North Carolina Personal Injury Settlement Amounts Examples [2024 Updated]

Personal injury cases come about when someone ends up injured due to another person’s negligent behavior or intentional misconduct. Also known as “torts,” personal injury claims in Charlotte and throughout North Carolina are common and can be an optimal way to recoup one’s losses in the event of injury, illness, or even wrongful death if it comes to that. Before deciding to pursue a claim, you may want to know about some North Carolina personal injury settlement amounts examples.

How Much Can You Get in a Personal Injury Claim?

Every personal injury case is different. They carry different circumstances that lead to different results each time. Therefore, there is no real average personal injury amount that can be awarded. Some amounts have ranged in the tens of thousands, while more serious injury claims have resulted in compensation amounts in the low millions. It really does depend on the strength of your personal injury case and the evidence that you and your lawyer are able to gather.

According to a study from the Lawsuit Information Center, the largest personal injury award given in a medical malpractice case ranged around $8 million. The average personal injury award nationally is around $1 million, while the average payout in North Carolina is fairly low when compared to the national average. However, it is still a substantial amount of money.

In 2024, there was a $2.5 million payout to a farm employee who lost their leg in a subfloor auger while cleaning a grain silo. Since the farm failed to warn the employee about the machinery’s missing safety feature, he sued them for negligence in a personal injury claim, and he won.

In 2023, an elderly pedestrian was unexpectedly struck by a pickup truck. His injuries were quite severe, and ended up confining him to an assisted living facility. In the subsequent lawsuit, his lawyers focused on the construction crew who improperly diverted traffic, causing confusion for drivers and pedestrians alike. Both parties reached a settlement of $3 million before it went to trial.

Those are just a few examples of substantial personal injury payouts that have benefited the plaintiff and helped them improve their quality of life after suffering severe, life-changing injuries at the hands of another’s negligent behavior. Your life is likely to change after a serious injury caused by another party, but you should not have to bear the financial burden as well.

What Can You Be Compensated For?

A personal injury claim can help you recoup many different kinds of losses you may have accrued due to your recent situation. Some of the different kinds of damages you can attempt to claim in a personal injury case include:

• Medical Expenses: When the plaintiff has had to endure doctor’s office visits and/or hospital stays, the defendant may be held liable for any of their medical expenses. This can include medication costs, surgery costs, ambulance rides, and physical therapy costs.
• Loss of Property: If the defendant’s actions resulted in the loss or damage of some of your property, you have the right to sue for damages and try to recoup the value of that property in compensatory damages.
• Pain and Suffering: Pain and suffering is one of the more common non-economic losses that you can attempt to recoup in a personal injury claim. The potential amount that can be recovered for pain and suffering is unlimited in North Carolina, and you can seek as much as you feel is appropriate.
• Emotional Distress: Going through a personal injury can be quite stressful and thus can impact your mental health quite substantially. Seeking damages for emotional distress is quite common and can be included in your claim for pain and suffering.

FAQs

Q: How Are Personal Injury Settlements Paid Out in North Carolina?

A: Personal injury settlements are paid out in several different ways in North Carolina. Depending on the terms of the agreement in question, the payout could be made in a lump sum and given to the plaintiff as one, likely substantial, payment. It could also be paid out in installments over an agreed-upon period of time. It really would depend on the case at hand and what both parties put in the agreement.

Q: How Much Is Pain and Suffering Worth in North Carolina?

A: There is no cap for pain and suffering damages in North Carolina unless the pain and suffering is being sought in a medical malpractice case. Other than this exception, pain and suffering damages are whatever the jury feels is appropriate to award the plaintiff or whatever the parties can agree is fair. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you determine a fair amount to seek in your claim.

Q: What Is a Good Settlement Figure?

A: It can feel impossible to determine what a good settlement figure is for your situation, as putting a number on a traumatic experience is difficult. A personal injury or wrongful death attorney can help you determine an appropriate number that is fair for your situation and complies with the applicable laws. If the responsible party fails to offer a worthy settlement, you can take your case to court and let a jury decide if they are at fault and an appropriate compensation amount.

Q: What Is the Formula for Personal Injury Settlements?

A: North Carolina state law does not provide a set formula to calculate personal injury settlements. Personal injury damages are reached by combining the actual expenses you have spent on your case thus far with compensation for pain and suffering. Many other factors can be considered when building a personal injury settlement, but these basic components can be a good starting point for negotiations.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Dealing with the fallout of a personal injury and the subsequent legal action can be daunting, emotional, and ultimately quite stressful. It is important to take steps to protect yourself in the event that you are injured due to another person’s negligent behavior. The legal team at Bridgman Gantt Law Offices can help you develop your case, gather the necessary evidence, and advocate on your behalf in court if it comes to that. Reach out to schedule a consultation as soon as you can.