Firm news
Accident Q&A series
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Does a lump-sum settlement resolve both my injury claim and related medical expenses? — Durham, NC
Usually, a lump-sum settlement resolves the bodily injury claim covered by the release, including claims for related medical expenses and pain and…
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Can unpaid hospital bills be deducted from my car accident settlement? — Durham, NC
Yes. Unpaid hospital bills related to a North Carolina car accident may be paid from settlement proceeds before you receive the remaining funds,…
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Can the insurance company's initial settlement offer be negotiated higher? — Durham, NC
Yes. An insurance company’s initial settlement offer can often be negotiated, but an increase is not guaranteed. A stronger counteroffer usually…
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Can ongoing fear and shaking after a crash affect my injury claim? — Durham, NC
Yes. Ongoing fear, shaking, anxiety, or changes in how you drive may affect a North Carolina injury claim when credible evidence connects those…
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Can my spouse seek compensation for a shoulder injury that required surgery? — Durham, NC
Yes, your spouse may seek compensation if another person’s negligence caused the motor vehicle incident and the resulting shoulder injury. Surgery,…
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Can my child receive compensation if a chin injury leaves a permanent scar? — Durham, NC
Yes, a child may receive compensation for a permanent chin scar if the evidence shows that another party’s negligence caused the injury. Under North…
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Can I recover compensation for missed work, medical bills, and continuing back pain after a car accident? — Durham, NC
Yes, you may be able to recover compensation if another driver’s negligence caused the crash and your injuries. A North Carolina car accident claim…
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Can I receive compensation if my attorney submits a demand based on my current medical bills and records? — Durham, NC
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…
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Can I pursue a personal injury claim if I was a passenger when another vehicle hydroplaned into us? — Durham, NC
Yes, you may be able to pursue a North Carolina personal injury claim as an injured passenger, but hydroplaning alone does not automatically prove…
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Can I negotiate an insurance company's initial settlement offer for a soft-tissue injury claim? — Durham, NC
Yes. An insurance company’s initial offer is generally a starting point that you may accept, reject, or answer with a supported counteroffer. For a…
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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? — Durham, NC
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,…
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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? — Durham, NC
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…
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Can accident-related travel expenses include all the mileage I drove for medical treatment? — Durham, NC
Yes, accident-related travel expenses may include all reasonable mileage for necessary medical treatment connected to the crash, including qualifying…
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Can accepting the at-fault driver's policy limits affect my underinsured motorist claim? — Durham, NC
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…
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Can a store be held responsible when a child slips on water and there is no warning sign? — Durham, NC
Yes, a store may be responsible, but the absence of a warning sign does not establish liability by itself. Under North Carolina law, the key…
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Can a medical provider submit a patient's records and bills from two different electronic records systems? — Durham, NC
Yes. A North Carolina medical provider generally may submit records and bills exported from two different electronic systems, even when the…
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Can a claim for a child's fall include emergency treatment, a visible facial scar, and emotional distress? — Durham, NC
Yes. A North Carolina personal injury claim involving a child may include emergency treatment expenses, pain and suffering, a visible facial scar,…
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Are my out-of-pocket medical copays reimbursed separately or included in the settlement? — Durham, NC
Your out-of-pocket medical copays are usually included as part of the medical-expense component of a personal injury settlement, not paid separately…
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Who is responsible when a rental-car driver did not purchase coverage from the rental company? — Durham, NC
The rental driver may still be legally responsible if their negligence caused the collision, even though they declined optional coverage from the…
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Who is responsible when a rear-end collision pushes my car into the vehicle ahead? — Durham, NC
The driver who struck you from behind is often primarily responsible when that impact forced your stopped car into the vehicle ahead. Under North…
