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.
-
Can the other driver's insurance refuse to cover windshield damage because a small chip existed before the accident? — Durham, NC
Yes, the other driver’s insurer may dispute the windshield claim, but a preexisting chip does not automatically excuse it from paying for additional…
-
Can the insurance company require repairs using non-original vehicle parts? — Durham, NC
An insurance company may prepare a North Carolina repair estimate using non-original equipment manufacturer parts, but it generally cannot force you…
-
Can one attorney handle both my spouse's injury claim and the vehicle damage claim? — Durham, NC
Yes, one attorney can often handle both the bodily injury claim and the vehicle damage claim arising from the same North Carolina collision. However,…
-
Can my claim include ongoing physical therapy and psychotherapy? — Durham, NC
Yes. A North Carolina personal injury claim may include reasonable physical therapy and psychotherapy expenses when the treatment is connected to…
-
Can my auto policy's medical-expense coverage apply to emergency treatment after a collision? — Durham, NC
Yes. If your North Carolina auto policy includes medical payments coverage, often called MedPay, it may cover accident-related ambulance and…
-
Can lost wages include work I missed while waiting for mandatory drug-test results? — Durham, NC
Yes, missed work while waiting for an employer-required drug-test result may be included in a North Carolina personal injury claim if the accident…
-
Can I seek compensation for back pain and driving anxiety after being rear-ended? — Durham, NC
Yes. A North Carolina injury claim may include crash-related back pain, reasonable treatment expenses, physical pain, and documented driving anxiety…
-
Can I hold my landlord responsible for my back injury if the apartment floor collapsed after repeated maintenance requests were ignored? — Durham, NC
Possibly. North Carolina law requires residential landlords to keep rental premises fit and habitable and identifies unsafe flooring as an imminently…
-
Can an insurance company contact a represented person directly about a child passenger's separate coverage information? — Durham, NC
Usually, yes—if the attorney represents the injured driver but does not represent the child passenger, an insurer may contact the driver or parent…
-
Can an injured passenger use medical payments coverage under the vehicle owner's policy? — Durham, NC
Yes, an injured passenger may be covered by the vehicle owner’s medical payments coverage if the policy included that coverage on the accident date…
-
Can an injured passenger seek underinsured motorist coverage when another insurer has accepted liability? — Durham, NC
Yes, an injured passenger may be able to seek underinsured motorist coverage even when the other driver’s insurer accepts liability. Acceptance of…
-
Can an accident-related medical payment affect my coverage for a replacement wheelchair or other necessary equipment? — Durham, NC
Yes, an accident-related payment can affect how insurers coordinate benefits, calculate cost sharing, or process a request for a replacement…
-
Can a landlord terminate my lease after I report a dangerous condition that later causes an injury? — Durham, NC
A North Carolina landlord may sometimes terminate a lease after a safety complaint, but the landlord generally cannot use eviction as retaliation for…
-
Who may be responsible when a vehicle goes around stopped traffic and hits a driver making a left turn? — Durham, NC
Either driver may be found responsible, depending on the road layout, visibility, signals, speed, and whether the passing vehicle was using a lawful…
-
Who is responsible for resolving a public health benefits lien against settlement proceeds? — Durham, NC
The injured beneficiary and, when represented, the attorney handling the settlement generally share responsibility for making sure a public health…
-
Who can respond to a personal injury demand if the assigned insurance adjuster is unavailable? — Durham, NC
A backup adjuster, claims supervisor, team lead, claims manager, or another insurance representative with authority over the file may respond when…
-
Which insurance company handles a claim involving a bus and a privately owned vehicle? — Durham, NC
The correct insurance company depends on who caused the collision, who owned and operated each vehicle, whether the private vehicle was rented, and…
-
What should I do if police responded to the accident but did not prepare an official crash report? — Durham, NC
Contact the responding agency to confirm whether a report is pending, was classified as unnecessary, or exists under a different incident number. A…
-
What paperwork must be completed after both sides agree to settle an injury claim? — Durham, NC
After both sides agree to settle an injury claim, the claimant usually signs a written release, confirms any required payment instructions, and…
-
What options does my spouse have if the insurance settlement offer does not adequately cover the injuries and surgeries? — Durham, NC
Your spouse does not have to accept an inadequate settlement offer. Before signing a release, your spouse may document the full extent of the…
