Personal Injury

Three Surprising Factors that can Affect a Personal Injury Award

September 19, 2018 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “What is the value of my case?”

When you have been injured, regardless how serious, the first priority is healing and figuring out how to move forward with your life. Additionally, you might also decide to pursue a legal avenue for recovering for your damages. A personal injury suit is a way to recover damages for the injuries you sustained because of the negligence or wrongful act of another. You might think that this is straight-forward. You get injured, file a suit, prove damages, and receive your award. This is not always true. Personal injury suits can be complicated and difficult. There are many factors, which might be surprising to some, that can alter personal injury suit outcomes.

How to Value a Personal Injury Claim

September 12, 2018 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “Do I have to pay taxes on a settlement or jury award in a personal injury case?”

Anyone who has been injured in any way knows how difficult it can be to recover. From a minor injury to a major injury, the healing process can cause many inconveniences in daily life. For some injuries sustained, an injured party can file a personal injury suit to recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, and more. In North Carolina, a personal injury suit is filed on the basis of negligence. When another person is negligent and that negligence results in damages to you, there is the possibility to recover for those damages. Many people know that they can recover damages for injuries, but are unsure where those damages come from. How are personal injury suits valued? The following are the ways in which the monetary value of a personal injury claim can be determined.

What Type of Doctor Should I See Following an Accident?

August 29, 2018 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “May I choose my own doctor in a personal injury case?”

Whether you have been in a car accident, truck accident, bike accident, or a pedestrian accident injuries often result. After an accident, there is the possibility of filing a personal injury suit to recoup damages that resulted because of the injury. A successful personal injury suit needs injuries of the plaintiff to be substantiated by a doctor. There are so many different doctors out there, who should you see?

The Tax Ramifications Associated with Personal Injury

August 15, 2018 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “The insurance adjuster is saying I am partially negligent what does that mean?”

Everyone must pay taxes on their income. The United States Tax Code is set up so that every person working in the United States pays a portion of federal income tax. There are many distinctions made within the Code that define what is income and what is not income. Everyone always thinks of tax implications and ramifications for employment income, but what about the income one receives in a personal injury suit? Is that taxed as income? Does only a partial amount of the reward get taxed? President Trump’s tax changes have altered prior tax law regarding the handling of personal injury settlements.

Restaurant Liability for Criminal Activity

August 8, 2018 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “What can you sue for in a personal injury case?”

Imagine you are at a restaurant with your family, enjoying the atmosphere and a meal together, when suddenly another individual decides to rob the restaurant. During this robbery, you are injured at the hands of the robber. What do you do now? You are likely facing large medical bills to deal with this unexpected injury. Who is responsible for this injury? In North Carolina, restaurants can be held liable for the criminal activity that occurs there.

Recent E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce

July 25, 2018 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “What can you sue for in a personal injury case?”

Imagine going to the grocery store, picking out food for the week, preparing that food, and then becoming violently ill. E. coli is a dangerous bacteria that can be found on food and make people ill, or even cause death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have linked a recent outbreak to romaine lettuce. Nearly 200 people all across the United States have been affected by this most recent E. coli outbreak. In addition to people becoming ill, five people have died as a result of the E. coli contamination.

Popular Magician Not Liable for Audience Member’s Injury During Show

June 27, 2018 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “What should I do if I have been injured by another party but I can’t afford a lawyer?”

A popular magician, David Copperfield, was found to be not liable by a Nevada judge for injuries an audience member sustained at one of his shows, according to The Washington Post. In an illusion knows as the “Lucky 13,” 13 audience members volunteer to be picked to go onstage and be ushered into a cage. After the audience members are in the cage, the cage is hoisted into the air while Copperfield engages in banter with the now dangling audience members.

Social Media and Your Personal Injury Case

June 13, 2018 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “What is the harm of being on social media when trying to settle an injury claim?”

A 2016 research study by The Pew Research Center estimates that over 65% of adults in the United States use some form of social media. With the number of applications available on a smart phone, tablet, or computer, that is not a surprise. Everyone is excited to check in with their followers and update them on what is happening in their lives. Social media helps people connect with others all across the country, and even the world, whom they might otherwise not have met or been able to keep in steady contact with. While social media becomes more popular, it is essential to evaluate the impact it has on other parts of life. Social media can play an important role should you be involved in a personal injury suit. Social media can be beneficial to a plaintiff’s case, but it can quickly turn into a detriment.

What to Consider When Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney

May 30, 2018 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “How much does your firm charge to represent me in a personal injury case?”

Hiring an attorney is not a one-size-fits-all situation. If you are considering filing a personal injury suit, hiring the right attorney is a crucial step that could make or break your case. You need an attorney you can trust and feel comfortable coming to with questions and concerns that arise during the lawsuit. The attorney you hire will ask you many questions regarding the circumstances that brought you to file suit. As important as it is for the attorney to obtain information from you, you also need to interview a potential attorney to find out if the or she is the right fit for you.

State Fair Accident Sheds Light On Potentially Troubling Government Immunity

April 18, 2018 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “What exactly is a wrongful death claim?”

People may be vaguely aware of the notion of immunity, that certain people are legally protected from being sued for their actions. Often this immunity surfaces in cases involving police officers who are generally shielded from personal liability as a result of performing their government sanctioned job. Though the liability does not extend to cover every situation, it is rather broad and can limit or totally eliminate the money that injured individuals can collect from an otherwise responsible party.