North Carolina Negligence Laws

Most personal injury cases hinge on the legal theory of negligence, whereby an individual who owes a duty to another fails to exercise a certain degree of care, causing injury. For instance, a restaurant whose cook fails to check the temperature of a roasted chicken may be held negligent for the diners' resulting food poisoning. The defendant is only liable if they owe a particular duty to the plaintiff. For instance, if a diner with celiac disease fails to mention this to the restaurant staff and ends up ingesting gluten (which people with celiac disease can't consume), then it's the diner's (not the restaurant's) fault.

North Carolina negligence laws follow the doctrine of contributory negligence, which bars recovery by the plaintiff if they're just partially at fault. The majority of other states follow the doctrine of comparable negligence, in which the amount of damages is reduced in proportion to the plaintiff's degree of fault.

Negligence in North Carolina at a Glance

When you're injured, the last thing you want to do is decipher the dense legalese often found in statutes. The following chart highlights some of the main provisions of North Carolina's negligence laws, written in a clear and concise manner.

Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

What are the Elements of a Negligence Case?

Negligence is a fairly standardized cause of action, so the elements required to establish liability are quite uniform from one state to the next. Generally, the elements of a negligence case are:

1. Defendant owed a duty to commit an act or refrain from committing an act;
2. Defendant breached this duty;
3. This breach of duty caused injury to the plaintiff;
4. Defendant's actions (or inactions) were the proximate cause of the injury (the defendant should have known that this action could have caused injuries); and
5. Plaintiff suffered actual damages (i.e., lost wages, hospital bills, etc.).

Research the Law

• North Carolina Law - Summaries of select state laws covering a wide variety of practice areas, including family, criminal, small business, injury, and consumer law.
• Official State Codes - Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.

North Carolina Negligence Laws: Related Resources

• Pain and Suffering Damages in North Carolina
• Negligence and the "Reasonable" Person
• North Carolina Car Accident Compensation Laws

Get Help With Your Negligence Claim From a North Carolina Attorney

North Carolina has a variety of different negligence laws that apply to a variety of injuries. If you have a personal injury matter, you should find a local attorney who understands North Carolina's rules on contributory negligence and tortfeasor contribution. It's in your best interests to contact an experienced North Carolina injury attorney near you today.