Motorcycles offer fantastic views and fresh air in abundance, but very little protection against someone else's negligence behind the wheel.
- Pedestrian Accident Injury - Pedestrians rarely come out on top when involved in an automobile accident. Even a low-speed impact can cause broken bones for pedestrians.
- Wrongful Death - Distracted and Drunk Drivers can cause the death of a loved one. If this has happened to your family, Raleigh Car Accident Lawyers can help.
Frequently asked questions
- How much are car accident lawyer attorney fees? Our contingent fee law firm charges 33.33% for representing car accident victims. This means that we are paid solely based on the amount of money we recover for our clients. If we do not recover for our clients, we do not get paid.
- What is a "good" settlement offer for a car accident? This is an excellent question with a complicated answer. A "good" settlement will include reimbursement of all of the victim's medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. The "best" settlement will consist of the same as a "good" settlement, with the addition of estimated future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Also read How to Calculate a Car Accident Settlement in North Carolina
- How do you choose a car crash lawyer? We would love to tell you that it's all about experience or diplomas on the wall, but the honest answer is passion. You should choose a car accident lawyer who is passionate about their work. To quote our mentor, "If you love doing it, you just do it better."
- How do you negotiate a higher settlement in a car accident? In our experience, dealing with an insurance adjuster is only going to get you so much money, as they don't have enough authority before litigation. Additionally, rushing or hinting to the adjuster that you need cash will only lower the value of your claim.
- What if you can't afford a lawyer for a personal injury case? The Bishop Law Firm is a contingent-fee law firm, which means that we are paid out of your settlement, so there are no retainer fees or upfront costs. If you decide not to hire a Raleigh Car Accident lawyer because you don't want to pay a lawyer, you will have to deal with the insurance company alone.
- How do you calculate the settlement amount? Our firm uses all medical expenses + lost wages + pain & suffering + any additional accident related expenses to calculate a settlement.
- How much can you get out of pain and suffering? The Bishop Law Firm calculates pain & suffering based on medical expenses, type of injuries, and surrounding circumstances of the accident. You should also read Pain & Suffering in NC Personal Injury cases.
- How do insurance adjusters decide on a settlement? Most insurance companies have software that their adjusters use to calculate settlement amounts. The software significantly reduces the adjuster's reliance on their own experience in settling a claim. The software (Colossus is an example) assigns value to a claim based on the type of accident, types of injuries, and other factors.
- Why do insurance adjusters deny claims? Insurance companies are for-profit businesses. This means that they want to make money collecting premiums and do not want to pay out money on claims. If an insurance adjuster can find a reason to deny your claim, they will. The insurance adjuster's reasoning may be flawed, but they continue to deny the claim in the hope that the victim will just go away.
- What should you not say to an adjuster? Never tell the adjuster that you need money fast. Never lie to the adjuster. Never be rude to the adjuster or threaten them. Also, once you have a lawyer, do not communicate with the adjuster unless your lawyer tells you it is ok to do so.
Find a Raleigh Car Accident Lawyer Near You
Our experienced team at The Bishop Law Firm can help if you need a Raleigh Car Accident Lawyer. Our focus is on protecting and maximizing the legal rights of car accident victims to fair compensation, and we don’t get paid unless you win. Can the at-fault driver’s insurance company say the same?
Contact us today for more information or start your free case review right now.
Raleigh Resources for Car Accident Victims
Accident victims in Raleigh need to know where to turn for help.
Hospitals in Raleigh
Duke Raleigh, 3400 Wake Forest Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609, Ph: 919-954-3000
UNC Rex Hospital, 4420 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh, NC 27607, Ph: 919-784-3100
WakMed, 3000 New Bern Ave, Raleigh, NC 27610, Ph: 919-350-8000
Raleigh Police and Accident Report Information
The Raleigh Police Department is headquartered at 6716 Six Forks Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615. Their phone number is 919-996-3335.
To obtain a Raleigh crash report, visit the Raleigh Police Department Crash Report Database.
If your accident occurred on the highway in Raleigh, visit the N.C. Dept of Public Safety to obtain an accident report.
Wake County Courthouse
If your case proceeds to litigation, your claim will be heard at the Wake County Courthouse, which is located at 316 Fayetteville St, Suite 2050, Raleigh, NC 27601.
North Carolina Department of Insurance
If you are having problems with an insurance company, the North Carolina Department of Insurance allows you to file a complaint online. Their phone number is 855-408-1212, and their address is 1201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699.
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