Personal Injury

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.

Washington State Court Rules A Bus Is Not An “Automobile”

January 17, 2018 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “If I am injured in a car accident or at work what should I do?”

When a person thinks of an “automobile”, chances are they imagine nearly anything roadworthy. The term is conventionally defined broadly, and includes things like cars, vans, trucks, tractor-trailers, motorcycle and buses. Though this might be what most people think of when they imagine an automobile, most people, at least those in Washington State, would be wrong. A recent personal injury case there hinged on the definition of “automobile” and the answer about what qualifies might surprise you, it certainly surprised the plaintiff.

The importance of the recent Bristol-Myers Squibb case

December 6, 2017 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “How much time do I have to file a claim for my personal injuries after an accident?”

Every once in a while an important case comes along that sends the legal system scrambling. Many imagine these cases receive a great degree of fanfare, with names that stick in everyone’s mind. Though that is certainly true in some cases, there are a number of crucially important Supreme Court cases that have tremendous impact on the legal system, which are never widely known outside of the legal community. One example of that is the recently decided Bristol-Myers Squibb case.

When is an injury not enough to justify a personal injury lawsuit?

November 15, 2017 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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

Typically, when we discuss a personal injury case we hear a lot of gruesome details about the harm that was done to the plaintiffs. Horrible injuries, including broken bones, head trauma, burns, amputations and many other terrible things are often involved. Though severe personal injury cases grab headlines given their shock value, there are many other personal injury cases and claims that never rise to such a level. Ordinary car accidents occur every day and it is not unusual for the injuries to be relatively minor. If you are fortunate enough to be involved in one of these relatively minor personal injury incidents, how do you know when you have been injured enough to file a claim? To learn more about the subject, keep reading.

Texting tracker could be breakthrough for law enforcement

November 1, 2017 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Personal injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “If I am injured in a car accident or at work what should I do?”

We have recently discussed the dangers posed by texting and driving. As the number of fatal auto accidents continues to increase, experts are struggling to find ways to mitigate the harm. Though many believe that driver distraction is a big and growing cause of this danger, it has been a surprisingly difficult problem to address. Texting is hard to identify and cannot be easily detected after the fact. Unlike drunk driving, there has never been a breathalyzer for smart phones. Until now that is…

Stand Your Ground Does Not Grant Absolute Immunity

October 25, 2017 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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

The Stand Your Ground laws have been in the news for years and, in that time, have generated a considerable amount of controversy. Critics say the laws encourage a shoot first, ask questions later mentality, which increases danger for everyone. Advocates say that the law exists to protect law abiding citizens who are attempting to protect themselves and their property from harm.

Illinois Supreme Court Takes Steps To Tighten Rules Regarding Jurisdiction

September 20, 2017 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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

For those not in the personal injury world, issues involving jurisdiction (which deals with the place where a legal matter will be heard) may seem unimportant. After all, if you’ve been hurt, what would it matter where you bring the claim? An injury is an injury and the result should be the same wherever you go. Though that may be true in a perfect world, the reality is that the forum your case is heard in can matter a great deal to the ultimate result. It’s for this reason that personal injury cases, especially large class-action cases, tend to geographically cluster.

Nursing Home Residents Appear Poised To Lose Their Day In Court

August 16, 2017 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “What information will be helpful for my nursing home negligence claim?”

It’s been bad news recently for those residing in nursing homes or with loved ones in nursing facilities. After a seeming victory last fall, when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that a new rule would go into effect banning the use of arbitration agreements, there was an important setback earlier this summer. Residents and those working to change the broken system were disappointed to learn that CMS would not continue to push for implementation of the new rule banning arbitration agreements, but would instead craft a new measure, one that helps nursing facilities deny residents and their loved ones access to the court system.

What is joint and several liability?

August 9, 2017 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “Should I file the property damage claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company or with my insurance company?”

When most people are involved in an accident they do not spend time thinking about how liability will be apportioned amongst the defendants. Instead, plaintiffs in personal injury accidents are busy thinking about when they will return to work and how they will pay their mounting medical bills. Though it is understandable that personal injury victims have other more important things on their mind, liability apportionment matters a great deal and is crucial to ensuring the accident victim receives the compensation he or she deserves. To learn more about how financial responsibility for an accident is divided among defendants, in North Carolina and elsewhere, keep reading.

Recent Supreme Court Case Makes It Harder For Plaintiffs To Sue For Injuries

July 19, 2017 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

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

It has been a bad summer for personal injury plaintiffs thanks to several recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court. In a few different cases, the Court made clear that it intends to protect corporations at the expense of injured plaintiffs, worrying over potential harm suffered by the giant companies, while ignoring the actual harm suffered by individuals. Unfortunately, a recent decision, Bristol-Myers Squibb v. Superior Court of California, continues the same worrying trend.