Hardison & Cochran

What Does It Mean To Settle Your Car Accident Case?

When you settle auto accident case, two things will happen: First, the insurance company will agree to pay you a specified amount of money. Second, you will sign a release and give up your right to make any further claim against the defendant.

When both parties sign the settlement agreement, it becomes final. Generally, you will not be able to change your mind. This means that you must know the full extent of your losses before you settle your case. This is why you should seek the guidance of a lawyer to make sure that any settlement appropriately compensates you.

There are a lot of questions that come with workers’ compensation eligibility. Fortunately, the attorneys at Hardison & Cochran have developed online calculators to help out with this.

If you’re interested in calculating your workers’ compensation eligibility, click on the link below👇.
https://www.lawyernc.com/workers-compensation-lawyer/workers-compensation-calculator/

Wishing all the dads a Happy Father’s Day! Today, we celebrate you. 👨‍👧‍👦

North Carolina Daycare Abuse & Negligence Lawyers

Many parents in North Carolina rely on daycare centers to look after their children while they work. This means entrusting an individual or a facility with the well-being of an innocent child.

Taking care of children is not an easy task, but daycare facilities have an obligation to meet the basic needs of a child throughout the day and provide them with a safe environment.

https://www.lawyernc.com/childcare-negligence-lawyer/

What Conditions Automatically Qualify You for Disability?

👉 https://www.lawyernc.com/social-security-disability-lawyer/common-types-disabilities/

If you witnessed a motorcycle accident, what would you do to assist the rider? 🏍️

Let us know in the comments below!

Obtaining Your Motorcycle License In North Carolina in 2024
👉 https://www.lawyernc.com/blog/obtaining-your-motorcycle-license-in-north-carolina/

Thank you, Ravin, for your positive review. We are glad your experience with us was a good one. ✨

Congratulations to all the recent graduates! 🎓🎉

Whether you're donning a tiny cap and gown after conquering pre-school or proudly holding your hard-earned advanced graduate degree, this is a moment to celebrate.

Everyone here at Hardison & Cochran is cheering for you!

¿Qué debo hacer después de un accident automovilístico?

Usted ha visitado nuestro sitio web. Ya ha hecho uno de los procedimientos más importantes después de ocurrir un choque: Buscar información. Hay muchos otros procedimientos claves que puede hacer en este momento:

Visite al doctor – Si no se fue usted inmediatamente al hospital, debe ir a la sala de emergencias o visite el doctor tan pronto como sea posible. Aunque es posible que no tiene dolor, es posible que sufra de lesiones internos graves. Explique al doctor como ocurrió el choque y discuta algunos problemas de salud que tenga.

Solicite una copia de la denuncia policial – Si la policía vinieron al sitio del choque, un oficial de la policía ha preparado una denuncia policial. Este relato va a contener información crucial sobre el choque. Simplemente puede llamar a los cuerpos policiales local o del estado y solicite una copia de la denuncia policial.

Llame a su aseguradora – Necesita informar a su aseguradora automovilístico sobre el choque inmediatamente. También deba notificar la aseguradora del otro parte que ocurrió el choque. Solamente proveer la información básica. No hacen delcaraciones. También, no firme ningunos formularios a menos que un abogado ha los revisado.

Junte todo de sus documentos – Recopile toda la información que tiene sobre el choque. Esta información incluye: los datos de la otra parte, como el número de la licencia de conducur y la información sobre la aseguradora. También puede incluir los nombres de los testigos y fotos que tomó usted del sitio del choque. Necesita juntar evedencia de todas las facturas médicas, reparación del coche/ alquiler de coches y otros gastos.

Determining liability in trucking accidents can be complex, as multiple parties may be involved. While the trucking company is often the first party considered, other entities could also be held responsible.

Potentially liable parties include:

👉 Truck drivers, if the accident occurred due to their failure to adhere to regulations or responsibilities.

👉 Trucking companies, if they were negligent in hiring practices or failed to comply with safety regulations.

👉 Loading companies, if improper cargo loading contributed to the accident.

👉 Manufacturers, if a defect in the truck or its components played a role in the accident.

Given the complexity of these cases, it is crucial for those involved to seek the guidance of experienced legal professionals to determine the appropriate course of action.

Client Testimonial from a Workers' Compensation case handled by Partner Carter Whittington.

At Hardison & Cochran, our results speak for themselves.

Disclaimer: Prior results not guaranteed.

A tip of the cap to all our followers on Facebook! 🧢

Thank you!

If you have been injured in NC and doing your due diligence about your situation, you may have heard the terms economic damages and non-economic damages. Here is a breakdown of what that means:

Economic Damages

Economic damages are the measurable costs related to a motor vehicle accident. These damages are easiest to calculate because they leave a paper trail in the form of medical bills, repair receipts, and other financial documentation. Examples of economic damages an individual can pursue include:

👉 Past, current, and future medical expenses
Rehabilitation

👉Transportation to and from medical appointments

👉Lost wages

👉 Loss of earning capacity

👉Assistive medical equipment, such as wheelchairs and walkers

👉Home renovations to accommodate a new disability

👉 Out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident

👉 Property damage

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are a crucial form of motor vehicle accident compensation, but more challenging to calculate. This money reimburses clients for less concrete losses, such as mental trauma or damage to personal or marital relationships. Other non-economic damages can include:

👉 Emotional distress

👉 Loss of enjoyment of life

👉 Loss of consortium

👉 Pain and suffering

Knowing what to expect during an initial consultation with a Raleigh personal injury lawyer can help you approach the meeting with confidence. Here are some practical steps you can take to prepare for your initial consultation:

👉 Gather essential documents: An attorney will want to review any documents relevant to a personal injury claim. These may include police crash reports, accident scene photos/videos, medical records, and correspondence with insurance companies.

👉 Develop an accident / injury timeline: Writing down your recollection of the accident can help you organize your thoughts to give the attorney an account of what happened and in what sequence.

👉 Draft questions to ask the personal injury attorney: Plan ahead and jot down questions to ask the attorney about their experience handling similar cases, the fee structure, communication style, and the realistic outcome of your case.

The aftermath of a car accident can be overwhelming. Serious injuries can affect nearly every area of your life, from your ability to work to your daily activities. Here are some of the challenges you may be facing:

1. Medical bills and future medical expenses
Your recovery from your injuries should be your top priority after a collision. But even with health insurance, out-of-pocket medical expenses can add up. If your injuries are serious, you may need ongoing treatment and have future medical expenses. If your injuries prevent you from working or limit the type of work you can do, you may experience financial stress as the bills accumulate.

2. Navigating insurance claims and complex paperwork
The last thing you need to deal with on top of a serious injury are insurance adjusters and the bureaucracies of big insurance companies. Insurance adjuster demands, paperwork, and filing deadlines can complicate the insurance claims process. A knowledgeable car accident attorney can handle your insurance claim so you can spend your energy on your health and your family.

3. Dealing with lost income due to missed work
An injury can limit your ability to work, now and in the future, resulting in a loss of income. A permanent or disabling injury may prevent you from returning to your previous job or working again.

4. Potential long-term physical and emotional effects
Serious injuries exact more than a physical toll. Severe and catastrophic injury victims may also experience emotional suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment, and reduced quality of life, all of which are compensable. If you have suffered physical pain or emotional anguish due to another driver’s negligence, you may have a right to demand fair compensation.

Taking prompt action after a car accident can preserve your legal rights to seek compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. Here are a few important steps to take if you can:

👉 Exchange insurance information with the other drivers at the accident scene.

👉 Seek medical attention to diagnose the injuries you sustained in the car wreck.

👉 Follow your doctor’s treatment plan or recovery instructions.

👉 Request copies of your medical records of your injury treatment and rehabilitation.

👉 Obtain a copy of the police report.

👉 Keep all bills, invoices, or receipts of medical expenses you incur to treat injuries or repair property damage.

👉 Gather copies of your pre-accident pay stubs or income statements if you need to take time off work or transfer to a light-duty position due to medical restrictions.

Most car accidents involve filing insurance claims, whether it’s through optional Med Pay coverage under an accident victim’s own policy or through the liability policy covering the at-fault driver. One thing to understand about insurance companies is that they are for-profit businesses. They will do whatever they can to minimize the amount they pay to settle car accident claims.

North Carolina still follows the contributory negligence rule in personal injury claims. This rule bars an injured person from obtaining compensation if they bear any share of fault for the auto accident. If a defense lawyer can convince a court that you are partly to blame for your injuries, the insurance company won’t have to pay you a penny.

In North Carolina, there are generally two types of compensatory damages an injured individual can pursue after a car accident: economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are the measurable costs related to a motor vehicle accident. These damages are easiest to calculate because they leave a paper trail in the form of medical bills, repair receipts, and other financial documentation. Examples of economic damages an individual can pursue include:

👉 Past, current, and future medical expenses
👉 Rehabilitation
👉 Transportation to and from medical appointments
👉 Lost wages
👉 Loss of earning capacity
👉 Assistive medical equipment, such as wheelchairs and walkers
👉 Home renovations to accommodate a new disability
👉 Out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident
👉 Property damage

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are a crucial form of motor vehicle accident compensation, but more challenging to calculate. This money reimburses clients for less concrete losses, such as mental trauma or damage to personal or marital relationships. Other non-economic damages can include:

👉 Emotional distress
👉 Loss of enjoyment of life
👉 Loss of consortium
👉 Pain and suffering

Some states cap the amount of money a victim can recover for non-economic damages. Not in North Carolina. The state only caps pain and suffering damages in medical malpractice cases at $500,000.

In rare situations, a car accident victim may also recover money for punitive damages. Punitive damages do not cover a person’s financial losses. Instead, they act as a financial penalty or punishment when an individual commits a malicious, fraudulent, or wanton and willful act that harms another person.

🇺🇸 Thank you to all those who have served.

Honoring the brave souls who gave everything for our freedom. Let’s take a moment to remember and reflect on their sacrifice this Memorial Day. 🕊️🌹

Thank you, C. Ross, for the kind words. ✨ Your satisfaction is our greatest reward.