car accident

PTSD Following a Car Accident

May 8, 2019 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “Should I take photographs of the property damage sustained to my car, of the accident scene, or of my visible injuries following an accident?”

Whether a car accident is a minor fender bender or a major accident resulting in a lot of damage, the experience can be traumatic. After an accident, everyone is quick to assess the physical injuries that might have been sustained. Physical injuries are not the only possible result after an accident, however. Studies show that approximately 9% of people who are involved in a car accident develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD carries its own risks outside of physical injuries and must be treated like a physical injury.

Safety First: Tips for Safe Driving This Summer

March 20, 2019 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “What if the accident was my fault?”

The end of winter weather is near, and it seems like summer is just around the corner. Many people think that the dangers of driving might decrease as the weather gets nicer. There is not any snow, ice, or other inclement weather dangers to create issues on North Carolina freeways, right? Yes, inclement weather increases the dangers of driving in the winter, but summer carries with it its own dangers. Nicer weather can result in more drivers letting their guard down since they do not have to be worried about driving over a patch of black ice. Driving in the summer can be dangerous due to greater numbers of drivers on the roads, and their propensity to drive faster in nicer weather. Now is the best time for a refresh on safe driving tips to keep in mind for driving in North Carolina in the summertime.

North Carolina Supreme Court Rules on Collateral Source Rule

March 6, 2019 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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

The collateral source rule in North Carolina states that a plaintiff’s award in a personal injury suit can not be reduced by amount that is received by third-party sources. For example, if you are in a car accident and are injured, you might receive payment from the insurance company for medical bills. In a personal injury suit, the amount paid by the insurance company could not be reduced from the overall award amount. Recently, the North Carolina Supreme Court expanded the application of the collateral source rule.

Types of Auto Insurance in North Carolina

February 20, 2019 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “What is uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and how may it apply to my case?

You have been in an auto accident. One of your first thoughts is to reach out to your insurance provider for help and guidance on what you need to do next. Which insurance company do you call? Your own insurance company or the insurance company of the other driver involved in your accident? Auto accident attorneys can help you deal with insurance companies following an accident. In order to successfully navigate the insurance process after an accident, you need to understand the insurance coverage you have. Insurance coverage is required by North Carolina law.

Teen Killed in North Carolina Car Accident

February 13, 2019 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “Are the laws or rules applying to a wrongful death claim different from a personal injury not involving death?”

A car accident came to a tragic end when a vehicle had to swerve to avoid an oncoming vehicle, but ended up plunging off of a bridge and into a creek, according to WSOC TV. A 17-year-old died at the scene of the accident when the vehicle he was a passenger in was trying to avoid crashing into another vehicle on the road. First responders reported that the vehicle flipped over a bridge and landed upside down in the creek below.

Tips for Safe Driving in North Carolina Winter

February 6, 2019 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: ” If an incident report was filled out, do I have a right to receive a copy?”

A polar vortex that took over parts of the Midwest caused entire cities to virtually shut down, schools to close, mail to be delayed, and threatened the health of individuals for just going outside. While here in North Carolina, we were not subject to those bone chilling temperatures, the weather the Midwest has faced this winter is a good reminder to keep safe when driving in the winter months. The following are some tips that drivers should remember when driving in North Carolina during the winter.

I Was the Passenger in a Car Accident, Now What?

January 23, 2019 | 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?”

It is bad enough being involved in a car accident when you are the driver, but being the passenger in a car accident can be even worse. As the passenger in the car, you are thrust into a situation in which you are dealing with injuries from an accident you did nothing to cause. Who is responsible for paying for the medical bills you now have? Who is responsible? The driver of the car you were in? Or, the driver of the other vehicle? The following are options available to you for injuries sustained as a passenger in a car accident.

How can I Strengthen My Car Accident Claim?

January 9, 2019 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Legal Briefs: What if the accident was my fault?

It is safe to say that either someone you know or you yourself have been involved in a car accident at some point. Car accidents can be anything from a minor fender bender to a multi-car pile-up on the highway. However “serious” a car accident is deemed to be, there is no way to predict the injuries that might result because of it. A “minor” accident can lead to a serious injury and a “major” accident can leave a driver or passenger with absolutely no injuries. There is just no way to predict the injury after a car accident. While you can not predict the injury that might result, you can take certain action to strengthen a personal injury claim after an accident occurs. A personal injury suit is a way to collect compensation for the damages suffered as a result of another’s negligence. Personal injury suits can be complicated and confusing, but each one can be approached with the same ideology: Strengthen your case as much as possible. A few simple actions can be the difference from being successful and unsuccessful in your claims.

Tips for Safe Travel Around the Holidays

November 28, 2018 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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

The holiday season is upon us. For most of us that means spending time with family and friends, eating holiday treats, and celebrating the holiday season. With all of the enjoyment that the holiday season brings, it also has its stressors. One of the biggest stressors of the holiday season is traveling and feeling pressured to be everywhere at once to spend time with family and friends. The National Safety Counsel found that Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years are some of the most dangerous times for travel. Increased volume of drivers on the roadways, the pressure to be at the location as soon as possible, and the potential for bad weather, depending on your location, are all contributors to the danger of holiday traveling. This holiday season, it is imperative that you take the steps to protect you and your family when traveling. The following are just a few things that you can do to make your travels safer:

Protecting Yourself Against Road Rage

November 7, 2018 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “What if a loved one dies from the injuries sustained in a serious accident while the case is pending?”

Most people who have driven a vehicle will tell you that they have been angered by another motorist on the road at one point or another in their driving career. You may associate this with the term “road rage.” You might have heard a friend say they had road rage, or you yourself might have said it about your own experience. Road rage is more than a driver getting annoyed by another driver on the road. It can be a serious, even deadly, danger to drivers on the roadways.