Recent Blog Posts
How Can the Contributory Negligence Law Affect a Personal Injury Case?
If you were hurt in a car accident, slip and fall accident, or another incident caused by the negligent actions of another party, you may be interested in filing a personal injury claim. An injury claim may allow you to recover financial compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and other damages caused by the accident. North Carolina personal injury lawsuits are subject to the state’s laws regarding “contributory negligence.” It is important to learn about how this law may affect your eligibility for damages.
Shared Liability for an Injury-Causing Accident
Many different elements can cause a person to be injured in an accident. Sometimes, the injured person’s own actions caused or contributed to the severity of his or her injuries. Personal injury claims involving shared fault are handled differently depending on the applicable state laws. North Carolina is one of the few states that follow a legal doctrine called “contributory negligence.” This means that you are not entitled to any damages if your injuries were caused by your own negligence. Even if your actions were only 1 percent the cause of the accident, you are typically barred from recovering compensation. However, your negligent actions must have contributed to your injuries in order for this negligence to prevent you from collecting damages. If you acted recklessly but this behavior did not cause or worsen the injury-causing accident, your negligence does not prevent you from recovering damages.
How Can I Recover Compensation for Injuries in a Motorcycle Accident?
Riding a motorcycle can be an exhilarating way to travel. Unfortunately, it is also quite risky. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that over 5,000 motorcyclists died in the year 2017 and thousands more were injured. If you or a loved one were hurt in a motorcycle accident, you may be left with enormous medical bills and other expenses related to the crash. A personal injury claim may allow you to recover financial compensation for these costs if a negligent party is found to be at fault.
Establish the At-Fault Party
Before you can seek compensation for your costs through a motorcycle accident injury claim, you will need to determine the party who is liable, or legally responsible, for the accident. Liability may lie with another driver who was under the influence of alcohol, texting and driving or was otherwise driving carelessly. Legal responsibility may also lie with the manufacturer of a faulty motorcycle part, the municipality who failed to properly maintain the road, a trucking company, or a number of other parties. Evidence such as a red-light camera or dash camera footage, vehicle event data recorders, and witness testimony may all be used to confirm the responsible party’s liability. An attorney experienced in car accident injury cases will be able to help you gather evidence to strengthen your claim against the at-fault driver.
What Is a “Green Card” and How Can I Gain U.S. Permanent Residency?
A Permanent Resident Card or “green card” is a document that allows U.S. immigrants to reside in the United States permanently. Individuals who have successfully obtained green cards are called lawful permanent residents (LPR). After becoming an LPR and residing in the United States for at least five years, green card holders may apply for U.S. citizenship. If you or a loved one is foreign-born and interested in living in the United States, you may have questions about who is eligible to become a permanent resident. You may also be curious about what the process of applying for and obtaining a green card involves. Read on to learn more about Permanent Resident Cards and how you can get legal support for a range of immigration concerns.
Do I Qualify for a Permanent Resident Card?
There are several different ways that an individual born outside of the United States can become a lawful permanent resident. You may be able to obtain a green card if: