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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Does a traffic citation issued to the other driver help establish who was at fault for the accident?
Yes, a traffic citation can support your position, but the ticket alone does not conclusively establish civil fault in North Carolina.
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Can I require the at-fault driver's insurance company to repair my recently purchased car with appropriate replacement parts instead of substandard parts?
You may challenge parts or work that will not reasonably restore your car to its pre-crash condition, but you generally cannot assume the at-fault driver’s…
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Can I recover lost wages or other damages for time I had to miss work while handling the insurance claim?
Usually, time missed from work merely to make calls, exchange paperwork, or manage a property-damage claim is difficult to recover as lost wages.
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Can I decline recommended steroid injections and still pursue my personal injury claim?
Yes. Declining recommended steroid injections does not automatically end your North Carolina personal injury claim.
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Can any of my settlement proceeds be released before all liens are resolved?
Yes, sometimes an undisputed portion of a personal injury settlement can be released while enough money remains in trust to address unresolved liens.
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Should I sign an insurance release before an attorney reviews it?
Usually, you should wait for the requested legal review before signing an insurance release.
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Should I sign a total-loss liability waiver from the insurance company while I still owe payments on the vehicle?
You generally should not sign a total-loss liability waiver until you understand exactly which claims and obligations it affects.
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Could signing the insurance waiver affect my right to pursue the rest of my vehicle-related claim?
Yes. A total-loss waiver may affect the rest of your vehicle-related claim if its language releases more than the total-loss payment, title transfer, or…
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Can I get written confirmation that my diminished value claim is being pursued?
Yes. You can ask the firm for an email confirming whether it received your diminished value request, whether the claim is within the agreed scope of…
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What should I do if the insurance company offers less than my car was worth?
Do not assume the insurance company’s first total-loss valuation is final. Ask for the complete valuation report, check it for incorrect vehicle details or…
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What should I do if I already gave the insurance company a statement about the collision and my injuries?
Giving an insurance company a statement does not automatically end your North Carolina injury claim.
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What parts of a personal injury settlement release am I supposed to complete myself?
You usually complete only the claimant fields, such as your printed name, contact information, initials, signature, and date.
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What insurance coverage may apply when both drivers died in the accident?
Several sources may apply, including the other driver’s liability insurance, the deceased spouse’s uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, and certain…
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What happens to my diminished value claim if another attorney takes over the related vehicle matter?
Your diminished value claim does not automatically disappear or transfer when another attorney takes over related vehicle issues.
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What happens if the insurance payment for my totaled car is less than what I still owe on the loan?
You will usually remain responsible for the unpaid loan balance unless a GAP waiver or another applicable agreement covers some or all of the difference.
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What evidence is needed to pursue a claim when I did not witness the accident?
You do not need to have witnessed the accident to pursue a claim. A North Carolina wrongful death claim may be supported by police materials, witness…
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What evidence can support the claim if a witness recorded the fleeing vehicle and its license plate?
The witness’s recording can be important evidence because it may connect a specific vehicle to the crash and document its departure from the scene.
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What evidence can I provide to challenge an insurance company's valuation of a totaled vehicle?
You can challenge a total-loss valuation with comparable local vehicle listings, maintenance and repair records, photographs, equipment details, mileage…
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What compensation may be available for neck pain, emergency treatment, missed work, and fear of riding in a car?
Compensation may be available for crash-related medical expenses, lost income, physical pain, emotional suffering, and reasonable out-of-pocket costs.
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What can I do if an insurance company is creating problems after a fatal car accident?
You can ask the insurer to explain its position in writing, preserve the available evidence, identify every potentially applicable policy, and have the claim…
