Firm news
Accident Q&A series
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What should I include in my claim paperwork if I have both vehicle damage and physical injuries?
Include accurate crash information and clearly identify both your vehicle damage claim and your bodily injury claim.
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What options do I have if the insurance company refuses to change its fault decision?
An insurance company’s fault decision is not the final legal determination. You may request a written explanation and supervisory review, submit additional…
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What needs to happen before an attorney can accept an underinsured motorist settlement tender?
Before accepting an underinsured motorist settlement tender, the attorney should review the written terms, explain their consequences, and obtain the client’s…
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What medical documentation does an insurer require before a personal injury demand can be prepared?
An insurer generally expects complete treatment records, itemized medical bills, and documents showing the amounts paid or still owed before it can fairly…
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What medical bills and treatment records are needed before the insurance company can evaluate my injury claim?
An insurance company generally needs complete accident-related treatment records, itemized medical bills, payment information, and evidence connecting the…
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What injuries and medical treatment has the claimant reported in the bodily injury claim?
The claimant has reported neck and back pain, emergency and follow-up medical visits, and ongoing physical therapy.
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What information does a health plan need to finalize its review of a settled personal injury claim?
A health plan usually needs written confirmation of the settlement, the gross settlement amount, the settlement date, attorney’s fees and case expenses,…
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What happens when no analyst has been assigned to review a settled personal injury file?
The file usually remains pending until the health plan assigns someone to review its reimbursement claim.
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What evidence can show that a store knew or should have known about a dangerous condition?
Evidence may show that a store created the dangerous condition, received a complaint, saw the hazard, or left it in place long enough that a reasonable…
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How should back pain, driving anxiety, missed work, and travel expenses affect a car accident settlement?
Back pain, driving anxiety, missed income, and reasonable accident-related travel expenses may all affect a North Carolina car accident settlement when the…
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How does a medical provider lien affect the value and resolution of an injury claim?
A medical provider lien usually affects how injury claim proceeds are distributed, not the claim’s underlying value.
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How can photos of liquid on a restroom floor and a store-owned waste cart help prove my slip-and-fall claim?
Photos can help show that liquid was on the restroom floor, where it was located, whether warning signs were present, and how a nearby store-owned waste cart…
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How can I request a client's medical records and billing statements after a motor vehicle accident?
Send the provider a written request with the client’s signed, legally sufficient medical authorization.
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How can I obtain the claim number for an injured client's car accident claim?
Contact the other driver’s insurance carrier’s claims department and provide enough information to locate or open the bodily injury claim.
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How can I identify and contact the adjuster assigned to a car accident injury claim?
Start by calling the other driver’s insurance company and providing the driver’s name, the crash date and location, and any policy or claim number you have.
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How can I get a health plan to complete its review after a personal injury case has settled?
Send the health plan a complete written settlement packet, ask it to confirm that nothing is missing, and request a final reimbursement decision or payoff…
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How can I confirm whether a third-party administrator sent my client's claim to its client for review?
Ask the third-party administrator for written confirmation identifying the transmission date, the materials sent, the receiving department or contact, and any…
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How can I challenge an insurer's decision that I was partly at fault when the police report and vehicle damage appear to contradict the other driver's story?
You can challenge the insurer’s decision by requesting its reasoning in writing and presenting a focused comparison of the drivers’ accounts, lane…
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Does an inconsistent statement to the police and an insurance company qualify as insurance fraud?
Not by itself. Under North Carolina law, an inconsistent account may support an insurance fraud investigation, but fraud generally requires a knowingly false…
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Does a lawyer representing me for a bodily injury claim also represent me in a separate complaint involving the insurer?
No, not automatically. In North Carolina, a lawyer’s responsibilities generally depend on the scope of representation described in the engagement agreement…
