The Catastrophic Injury Blog
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INFORMATIVE ARTICLES
CATASTROPHIC INJURY
Q. If I make a settlement in a personal injury arising out of a work injury, do I have to pay the workers’ compensation insurance back for money they have already paid me?
A. Sometimes. NC law is very complicated on these obligations. A Superior Court Judge can be asked to set what, if any, lien is due the workers’ compensation insurance carrier when a settlement is proposed on a civil lawsuit over the same accident. Once the Superior Court Judge sets the amount of the lien that is due, the NC Industrial Commission will issue an ORDER concerning disbursement of future workers’ compensation payments.
You should consult a specialist in workers’ compensation law to avoid potential liens and pay back requirements.
P: 828-252-2852
FREQUENTLY ASKED PERSONAL INJURY QUESTIONS
How much money should I get for my damaged car?
Property damage claims are generally handled separately from personal injury claims. North Carolina law permits you to recover the difference between full market value of the car before and after the wreck. While these damages usually mean the repair value, the loan, age and condition of your car may change the damage value.
How do I select a lawyer?
The way your case is handled may affect you and your family for the rest of your life. You should select an attorney that is experienced, knowledgeable and caring.
What will the lawyer cost?
Lawyers generally handle injury cases on a contingency or percentage (%) basis. The fee is charged after a settlement or jury verdict is reached. If you lose the claim, you would not owe the lawyer any fee for his/her time under a contingency fee. Costs for obtaining medical records, accident reports, copies, long distance phone calls and other "out of pocket" expenses are payable by you regardless of the outcome.
Does it matter whether I am at fault or not in causing the accident?
Yes. North Carolina is one of the few states in the country that continues to follow the "Contributory Negligence" doctrine of liability. This harsh law means that even if the cause of the accident is in a very small part your responsibility, you may not be able to recover any damages against someone who is almost totally responsible for the wreck. The law has been used for years by insurance companies to successfully lower the value of claims in North Carolina. It is extremely doubtful that the General Assembly will change this very unfair and unreasonable law in the near future. For this reason, you should not give any statements to insurance companies, adjusters, or other third parties until you have had a chance to...
If I employ a lawyer, do I have to go to court?
No. Most lawyers will try and settle the case before filing a lawsuit and going to court. While the time between filing a lawsuit and the time of getting a jury trial vary form count to county, a safe estimate of the time it takes to get a case resolved in court is usually around twelve (12) months. New alternative dispute resolutions methods are growing in usage and popularity. Mediation and/or arbitration may be a way to get an independent judge to evaluate the claim and help resolve the differences in the evaluation of the claim. Even after a lawsuit has been filed, settlements of lawsuits can occur at any time. Lawsuits can be settled while the jury is still deciding the case or even...
How do I handle myself at the scene?
You must stop and help anyone who is injured at the scene. Take precautions to make sure other cars are warned of the wreck. North Carolina Law requires you to call the most convenient law enforcement. Get the officer involved as soon as possible so this trained professional can objectively prepare critical reports and make important observations. You are only required under North Carolina law to disclose your name, address, registration number and driver's license. While you do not have to give a full statement to the officer, you should give a brief statement of what happened. You should not make any other detailed comments to anyone until you have consulted your lawyer. Photograph your car and your injuries as soon as possible. DO NOT SIGN...
CATASTROPHIC INJURY VIDEO LIBRARY
Our Video Library is not closed-captioned. Instead of embedding our videos, we have created posts for them, where full transcripts of can be found.
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