negligence

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.

Massachusetts High Court Rules MIT is Not Responsible for Student’s Suicide

May 16, 2018 | 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 recent case decided by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court was watched by many in anticipation of a ruling. The Court’s ruling could impact universities all around the country. A wrongful death suit against a university and some of its staff would determine the liability a university faces in the event of suicide by one of their students.

Ruling In New York May Give Plaintiffs Leverage

May 2, 2018 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “How do worker comps payments work?”

We all know that in personal injury cases, settlement is a common end result. Though there are lots of reasons why this is the case, a big one is the degree of uncertainty on both sides. No one knows for sure how a jury may find, no matter how strong the case may appear in advance. The reality is that going to trial is inherently risky. Settling helps reduce that risk, ensuring you walk away with something, even if it is not what you may have hoped for.

Paralyzed Dancer Secures Largest Ever Personal Injury Award In Illinois

January 24, 2018 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “What if the medical condition improves before the hearing?”

A recent case in Illinois exemplifies to many exactly why personal injury cases can be so important. The challenge of bringing a personal injury claim is great; one must try and quantify the unquantifiable; put a price tag on the pain the plaintiff has experienced (and will continue to experience). At its best, a personal injury suit awards victims the money they need to try and rebuild their lives. Though the system is imperfect, it can succeed in giving hope.

Medical Malpractice Damage Caps Under Fire In Florida

June 14, 2017 | 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?”

Those in Florida who have suffered serious personal injuries due to the negligent or reckless action of doctors can rejoice after a recently issued state Supreme Court ruling. While other states debate passing new and more strict damage caps, those in Florida have come under intense fire from a skeptical judiciary. Though doctors, hospitals and insurance companies may complain, victims of medical malpractice and their advocates say the recent ruling tossing out damage caps is cause for celebration.

Are Personal Injuries On Airplanes Different Than Those On Land?

May 31, 2017 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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

United Airlines has been having a bad run of things recently. It started with the young girls denied boarding for wearing leggings, then reached a peak frenzy after dragging a paid passenger off a flight in Chicago. That incident led to a personal injury lawsuit and was quickly settled, United smartly realizing it didn’t need the bad publicity to continue another moment. After resolving that recent debacle, United appears to have stumbled into yet another personal injury issue, this time involving a rough landing.

Supreme Court Comes Down On The Side of Nursing Homes

May 17, 2017 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question “What constitutes nursing home negligence?

The Supreme Court issued an important decision today impacting millions of families across the country. The Court decided to weigh into an issue that has generated increasing controversy over the past several years: arbitration agreements. After hearing the facts of the case, the Court chose to side with big business interests, in this case, the nursing home industry, over the individual families who seldom understand that these agreements exist to strip them of their rights.

Slip-and-fall from donkey statue leads to personal injury lawsuit

February 7, 2017 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “Can I post about my injury on Social Media?”

When personal injury cases make it on the front page it’s usually for one of two reasons. Either the case is a true tragedy where victims suffered unimaginable harm, or the case seems ridiculous, serving as an example of a tort system seemingly run amok. When the headlines fall into this latter category it can skew people’s idea of what a personal injury case is. All they see are the silly headlines, lacking entirely in legal analysis or context. Rather than allowing the media to portray every personal injury as if it were assured of success no matter how odd, it’s important to understand that the majority of these cases fail because the law imposes serious burdens that plaintiffs must confront before they’re able to collect damages. Though the news might lead you to believe it’s easy to cash in every time you bump or bruise yourself, the reality is far more difficult.

Landlord Liability for Personal Injury of Tenants

January 17, 2017 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: ” I have been injured on another person’s property. What should I do now?”

Owning rental property can be a great financial move, assuming things go smoothly. If real estate values increase, the tenants pay their rent on time and no one gets hurt, it can be a great way to build assets. The problem, unfortunately, is that things don’t always go so smoothly. Real estate bubbles burst, tenants have to be evicted and people sometimes trip and fall. Though we have little control over the first two issues, there are things that can be done to better understand and prepare for a personal injury lawsuit related to rental property. To learn more about how such tenant injury lawsuits work, keep reading.

In the snow, who is on the hook if someone slips and falls?

January 10, 2017 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: ” I have been injured on another person’s property. What should I do now?”

Given the recent winter weather across not only North Carolina, but 49 of 50 states (Florida is the only one without any snow on the ground, even Hawaii has something), the potential for slipping and falling has increased rather dramatically. Studies have shown that more accidents happen in the winter and property owners are often especially worried about the possibility of someone hurting themselves, fearing liability for the injuries that result from an unsuspecting accident. How does this work when it comes to snow and ice? Are the property owners always on the hook?