Charlotte
Personal Injury
Attorneys

Personal Injury Lawyer Charlotte, NC

If you’ve been hurt in an accident in Charlotte, our Charlotte, NC personal injury lawyer is here to help you. Dealing with medical bills, missed work, and insurance adjusters while trying to recover is overwhelming. You didn’t cause this situation. You shouldn’t have to navigate it alone.

At The Layton Law Firm, founder Christopher Layton has spent 15 years handling injury cases across North Carolina. We’ve helped our clients recover millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. Every personal injury case we take operates on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Why Choose The Layton Law Firm for Personal Injury in Charlotte, NC?

15 Years Fighting for Injured Clients

Chris Layton has practiced personal injury law since 2009. He earned his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law and his B.A. in Journalism from the University of Maryland at College Park. He’s licensed to practice in North Carolina and the Federal Western District of North Carolina. He’s a member of the NC State Bar and the Mecklenburg County Bar Association.

That background matters when you’re going against insurance companies. They have attorneys who handle claims every day, looking for reasons to deny or reduce what they owe you. Chris understands their tactics because he’s seen them for over a decade. He knows which arguments work in Mecklenburg County courts and how to build cases that hold up under scrutiny.

A Charlotte Resident Who Knows This Community

Chris has lived in Charlotte for 24 years. He raised his two daughters here. When he’s not in the office, you might find him hiking local trails or trying out new material at comedy open mics around town. He became a lawyer for a specific reason: to help people who would otherwise be taken advantage of by insurance companies and corporations with deep pockets.

That mission drives how we operate. We communicate clearly. We explain your options honestly. And we fight aggressively when insurers refuse to offer fair compensation.

What Our Clients Say

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The Layton Law Firm was AMAZING! Chris and his team are consummate professionals who went above and beyond with my personal injury claim. They were very professional, knowledgeable, and always keep me abreast throughout the whole process!” — Mary Kelly

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle in Charlotte

We represent plaintiffs across a wide range of accident and injury matters. Here are the primary case types we take:

• Car Accidents. Vehicle collisions are the most common source of injury claims in Mecklenburg County. We handle everything from rear-end collisions to multi-vehicle pileups on I-77 and I-85. Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts by arguing you were partially at fault or that your injuries existed before the crash.
  
• Truck Accidents. Commercial vehicle crashes involve federal regulations, multiple insurance policies, and corporate defendants. Trucking companies often send investigators to accident scenes within hours. We move quickly to preserve evidence and identify all responsible parties.
  
• Motorcycle Accidents. Riders face bias from insurance adjusters who assume motorcyclists take unnecessary risks. We fight that perception while pursuing full compensation for road rash, broken bones, and other serious injuries.
  
• Pedestrian Accidents. Charlotte’s growing population means more foot traffic and more dangerous intersections. We handle cases involving crosswalk collisions, hit-and-run incidents, and crashes in parking lots.
  
• Slip And Fall Accidents. Property owners have a duty to maintain safe conditions. When wet floors, uneven surfaces, or poor lighting cause injuries, we pursue claims against negligent landlords and businesses.
  
• Rideshare Accidents. Uber and Lyft crashes involve complicated insurance questions. Was the driver logged into the app? Were they carrying a passenger? The answers determine which policy applies and how much coverage exists.
  

North Carolina Legal Requirements for Personal Injury Claims

North Carolina operates under a strict legal doctrine called contributory negligence. This is critical to understand because it differs from most other states.

Under contributory negligence, if you bear any fault for causing your accident—even 1%—you may be completely barred from recovering compensation. The insurance company doesn’t have to prove you were mostly at fault. Any fault can destroy your claim.

This rule makes North Carolina one of the hardest states to pursue injury claims. Insurance adjusters know this. They look for any evidence suggesting you contributed to the accident: maybe you were texting, maybe you didn’t use a turn signal, maybe you were jaywalking. They’ll use that evidence to deny your claim entirely.

The NC General Statutes also impose a three-year statute of limitations on most personal injury claims. Miss that deadline and your case is gone, regardless of how strong your evidence is.

Having an attorney who understands these rules matters. We know how to counter contributory negligence arguments and build cases that demonstrate the other party’s full responsibility for your injuries.

What Damages Can a Charlotte Personal Injury Help You Recover? 

North Carolina law allows injured plaintiffs to pursue several categories of compensation. Understanding what you can claim helps set realistic expectations and ensures you don’t leave money on the table.

Economic damages cover your actual financial losses: medical bills (past and future), lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage to your vehicle. These are calculated using bills, pay stubs, and documentation from your employer. Future medical costs matter too. If your injury requires ongoing treatment, physical therapy, or surgery down the road, those projected expenses factor into your claim. We work with medical professionals to document the full scope of care you’ll need.

Non-economic damages compensate for losses that don’t have receipts attached. Pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disfigurement all fall into this category. North Carolina doesn’t cap non-economic damages in most personal injury cases, though calculating them requires experience and strong evidence of how the injury affected your daily life. A herniated disc might heal in six months. But if it prevents you from picking up your children or coaching their soccer team, that loss has real value.

Lost earning capacity deserves special attention. This goes beyond wages you’ve already missed. If your injury limits the type of work you can do—or ends your career entirely—you may be entitled to compensation for decades of diminished income. An accountant who can no longer sit at a desk for extended periods faces a different financial future than before the accident.

Punitive damages are available in limited circumstances. Under N.C.G.S. § 1D-15, you must prove the defendant acted with fraud, malice, or willful conduct. These damages are capped at the greater of $250,000 or three times compensatory damages. Drunk driving cases sometimes qualify. So do incidents involving intentional misconduct or gross negligence.

Steps to Take After a Personal Injury Accident in Charlotte

1. Ensure safety first. Move away from traffic or other hazards if you can do so without making injuries worse.
   
2. Call 911. Get police and emergency medical services to the scene. The accident report becomes important evidence later.
   
3. Seek medical attention. Even if you feel okay, some injuries like soft tissue damage or concussions don’t show symptoms immediately.
   
4. Document the scene. Take photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible injuries. Get contact information from witnesses.
   
5. Don’t admit fault. Anything you say can be used against you under North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule.
   
6. Obtain the police report. Request a copy once it’s available. Review it for accuracy.
   
7. Notify your insurance company. Report the accident, but don’t give recorded statements to the other driver’s insurer without legal guidance.
   
8. Keep records of everything. Medical appointments, medications, days missed from work, how the injury affects your sleep and daily activities.
   
9. Avoid social media posts. Insurance companies monitor Facebook and Instagram for evidence they can use against you.
   
10. Contact a personal injury attorney. The earlier you have representation, the better positioned you are to protect your rights. According to CDC transportation data, motor vehicle crashes kill over 120 people daily in the United States—making swift legal action critical for survivors seeking compensation.
    

Important Local Resources for Charlotte Personal Injury Victims

The following resources may be helpful after an accident in the Charlotte area. This list is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement by The Layton Law Firm.

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department — (704) 336-7600
• Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center — (704) 355-2000
• Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center — (704) 384-4000
• Mecklenburg County Courthouse — (704) 686-0100
• NC Division of Motor Vehicles — Accident report requests

For national crash statistics and safety research, the NHTSA FARS database provides detailed data on fatal motor vehicle accidents across the country.

Contact A Charlotte Personal Injury Lawyer at Layton Law Firm

You have enough to worry about after an injury. Let us handle the legal fight while you focus on recovery.

We offer free consultations and work on contingency—no fees unless we recover compensation for you. Chris Layton personally reviews every potential case and will give you an honest assessment of your options. We respond promptly to inquiries and keep clients informed throughout the process. Call today or fill out our online form to get started.