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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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…
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Can I seek additional compensation from my own insurance after the at-fault driver’s insurer pays its full policy limits?
Yes, you may be able to seek additional compensation through your own underinsured motorist coverage and medical payments coverage.
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Can I reject an insurance company's initial settlement offer and negotiate for more?
Yes. You generally may reject an insurance company’s initial settlement offer and make a supported counteroffer.
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Can I make an underinsured motorist claim under my auto policy if I was injured as a pedestrian?
Yes, potentially. In North Carolina, underinsured motorist coverage may protect a named insured and certain household family members while they are walking,…
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Can I make a diminished value claim if my newer vehicle was rear-ended while stopped at a red light?
Yes, you may be able to make a diminished value claim if the collision caused your newer vehicle to be worth less even after proper repairs.
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Can I challenge another driver's insurance company if I believe both drivers shared fault for the accident?
Yes. You can dispute the insurer’s claim by presenting evidence that its insured driver helped cause the collision.
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Can an insurer increase its injury settlement offer after receiving a counteroffer?
Yes. An insurer may increase its injury settlement offer after receiving a counteroffer, but it is not required to do so.
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Can an insurance company resolve my injury claim before the other injured people submit their claims?
Yes. A North Carolina auto insurer may sometimes settle one injured person’s claim before every other claimant submits a demand.
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Can an insurance company reduce the medical bills it considers when evaluating my injury claim?
Yes. An insurance company may discount or exclude some medical charges when evaluating a North Carolina injury claim, especially if it disputes the amount…
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Can an insurance company limit my lost-wage claim if a medical provider did not formally excuse me from work?
Yes, an insurer may reduce or dispute a lost-wage allowance when no medical provider documented that your injuries prevented you from working.
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Can a policyholder and spouse both receive medical-payments coverage under the same auto policy after a pedestrian accident?
Yes, both may qualify for medical-payments coverage if the North Carolina auto policy included that coverage on the accident date and treats the spouse as an…
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Can a lawyer handle my injury claim while I deal separately with the damage to my vehicle?
Yes. A lawyer may handle your bodily injury claim while you address the vehicle-damage claim yourself, as long as the scope of representation is clearly…
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Which insurance policy is responsible when the at-fault driver was using a relative's vehicle?
The relative’s policy covering the vehicle is usually the first policy to investigate, especially if the owner gave the driver permission to use the vehicle.
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What should I verify before signing a pre-demand medical treatment form?
Before signing, confirm that the form accurately lists every provider, treatment date, accident-related service, and billing source connected to your injury…
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What should I do if a medical provider or treatment visit is missing from the form?
Report the missing provider or treatment visit in writing as soon as possible, even if you already signed the form.
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What photographs and other evidence should I preserve to support my injury claim?
Preserve original photographs of the scene, vehicles, visible injuries, damaged property, and recovery over time, along with medical records, diagnostic…
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What information does my employer need to verify for a lost-wage claim?
Your employer should verify your job, normal schedule, pay rate, exact time missed, and the wages you actually lost.
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What happens when a doctor treats a preexisting condition after a car accident?
Treatment of a preexisting condition may be included in a North Carolina car-accident claim if the collision activated the condition or made it worse.
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What happens if I do not want to settle my car accident claim before completing treatment?
You generally do not have to accept a settlement while you are still receiving care, and the decision to settle belongs to you.
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What evidence can show that my landlord knew about the unsafe floor before I was injured?
Maintenance requests, emails, text messages, portal records, prior inspections, repair estimates, witness statements, and earlier complaints can show that a…
