It is important to understand the various types of automobile insurance coverages so that you can purchase the appropriate types and amounts of coverage needed to fully protect you and your family in the event of an vehicle accident. This article will focus on the types of automobile insurance coverages related to physical injuries, not property damage.

LIABILITY COVERAGE: If you cause a wreck and injure others, then you owe those whom you injured compensation for their harms and losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages, permanent injury, physical pain and mental suffering, scarring, etc.

Automobile liability coverage pays that money for you. Before this coverage gets paid to someone else, either your insurance company must acknowledge that you caused the wreck, or you must have been determined at-fault in court.

Insurance Law issues can be pretty complicated. We’re her to help answer your questions – Danny Glover

The minimum required liability coverage amount for most automobiles in North Carolina is referred to as “minimum limits”: $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident. However, with medical costs being as high as they are, the minimum $30,000 liability policy is often insufficient to fully protect you if you seriously injure someone else.

In the event that you have insufficient liability coverage amounts to fully compensate those that you injured, then you would owe the remainder personally.

Therefore, I recommend that you purchase a minimum of $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident. This would mean that if you cause a wreck and injure other(s), then you have $100,000 of coverage to pay to any one person and $300,000 total to pay to everyone injured a wreck, in the event that more than one person is injured.

SEE MORE: How to use insurance when injured in a car wreck

MEDICAL PAYMENTS COVERAGE: This is a voluntary, no-fault coverage that benefits you by paying money to you if you incur medical bills related to a wreck, regardless of who caused the wreck.

Typically, you can purchase $1,000, $2,000, $5,000 or $10,000 worth of “med. pay.” coverage.

SEE MORE: North Carolina Motor Vehicle Liability Policy Law 2017

Once you incur medical expenses and present those bills to your automobile insurance company, then your automobile insurance company writes you a check for the full amount of the original bill, or up to the amount of your “med. pay.” coverage limits, whichever is less.

SEE MORE: 4 Ways Your Automobile Insurance Can Increase

Practically, this money comes in handy if you are in a wreck and have to pay 1) health insurance co-pays or deductibles, 2) ve

hicle repairs, 3) a new vehicle down payment, and/or 4) ordinary bills if you are out-of-work due to injuries.

UNINSURED/UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE: This is perhaps the most important, and usually cheapest, coverage that you should purchase. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage protects you by paying you for your harms and losses if someone else caused the wreck and injured you but that person did not have any automobile insurance, i.e., uninsured.

Underinsured motorist coverage applies if that other person did not have enough automobile insurance to fully compensate you, i.e., underinsured. UM/UIM coverage can be purchased up to $1,000,000.00, typically for just a few hundred dollars per year. UM/UIM coverage not only protects you, but it also protects any relative who was residing with you on the date of the wreck, regardless of what vehicle he/she was in when injured, whether owned by you or not, whether covered under your automobile policy or not, and even if he/she was injured by a vehicle while riding a bike or while walking.

As you can see, this is very important coverage to protect you and your family.

Danny Glover, Jr.
Glover Law Firm
406 S. Griffin St., Suite B
Elizabeth City, N.C. 27909
252-299-5300
danny@dannygloverlawfirm.com

When talking to people who have been injured in automobile wrecks, I am frequently asked which insurance should be used to pay for their ongoing medical bills related to the injuries they suffered in the accident:

• Their own health insurance?
• Automobile insurance of the at-fault driver?
• Medical payments coverage?

Many people assume that only the at-fault driver’s insurance should be billed for your treatment. This is incorrect, mainly because, in North Carolina, the responsible automobile insurance company only pay one settlement at the end of your treatment, which should include reimbursement to you for all of your medical bills.

Most medical providers will not wait that long for payment and will report you to collection agencies if they are not paid promptly – Danny Glover

Instead, you should provide your own health insurance information to your medical providers and insist that they bill your health insurance. With a few exceptions, such as Medicare, your health insurance is the primary source of payment for your medical bills.

This is because, regardless of who caused the wreck, you are the one needing the medical treatment, so the payment for that is your primary responsibility.

On top of your own health insurance, hopefully you have Medical Payments coverage (med. pay., or MPC) on your own auto. Insurance policy.

North Carolina Motor Vehicle Liability Policy Law 2017

This is a no-fault, automatic coverage that you pay premiums for that pays you the amount of your medical bills up to the amount of the coverage you purchased. This is typically a small coverage amount, between $1,000.00 and $5,000.00.

You simply provide to your automobile insurance agent medical bills arising from a wreck, and your agent should arrange for you to get a check in the proper amount. You can then use that money to reimburse yourself for co-pays and deductibles, lost income, or even a down payment on a new car.

Once you have finally obtained a settlement from the automobile insurance company of the person who hurt you, you may or may not have to repay your health insurance company for the medical bills it paid. This is an increasingly complicated area of the law and is beyond the scope of this article.

Danny Glover, Jr.
Glover Law Firm
406 S. Griffin St., Suite B
Elizabeth City, N.C. 27909
252-299-5300
danny@dannygloverlawfirm.com

• Because lawyers assist in making claims, preparing legal documents, and preserving legal rights, family and friends of the deceased are not further burdened
• Frankly, you may not be in the emotional condition to deal with Insurance Adjustors, Claims Agents, and others involved in the processing a claim for losses.
• Attorneys can help in the filing of an Estate
• Lawyers explain things like the Statute of Limitations, Insurance Benefits, and Loss Valuation

Customer service is very, very important, especially when you’re doing personal injury work, because you’re dealing with people who have come to you because they have a major problem – Danny Glover

Download: North Carolina Wrongful Death Statute 2016

See More: Personal Injury FAQs

Things to Consider When Preparing a Claim:

• Are there Damages associated with an injury, such as outstanding hospital bills, surgical procedures, anesthesia, EMT Ambulance and Transport Services?
• What are the Losses for Lost Work, Income, Long-Term care of family?

Calculating Damages associated with the loss of a loved one require careful consideration of a wide range of legal and personal issues. Sometimes that involves the assistance of Financial Experts. Sometimes good-old-fashioned common sense, and compassion, are necessary to help explain the true costs of a lifetime without someone whom was taken too soon – Danny Glover

Modified Transcript of What Do Attorneys Do in Wrongful Death Matters? for the Hearing Impaired

At Glover Law Firm we handle any type of criminal charge in state or federal court in northeastern North Carolina.

Traffic tickets, DWI’s as well. We also handle significant personal injury cases, including car wrecks, truck wrecks, bicycle wrecks, motorcycle wrecks, pedestrian fall-down cases, anything involving a significant, serious permanent injury.

Death cases are unique – Danny Glover

First of all, the family is going through just an absolutely terrible time, and there’s really no way that we can do anything that’s going to do anything that’s going to take the place of their lost loved one, and it’s important, and what I view our main job to be in death cases, is to fully explain the extent of the loss, by going back and looking at old family histories and videos, talking about family vacations, family reunions, family get-togethers, holidays, things that a family can no longer have with their lost loved one, and it’s difficult for the family to express those things, and so that’s what we do.

When a family loses a father and a financial supporter, we utilize economic experts to take a look at the totality of not only the loss of a father but the loss of a supporter, and that has to be quantified by a economists and projected throughout the life of that support.

That can be complicated, but we have done that for years and years with experts that we know and trust and that have been deemed credible by the North Carolina courts.

Customer service is very, very important, especially when you’re doing criminal defense or personal injury work, because you’re dealing with people who have come to you because they have a major problem.

These problems that I’m handling vastly effect my clients’ life, so it’s very important that we be responsive to not only their legal needs but to their questions about their case, to their questions about the impact of their case on their lives and families, and so customer service is very, very important to us.

Danny Glover, Jr.
Glover Law Firm
Danny@DannyGloverLawFirm.com
252-299-5300
Past President, North Carolina Advocates for Justice

According to the American Automobile Association AAA, we should expect another 1,000,000 travelers this upcoming Christmas and New Year’s Holiday from this time last year.

Travel statistics are expected to exceed, by quite a bit, those of 2015 – Danny Glover

While it’s hard to believe, approximately 48,700,000 Americans will travel fifty or more miles from home. Although not everyone will be on the roads, that is up from last year’s high and amounts to an almost 2% overall increase.

What’s up with all this driving?

The quick answer: Gas Prices.

Better said, the decrease in gas prices is one of the more significant reasons people are hitting the roads and traveling more this year.

According to AAA estimates, it looks like Americans have saved more than 28 Billion so far this year on gas prices. Yes, we double-checked that number.

To give you an idea how much money that is, take a look at all the zeroes: $28,000,000,000

AAA President and CEO Marshall Doney adds, “Most will travel on the tried and true holiday road trip, thanks to gas prices that are holding at close to $2 per gallon. Others will fly, take the bus or set off on a cruise to celebrate with their loved ones.”

What are the Three Most Dangerous Days to Drive?

It may surprise you, but the days getting to and from Grandma’s House on Christmas don’t make the cut.

So here they are:

1. Memorial Day Weekend – Yep, somewhere around 400 people die during the start of the summer holiday.
2. The Start of Daylight Savings Time – This one may surprise you. Yes, the time change literally can kill you.
3. Black Friday – With an estimated 70+ Million Shoppers hitting the roads, rear-end collisions make up 12 1/2 % of insurance claims on Black Friday. Here’s another surprise, 11% other claims involve wrecks and parked cars.

What to Do After You’ve Been In a Traffic Accident this Holiday Season

There are simple steps to make the holidays more safe for you and your family. Take you time. Be Patient. Expect Delays. Get plenty of rest and most importantly, don’t drink and drive – Danny Glover

What are the best and worst times to drive during Christmas week?

Worst Day to Leave: December 23, 2016 FRIDAY

Best Day to Leave: Wednesday following Christmas, December 28, 2016, assuming you have that much vacation left

Worst Time to Drive: 3 p.m., Traffic will be heaviest during that hour on Friday

Best Time to Leave: 6:00 a.m. or earlier

See More Google Maps TRAVEL TIPS

Looking for a cool Travel App? Check Out Waze

First and foremost, do NOT try to enter information, plot routes, and map your trip while driving.

Don’t worry, there is a passenger mode, and worst-case-scenario, just pull over for a second and enter your information.

It’ll be safer and chances are good that you won’t end up accidentally driving to the Columbia instead of the District of Columbia.

WAZE is a free App that only takes a few seconds to download.

The graphics are pretty self-explanatory and there is not a steep learning curve.

While we would never encourage speeding, Waze users regularly report things like the location of wrecks, disabled vehicles, traffic conditions, and the locations of police on the roadways.

If you get into geeky technology, you can allow Waze access to one or more of your social profiles.

It’ll track you and your Waze friends en route. If you prefer to remain anonymous, Waze works just fine without entering user information, establishing a profile, or otherwise granting socials access.

Put simply, it’s a cool App that adds a fair amount of information to the standard Google Maps overlay.

A Little About Glover Law Firm

With decades of experience serving as legal counsel in Northeastern North Carolina, we encourage you to call if you have questions about legal matters involving:

• Criminal Defense
  • Felonies and Misdemeanors
• Impaired Driving
  • DUI – Driving Under the Influence
  • DWI – Driving While Impaired
  • “Drunk Driving” – N.C.G.S. 20-138.1
• Traffic Offenses
• Car Wrecks
• Insurance Claims
• Accidental or Wrongful Death
• Trucking Fatalities
• Motorcycle Collisions
• Recovery for:
  • Personal Injuries
  • Medical Bills
  • Lost Wages
  • Property Damage

We’re all about helping people through difficult times. That’s what we do day in and day out – Danny Glover

The attorneys at Glover Law Firm provide consultations to clients in Criminal Defense and Personal Injury matters free of charge.

Everything you tell our lawyers is confidential. That means we keep your secrets secret, even if you do not ultimately chose to retain our legal services.

If you or a loved one have a question, please call now.

And we sincerely hope and pray you have a safe, enjoyable Holiday Season in 2016!

Danny Glover, Jr.
Glover Law Firm
Danny@DannyGloverLawFirm.com
252-299-5300
Past President, North Carolina Advocates for Justice

If you have begun searching for lawyers on the Internet or doing research on how insurance issues work, chances are you’ve already begun experiencing the complexities of making a claim.

If you are frustrated with the carrier or the process, that’s OK.

We wouldn’t need lawyers if the process was always simple, fair, made common sense, or was something that only took a couple seconds to do – Danny Glover

That brings up an important point: the time associated with presenting a claim, collecting, assembling, and organizing medical records, histories, and explaining the causation of a wreck, normally takes a long time and a fair amount of experience to do so in a format that insurance companies both understand and recognize as valid.

Furthermore, experienced injury attorneys have a good idea of what a fair settlement amount actually is.

A lot of people get so frustrated with the process they just give up. That’s too bad.

And that’s one reason why retaining a lawyer can help. We help explain the process.

We do the hard and sometime tedious work behind making a claim. We take on the burden of demanding a proper settlement with the insurance company or at fault party.

Lawyers take the responsibility on of making certain the law is followed, that the responsible party is held accountable, and that the insurance company pays a fair settlement.

When legally appropriate, that sometimes requires preparing a Complaint and filing suit, and as part of the Discovery process, making demands for documents, filing requests for admissions, and taking depositions of witnesses and parties.

Whether you realize it or not, that is a substantial load and responsibility. We tell clients that the most important thing for them to do is focus on getting healthy.

That is not just lip service. Taking the time to focus on things like physical therapy, scheduling appointments, making arrangements for work and childcare for all the above, can be a tremendous job in and of itself.

We have experience helping people through difficult times. That’s what we do. We help people – Danny Glover

Checklist for Making a Claim:

• Provide Notice of a Claim
  • At Fault Carrier
  • Injured Party’s Carrier
  • Employer, as appropriate
  • Employer’s Insurance Carrier
  • Employer’s Worker’s Compensation Carrier, as appropriate
• Assemble Medical Expenses Documentation
  • IMPORTANT NOTE: LIMIT DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL AND OTHERWISE IRRELEVANT MEDICAL HISTORIES
  • Do NOT execute a Medical Authorization and Release
    • Talk to an Attorney first
    • Limit the materials that can be sought and disclosed
    • Protect and Preserve HIPAA rights
  • Making a Claim does not require unlimited access to medical histories, prior medical treatments, or disclosure of medical conditions that are not relevant to making a claim
• Assemble Expense Documentation for Lost Wages
• Assemble Expense Documentation for Personal Property Damages
  • Vehicle Repairs
  • Lost Value
  • Rental
  • Personal Items
    • Tag, Title, Registration Fees – If Vehicle Replacement Becomes Necessary

Is a Recorded Statement Necessary or Required?

The quick answer is USUALLY NOT.

In fact, many insurance adjustors just flat get this wrong. While there are certain legal requirements to properly making a claim, providing a recorded statement to any carrier is rarely one of them.

Making a claim does not require you do everything requested by an adjustor. Putting them on notice should be pretty simple. Talking about the facts of the case is often the first step in an insurance company trying to find a way NOT to pay a claim – Danny Glover

People are sometimes floored to find out that insurance companies are not necessarily looking out for the best interests of the injured party.

Make no mistake, insurance companies make money protecting their bottom line.

If they can convince you to accept a very small amount quickly in exchange for a complete release of your claim, they save money in long run. Contrary to what you may see in commercials, insurance companies are in the business of taking in premiums and limiting paying claims.

It is not always a fair system.

In fact, there are regularly lawsuits filed in North Carolina because insurance companies have proceeded in “bad faith.”

You may be surprised to find out that a good number of “bad faith” claims are filed by the insured against their own carriers.

Even if the person whom caused the wreck wants to settle, sometimes the insurance companies just refuse to settle.

They can require a lawsuit to be filed. . .despite the fact that their own “insured” has admitted to doing something wrong and wants the carrier to settle.

We’re not trying to be negative in stating this. Insurance Companies often feel people are making up claims, hoping to recover damages when they were not hurt.

Disputes arise in filing claims. It can be complicated.

What Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer?

Well, actually, it doesn’t really “cost” anything, if you think of laying out money.

Lawyers in personal injury cases get paid if a case settles. If there is no recovery from a claim, just like the client, the attorney receives nothing.

That is what it means to be a “contingency” agreement.

Legal fees are contingent upon a successful recovery.

Now there can and often are expenses associated with presenting a claim such as:

• Filing Fees
• Service of Process
• Court Reporter – Recording & Transcriptions
• Medical Records / Copy Charges
• Private Investigator Fees
• Expert Witness Fees

While some of those costs of presenting a claim may be advanced by a law firm, ultimately they are the responsibility of the client.

Those costs are often taken from the “settlement proceeds” upon disbursement of funds.

It can be a bit confusing. Talk to us. We’re more than willing to explain how things work. In fact, we will give you a written contract, where everything is set forth in writing.

We want you to understand how things work and what it costs.

The consultation is free.

We do not charge to talk to you, to review a case, and to see if it makes sense to hire a lawyer.

Transcription of “What Are Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer?” for the Hearing Impaired

One of the big benefits of hiring an attorney is that we take all the pressure and workload off of you for everything claims or case-related. You can focus on getting healthy or helping your loved one to recover from their injuries.

We deal with the insurance company, we get all the medical records, we have them reviewed by medical experts. We negotiate with the insurance company.

Remember the insurance company is trying to low-ball you. They may be the nicest people on the phone but they’re trying to make money of off your claim by saving money on your claim.

An attorney can help you avoid making that mistake.

Danny Glover, Jr.
Glover Law Firm
Danny@DannyGloverLawFirm.com
252-299-5300
Past President, North Carolina Advocates for Justice

It is important as a parent to discuss Halloween safety with your child before he or she goes out to trick or treat. There are many steps you and your child can take to minimize his or her chance of being injured in a car accident or on a neighbor’s property. Parents typically accompany younger children when they go trick-or-treating. Older children and adolescents can keep themselves safe without parental supervision by making sure they obey traffic laws and make themselves visible at all times.

No matter how well you prepare your child for Halloween night, there is always the chance that he or she can be involved in an accident. If your child is injured because of a distracted driver’s negligence, seek prompt medical attention for his or her injury. Getting immediate medical care is key to making a full, timely recovery. Once your child has received medical treatment, consult with a personal injury attorney to determine whether compensation may be available from the at-fault driver to cover the medical bills and other expenses. Work with an experienced car accident attorney to determine whether this is an appropriate course of action for your family. If so, your attorney can file your claim and work to get you the money you need to cover your expenses related to the injury.

Texting and Driving

When drivers stop focusing on the road ahead, they have slower reactions to changes in traffic conditions in front of them. Text messaging while driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving. North Carolina makes it illegal for drivers to send text messages from a moving vehicle. Studies have shown that distracted drivers are more dangerous than drunk drivers.

Distracted driving is not limited to text messaging, however. Using a cell phone to make phone calls, navigate, browse the internet, and use social media are all other ways a driver can put others at risk. Drivers can become distracted by eating or drinking behind the wheel, applying makeup, adjusting the car radio or on-board navigation system, or managing children or pets in the car.

Protect Yourself and Others

Protect yourself, your passengers, and those with whom you share the road by pledging not to use your phone while you are driving. If you need to use your smart phone to navigate, plug in your destination and start the navigation system before you begin to drive.

If you are driving with a passenger, have him or her handle navigation duties. Opt to use a hands-free headset for phone calls. This type of headset allows you to keep your hands on the steering wheel and your eyes on the road while you use your cell phone. If you do not have a headset, ignore all text messages and phone calls until you find a place where you can safely pull off the road and park.

If you can not trust yourself to ignore your phone while you are driving, turn its sound off before you leave home so you are not tempted to respond to its notifications. Another way you can prevent yourself from using your phone is making it inaccessible while you drive by storing it in the back seat or glove compartment.

Protect Children on Halloween

It can be easy for a child to be struck by a car if he or she is walking along the edge of the road at night wearing a dark Halloween costume. Make your child’s costume more visible by adding reflective tape to the outfit and candy bag or giving him or her a reflective pendant on a necklace to wear on Halloween night. Discourage black or dark-colored costumes that can be difficult to see. In addition, give your trick-or-treaters a flashlight or glow sticks to make them more visible in the darkness. If you are accompanying a young child, carry the flashlight and hold his or her hand at all times when crossing the street.

As a driver, be extra vigilant on the roads this Halloween. Drive more slowly than you normally would and stay alert for children crossing the street. Remember to have your headlights on 30 minutes before sundown and keep them on any time you drive at night. Do not keep your radio so loud that you miss the sound of footsteps approaching or people talking in vicinity of the car.

Elizabeth City Personal Injury Attorneys

If you or your child has been injured in a collision with a distracted driver on Halloween, you could be entitled to seek monetary compensation for your losses. These losses can include medical bills, lost wages due to time spent out of work (if you are the injury victim or your adolescent has a job), and the need for disability aids like a motorized scooter during recovery. Make the personal injury claim process easier by working with an experienced Elizabeth City accident lawyer. Glover Law Firm can help you get the money you need by providing quality legal advice and representation for your claim. We can explain every step of the personal injury claim process to you and determine the most effective way to handle your claim and get you the money you deserve. Do not wait to begin working on your claim with our firm – contact us today at 252-299-5300 to schedule your free legal consultation with us.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), pedestrians are most at risk of suffering fatal injuries in urban environments. That’s where three out of four, or 73 percent, of pedestrian deaths occur. Fatal pedestrian accidents are more likely to occur at non-intersections, where speeds may be higher, and during the evening hours, when visibility is poor. Alcohol is often a contributing factor and played a role in 48 percent of the accidents in which a pedestrian was killed.

As everyone is a pedestrian at some point in their lives, it is important for you and your family members know what driver mistakes are most likely to cause an impact with a pedestrian. That knowledge could help you avoid becoming a statistic in a pedestrian accident.

Driver Mistakes Contributing to Pedestrian Crashes

Driver negligence and errors are one of the main reasons pedestrians are injured or die when hit by a car, truck, motorcycle – or even a bicycle. Pedestrians may themselves the victim of a serious or fatal accident if a driver exhibits any of this conduct:

• Aggressive driving or road rage;
• Driving while alcohol-impaired;
• Failing to back up safely;
• Using a hand-held or hands-free cell phone while driving;
• Sending or reading texts while driving;
• Becoming distracted or inattentive by in-vehicle or out-of-vehicle distractions;
• Driving without the proper experience for the conditions;
• Driving under the influence of drugs, either prescription, OTC or illegal;
• Eating or drinking while driving;
• Failure to yield the right-of-way;
• Driving while drowsy or fatigued;
• Following too close to the vehicle ahead (tailgating);
• Disregarding traffic signals and controls;
• Making improper turns;
• Unsafe lane changing; and
• Improper passing or lane usage.

Tips Pedestrians Can Use to Stay Safe

Although your risk of serious or fatal injury in a vehicle-related accident is significantly greater as a pedestrian, you can be proactive to help to keep you and those you love safe when walking along city streets, roads and highways in Gates County, Dare County, Currituck County and throughout Eastern North Carolina, including the beach roads of the Outer Banks. The following tips may help you avoid injury or death while a pedestrian:

• Cross the street at designated crosswalks or signaled intersections whenever possible.
• When walking along the side of a road, always walk on the sidewalk. If no sidewalk exists, walk along the shoulder of the road facing traffic.
• Before crossing the street, always make eye contact with drivers in approaching vehicles to be sure they see you and are coming to a stop. Never assume you will be seen.
• If you plan on walking at night, wear light or reflective clothing and carry a flashlight.
• Do not walk while texting, talking on your cell phone, listening to music or engaging in any other distracting behavior that could inhibit your ability to be alert to circumstances around you.
• Just as you should never drink and drive, you should not drink and walk either. NHTSA statistics reveal that approximately 37 percent of pedestrians killed in vehicle-related accidents in one year’s time had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher.

Sources:

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Safety in Numbers: Everyone is a pedestrian
• Centers for Disease Control, Injury Prevention & Control: Motor Vehicle Safety: Pedestrian Safety