In North Carolina, you have three years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit regarding your accident. If you miss that deadline and try to file late, the court will likely dismiss your lawsuit altogether, and you will lose the ability to obtain money for your accident through the court system.
Three years will fly by, so it's a good idea to engage a lawyer right away. That way, even if settlement negotiations take three years, your lawyer can protect your interests and file a lawsuit before your time runs out.