personal injury - Glover Law Firm

What Are Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer?

Danny Glover — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 09:48:10 GMT

Is an Attorney Really Necessary? Can I handle a claim by myself? What are benefits of Hiring a Lawyer?

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

5 Things You Should Do After a Wreck

Danny Glover — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 19:16:39 GMT

5 Things You Should Do After a Wreck

If you have recently been involved in a Car Wreck, it is not unusual to have questions:

What Should I Do?
Do I Need to Talk To Someone?
How Do I Make a Claim?
How Long Do I Have?

Those are all normal, expected questions. Navigating a sometimes complex legal system can be confusing. We’re here to help – Danny Glover

1. Get Healthy

After a collision, especially one involving injuries, the most important thing to do is seek immediate medical treatment.

Focus first on getting healthy.

Do NOT try to “tough it out.” Go see a Doctor without delay. Not only will you feel better, you will better protect any claim or claims you may have against the party whom caused the injuries.

Insurance Companies look for reasons to challenge paying Claims.

Delaying medical attention could call into question whether the injuries sustained were related to the wreck or something else.

Legal Professionals refer to such issues as Clear Liability and Proximate Cause.

Indeed, injuries may be worsened by waiting to begin treatment. Failure to seek immediate medical care could extend the length of time of recovery.

Do not take a chance. Go see a doctor now.

2. Make Your Online Profiles PRIVATE

Everyone loves to share things that happen to them on-line nowadays. Whether it is a birthday party, or long-awaited vacation, or even a car wreck with a trip to the Emergency Room, people regularly post on Social Media such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google+ and the like.

Insurance Companies know that. . .and they take advantage of the opportunity to gather information about you.

Therefore, take the simple step of making your accounts PRIVATE, where only your friends and family can see what you post.

Here’s what Richard Harer, Vice President of Specialized Investigations says:

Social networking research and investigation is a required tool

Understand, if a case goes to litigation, it is not unusual for lawyers for the insurance company to request the disclosure of information via a process called Discovery.

They may ask for copies of the Social Profiles, your posts, pictures, and comments associated with your wreck.

If you feel compelled to post something, realize this: A Jury may at some point review what you wrote or posted.

That is true even if you make your posts Private.

See More: How Insurance Companies View Claims

3. Write Down What Happened

We recommend you write down everything that happened before and after a wreck.

That serves two purposes:

It will serve as your memory as time passes
It will help in the recovery process, as you will not worry about having to remember everything

This simple step may seem a bit odd. “Of course I will remember everything. It was a very traumatic event for me. I’ll never forget what happened.”

The truth of the matter is, memories do fade over time.

If it takes a long time to get healthy again, you may not remember all the little things you missed in the process.

Cases that end ultimately in litigation can take a substantial amount of time to reach Court.

If you have detailed notes, it is much more convincing to explain why you saw a Doctor or went to Physical Therapy.

See More: Writing Things Down Really Will Make You Feel Better

Writing everything down serves as your memory; but, it also does something else that is equally important.

What many people do not realize is that a wreck can be a traumatic, life-changing event.

Our minds can work in odd ways. We can add to our own level of stress, worrying about what happened and the need to remember things.

When you write something down, it serves as a type of mental release.

You allow yourself to stop thinking about an event. You “got it out of you.” You start to relax. You are able to focus on other things, like getting well.

And believe it or not, you may actually start to remember other things that happened once you start writing.

4. Get Witness Information, NOW

As stated, sometimes cases involving car wrecks take time to settle. If a lawsuit is required and litigation ensues, people whom saw the wreck may need to come to Court.

Do NOT assume just because the police wrote down what happened in an accident report that will suffice as proof.

More often than not, Live Testimony is preferable in Court.

People move. They get new jobs. They change telephone numbers and addresses.

Get as much information about your witnesses NOW, when you still have access to that information.

Obviously be nice about things. While one would not expect to need to give their entire life history, most people are willing to share their:

Full Name
Permanent Mailing Address
Telephone Number
eMail Address
Place of Employment

Getting that information now may also increase the speed in which a claim may be made.

See More: Why Do We Forget Things and People?

Most assuredly the Insurance Carrier will want to speak with witnesses and determine what they had an opportunity to observe.

It makes sense then to have that information handy from the outset.

See More: Denying Coverage and Risk Assessment of Bad Faith

5. Talk to an Attorney, Do NOT Talk to the Carrier

Lawyers are not required in every instance; but, in that most Personal Injury or Wreck Attorneys provide a confidential consultation, free of charge, it does not hurt to get information.

In North Carolina you are NOT required to give a Recorded Statement.

That is frankly often misunderstood by some insurance adjusters.

You are only required to “cooperate” with your Insurance Company and their representatives.

You are NOT required to assist the Insurance Company responsible for the wreck. In fact, their interests are directly contrary to yours.

That may not seem fair. . .but that is how it works.

Lawyers can help explain your rights and what you are required and not required to do. That’s what we do: We Help People – Danny Glover

Talking to or “consulting” with a Lawyer does not require you to retain their services.

In some cases, an attorney is not required.

Unfortunately, in many cases lawyers get involved because people feel they are not being treated fairly by an Insurance Company or Adjuster.

Remember, settling a claim is a business decision for the carrier responsible to pay for damages.

They are in the business of getting out of claims as quickly and as inexpensively as possible.

They are not in the business of making certain you are completely healthy.

They also are not required to “do the right thing” or be fair.

That’s why we have Courts and that is why some matters end in litigation. The Insurance Company or the person whose negligence caused the wreck does not want to take full responsibility.

If you are looking for a Plaintiff’s Personal Injury Lawyer, we encourage you to do your homework.

Check out their credentials.

Ask Questions.

Find out their level of experience and what they do to help people.

Take your time.

If you have questions the attorneys at Glover Law Firm are here to help.

Call Danny Glover now for a free consultation.

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