Recent Blog Posts in December 2009

If you have been injured in an auto accident, it is essential that you see a doctor right away if you wish to obtain a large recovery.  The amount of compensation you ultimately recover is based largely on the extent of your injuries.  The only way to know the full extent of your injuries is by seeing a doctor right after your accident and following through with any treatments or therapies he or she prescribes.

Beware of Insurance Adjusters

Often times an adjuster from the other party’s insurance company will try to get you to settle your claim before you are finished with your medical treatment.  These people are very persuasive, and may even tell you that the amount they are offering is the most you could expect to receive if you were to take your claim to trial.  Do not fall for their tricks. Insurance companies are greedy corporations, interested in making as much money as possible while compensating accident victims for as little as possible.  Believe us when we say they will do everything they can to try and get you to settle your claim for less than it’s worth. 

If you are being contacted by an insurance adjuster, do not make any statements or agree to sign anything.  Instead, contact an experienced North Carolina auto accident lawyer at Lanier Law Group.  The reason these insurance adjusters try to get you to settle your claim early is because they don’t want to pay the full amount for your injuries.  By refraining from speaking with these people and holding off on filing a claim until you are finished with your medical care, you will know the full extent of your injuries, how much compensation you should ask for, and can pursue your claim for maximum compensation!

Interested in learning more? Contact a North Carolina auto accident attorney at Lanier Law Group today!

In order to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits you must prove you are suffering from a “total disability.”  Social Security benefits are not available to anyone suffering from a short-term or partial disability.

According to the Social Security Administration, you will be considered “totally disabled” and entitled to benefits if:

• Your injury, illness, disability, or condition prevents you from doing the work you did before you became disabled

• You cannot adjust to another type of work due to your disability or condition

• Your disability has lasted or is expected to last at least one year or result in death

The Social Security Administration is very strict about awarding benefits to only those people suffering from a total disability, so it is important to consult an experienced attorney before applying for these benefits.

Contact a North Carolina Social Security Disability Lawyer Today!

If you think you are suffering from a “total disability,” please do not hesitate to contact a North Carolina Social Security Disability attorney at Lanier Law Group.  We have a great deal of experience and practice in U.S. Social Security laws, and have helped clients throughout the state apply for Social Security benefits.  If you do not qualify for SSDI benefits, we can help you apply for Supplemental Security Income or take advantage of some other viable alternatives.

To learn more, please contact a North Carolina Social Security Disability lawyer at Lanier Law Group today!

If you have suffered an injury due to another person’s negligence in the state of North Carolina, it is important to understand the difference between contributory negligence and comparative negligence.

Comparative Negligence

The majority of states operate under comparative negligence.  This means that if someone is injured as the result of negligence or malpractice they have the right to be compensated for their injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage, even if they contributed to the accident in some way.   

In these types of personal injury cases, the court will look at the percentage to which each party is at fault.  If you were found 20% at fault and the other party was found 80% at fault, the defendant must compensate you for 80% of your losses.

Contributory Negligence

Accident and injury victims in states that operate under contributory negligence statues are limited to the amount of compensation they can recover.  Unfortunately, North Carolina is one of the few remaining contributory negligence states in the country.  This means that if you are even slightly at fault for the accident or injury, you cannot recover any compensation in a North Carolina personal injury case.

Experienced Injury Attorneys Serving all of North Carolina

At Lanier Law Group, we know the negligence laws are harsh, and are therefore even more driven to help our clients recover as much compensation as possible.  An experienced North Carolina personal injury attorney at our office can help you pursue an accident or injury claim, and provide you with the advice, guidance, and legal counsel you will need throughout the claims process.  Our goal is to help each and every one of our clients recover maximum compensation for their injuries!

Interested in discussing your claim at a free consultation?  Contact a North Carolina personal injury lawyer or simply fill out a case evaluation form.

Nursing home abuse is a very real problem that affects thousands of people of year.  If you suspect your loved one is being neglected, abused or mistreated in a nursing home, there are several signs you can look for to validate your suspicions:

• Unexplained injuries, bruises, scratches, cuts, or red marks
• Open welts or wounds
• Markings that indicate physical restraints were used
• Torn or ripped clothing
• Depression
• Behavior Changes
• Unexplained changes to a will or trust
• Unexplained withdrawals or transfers from a bank account

If you notice any of these signs, be proactive and confront the nursing home administrators and call an experienced North Carolina nursing home abuse attorney at Lanier Law Group.  If the nursing home fails to address the issue, and you still fear your loved one is being abused or neglected, it’s best to call the police. Even if you are still aren’t 100% sure, it’s better to inform the police of your suspicions than to simply ignore or disregard the situation. 

At Lanier Law Group, we have been representing victims of nursing home abuse and their families for years, and can provide you with guidance, advice, and legal representation you need during this difficult time. Even if you’re not ready to file a claim yet, we can be a valuable resource and help you make important decisions to ensure your loved one no longer continues to suffer.

Contact Lanier Law Group today!

Both Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits and Supplemental Security Income are available to people suffering from an injury, illness, or disability and are consequently no longer able to work.  However, there are some differences between the two.

Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits are available to people who have suffered a “total disability” and are no longer able to work.  Because SSDI benefits are funded by Social Security taxes, you must prove you have been working for a long enough period of time (usually five of the last 10 years) in order to qualify.  This eligibility requirement was established to ensure those seeking SSDI benefits have paid enough Social Security taxes into the system.  SSDI benefits are paid monthly until your condition has improved and/or you are able to return to work.  If your condition worsens or stays the same, you can expect your benefits to continue until there is a change in circumstances.

Supplemental Security Income provides federal assistance to the aged, blind, or disabled with little to no income.  However, unlike Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, SSI is funded by general tax revenues.  This means you do not need to have worked any length of time in order to qualify.   To qualify for these SSI, you simply need to prove that you are at least 65 years old or you are blind or you are disabled.   You will also need to establish that your combined household income is less than $3,000 a month.

This is a very basic explanation about SSDI benefits and Supplemental Security Income.  If you or a loved one needs help filing for either of these programs, a North Carolina Social Security Disability attorney at Lanier Law Group can provide you with the advice and experienced legal counsel you need to file a claim.

To get the claims process started, contact Lanier Law Group today!

If you were recently injured or involved in an auto accident, it is important to remember that the insurance company is not on your side.  They may pretend to help you, but in actuality they will try to settle your claim for as little as possible.  They even have several tricks they often use to weasel their way out of paying you the full amount for your injuries. 

Here are some tips for dealing with insurance companies following a car accident:

• Be cautious of an insurance adjuster who tries to contact you, and whatever you do, do not speak to them.  They can easily skew you anything you say and use it against you later.
• Do not agree to do a recorded interview.  The other party’s insurance company may ask if they can do a recorded interview with you about the accident.  What they are really trying to do is trick you into making statements that will hurt your chances of recovering a full settlement. 
• If an insurance adjuster comes to your home or workplace, do not sign any paperwork without first consulting an attorney.  They are likely trying to trick you into signing an agreement that would essentially limit the amount of compensation you can collect. 
• Do not believe anything the insurance company tells you unless it is validated by an attorney.  Insurance adjusters are persuasive people whose job it is to convince people to settle their claims for less than they are actually worth.

Don’t Fall Victim to Greedy Insurance Companies

Following an accident, especially if you’ve suffered an injury, it is crucial that you follow this advice.  Depending on the extent of your injuries, you may not be able to work and medical bills can quickly add up.  You need to recover as much compensation as possible in order to pay for your medical care and cover any financial hardship you may be experiencing.

At Lanier Law Group, with have dealt with both small and large sized insurance companies throughout North Carolina and are familiar with their tricks.  You can trust an experienced North Carolina auto accident lawyer at our office to protect your rights to maximum compensation and help you pursue your insurance claim!

To learn more about our services, please fill out a free case evaluation or contact an attorney directly by visiting our website at www.northcarolinaautoacidentlawfirm.com.

If you have recently been injured or involved in a car accident in North Carolina, it is important to avoid these 10 mistakes:

1. Failing to go to the doctor, hospital, emergency room, or urgent care immediately following your accident.
2. Allowing the at-fault driver’s insurance adjuster to visit you in person.
3. Signing any type of release from the insurance company before completing your medical treatment.
4. Giving a recorded interview to an insurance liability adjuster.
5. Failing to use your health insurance.
6. Missing out on medical payment coverage.
7. Failing to take advantage of free professional advice.
8. Failing to continue to seek medical treatment due to inconvenience or expense.
9. Missing compensation for punitive damages.
10. Settling with the liability carrier for policy limits, thus waiving your rights to underinsured motorists coverage and excess liability coverage.

Any of these mistakes can compromise your chances of recovering maximum compensation for your injuries, medical bills, and property damage.  Before making any statements to an insurance company, including your own insurance company, be sure to consult an experienced North Carolina car accident attorney at Lanier Law Group.  We can provide you with the legal advice and guidance you need to avoid these mistakes, as well as help you pursue your claim for the largest possible recovery!

If you or a family member has been injured in an auto accident, please take a moment to fill out this free case evaluation or contact the office directly. An attorney at Lanier Law Group will get back to shortly to discuss your claim.

Injured in an automobile accident?  Wondering how you will pay for your medical bills and property damage? 

If you have been injured or involved in an auto accident, your automobile insurance is an effective tool for recovering the cost of your medical expenses and damage to your vehicle.  At Lanier Law Group, an experienced North Carolina auto accident lawyer can sit down with you to review your insurance policy to determine not only the type of coverage you have, but also how you can use your insurance to the fullest extent.

Depending on your insurance policy, you may have this optional coverage that you should take advantage of:

• Medical Payment Coverage: This type of coverage will pay you for your medical bills up to the pre-selected coverage amount. This type of coverage can be used even if you use your health insurance.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists Coverage:  The coverage will compensate you for your injuries if the other driver does not have sufficient insurance coverage to cover the cost of all of your injuries. 
• Collision Coverage: If the responsible driver’s insurance company is slow to accept liability for the accident and pay for the damage to your vehicle, then you can apply your collision coverage.  You will have to pay the deductible, but once the other party finally accepts liability you will be reimbursed.

Contact an Experienced North Carolina Auto Accident Lawyer

After an accident, it’s important to contact an auto accident attorney who can help you understand your rights and options under your insurance policy.  Trust us when we say the insurance company is not your friend.  They will try to avoid paying you for your accident at all costs.  At Lanier Law Group, we have represented countless auto accident victims throughout North Carolina, and can help you take full advantage of the various options under your insurance policy.

To learn more, please fill out this free case evaluation or simply click here to contact an experienced North Carolina auto accident lawyer at our office today!