1. Whitley Law Firm
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, product liability, premises liability, workers’ compensation, dog bites, dangerous drugs, defective medical devices
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, uninsured/underinsured motorist claims, drunk driving accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, catastrophic injury cases, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical records collection, lost wage documentation, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, property damage claims
Background: The firm was founded by Bob E. Whitley, who has over 43 years of experience in personal injury law. He is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, North Carolina Bar Association, American Association for Justice, and North Carolina Advocates for Justice. Bob Whitley holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating and received the 2025 Client Champion award. The firm has over 120 years of combined experience across its attorney team, which includes Benjamin H. Whitley, Jack Keener, Matthew Bissette, Ryan McCollum, Gabe Talton, and Shelsey Hall.
Location: Offices in Raleigh, Charlotte, Asheville, Durham, Greenville, Jacksonville, Kinston, New Bern, and Winston-Salem, NC
Contact: (800) 785-5000 | https://whitleylawfirm.com
Consultation: Free consultation available 24/7, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless the firm wins)
2. Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, workers’ compensation, wrongful death, slip and fall accidents, dog bites, product liability, dangerous drugs, defective medical devices, Uber and Lyft accidents
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, hit-and-run accidents, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, school bus accidents, construction zone accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation, evidence collection, witness interviews, accident reconstruction, medical lien resolution, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: The firm has been serving North Carolina since 1985 and has recovered more than $850 million for injured victims since 2000. The attorneys have over 190 years of combined legal experience. Founding partner Gene A. Riddle leads the firm. The firm maintains investigators on staff and routinely works with accident reconstruction experts. Notable case results include $9.45 million wrongful death, $7.85 million chemical spill, and $5.25 million personal injury.
Location: 3110 Edwards Mill Road, Suite 310, Raleigh, NC 27612 (additional offices in Durham, Goldsboro, Charlotte, Greenville, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Jacksonville, Garner, Kinston, Wilmington, and Winston-Salem)
Contact: (919) 876-3020 | https://justicecounts.com
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee (no upfront costs, no fee unless the firm wins)
3. Burton Law Firm PLLC
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, slip and fall accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability, DUI accidents, burn injuries, spinal injuries, toxic exposure, industrial/workplace accidents
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, multi-vehicle accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury cases, fatal accidents, airplane accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, discovery, depositions, expert witness coordination, medical records collection, lost wage documentation
Background: The firm was founded by Jason Michael Burton, a fifth-generation attorney. The firm represents plaintiffs in catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, and other serious injury cases throughout North Carolina and Virginia. Jason Michael Burton has secured millions in compensation for clients, with notable results including $24.7 million premises liability, $4.95 million premises liability, $3.2 million construction accident, and $1.15 million premises liability. The firm maintains a 5-star rating from over 70 Google reviews.
Location: Raleigh, NC (also serves Chapel Hill, Holly Springs, and Virginia)
Contact: (919) 873-4700 | VA: (434) 204-5400 | Toll Free: (833) 623-0042 | https://www.jmburtonlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation, 24/7 live answering, contingency fee arrangement
4. Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A.
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workers’ compensation, personal injury, wrongful death, pedestrian accidents, family law
Case Types Handled: Head-on collisions, sideswipe collisions, rear-end collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, hit-and-run accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, evidence gathering, medical records collection, lost wage documentation, pain and suffering claims, property damage claims
Background: The firm was founded in 2001 by Robert C. Younce Jr. (“Chip”) and David E. Vtipil. Robert C. Younce has been board-certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a specialist in workers’ compensation law since 2001. The firm maintains a BBB accreditation and serves clients throughout Wake County and surrounding areas including Durham, Cary, Apex, Knightdale, Garner, Wake Forest, Morrisville, Chapel Hill, Rocky Mount, Clayton, Wilson, Fuquay Varina, and Fayetteville.
Location: Raleigh, NC
Contact: (877) 287-5385 | (800) 811-9495 | WhatsApp available | https://www.attorneync.com
Consultation: Free injury consultation, contingency fee arrangement
5. Hardison & Cochran
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workers’ compensation, personal injury, wrongful death, nursing home negligence, child care negligence, premises liability, VA disability, social security disability, defective drugs, defective medical devices, inadequate security
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, multi-vehicle accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury cases, hit-and-run accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, discovery, depositions, medical records collection, lost wage documentation, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: The firm has over 30 years of experience representing personal injury clients throughout North Carolina. The attorneys focus on personal injury law and are committed to seeking justice for those who have been injured. The firm handles cases throughout North Carolina with offices in Raleigh, Greensboro, Fayetteville, Greenville, Wilmington, and Dunn.
Location: Raleigh, NC (with additional offices across North Carolina)
Contact: (800) 434-8399 | https://www.lawyernc.com
Consultation: Free consultation by phone, contingency fee (no fee unless the firm wins)
Car Accident Laws and Regulations in North Carolina
Statute of Limitations: North Carolina allows three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit for car accident claims. For property damage claims, the statute of limitations is also three years. For wrongful death claims, the deadline is two years from the date of death (N.C. General Statutes § 1-52 and § 1-53(4)).
Fault vs. No-Fault: North Carolina is a traditional fault-based (tort) state for car accidents. The person who causes an accident is financially responsible for resulting injuries and property damage. North Carolina is not a no-fault insurance state.
Contributory Negligence: North Carolina is one of only five jurisdictions (along with Alabama, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia) that follows a pure contributory negligence rule. Under this doctrine, if an injured party is found even 1% at fault for the accident, they are completely barred from recovering any compensation. This strict standard makes legal representation particularly important in North Carolina car accident cases.
Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements (Effective July 1, 2025): North Carolina increased its minimum liability coverage requirements. Drivers must now carry: $50,000 per person for bodily injury (up from $30,000), $100,000 per accident for bodily injury (up from $60,000), and $50,000 per accident for property damage (up from $25,000). North Carolina now has among the highest minimum property damage limits in the nation.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: As of July 1, 2025, all new and renewed auto liability policies in North Carolina must include both uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage with minimum limits of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident. The new law eliminates the “liability setoff” rule, allowing injured parties to collect the full face value of their UIM policy in addition to the at-fault driver’s liability coverage.
Damage Caps: North Carolina does not have caps on economic or general non-economic damages in personal injury cases. Punitive damages are capped at $250,000 or three times the amount of compensatory damages, whichever is greater. The punitive damage cap does not apply if the defendant was impaired by alcohol or drugs.
Dram Shop Liability: North Carolina recognizes dram shop liability, allowing injured parties to pursue claims against establishments that served alcohol to visibly intoxicated individuals who subsequently caused accidents.
Government Vehicle Claims: Claims against state employees acting within the scope of their employment must be filed under North Carolina’s State Tort Claims Act with the Industrial Commission. A formal notice of claim must typically be filed within 180 days of the accident. The standard three-year statute of limitations applies for injury claims and two years for wrongful death claims under this Act.
Accident Reporting Requirements: Under N.C. General Statutes § 20-166.1, drivers involved in a “reportable accident” must immediately report the crash to law enforcement. A reportable accident includes any crash involving death, injury, or property damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule affect my car accident claim?
North Carolina’s contributory negligence doctrine is one of the strictest in the nation. If you are found to bear any percentage of fault for the accident, even as little as 1%, you may be completely barred from recovering any compensation. Insurance adjusters frequently attempt to assign even minimal fault to claimants to deny claims entirely. This makes documenting the accident scene thoroughly, avoiding admissions of fault, and consulting with an attorney before speaking with insurance companies particularly important in North Carolina. An experienced attorney can help counter contributory negligence defenses and protect your right to compensation.
What are the new auto insurance requirements in North Carolina as of July 2025?
Effective July 1, 2025, North Carolina significantly increased minimum auto insurance requirements. The new liability limits are $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $50,000 for property damage (50/100/50). All policies must now include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage at matching limits. Additionally, the new law eliminates the “liability setoff” for UIM claims, meaning injured parties can now collect their full UIM coverage amount on top of the at-fault driver’s liability payment rather than having the UIM payout reduced by the liability amount.
What is the deadline for filing a car accident lawsuit in North Carolina?
You generally have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in North Carolina. For wrongful death claims arising from a car accident, the deadline is two years from the date of death. If your claim involves a government vehicle or employee, you must file a formal notice of claim with the Industrial Commission, typically within 180 days of the accident. For minors injured in accidents, the three-year statute of limitations is typically “tolled” (paused) until they turn 18, giving them until age 21 to file. Missing these deadlines can permanently bar your right to seek compensation.
Can I still recover compensation if the at-fault driver in my Raleigh accident was uninsured?
Yes, if you carry uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your own policy. As of July 1, 2025, all North Carolina auto policies must include UM coverage with minimum limits of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident. This coverage protects you when the at-fault driver has no insurance or flees the scene (hit-and-run). Your UM claim is filed with your own insurance company. In hit-and-run cases, you may need to file a police report and demonstrate that the unidentified driver caused the accident. An attorney can help navigate the claims process and ensure you receive the full benefits available under your policy.
What damages can I recover after a car accident in Raleigh?
If another driver’s negligence caused your accident, you may be entitled to recover economic damages including medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage. You can also seek non-economic damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. North Carolina does not cap these damages in personal injury cases. If the at-fault driver acted with gross negligence or was impaired, punitive damages may also be available. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members can pursue compensation for the deceased’s medical expenses, funeral costs, lost income, and loss of companionship.