When someone is injured by the negligence of another, the injured party may have a legal claim against the at-fault party under North Carolina law. When incidents result in the death of the injured party, the family or other legal representative of the deceased has a potential wrongful death claim under North Carolina law. North Carolina’s Wrongful Death Statute (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-2) Section 28A-18-2 of the North Carolina General Statutes authorizes the filing of wrongful death claims in North Carolina.
When you file a claim against another driver for damages that resulted from a car accident, you may need to appear at a deposition, mediation, and/or trial. What is a Deposition? A deposition is a legal proceeding, usually outside of the courtroom, where a party or witness is called in for questioning by a lawyer under oath. The questions and answers are recorded by a court reporter to be used later in court filings and trial. It is important to
Even the smallest car accident is a scary and unpleasant experience that can impact not only physical but mental health as well. Many people need medical treatment after an accident for muscle pain and joint sprains, but for some there can also be emotional stress and anxiety that persists and becomes a problem. Some people may have difficulty driving in a car again or even riding in a car with someone else after a traumatic accident. This can greatly hinder
Car Accidents, Personal Injury
How to Avoid Going to Collections After an Auto Accident in North Carolina
As North Carolina personal injury attorneys, we often get asked how to avoid accident-related medical bills from going to collections. A motor vehicle accident is often followed by unexpected medical treatment and bills that you may be worried about paying for. Even a single emergency room visit after a smaller accident can be quite costly, and if the accident was more severe, the medical expenses can quickly add up. If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident that was
Car Accidents, Personal Injury
Why You Need a Personal Injury Attorney: AAJ Article Exposes Insurance Adjusters Delay and Deny Claims to Win Prizes
The American Association for Justice (AAJ) has exposed some of the most underhanded ways insurance companies attempt to make money at the expense of victims in a publication called Tricks of the Trade: How Insurance Companies Deny, Delay, Confuse and Refuse. According to the AAJ, insurance companies have trillions of dollars in assets, pay their CEOs more than in any other industry, enjoy average profits of over $30 billion a year, deny valid claims to boost their bottom lines, and
Do you have Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD),also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)? After the body suffers an injury or trauma, this neurological condition can develop and drastically change one’s life, by limiting one’s ability to use the affected limb and limiting one’s ability to perform basic tasks. The ability to complete routing activities of daily living may be lost or much more difficult. As a hallmark characteristic of RSD, we usually see a great loss of strength in the
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (“CRPS”), formerly known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (“RSD”), is a chronic, painful, and disabling progressive disorder of the sympathetic nervous system. It affects one or more extremities, and most often occurs following trauma, such as a fracture or nerve damage to the affected extremity. CRPS is characterized by excruciating pain that is disproportionate to the original injury, which continues long after the original injury has healed. See id. Additionally, CRPS causes vasomotor (relating to the constriction
A plan for individualized CRPS treatment usually includes a team of healthcare providers possibly including a combination of physical therapists, orthopaedic specialists, and/or neurologists. Since there is no cure for the syndrome, the medications prescribed are often the ones also used to treat other chronic pain conditions. The primary goal of treating CRPS is to restore functionality in the affected body area and relieve pain. This care normally includes physical and/or occupational therapy. Early treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is crucial
Medical literature defines Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, as a progressive pain syndrome, characterized by severe pain that can be burning, electrical like or shooting. Pain is centered around the site of injury. Other symptoms patients with CRPS/RSD experience can include muscle spasms or atrophy, stiff joints, a decrease in mobility of the affected region. There can be skin changes like color changes, increased sweating, temperature changes ( the area feels hot or cold) or swelling. Hair and