Firm news
Accident Q&A series
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Can I hire a lawyer for a personal injury claim after initially trying to handle it myself? — Durham, NC
Yes. You may hire a lawyer after starting a North Carolina personal injury claim on your own, provided an attorney agrees to take the case. However,…
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Can I electronically sign a medical-records release form instead of printing it? — Durham, NC
Usually, yes—an electronic signature may be valid under North Carolina law if the records holder accepts electronic transactions and the signature…
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Can I challenge insurance records that are causing higher out-of-pocket charges for my medical care? — Durham, NC
Yes. You can dispute inaccurate hospital billing information, insurance claim records, payment coding, or coordination-of-benefits information that…
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Can a personal injury claim be resolved for the insurer’s final settlement offer? — Durham, NC
Yes. A North Carolina personal injury claim can generally be resolved for the amount described as the insurer’s final settlement offer when the…
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Can a household member’s car insurance provide underinsured motorist coverage if I was an uninsured passenger? — Durham, NC
Possibly, but sharing a home with someone who has car insurance does not, by itself, make you insured under that policy. North Carolina law generally…
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Why might an insurer receive notice of a lien before the injured person's attorney? — Durham, NC
An insurer may receive lien notice first because health plans, government benefit programs, medical providers, and recovery vendors often use…
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What should I do if the accident report separated the people involved and delayed access to the other driver's insurance information? — Durham, NC
Request the complete crash report, including every continuation or supplemental page, and contact the investigating agency about missing or unclear…
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What should I do if I was initially told there was no lien but a lien was later asserted? — Durham, NC
Do not assume either notice is final. Ask for the later claim in writing, an itemized payment history, the legal or plan language supporting…
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What medical records are needed before an insurance demand can be submitted? — Durham, NC
An insurance demand can sometimes be submitted before every record is available, but it is usually better to obtain complete records and itemized…
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What information is needed to open a subrogation file after a rear-end collision? — Durham, NC
To open a health-plan subrogation file, you usually need the injured person’s plan information, collision details, injury-related treatment…
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What information does my insurer review when deciding an underinsured motorist claim? — Durham, NC
Your insurer usually reviews coverage, fault, the at-fault driver’s insurance limits, medical evidence, financial losses, and whether the crash…
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What happens when an insurance company makes its final settlement offer? — Durham, NC
A final settlement offer usually means the insurance company says it will not voluntarily increase its current offer. You may accept it, ask the…
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What happens if the insurance company's final offer is below the minimum amount I authorized? — Durham, NC
Your attorney generally should not accept an insurance offer below the minimum amount you authorized unless you give new approval. The insurer’s use…
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What happens if I reject an insurance company's final settlement offer and seek greater compensation? — Durham, NC
You may reject the offer and continue seeking greater compensation, but a higher payment is not guaranteed. The insurer may reconsider, stand by its…
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What happens after I approve the medical bills and records for a personal injury demand? — Durham, NC
After you approve the medical bills and records, the demand package is usually finalized and sent to the insurance adjuster for review. The insurer…
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What evidence should I preserve if the store prepared an incident report after my child's fall? — Durham, NC
Preserve more than the store's incident report. Save photographs, video, witness information, receipts, clothing and footwear, medical records,…
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What evidence can show that a store knew or should have known about water on the floor? — Durham, NC
Evidence may show that an employee created or saw the water, someone reported it, or the water remained long enough that a reasonable inspection…
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What does a negative self-pay balance on a medical statement mean? — Durham, NC
A negative self-pay balance usually means the medical provider’s system shows a credit in the patient-responsibility portion of the account, rather…
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Should I sign a settlement release before my underinsured motorist claim is resolved? — Durham, NC
Usually, you should not sign the at-fault insurer’s settlement release until the required underinsured motorist notice process has been completed and…
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Should I provide information or a statement directly to the store's insurance company? — Durham, NC
You may provide basic contact and claim information, but consider getting legal advice before giving the store’s insurer a detailed or recorded…
