North Carolina Drugged Driving Accident Attorney

Drugged Driving Accident Drugged driving, or driving while impaired by a controlled substance, is a crime under North Carolina law and a cause of many serious and fatal car accidents throughout the state. Drivers who carelessly operate their vehicles by taking drugs and getting behind the wheel are placing others at a severe risk of harm, and they should be held legally responsible for all resulting harm and injuries. At Nagle & Associates, we can represent people who have been hurt by drunk or impaired drivers throughout North Carolina. With seven offices across the state, we are close by. If it helps, we can even come to your home to get your case started. Further, you pay nothing up front to put our legal team to work today, and we are paid only if and when we collect money from the impaired driver who caused your accident. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a motor vehicle collision and believe that the other driver may have been under the influence of a controlled substance, Raleigh car accident lawyer Carl Nagle can help you secure maximum payment for your past and future medical costs, for all lost income and earning ability, for pain and suffering, and even for punitive damages in more serious impaired driving cases. Mr. Nagle brings his valuable inside experience as a former insurance defense lawyer and insurance claims adjuster to his advocacy on behalf of injured individuals throughout the state, including people in Wilmington, Asheville, and Winston-Salem.

Holding a Driver Accountable for a Drugged Driving Accident

Drugs such as marijuana, prescription medications, and even some over-the-counter medicines may affect reaction time and undermine a driver’s ability to safely operate their car. Certain drugs may cause drowsiness, while others may even lead to hallucinations. Drugged drivers sometimes may speed, run red lights, or veer outside their traffic lane. Since drivers under the influence of drugs may not effectively respond to road hazards, such as slick surfaces or objects on the pavement, their delayed reactions may lead to a collision.

Victims of crashes caused by drugged drivers may seek compensation for their injuries through filing a lawsuit against the driver. In some situations, the legal claim may proceed to a judge or jury, and in other cases the parties may reach a settlement without court involvement. Either way, a victim must demonstrate an ability to succeed at trial to secure a fair settlement from an insurance adjuster.

To protect your right to the full recovery of costs associated with a motor vehicle accident, you must make sure to prove future as well as past and present damages. If a plaintiff will require continued medical care, they may present an estimate of the future costs, often through the medical opinion of a treating physician. Other expenses that would not have been incurred if the plaintiff had not suffered injuries may also be compensated, such as the cost of hiring someone to perform necessary housework while the victim recovers. Proving the full extent of the injuries is important, as is carefully tracing the conditions to the underlying accident.

One potential issue that may confront some plaintiffs in motor vehicle accident lawsuits is the defense of contributory negligence. North Carolina law states that when the defendant and the plaintiff both caused the car accident, the plaintiff may not recover damages in a personal injury claim. For example, the defendant’s lawyer may assert that the plaintiff partly caused the crash by speeding or otherwise driving carelessly. If the judge or jury determines that the victim’s negligence contributed to the accident, they would not recover damages. However, a skilled personal injury lawyer can prepare counterarguments to any such allegations, using their experience from handling many similar matters before.

North Carolina victims pursuing a legal claim against a drugged driver must file their lawsuits within three years from the date of the accident. While the three-year period does not apply to an insurance claim, consulting an attorney following a crash is still highly advisable.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in the Raleigh Area

Raleigh car accident attorney Carl Nagle can help you deal with the serious injuries that often follow a drugged driving accident by providing efficient and effective legal counsel. Mr. Nagle appreciates the importance of maximizing compensation for his clients, and he charges a lower legal fee than many other personal injury law firms in North Carolina. With seven offices throughout the state, we have helped victims in Raleigh, Winston-Salem, Asheville, Wilmington, Greensboro, Charlotte, Hickory, and other cities in Wake, Mecklenburg, Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, New Hanover, and Catawba Counties. Contact us today for personal attention and a strategy tailored to your situation. We may be reached by calling (800) 411-1583 or using our online form to schedule a free telephone or in-person consultation with a highly experienced NC car accident lawyer.