General Frequently Asked Questions
in North Carolina

• Write down as much as you can about the accident itself, your injuries and any other losses (such as wages) you’ve suffered as a result of the accident.
• Make notes of conversations that you have with people involved in the accident or the injury claim.
• Preserve evidence of who caused the accident and what damage was done by collecting physical evidence and taking photographs.
• Locate people who witnessed the accident and who might be able to help you prove your case.
• Notify anyone you think might be responsible for the accident of your intention to file a claim for your injuries.

The general rules for bringing a personal injury lawsuit are:

• You must have suffered an injury to your person or property.
• Your injury must have resulted from someone else’s negligence or an intentional act.

Contact an experienced Teddy, Meekins & Talbert, P.L.L.C., personal injury attorney today to help you file a personal injury claim.  We can help after a slip-and-fall accident, car wreck, truck collision, and more.

Yes. It is always a smart decision to consult with an attorney to help you with your case. Most law firms, including Teddy, Meekins & Talbert, P.L.L.C., do not charge a consultation fee for personal injury cases. Remember, the adjuster works for the insurance company, to protect its interests. Your attorney will work for you, to protect your rights. The insurance company has one goal, and that is to settle your case for the least amount of money possible. What may seem like a fair offer to you could fall far short of the amount of money you may be entitled to. It is always a good idea to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney before agreeing to any settlement with your insurance company.

You may recover all or some of the following:

• Medical expenses (present & future)
• Lost wages (present & future)
• Lost earning capacity
• Scarring

• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Punitive damages

Your lawyer’s focus is to protect you and make sure that you are treated fairly. You need to recover the maximum damages you are entitled to, consistent with the nature of your injuries and losses, to make sure that you are protected from the consequences of your injuries. You need a lawyer working for you to protect your interests. A lawyer can investigate all sources of insurance coverage to make sure that any insurance carrier that has coverage is contacted and all avenues of recovery are explored. You may need to make a claim with your own insurance carrier for Med Pay coverage, or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

The answer varies depending on your situation, including the nature of your injuries and the defendant’s willingness to resolve the matter. Many claims are resolved quickly, while others may take longer, for example, if the extent of the person’s damages are not immediately known.

In most cases, Teddy, Meekins & Talbert, P.L.L.C., is paid on a contingency fee basis. This means that the firm does not earn a fee unless and until the firm recovers any money on your behalf. Depending on the nature of the claim, the contingency fee can range in percentage. The percentage is set based upon the time involved in the claim, the risk involved in the claim, and the potential amount recovered on your behalf. Typically, the contingency fee will vary from 25% to 33% of the recovery.