Firm news
Articles from the firm
Guidance written by the attorneys who handle the cases — on car accidents, insurance, liens, and what happens after an injury in North Carolina.
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How do soft-tissue injuries, chiropractic treatment, and missed work affect the value of a car-accident claim?
Soft-tissue injuries, chiropractic treatment, and missed work can all affect a North Carolina car-accident claim, but there is no fixed formula.
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How could the current condition of my hand affect my personal injury claim?
Your hand’s current condition may affect how the claim documents the injury’s duration, functional impact, medical expenses, pain, and possible future…
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How could another household member’s auto insurance affect my underinsured motorist claim?
Another household member’s auto policy may provide underinsured motorist coverage if you qualified as an insured under that policy when the accident happened.
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How can I tell whether an insurance company’s bodily injury offer is fair?
A fair bodily injury offer should reasonably account for supported medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, other documented losses, disputed fault,…
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How can I make sure an insurer recognizes my current lawyer as my authorized representative?
Send the insurer clear written notice identifying your current lawyer and stating that any prior lawyer’s authority to act on the claim has ended.
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Does owning the vehicle rather than leasing it affect my right to seek diminished value?
Yes. If you own the vehicle, you generally have the direct property interest needed to seek diminished value from the responsible party in North Carolina.
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Does my lawyer need any more information from me for my personal injury claim?
Based on the situation described, probably not right now. The firm has received the available information and is waiting for final medical bills and records…
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Does making a medical payments claim under a parent's insurance policy mean the claim is against the parent?
No. A medical payments claim under a parent's auto insurance policy usually asks the insurance company to pay available first-party benefits; it does not…
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Does it help my injury claim if the other driver was charged in connection with the accident?
Yes, a charge against the other driver may support your injury claim, but it does not automatically prove civil liability.
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Does having more severe injuries affect how much of the available insurance coverage I may receive?
Yes. More severe, well-documented injuries may support a larger claim and may influence how an insurer divides limited bodily injury coverage among several…
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Does auto medical-payments coverage apply when a policyholder is struck by a car while walking?
Yes, auto medical-payments coverage may apply when a policyholder is struck by a vehicle while walking.
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Could making an underinsured motorist claim affect my insurance premiums when the accident was not my fault?
Making an underinsured motorist claim after a crash that was not your fault does not automatically mean your North Carolina premium will increase.
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Could being unable to make a full fist support a claim for permanent impairment or disability?
Yes. An ongoing inability to make a full fist may support a North Carolina claim for permanent injury, partial loss of use of the hand, or disability,…
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Can the same insurance company handle both the at-fault driver's claim and my underinsured motorist claim?
Yes. The same insurance company can handle the at-fault driver’s liability claim and your underinsured motorist claim, but the claims involve different…
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Can resolving the motorcycle property-damage claim affect my separate bodily injury claim?
Usually, payment for motorcycle damage does not resolve a separate bodily injury claim in North Carolina.
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Can my own insurer consider what I already received from the at-fault driver when evaluating my injury claim?
Yes. When evaluating an underinsured motorist claim, your insurer may consider the bodily injury payment from the at-fault driver’s insurer because UIM…
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Can my current lawyer negotiate my injury claim while the insurer still lists my former lawyer?
Yes. Your current lawyer generally may negotiate your North Carolina injury claim if you have authorized that lawyer to represent you, even when the insurer’s…
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Can medical payments coverage under a parent's auto policy apply to my accident?
Yes, a parent's medical payments coverage may apply if the policy covered you on the accident date.
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Can injured pedestrians seek coverage from their own auto policy as well as the driver's liability insurance?
Yes. A pedestrian injured by a driver may pursue the driver’s liability insurance while also seeking benefits under the pedestrian’s own auto policy,…
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Can independent appraisers negotiate the diminished value amount with the insurance company?
Yes, an independent vehicle appraiser may communicate with an insurance company about valuation and try to resolve differences in the diminished value amount…
