Smithfield Personal Injury Lawyer

A car accident on I-95 or Brightleaf Boulevard can turn your life upside down in a second. One moment you’re commuting, shopping at the outlets, or heading home, and the next you’re facing medical bills, a damaged car, time off work, and an insurance company that wants to pay as little as possible.

Tien Law Firm helps people injured in crashes in Smithfield, Selma, Four Oaks, Pine Level, Clayton, Benson, Princeton, and throughout Johnston County. Our founder, Sonya Tien, is an award-winning North Carolina personal injury lawyer who represents injured people, never insurance companies. Our Raleigh office is about 30 miles up I-40 and US-70, and we come to you when you need us.

Call (919) 800-2000 for a free consultation. There’s no fee unless we recover compensation for you, and we can talk by phone or video today.

Dangerous Roads and Crash Spots Around Smithfield

Johnston County is one of the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina, and its roads haven’t always kept up. We regularly help people hurt in crashes on:

  • I-95 through Smithfield and Selma. Heavy interstate traffic, tractor-trailers, and out-of-state drivers combine with frequent congestion near the Carolina Premium Outlets and the US-70 interchange. Rear-end, lane-change, and truck crashes are common.
  • I-40 and the I-95 interchange near Benson. Merging traffic between two major interstates leads to high-speed collisions.
  • US-70 and US-70 Business (Market Street). The main route between Raleigh, Clayton, Smithfield, and Goldsboro carries heavy commuter traffic, with busy intersections near shopping centers and downtown Smithfield.
  • Brightleaf Boulevard (US-301). Smithfield’s main commercial corridor has constant turning traffic in and out of restaurants, stores, and the hospital campus.
  • NC-42 and NC-210. Rapid growth around Clayton, Cleveland, and Smithfield has added traffic to two-lane roads not built for it.
  • NC-96 and NC-39. Rural highways linking Smithfield to Selma, Four Oaks, Pine Level, Princeton, and Zebulon, where speeding and failure-to-yield crashes can be severe.

Wherever your crash happened, we can get the crash report, find witnesses, and request video from nearby businesses before it’s erased.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Smithfield

The first few days after a crash can shape both your recovery and your claim.

  1. Call 911. Depending on the location, the Smithfield Police Department, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, or the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (on I-95, I-40, US-70, and other highways) will respond and write a report.
  2. Get medical care, even if you feel fine. Whiplash, concussions, and internal injuries can take hours or days to show up. Johnston County crash victims are commonly treated at:
    • UNC Health Johnston in Smithfield, on North Brightleaf Boulevard
    • UNC Health Johnston’s Clayton campus, for crashes on the western side of the county
    • WakeMed Raleigh Campus, the region’s Level I trauma center, for the most serious injuries
  3. Document everything. Take photos of the vehicles, the scene, road conditions, and your injuries. Get names and phone numbers from witnesses.
  4. Get the crash report number. The North Carolina DMV-349 crash report is key evidence of how the wreck happened.
  5. Don’t give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer. Adjusters may use your words to argue you were partly at fault, which can bar your recovery under North Carolina law.
  6. Call Tien Law Firm at (919) 800-2000. We’ll handle the insurance companies and start protecting evidence while you focus on healing.

Injury Cases We Handle in Smithfield and Johnston County

Most of our Smithfield clients come to us after a motor vehicle crash. We handle:

  • Car accidents, including rear-end, T-bone, head-on, and sideswipe collisions
  • Truck accidents involving tractor-trailers and delivery trucks on I-95, I-40, and US-70
  • Drunk driving accidents, where punitive damages may be available
  • Motorcycle accidents on Johnston County’s highways and back roads
  • Pedestrian and bicycle accidents in downtown Smithfield, Selma, and Clayton
  • Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims when the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough coverage
  • Rideshare accidents involving Uber and Lyft drivers
  • Wrongful death claims for families who lost a loved one in a crash

Not sure if you have a case? Call (919) 800-2000. The consultation is free, and we’ll tell you honestly where you stand.

North Carolina Laws That Affect Your Smithfield Injury Claim

Contributory negligence. North Carolina is one of only a handful of states that follows this harsh rule: if you are found even slightly at fault, you may be barred from recovering anything. Insurance adjusters know this and often look for any reason to blame you. That’s why it matters to have a lawyer gathering evidence from day one.

Insurance minimums went up. For policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025, North Carolina requires at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage, and $50,000 in property damage coverage.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Every North Carolina auto policy now includes uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and the old “liability setoff” was eliminated. That means your own policy may pay in addition to the at-fault driver’s coverage when your injuries are serious.

Deadlines. Most personal injury claims in North Carolina must be filed within three years of the crash. Wrongful death claims generally must be filed within two years of the date of death. Claims involving government vehicles or roads can have different requirements, so don’t wait.

Where your case is heard. If a lawsuit is needed, many Smithfield-area cases are filed at the Johnston County Courthouse in downtown Smithfield.

Compensation You May Be Able to Recover

Every case is different, but people injured in Smithfield-area crashes may be able to recover:

  • Ambulance, emergency room, hospital, surgery, and rehabilitation costs
  • Future medical care, including physical therapy, injections, and surgery
  • Lost wages and reduced ability to work
  • Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
  • Scarring, disfigurement, and permanent injury
  • Vehicle repair or replacement and rental car costs
  • Punitive damages in cases involving drunk driving or reckless conduct
  • Wrongful death damages for families who lost a loved one

We document the full impact of your injuries, including future costs, before we negotiate, so the insurance company can’t rush you into a settlement that falls short.

Why Smithfield Crash Victims Choose Tien Law Firm

Sonya Tien founded Tien Law Firm to give injured North Carolinians a lawyer who answers the phone, explains every step, and stands up to insurance companies.

  • Award-winning advocacy. Sonya has been recognized for her work representing injured people across North Carolina. [Insert specific awards and years.]
  • We know Johnston County. From I-95 to Brightleaf Boulevard to the Johnston County Courthouse, we understand the roads, the local agencies, and how cases move here.
  • We come to you. Meet by phone or video, or we can come to you in Smithfield or at the hospital. You won’t need to drive to Raleigh while you’re hurt.
  • Fast investigation. We request crash reports, 911 calls, dash and body camera footage, and business surveillance video, and we bring in reconstruction experts when needed.
  • No fee unless we win. We work on contingency, so there’s no upfront cost to get started.

Hurt in a Johnston County crash? Call (919) 800-2000 for a free case review today.

Smithfield Personal Injury FAQs

How much is my Smithfield car accident case worth?

It depends on your injuries, medical costs, lost income, how the crash affects your daily life, and the insurance available. We can give you a clearer picture after reviewing your records in a free consultation.

The insurance company already offered a settlement. Should I take it?

Not before talking to a lawyer. Early offers often come before you know the full extent of your injuries, and once you sign a release, you usually can’t reopen the claim.

What if the insurance company says I was partly at fault?

Under North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule, that argument can be serious. A lawyer can gather evidence like crash reports, photos, video, and witness statements to push back.

What if the driver who hit me had no insurance?

Your own uninsured motorist coverage may pay. Since July 1, 2025, every North Carolina auto policy must include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

How long do I have to file a claim?

Generally three years from the crash for injury claims, and two years from the date of death for wrongful death claims. Some exceptions are shorter, so call promptly.

How much does it cost to hire Tien Law Firm?

Nothing upfront. The consultation is free, and you pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you.

Do I have to come to Raleigh?

No. Most Smithfield clients work with us by phone, video, and email, and we can meet you in Johnston County when needed.

Talk to a Smithfield Personal Injury Lawyer Today

The insurance company already has a team working to protect its bottom line. You deserve someone working just as hard for you. Whether you were hurt on I-95, Brightleaf Boulevard, Market Street, or a back road outside Four Oaks, Sonya Tien and the team at Tien Law Firm are ready to help.

Call (919) 800-2000 or fill out our contact form for a free, confidential consultation. No fee unless we win.

Tien Law Firm · (919) 800-2000 · Serving Smithfield, Selma, Four Oaks, Pine Level, Clayton, Benson, Princeton, and all of Johnston County.