Top Raleigh Personal Injury Lawyers in Raleigh

No matter how responsible you are while driving, working, and going about your daily life, you can be seriously hurt by someone around you who is negligent or reckless. The driver of a car might decide that it’s more important to look at their cell phone than at the traffic ahead of them. Or the company responsible for maintaining delivery trucks on the roads around you might cut costs by skipping recommended inspections and delaying repairs.

Irresponsible decisions lead to accidents and injuries every day all over the Raleigh area. Employees get hurt while they’re just trying to do their jobs. Doctors get overconfident in their diagnoses and fail to order standard tests when patients report symptoms. Companies rush dangerous products to market without proper safety testing. When you get hurt because companies put profits ahead of people or individuals ignore their obligations to behave responsibly, working with the right Raleigh personal injury lawyer can make all the difference in your recovery process.

So, when you’re examining the top personal injury attorneys, how do you choose the one that’s right for your situation? There are several factors to consider as you make your decision.

Reputation Matters

One of the first issues to consider when evaluating the top personal injury attorneys is the reputation of the individual lawyer and the firm as a whole. It is important to know what clients think, but also how other attorneys and judges feel about the qualifications and performance of the attorney you’re considering. 

Does the firm have a reputation for processing and settling a high volume of cases, or are they willing to invest the resources into pursuing successful litigation to achieve the best results for individual clients? Does the attorney have years of experience advocating successfully for clients in personal injury cases, or have they recently switched from another field of law? Is the firm so big that your case is likely to be handled by an inexperienced junior associate?

You can learn about the reputation of law firms and individual attorneys from sources within the profession. For instance, John Alan Jones, the founding member and managing partner of Martin & Jones, as well as attorneys Mike Riley, Forest Horne, and Hunt Willis have received the top rating, AV Preeminent, from other attorneys and judges in reviews conducted by Martindale-Hubbell, a well-respected authority in the legal profession. These attorneys also have received top rankings from other organizations such as Super Lawyers, and the firm has been consistently ranked among the top by Us. News & World Report.  

Experience in Litigation

Part of the process of considering the reputation of an attorney should include an evaluation of the attorney’s litigation experience. While it is true that most personal injury cases settle before trial, it is the willingness to try a case and the ability to do so successfully that determine how beneficial the settlement turns out to be.

Most personal injury claims are handled by insurance companies. They know the attorneys who have experience winning cases in court. Unlike the impression given in TV or movies, success in litigation does not hinge on making dramatic arguments in the courtroom. It comes down to preparation. Effective litigation attorneys know how to use discovery tools to uncover vital evidence. Then they build that evidence into persuasive legal arguments, usually presented in writing long before a case is set for trial.

When an insurance company can see that a legal team is prepared to win in court, the company is much more willing to offer a settlement that provides full compensation to accident victims. In situations where the insurance company refuses to offer a reasonable settlement, the attorney’s preparation lays the groundwork for a successful outcome in court. So, to achieve the best results in a personal injury case, it is advisable to work with an attorney who is willing and able to put in the work necessary to win through litigation.

All six attorneys at Martin & Jones have extensive litigation experience. Forest Horne, for instance, has achieved successful jury verdicts not only in courts throughout North and South Carolina but also in numerous other jurisdictions. In addition, he also understands how to succeed in high-profile appellate courts. Another member of our team, Hunt Willis, has secured multi-million dollar verdicts across North Carolina in a wide variety of cases, from trucking accidents to product liability.

Knowledge of the Relevant Factual and Legal Issues

If you had a toothache, you wouldn’t expect to get the best treatment from an eye doctor. While all doctors have basic knowledge of the human body, you need a dentist to get the best care for a problem with your teeth.

The same is true when you need legal assistance. It is important to find a Raleigh personal injury lawyer who is thoroughly familiar with the types of issues you are dealing with, as well as the most effective legal arguments to support your case for recovery. Small nuances in a judicial interpretation can have a big impact on your case, so you need an attorney who can make the critical distinctions necessary to overcome potential challenges and secure the best outcome.

The attorneys at Martin & Jones have in-depth experience that is hard to match. For example, Steven Corriveau understands the challenges faced by workers injured on the job because he started his career defending employers. He knows how the workers’ compensation system can put injured workers at a disadvantage, but he also knows how to overcome the hurdles and recover full benefits and favorable settlements through the North Carolina Industrial Commission and in court. Similarly, attorney Mike Riley has decades of experience helping secure maximum compensation in complex cases involving workers with occupational illnesses such as mesothelioma.

Meanwhile, attorneys John Alan Jones and Kelly Elder know how to succeed in cases involving professional negligence, an area of law that requires specialized knowledge and sophisticated use of discovery tools. They work to secure recovery for victims of medical malpractice and those harmed by dangerous drugs, including vaccines. A record of successfully standing up to major medical corporations has enabled thousands of victims to obtain relief when companies were trying to hide the harm caused by their medical products or substandard treatment.

Dedication to Service

When looking for a Raleigh personal injury lawyer to represent your interests, it is natural to seek the top attorneys in the area, but it is also important to work with an attorney who is willing to take the time to really understand your needs. Some attorneys with high reputations work more as ambassadors for their firms, using their reputations to attract clients but not actively working on those clients’ cases.

To get the service you deserve, you need to find a legal team that is committed to the community and dedicated to providing personal attention to every client. Client reviews often reveal the level of service provided by individual attorneys and the team as a whole.  

FAQs

At Martin & Jones, we offer free consultations so that potential clients can ask questions and learn more about the assistance we may be able to provide in their specific situation. While the answers to questions always depend on the particular circumstances, for background information, here are some broad answers to the questions we get most frequently.

What types of personal injury cases does your firm specifically handle in the Raleigh area?

Martin & Jones fights for maximum compensation for those injured in motor vehicle accidents, including commercial truck collisions and motorcycle accidents, as well as car accidents. We also know how to succeed in workers’ compensation claims for injuries and occupational illnesses, as well as for third-party work injuries. We have the knowledge and resources to win complex medical malpractice claims and product liability cases. In addition, we help secure the full recovery for those seriously injured in a wide variety of other situations, such as pedestrian accidents, animal attacks, and boating accidents.

What is the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in Raleigh?

Personal injury cases in Raleigh must be prepared and filed within the statute of limitations set by North Carolina law. Most claims for injuries from car crashes and other accidents must be filed within three years of the accident. The deadline can sometimes be longer in medical malpractice cases, when it may take some time to discover the injury. For birth injuries and other injuries to children, the time period can be extended even longer. On the other hand, the statute of limitations period is shorter when injuries prove fatal. A wrongful death claim must be filed within two years of the time of death. Only an attorney who has reviewed the details of an actual claim can speak to the time limitations individual to each case.

What are your fees, and do you work on a contingency basis?

The attorneys at Martin & Jones work on a contingency fee basis, which means fees are calculated as a percentage of the amount we recover for clients. This percentage varies depending on the case’s complexity, but we will explain the details before we start, so there are no surprises later. Nothing is owed while a case is in progress, and there are no fees unless we win your case.

What is a realistic estimate of my case’s value?

The value of your cases depends on a wide array of factors, so we would need to review those factors to provide even a rough estimate of a claim’s ultimate value. Some relevant factors include the severity of your injuries, but numerous other issues come into play as well. If you contact us for a free case evaluation, we can discuss the value of your claim.

How long should I expect the personal injury claim process to take?

This answer also depends on the details of your situation, including your progress toward medical recovery. Please feel free to contact us for a personal evaluation specific to your case.

How does North Carolina’s “contributory negligence” law affect my case?

The contributory negligence rule applied in North Carolina could potentially make it much more difficult for you to recover compensation unless your case is handled through the workers’ compensation process, where negligence is not a factor. If your actions contributed to the cause of your injuries, then you could be prevented from receiving damages. It is important to work with an attorney who is prepared to overcome the contributory negligence arguments that will invariably be raised by the defense team.

Will my case likely go to trial, or will it be settled out of court?

Most personal injury cases settle out of court, but it is often necessary to initiate litigation to obtain a reasonable settlement. Most of the litigation process occurs out of court as attorneys gather information and undertake strategic planning to strengthen their cases.

Who will be the specific attorney primarily handling my case?

We need to assess the knowledge, skills, and experience required to succeed with your case before we can assign members of our legal team with the right qualifications to achieve the most favorable outcome.

How often will I be updated on the progress of my case?

Once you have established a relationship with the team members who will be handling your case, you can let them know your preferences for communication about the progress of your case.

What should I do right now to protect my potential claim?

The most effective thing you can do is to schedule a consultation and talk to us before you talk to anyone else (except your doctor). In particular, don’t talk to any insurance companies and don’t discuss the cause of your injuries or how severe you think they may or may not be. Anything you say can be used against you. You should receive a complete medical exam as soon as possible, and follow the doctor’s instructions explicitly.

People Also Ask

What are the odds of winning a personal injury lawsuit?

We deal with evidence and facts, not odds. During your consultation, we can review the strengths and potential weaknesses of your claim.

How do I choose the best personal injury lawyer?

Look for a Raleigh personal injury lawyer with a reputation for success in litigation, experience handling the type of claim you’re dealing with, and a dedication to serving your particular needs.

What is the hardest injury to prove?

The hardest injury to prove would be one where there’s no objective evidence to back up a client’s assertions. Getting a prompt medical exam and following the recommendations of your medical and legal team can help ensure that there is adequate evidence of your injuries.

Which lawyer wins the most cases?

At Martin & Jones, our team often collaborates to share the benefit of each attorney’s particular experience. We always consider every win a win for the client and the team, rather than for an individual lawyer.

What is a reasonable settlement amount?

A reasonable settlement amount is one that provides fair compensation for each aspect of an injury. This would include amounts to cover past expenses and lost income, amounts to cover future needs, and amounts to appropriately offset intangible losses and impacts on your life, such as pain, suffering, and lost opportunities.

Learn More About Working with the Top Personal Injury Lawyers in Raleigh

The best way to find out whether the team at Martin & Jones includes the right Raleigh personal injury lawyer for your situation is to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation. Just call us at 800-662-1234 or contact us online to get started.