Firm news
Accident Q&A series
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Can my lawyer get the ambulance and emergency room records, and how are those used in my case?
Yes—your lawyer can usually obtain your ambulance (EMS) and emergency room records as long as you sign the proper medical authorization, or (in some…
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Can I switch doctors or specialists if the current referral process is delaying my treatment?
Yes. In most North Carolina injury claims, you can change treating providers or seek a different specialist if a referral process is stalling—your medical…
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Can I still pursue my injury claim if I have gaps in treatment or miss an appointment?
Yes—under North Carolina law, a gap in treatment or a missed appointment does not automatically end an injury claim.
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Can I still make a claim if the police didn’t write a full report and only took notes?
Yes. In North Carolina, you can still make an injury claim even if the officer did not complete a full crash report and only took notes.
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Can I recover compensation for ongoing neck, back, and shoulder pain if I’m still treating?
Yes. In North Carolina, you can pursue compensation for neck, back, and shoulder pain even while you are still treating, as long as you can show the crash…
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Can I recover compensation for ER bills and testing if I have health insurance coverage?
Yes. In many North Carolina car accident injury claims, you can still seek compensation for reasonable ER care and diagnostic testing even if your health…
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What should I do if the insurance company’s evaluation seems too low for my injuries and treatment?
If an insurance company’s evaluation seems too low, the next step is usually to ask (through your lawyer, if you have one) what assumptions drove the number…
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What should I do if the insurance company has already contacted me about the accident?
If an insurance adjuster has already contacted you, you can be polite and responsive, but you should keep the conversation limited and documented.
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What should I do if I later find out I actually had some kind of health coverage at the time of the accident?
If you later learn you had health coverage at the time of the accident, do not sign or return a “no health insurance” affidavit that could be inaccurate.
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What should I avoid saying or doing after an accident to protect my claim?
After an accident in North Carolina, avoid saying anything that sounds like you were at fault, downplaying your injuries, or guessing about what…
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What medical treatment and records does an insurer usually consider when valuing an injury claim?
In North Carolina, insurers usually value an injury claim by looking at (1) what treatment you received, (2) what the records say about diagnosis, symptoms,…
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What is an affidavit of no health insurance, and why does the insurance company want me to sign it?
An “affidavit of no health insurance” is a sworn, usually notarized statement that you did not have health insurance (or did not have health insurance that…
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What information is typically needed to confirm whether first-party coverage applies to an injury claim?
In North Carolina, confirming first-party auto coverage (often called “MedPay,” and sometimes UM/UIM depending on the situation) usually requires the correct…
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What information do I need to request a police report for my car accident?
In North Carolina, you can usually request a copy of the investigating officer’s crash report by providing enough details to help the agency or the DMV locate…
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What happens if the hospital or clinic takes a long time to send my medical records and bills?
Delays in medical records and billing are common, and they often slow down settlement talks because the claim usually cannot be valued or documented without…
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What happens if my car accident occurred during a lapse in auto insurance coverage?
In North Carolina, if your auto policy truly lapsed before the crash date, your insurer may deny coverage for that accident.
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What happens if I previously hired a lawyer and they didn’t move my accident case forward?
In North Carolina, you can usually change lawyers if you feel your accident case stalled, but you should do it carefully so deadlines and evidence do not get…
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What happens if I don’t provide the affidavit the insurance adjuster is asking for?
In North Carolina, you usually are not legally required to sign an affidavit just because an insurance adjuster asks for it.
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What happens if I didn’t submit proof of lost wages—can I still recover for time missed from work?
Possibly, yes. In North Carolina, missed work time and lost earnings can be part of a personal injury claim, but the insurance carrier will usually require…
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What documents should I provide to support a higher pain-and-suffering settlement?
In North Carolina, “pain and suffering” (also called noneconomic damages) is supported best by records that show how your injuries changed your daily life—not…
