Where This Fits in the Claim Process
If a campus says it can’t provide insurance information without a “formal claim notice,” you are usually in the very early stage of the claim: the incident has been reported informally, but the campus has not yet opened (or will not discuss) a liability claim until it receives a written notice with basic details. When the campus directs you to an associate general counsel, that typically means the matter is being handled through the campus’s risk management/legal channel rather than a front-desk department.
Practical Steps That Usually Help
- Send a clear written notice (even if they don’t call it a “claim”): Provide the date, general location (campus/building area), what happened, the general nature of injuries, and how to contact you/your attorney. Keep it factual and concise.
- Ask the right questions in the same letter/email: Request the name of the entity that should receive the claim, the preferred method for submitting it, and whether the campus participates in a risk pool or carries liability coverage for premises claims. (Avoid demanding policy interpretation.)
- Preserve evidence early: Ask that any video, incident reports, maintenance logs, and inspection/cleaning records for the area be preserved. In premises cases, early investigation matters because conditions and records can change quickly.
- Track communications: Keep a timeline of who you contacted, when, and what was said. Confirm key points in writing when appropriate.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting too long to put the claim in writing: Even if the campus is slow to respond, you do not want delays to push you toward a filing deadline.
- Providing unnecessary details or speculation: Stick to what you know. Inconsistent descriptions can create avoidable disputes later.
- Assuming “insurance = automatic liability”: In North Carolina, many public entities have some form of governmental immunity, and when and to what extent that immunity may be waived can depend on whether the entity purchased liability insurance (or participates in a risk pool) and the scope of that coverage.
- Overlooking contributory negligence issues: North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule can be a major defense in slip-and-fall cases. Seemingly small facts (footwear, lighting, warnings, where you were walking, distractions) can become important.
How This Applies
Apply to the facts: Here, the reported slip and fall happened on a campus in North Carolina, and the campus directed counsel to follow up with an associate general counsel. That usually signals the campus wants a written notice routed through its legal/risk process before discussing insurance. A concise written notice plus a preservation request (especially for any video and incident documentation) is often the next practical step while your attorney continues investigating who the proper legal entity is and what defenses may be raised.
Conclusion
If a campus says it needs a formal claim notice before sharing insurance details, that is often a process requirement—not a final decision on responsibility. The safest approach is to submit a clear written notice to the contact they provided, request preservation of key evidence, and keep your timeline organized. One next step: have a licensed North Carolina personal injury attorney review the notice and deadline strategy before you rely on informal communications.
