Firm news
Accident Q&A series
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Can I receive compensation if my attorney submits a demand based on my current medical bills and records?
Yes, submitting a demand based on your current medical bills and records may lead to compensation, but an insurer is not required to make an acceptable offer.
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Can I pursue a personal injury claim if I was a passenger when another vehicle hydroplaned into us?
Yes, you may be able to pursue a North Carolina personal injury claim as an injured passenger, but hydroplaning alone does not automatically prove that the…
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Can I negotiate an insurance company's initial settlement offer for a soft-tissue injury claim?
Yes. An insurance company’s initial offer is generally a starting point that you may accept, reject, or answer with a supported counteroffer.
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Can I bring an injury claim if my child slipped on hard-to-see water in a store with no warning sign?
Yes, your child may have a North Carolina premises liability claim if the store created the wet condition or knew, or reasonably should have known, about it…
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Can I bring a claim against the other driver if the crash happened while I was riding in a work truck?
Yes. Riding as a passenger in a work truck generally does not prevent you from bringing a North Carolina personal injury claim against another driver whose…
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Can accident-related travel expenses include all the mileage I drove for medical treatment?
Yes, accident-related travel expenses may include all reasonable mileage for necessary medical treatment connected to the crash, including qualifying round…
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Can accepting the at-fault driver's policy limits affect my underinsured motorist claim?
Yes. Accepting the at-fault driver’s full policy limits may be an important step toward a North Carolina underinsured motorist claim, but signing the wrong…
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Can a store be held responsible when a child slips on water and there is no warning sign?
Yes, a store may be responsible, but the absence of a warning sign does not establish liability by itself.
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Can a medical provider submit a patient's records and bills from two different electronic records systems?
Yes. A North Carolina medical provider generally may submit records and bills exported from two different electronic systems, even when the formatting does…
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Can a claim for a child's fall include emergency treatment, a visible facial scar, and emotional distress?
Yes. A North Carolina personal injury claim involving a child may include emergency treatment expenses, pain and suffering, a visible facial scar, and…
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Are my out-of-pocket medical copays reimbursed separately or included in the settlement?
Your out-of-pocket medical copays are usually included as part of the medical-expense component of a personal injury settlement, not paid separately on top of…
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Who is responsible when a rental-car driver did not purchase coverage from the rental company?
The rental driver may still be legally responsible if their negligence caused the collision, even though they declined optional coverage from the rental…
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Who is responsible when a rear-end collision pushes my car into the vehicle ahead?
The driver who struck you from behind is often primarily responsible when that impact forced your stopped car into the vehicle ahead.
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Who is responsible for damage to another vehicle when an unauthorized driver causes a rental-car accident?
The unauthorized driver is usually the first person potentially responsible if that driver negligently caused the crash.
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Which insurance company should I contact about a liability claim after a crash caused by someone driving a rental vehicle?
Promptly contact both the rental company or its claims administrator and the rental driver’s personal auto insurance company, even if the driver did not buy…
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What medical records and accident documents should I preserve for my injury claim?
Preserve complete medical records and itemized bills, the police crash report, photographs, witness information, insurance communications, vehicle records,…
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What information might the insurer request before reviewing my bodily injury demand?
The insurer may request basic claim identifiers, proof that your attorney represents you, medical records and itemized bills, lost-income documentation, and…
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What happens when a rental car is damaged after the renter's insurance coverage has lapsed?
A lapse in the renter's personal auto insurance does not automatically mean that no coverage exists, but it can leave the renter and driver personally exposed…
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What happens if the other driver's insurer makes a diminished-value offer that is too low?
You do not have to accept a diminished-value offer that you believe is too low. You can request the insurer’s valuation method, submit stronger market-value…
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What happens if the insurance company disputes my diminished value appraisal?
The insurance company may reject the appraisal, request more support, obtain another valuation, or make a lower offer.
