Car Accidents

If you are injured or someone you know has died as a result of another's negligence involving an automobile accident certain legal rights may exist to protect you. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, permanent injury and possibly punitive damages. Insurance companies are staffed with attorneys and adjusters who are well trained in resolving claims in the best interest of the insurance companies. We will be glad to use our experience in this area of the law to help you in anyway we can.

In a personal injury action resulting from an automobile accident, to recover from an adverse party, the adverse party must have committed a negligent act of some sort. The failure of a driver to exercise due care resulting in an automobile accident is one example of a negligent act. Negligence is the breach of a duty owed causing an injury. Not only must negligence be proven, you must not be negligent yourself. North Carolina law recognizes the principle of contributory negligence. In North Carolina, if you, through any negligence of your own, contribute to your own injuries, then you are barred from recovering damages from the negligent party.

Damages must also be proven in order to recover from another’s negligence resulting in a car accident. Damages, entitling the person to lost wages, medical bills, permanent injury and pain and suffering, are called compensatory damages. You may also be able to recover punitive damages which are damages awarded to the injured person to punish and deter the flagrant nature of the wrongful conduct. An example of a situation which may involve punitive damages occurs when the adverse causes the automobile accident while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

If someone you know has died due to another's negligence or wrongdoing, you should look at protecting the rights of the decedent's estate. The personal representative of the estate may have a claim against the negligent person or entity. Keel O'Malley, L.L.P. can help you bring a claim on behalf of the deceased.

If you have any difficulty at all in handling your claim, Keel O'Malley may be able to represent you in your claim by negotiating with the insurance company and if that fails, representing you in court. Our attorneys have tried numerous jury trials to obtain damages on behalf of clients injured in automobile accidents. No one wants to be involved in litigation, but if you were seriously injured in an automobile accident due to no fault of your own, a jury trial may be the only way to truly recover the full value of your case.

Our attorneys, professional staff, investigators and registered nurse are committed to resolving your case as quickly and fairly as possible and are willing to take the necessary steps to recover your damages for serious personal injury in the courtroom.

We would be happy to discuss your legal rights with you on the phone, meet with you in our office or have one of our staff meet with you at home. There is NO CHARGE for the initial consultation. If you cannot come to us, we will GO TO YOU. The members of our firm look forward to helping you. If you feel that you are a victim of a preventable auto injury, or that a loved one has died because of another’s negligence, call Keel O'Malley L.L.P. at (252) 823-2266 or toll free at (800) 755-1987, or submit an online questionnaire.

See Our Car Accident Results