Firm news
Accident Q&A series
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Does a public bus operator's insurance cover passengers injured by an uninsured driver? — Durham, NC
Possibly, but coverage is not automatic. A passenger may qualify for uninsured motorist benefits if the public bus operator purchased that coverage…
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Can video showing that the other driver failed to yield help challenge an insurance company's fault decision? — Durham, NC
Yes. Clear video of the other driver failing to yield may support a request that the insurance company reconsider its fault decision, especially if…
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Can limited emergency medical treatment reduce the value of my accident claim? — Durham, NC
Yes, limited treatment after emergency care can lead an insurer to assign a lower value to an accident claim, but it does not automatically make the…
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Can I seek diminished value if the insurance company initially considered declaring my vehicle a total loss? — Durham, NC
Yes, you may seek diminished value if the vehicle is repaired instead of formally declared a total loss. The insurer’s initial total-loss review may…
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Can I recover income I lost after I stopped doing rideshare work because of the accident? — Durham, NC
Yes, lost rideshare income may be recoverable if you can show that another person caused the accident, the accident kept you from working, and the…
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Can I recover compensation if my back pain did not begin until several days after the accident? — Durham, NC
Yes, delayed back pain does not automatically prevent you from seeking compensation after a North Carolina accident. You still need evidence…
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Can I make an uninsured motorist claim if I was a passenger on a public bus struck by an uninsured driver? — Durham, NC
Yes, possibly. A bus passenger may qualify for uninsured motorist coverage if the bus operator carried coverage that protects passengers, or if the…
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Can I handle my vehicle damage directly with the insurance company while an attorney handles my injury claim? — Durham, NC
Yes. In many North Carolina car accident cases, you may handle repairs or a total-loss claim directly while an attorney handles only the bodily…
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Can I handle my child's injury claim directly with the insurance company? — Durham, NC
Yes, you may communicate and negotiate directly with the insurance company about your child’s injury claim. However, a parent generally cannot…
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Can I bring an injury claim against a public transit service after a bus accident? — Durham, NC
Yes, you may be able to bring an injury claim after a public transit bus accident, but the correct process depends on who owned and operated the bus.…
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Can an insurer reconsider fault after reviewing a different police report? — Durham, NC
Yes. An insurer can reconsider its fault decision after receiving a different or corrected police report, but a change is not automatic. The insurer…
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Can an insurance adjuster contact an injured person directly about property damage if an attorney only represents them for bodily injury? — Durham, NC
Generally, yes. If the attorney’s representation is clearly limited to the bodily injury claim, an insurance adjuster may usually communicate…
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Can an electronically signed settlement release be legally valid? — Durham, NC
Yes. In North Carolina, a settlement release generally cannot be denied legal effect solely because it was signed electronically. Its validity still…
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Can a personal injury settlement be finalized if the parties agreed verbally but the written release has not been provided? — Durham, NC
A verbal agreement may create an enforceable settlement in North Carolina, but the claim usually cannot be fully completed until the release terms…
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Can a minor child have a personal injury claim after a car accident even if they did not initially report pain? — Durham, NC
Yes. A minor child may have a North Carolina personal injury claim even if the child did not report pain immediately after a car accident. The claim…
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Why would an insurance company ask for a letter of representation after an accident? — Durham, NC
An insurance company usually asks for a letter of representation to confirm that a lawyer represents the injured person and to identify the accident…
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Why are medical records important in a personal injury claim? — Durham, NC
Medical records are important because they document your reported symptoms, evaluation, treatment, medical history, and progress over time. In a…
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Why are medical records important in a personal injury case? — Durham, NC
Medical records are important because they document your condition, treatment, symptoms, limitations, and medical history after an injury. In a North…
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What should I tell my insurance company while my personal injury claim is still being prepared? — Durham, NC
Tell the insurance company that your personal injury claim is still being documented and that your attorney will provide an update when the necessary…
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What should I do when the insurance adjuster has not made an initial settlement offer yet? — Durham, NC
Send a written follow-up asking whether the adjuster has completed the review, whether anything is missing, and when a response can reasonably be…
