Short Answer

In North Carolina, a settlement for injuries that required imaging (like CT scans), staples, and follow-up therapy is usually based on (1) provable financial losses (medical bills and related out-of-pocket costs, and sometimes lost income) plus (2) non-economic harms like pain, suffering, and disruption to daily life. There is no fixed “multiplier” or formula required by North Carolina law. The value also depends heavily on whether the other driver is clearly at fault and whether any medical liens or insurance reimbursement claims must be paid from the settlement.

Understanding the Problem

If you were hurt in a North Carolina car wreck and you needed emergency care like scans and staples, plus follow-up physical therapy, the practical question is: how do you turn those medical events into a fair settlement number that covers what you paid (or still owe) and also accounts for what you went through? Here, one key fact is that you were transported by EMS to the emergency room after a head injury with loss of consciousness.

Apply the Law

North Carolina personal injury settlements are meant to compensate an injured person for damages caused by someone else’s negligence. In a typical motor vehicle injury claim, the core categories are (1) economic damages (medical expenses and other measurable losses) and (2) non-economic damages (pain and suffering and related impacts). A settlement is not “calculated” by a statute-based equation; it is negotiated based on what you can prove, what a jury could reasonably award, and the practical risks on both sides (including defenses like contributory negligence). Medical billing issues also matter because health insurance, provider billing, and medical liens can affect what must be repaid out of the settlement.

Key Requirements

• Fault (liability): You generally need evidence the other driver was negligent and that negligence caused the crash and your injuries.
• Medical causation: Your records should connect the wreck to the ER visit, scans, staples, and the need for therapy (not a separate event or pre-existing condition).
• Documented economic losses: Itemized bills/records for EMS, ER care, imaging, staples/stitches care, follow-up visits, prescriptions, and physical therapy, plus any out-of-pocket costs not covered by insurance.
• Non-economic harms: Evidence of pain, symptoms, limitations, and how long they lasted (for example, headaches, dizziness, sleep disruption, and limits on work or daily activities).
• Clean defense posture: North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule can bar recovery if the insurer can prove you were also negligent and that negligence contributed to the crash.
• Liens and reimbursement claims handled correctly: Some medical providers and payers may assert a lien or reimbursement right that must be addressed before you can safely finalize a settlement.

What the Statutes Say

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 44-49 (Medical provider liens) - Creates a lien on personal injury recoveries for certain medical/ambulance services and sets requirements for notice and itemized statements.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-540.2 (Property damage settlement not an admission; does not automatically release injury claims) - Clarifies that settling vehicle/property damage does not, by itself, settle bodily injury claims unless the written agreement says so.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: Your ER transport after a head injury with reported loss of consciousness supports that the initial evaluation and imaging were medically reasonable and tied to the crash, which helps prove both causation and damages. Staples (or stitches) and follow-up therapy also tend to create a clear paper trail of treatment and recovery time. The settlement value will usually track (1) the total, well-documented medical charges and out-of-pocket costs, (2) how long symptoms lasted and whether you fully recovered, and (3) whether the insurer can credibly argue you were at fault in any way.

Process & Timing

1. Who files: The injured person (or their attorney) makes the bodily injury claim. Where: Typically with the at-fault driver’s auto liability insurer; if a lawsuit is needed, it is filed in the appropriate North Carolina trial court (usually Superior Court) in a proper county. What: A demand package with medical records/bills, proof of lost income (if any), and a clear explanation of pain and limitations. When: As soon as you have enough medical documentation to show the full picture of injury and recovery; many claims are best evaluated after treatment stabilizes.
2. Negotiation: The insurer reviews liability, medical causation, and the reasonableness/necessity of scans, ER care, and therapy. They may request additional records or argue that some treatment was unrelated or excessive.
3. Resolution: If you settle, you sign a written release. Before funds are finally disbursed, liens and reimbursement claims (for example, provider liens under North Carolina law) should be identified and addressed so you do not face later collection efforts.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• Contributory negligence: If the insurer can prove you contributed to the crash (even partially), it can defeat the claim entirely under North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule in many situations.
• Gaps in treatment: Long delays between the wreck and follow-up care can give the insurer an argument that symptoms were not serious or were caused by something else.
• “Scans = big settlement” assumption: Imaging and staples show you needed acute care, but the settlement still depends on the overall injury course—duration of symptoms, functional limits, and whether you fully recover.
• Underestimating therapy needs: Settling before you know whether therapy will continue can leave you paying future bills yourself after the release is signed.
• Liens and reimbursement surprises: Providers (and sometimes payers) may assert rights against the settlement; North Carolina’s medical lien statute can come into play, and ignoring liens can create problems after settlement.
• Property damage paperwork confusion: Settling the vehicle damage does not automatically settle the injury claim, but the written terms matter—read releases carefully.

Conclusion

In North Carolina, a settlement for injuries involving scans, staples, and follow-up therapy is negotiated based on provable economic losses (medical bills and out-of-pocket costs) plus non-economic harms (pain and disruption), with liability and medical causation driving the result. There is no required formula, and defenses like contributory negligence can change the outcome. A practical next step is to gather your itemized EMS/ER/imaging and therapy records and use them to make a written demand to the at-fault insurer before you sign any release.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney

If you're dealing with a North Carolina car wreck injury that involved emergency scans, staples, and follow-up therapy, an attorney can help you organize the medical proof, evaluate lien and reimbursement issues, and understand how liability defenses may affect settlement value and timing. Reach out today.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice for your specific situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If you have a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.