North Carolina Speeding Accidents Attorney

Motor vehicle collisions are often devastating for victims and their families. Compassionate Raleigh car accident lawyer Carl Nagle and the staff at Nagle & Associates understand the potentially life-threatening injuries and financial hardships that often follow serious motor vehicle accidents. Before founding this firm, Mr. Nagle worked as an insurance defense attorney and also as an insurance claims adjuster. His experience defending against personal injury claims now serves to strengthen his strategic grasp of how to advocate on behalf of victims.

With seven offices across the state, Nagle & Associates represents injured individuals throughout North Carolina, including people in Wilmington, Asheville, and Winston-Salem. We have successfully recovered over $290 million on behalf of accident victims, and we are committed to maximizing compensation for every one of our clients.

Pursuing Compensation after a Speeding Accident

Speeding accidents take place when a driver disobeys the posted speed limit and drives too fast, resulting in a loss of control of their vehicle and ultimately causing a collision. Often, these accidents take place on the highway, although they can be just as devastating on a quiet neighborhood street. Collisions resulting from a speeding vehicle may cause severe injuries and substantial property damage. A victim involved in this type of crash may pursue compensation from the speeding driver in a personal injury lawsuit.

Generally, a speeding driver may be held liable for this behavior because disobeying traffic rules like posted speed limits shows carelessness or recklessness. If the speeding or other behavior is extreme, additional damages known as punitive damages may be available in some situations. However, as in any car accident case, there are possible defenses that may present challenges to a plaintiff. For example, the defendant driver may allege that the plaintiff was partly responsible for the crash. North Carolina is among a few states that bar a plaintiff from recovering damages under a doctrine called contributory negligence if the defendant can show that the plaintiff was at all responsible. This harsh rule contrasts with the more prevalent system of comparative negligence, which allows for proportionate recovery by the plaintiff.

Depending on the circumstances, some victims of speeding accidents may turn to the “last clear chance” doctrine in order to prevent the defense of contributory negligence from forestalling their recovery. Even if a plaintiff is deemed to have partly caused the accident, if the defendant still had the last clear chance to avoid the collision but failed to do so, the plaintiff may be able to recover damages.

For all accident victims pursuing personal injury lawsuits against the drivers who struck them, it is important to abide by the statute of limitations. This is a time period within which a plaintiff must file their lawsuit. Under North Carolina law, a claim for compensation after a speeding accident must be brought within three years from the date of the crash. It is also wise to promptly consult an attorney after an accident so that vital evidence remains fresh and available, since you will want to substantiate the compensation that you are claiming as thoroughly as possible.

Contact an Experienced Raleigh Lawyer to Discuss a Car Accident Case

Victims injured in a speeding accident can pursue a wide range of compensation, related not only to the costs and harms that they have already sustained but also to future damages like medical bills and lost earning capacity. Raleigh car accident lawyer Carl Nagle provides dedicated legal representation to victims. We use a reduced fee schedule that helps alleviate the financial burdens on our clients, charging 25% of the settlement secured and accepted by our client, rather than the 33% that most other firms charge. We stand ready to assist collision victims throughout NC including residents of Asheville, Winston-Salem, Wilmington, Hickory, Greensboro, Charlotte, and other communities throughout Wake, Mecklenburg, Forsyth, Guilford, Durham, New Hanover, and Catawba Counties. Call us at 800-411-1583 or use our online form to set up a free consultation with a motor vehicle collision lawyer.