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 I seek compensation for emotional distress after a car accident if I have no diagnosed physical injury?
Yes, North Carolina law may allow an emotional distress claim without a diagnosed physical injury, but the distress generally must be severe rather than…
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Can I recover lost wages if emotional distress caused me to miss work after a collision?
Possibly. North Carolina does not always require a physical injury for a person to recover damages caused by severe emotional distress, and proven lost wages…
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Can I pursue a property damage claim for a rental car if I was not physically injured?
Yes. A North Carolina property damage claim does not require a physical injury, but the rental company usually owns the vehicle and may control the repair…
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Can I pursue a claim if the driver was not the registered owner of the vehicle?
Yes. A North Carolina injury claim may be pursued against a negligent driver even when that person did not own the vehicle.
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Can I open an accident claim without the other vehicle's policy number?
Yes. You can often report a North Carolina accident and begin the claim process without the other vehicle’s policy number if you have enough information to…
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Can I hire a lawyer for a personal injury claim after initially trying to handle it myself?
Yes. You may hire a lawyer after starting a North Carolina personal injury claim on your own, provided an attorney agrees to take the case.
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Can I electronically sign a medical-records release form instead of printing it?
Usually, yes—an electronic signature may be valid under North Carolina law if the records holder accepts electronic transactions and the signature can be…
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Can I challenge insurance records that are causing higher out-of-pocket charges for my medical care?
Yes. You can dispute inaccurate hospital billing information, insurance claim records, payment coding, or coordination-of-benefits information that may be…
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Can a personal injury claim be resolved for the insurer’s final settlement offer?
Yes. A North Carolina personal injury claim can generally be resolved for the amount described as the insurer’s final settlement offer when the claimant…
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Can a household member’s car insurance provide underinsured motorist coverage if I was an uninsured passenger?
Possibly, but sharing a home with someone who has car insurance does not, by itself, make you insured under that policy.
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Why might an insurer receive notice of a lien before the injured person's attorney?
An insurer may receive lien notice first because health plans, government benefit programs, medical providers, and recovery vendors often use separate notice…
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What should I do if the accident report separated the people involved and delayed access to the other driver's insurance information?
Request the complete crash report, including every continuation or supplemental page, and contact the investigating agency about missing or unclear insurance…
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What should I do if I was initially told there was no lien but a lien was later asserted?
Do not assume either notice is final. Ask for the later claim in writing, an itemized payment history, the legal or plan language supporting repayment, and an…
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What medical records are needed before an insurance demand can be submitted?
An insurance demand can sometimes be submitted before every record is available, but it is usually better to obtain complete records and itemized bills from…
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What information is needed to open a subrogation file after a rear-end collision?
To open a health-plan subrogation file, you usually need the injured person’s plan information, collision details, injury-related treatment information,…
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What information does my insurer review when deciding an underinsured motorist claim?
Your insurer usually reviews coverage, fault, the at-fault driver’s insurance limits, medical evidence, financial losses, and whether the crash caused your…
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What happens when an insurance company makes its final settlement offer?
A final settlement offer usually means the insurance company says it will not voluntarily increase its current offer.
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What happens if the insurance company's final offer is below the minimum amount I authorized?
Your attorney generally should not accept an insurance offer below the minimum amount you authorized unless you give new approval.
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What happens if I reject an insurance company's final settlement offer and seek greater compensation?
You may reject the offer and continue seeking greater compensation, but a higher payment is not guaranteed.
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What happens after I approve the medical bills and records for a personal injury demand?
After you approve the medical bills and records, the demand package is usually finalized and sent to the insurance adjuster for review.
