Car accident
Car Accident Attorneys in Raleigh, North Carolina
The firms in this guide
- Whitley Law Firm Call Whitley Law Firm: (800) 785-5000
- Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers Call Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers: (919) 876-3020
- Burton Law Firm PLLC Call Burton Law Firm PLLC: (919) 873-4700
- Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. Call Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A.: (877) 287-5385
- Hardison & Cochran Call Hardison & Cochran: (800) 434-8399
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)
Insurance Minimums, Damage-Only Crash Duties and State Agency Claims for Raleigh Car Crashes
A Raleigh car crash claim can turn on the liability and uninsured motorist coverage North Carolina requires, the stopping and reporting duties that apply even when only property is damaged, and the Industrial Commission’s rules for a crash with a State vehicle.
Liability and Uninsured Motorist Coverage
The current text of North Carolina General Statutes 20-279.21(b)(2) requires $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person, $100,000 for two or more persons and $50,000 for property damage in one accident; the North Carolina Advocates for Justice reports that these limits apply to policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025. Under (b)(3), uninsured motorist bodily injury limits equal the policy’s highest bodily injury liability limits up to $1,000,000, and uninsured motorist property damage coverage excludes the first $100 of damage.
Damage-Only Crashes and Parked Cars
Under General Statutes 20-166(c), a driver who knows or reasonably should know of a crash causing only property damage must immediately stop, and if the crash is reportable must remain until an officer completes the investigation or authorizes leaving. Under 20-166.1(c), a driver who hits a parked or unattended vehicle on a highway must report to its owner within 48 hours with the time, date and place, the driver’s name, address and license number, and the plate number.
Claims Against State Agencies
Under General Statutes 143-291(a), the Industrial Commission hears tort claims against the Board of Transportation and other State departments, institutions and agencies, and awards damages if a State employee’s negligence within the scope of employment proximately caused the injury and there was no contributory negligence by the claimant. Under 143-299, the claim must be filed with the Industrial Commission within three years after accrual, or within two years after death for wrongful death.
Who Brings a Wrongful Death Claim
Under General Statutes 28A-18-2(a), the action is brought by the personal representative or collector of the decedent; the recovery is not applied to the estate’s debts except burial expenses and reasonable hospital and medical expenses up to $4,500, and the remainder is distributed as the section provides.
Raleigh Car Accident Questions
What if the other driver says I was partly at fault?
The other driver must prove it. Under General Statutes 1-139, the party asserting contributory negligence has the burden of proof, and under 20-135.2A(d) a missing seat belt is not admissible to show it. Proof matters because North Carolina treats contributory negligence as a bar, not a reduction: in Smith v. Fiber Controls Corp. (1980), the state Supreme Court, relying on a torts treatise, upheld a defense verdict on that ground.
When does the three-year deadline start?
Under General Statutes 1-52(16), a personal injury claim accrues when bodily harm becomes apparent or ought reasonably to have become apparent, whichever occurs first, and 1-52(5) allows three years; wrongful death has two years from the death under 1-53(4).
What if the injured person is under 18?
Under General Statutes 1-17(a), a person who is under 18 when the cause of action accrues may bring the action within the time limited after the disability is removed.