Car accident
Car Accident Attorneys in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
The firms in this guide
- Lewis & Keller Injury Lawyers Call Lewis & Keller Injury Lawyers: (336) 933-9566
- Daggett Shuler Law Call Daggett Shuler Law: (336) 724-1234
- James Barrett Wilson and Associates Call James Barrett Wilson and Associates: (336) 631-7777
- Bice Law LLC Call Bice Law LLC: (336) 831-6690
- Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers Call Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers: (336) 660-8190
1. Lewis & Keller Injury Lawyers
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injury cases, and insurance disputes.
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on crashes, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial truck accidents, hit-and-run cases, uninsured motorist claims, and traumatic brain injuries.
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation and trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, discovery and depositions, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, and wrongful death claims.
Background: The firm has over 50 years of combined experience handling personal injury cases in North Carolina. Mike Lewis has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America and as a North Carolina Super Lawyer. The firm has received Best Law Firm recognition and focuses exclusively on representing injured plaintiffs. The attorneys have extensive trial experience in Forsyth County and surrounding jurisdictions.
Location: 285 Executive Park Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
Contact: (336) 933-9566 | https://www.lewisandkeller.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation available. The firm works on a contingency fee basis with no fees unless recovery is obtained.
2. Daggett Shuler Law
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, personal injury, workers’ compensation, Social Security disability
Case Types Handled: Car accidents, distracted driver and drunk driver crashes, truck accidents, bus accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian and bicycle accidents, spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death
Legal Services: Gathering evidence that supports the case, securing police reports, medical records and medical bills, reviewing the insurance coverage of all parties involved, working with experts as needed
Background: Daggett Shuler is a personal injury and disability firm with offices in Winston-Salem and Greensboro that represents injured and disabled people across North Carolina. The firm lists more than ten attorneys, including founding partners David D. Daggett and Griffis C. Shuler, and offers to meet clients who cannot come to its offices.
Location: 2140 Country Club Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27104
Contact: (336) 724-1234 | https://daggettshulerlaw.com/
Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee (no attorney fee unless there is a recovery)
3. James Barrett Wilson and Associates
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, hit-and-run cases, wrongful death, and personal injury litigation.
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, T-bone accidents, sideswipe accidents, head-on collisions, hit-and-run accidents, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, uninsured motorist claims, and wrongful death cases.
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation and trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, evidence gathering, witness interviews, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, and pain and suffering claims.
Background: The Law Office of James Barrett Wilson and Associates has over three decades of experience representing car accident victims in North Carolina. The attorneys are experienced in navigating North Carolina’s contributory negligence doctrine and have helped hundreds of car accident victims recover compensation. The firm maintains a strong presence in Forsyth County courts and handles cases throughout the Piedmont Triad region.
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Contact: (336) 631-7777 | https://jbwilsonlaw.com
Consultation: 100% no-cost consultation available. The firm operates on a contingency fee basis.
4. Bice Law LLC
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, and personal injury litigation.
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, intersection accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, hit-and-run cases, uninsured motorist claims, and traumatic brain injuries.
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation and trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, evidence preservation, accident investigation, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, and pain and suffering claims.
Background: The Frontline Injury Team at Bice Law handles personal injury cases from consultation through settlement or trial. Unlike some attorneys who prefer to settle, Bice Law routinely takes cases to trial when necessary to achieve fair results. The firm has an established track record in Winston-Salem and serves families across North and South Carolina. The attorneys understand North Carolina’s contributory negligence rules and develop strategies to overcome this challenging legal standard.
Location: Winston-Salem, NC (serving North and South Carolina)
Contact: (336) 831-6690 | https://www.bicelaw.us
Consultation: Free initial consultation available. The firm works on a contingency fee basis with no payment unless recovery is obtained.
5. Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, and insurance claims.
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on crashes, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle accidents, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial truck accidents, uninsured motorist claims, and spinal cord injuries.
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation and trial representation, settlement negotiations, demand letter preparation, accident investigation, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, and wrongful death claims.
Background: Auger & Auger has over 25 years of experience handling personal injury cases in North Carolina. The firm has recovered millions of dollars for accident victims and handles thousands of cases annually. The attorneys are experienced with North Carolina’s contributory negligence standard and work to establish clear liability against at-fault parties. The firm has multiple offices throughout the Carolinas and serves clients in Winston-Salem and the surrounding Piedmont Triad region.
Location: Winston-Salem, NC (serving Forsyth County and surrounding areas)
Contact: (336) 660-8190 | https://www.augerlaw.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation available. The firm operates on a contingency fee basis.
Seat Belt Rules, State Agency Claims and Wrongful Death Damages for Winston-Salem Car Crashes
A Winston-Salem car crash claim can raise how North Carolina’s seat belt statute treats an unbuckled occupant in court, how a claim against a State department is heard, which agency must be notified, and what a family can recover when a crash is fatal.
The Seat Belt Statute
Under North Carolina General Statutes 20-135.2A, each occupant of a vehicle in forward motion must wear a seat belt, subject to the exemptions in (c). Under (d), evidence of failure to wear a belt is not admissible in any criminal or civil trial, action or proceeding, except in an action based on a violation of the section or as justification for a vehicle stop; under (d1), a rear seat occupant’s failure is not a justification for a stop, and under (f) no license points or insurance surcharge are assessed.
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.
Which Agency to Notify
Under General Statutes 20-166.1(a), the driver of a vehicle in a reportable accident must immediately, by the quickest means of communication, notify the police department of the city or town where it occurred, or, outside a city or town, the State Highway Patrol, the sheriff’s office or other qualified rural police of the county.
When a Crash Is Fatal
Under General Statutes 28A-18-2(b), damages for wrongful death include expenses for care and treatment, the decedent’s pain and suffering, reasonable funeral expenses, the present monetary value of the decedent’s net income, services and companionship to those entitled to recover, punitive damages as the statute provides, and nominal damages.
Winston-Salem 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.
How long do I have to sue the other driver?
Three years for personal injury under General Statutes 1-52(5), and two years from the death for wrongful death under 1-53(4).
What insurance must the other driver carry?
Under the current text of General Statutes 20-279.21(b)(2), $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.