Wilmington, NC Car Accident Lawyers

Always seek immediate medical attention after an auto accident. Internal injuries don’t always have symptoms. Besides, if you don’t seek treatment, the insurance company may later argue that you have exaggerated or faked your injuries.

Have you been injured in a North Carolina auto accident? At Speaks Law Firm, we’ll speak for you. Call us at (910) 341-7570(910) 341-7570 or contact us online to schedule a free case review with an auto accidents attorney from our all-star team.

Never admit fault. Emotions run high in situations like these. You’re likely under stress and not in the right state of mind to evaluate the accident objectively.

Let the police investigate the accident. If the evidence shows that it wasn’t your fault, your Wilmington personal injury lawyer from Speaks Law Firm can advise whether you can seek compensation and how much. If the other driver or the insurance company disputes liability, we can take the matter to trial and let the court assign fault.

You should speak to an experienced Wilmington auto accident attorney before approaching the insurance adjusters. Insurance companies are not your friends: Their job is to optimize costs and turn a profit, not pay you fair compensation.

To reduce your payout or avoid making one altogether, the adjusters may try to blame you for the accident. They can ask leading questions or use seemingly innocent things you’ve said against you. Even if they don’t dispute liability, insurers often make lowball offers in the hope that you don’t know better.

In contrast, our job at Speaks Law Firm is to speak for you and protect your interests. We know the tricks insurers use and how to negotiate with them. An experienced auto accidents attorney from our firm can ensure that adjusters don’t take advantage of your situation.

You will not necessarily go to court. If the other driver is indisputably at fault, the insurance company may offer a reasonable settlement. However, if the insurers make a low offer or argue that you were at fault, your auto accidents attorney may need to take the case to trial.

At Speaks Law Firm, we can evaluate your claim and determine whether you should consider a lawsuit.

Can you “Do It Yourself”?

You are smart. You are organized. You can keep up with your medical bills. You can communicate with the insurance adjuster. You communicate with people about important things all the time. Also, you are not a person who likes to sue people. You are not trying to get rich. You just want to be treated fairly. In addition, the other driver caused the accident. It is clear as day that he is responsible for the wreck. He received a ticket. The insurance adjuster said they would pay the claim.

Why on earth do you need a lawyer?

You don’t need a lawyer to make them pay the claim. You may need a lawyer to make them pay a fair amount for the claim.

I’ll give you an example. Let’s say you apply for a job. “You are hired!” the manager says. “Great!” you say. You start work. After two weeks of work the manager hands you an envelope. You open the envelope when you get to your car. The check is made out to you for $1.32.

You got the job. He paid you. The question is, “How much?”

What are the rules?

There are laws to protect you from being treated unfairly by an employer. Employers must pay you a minimum wage and comply with other laws and regulations. There are laws to protect injured people, too. Do you know them? The insurance adjuster does. But, does he have to tell you what they are? No, he does not. In fact, he is legally forbidden from giving you legal advice.

Is the insurance company trying determine the fair value of your claim?

The insurance company has no incentive to treat you fairly. Insurance companies do two things. They bring in money in the form of premiums. They spend money in the form of claims.

Like all corporations, they have an obligation to their stockholders to maximize profits. Insurance companies maximize profits by bringing in as much as possible in premiums and paying out as little as possible in claims.

The insurance company’s incentive is to pay you as little as possible for your claim. The adjuster works for the insurance company. He or she does a better job for them by paying you less. His performance will be evaluated by his employer according to how little he pays you.

Why would they treat us differently?

We speak their language. We know the laws. We know the rules. We know the process. We know what compensation you are entitled to receive. We know the reasonable settlement value of your claim.

In addition, we know what you are legally obligated to pay from your settlement proceeds. We know what the insurance company can lawfully withhold from you. We can minimize the claim expenses or pay-out to others who have legally enforceable liens against your settlement proceeds including medical providers, Medicaid, Medicare, Tri-care, and health insurance carriers. By maximizing your claim revenue and minimizing your claim expenses, we can help you reach your objective for this claim: fair compensation for your injuries.

Call (910) 341-7570(910) 341-7570 if you have questions about whether we can help you recover fair compensation for your injuries.

The Recorded Statement with the Adjuster

Adjuster: “Hi. This is Cindy from Statewide Insurance Company. I understand that you were in an accident. Is that right?”

You: “Yes, it is.”

Adjuster: “Well I am sorry about that. I am going to process this claim for you. I just need to ask you a few questions to get started. Do you have a few minutes?”

You: “Yes.”

Adjuster: “Alright. Now, I am going to record our conversation for my file. Is that ok?”

You: “That is fine. I have nothing to hide.”

Adjuster: “Great. Can you tell me about the accident?”

You: “Sure. It wasn’t my fault. The other driver, he just . . . And, then I went to the hospital”.

Adjuster: “I understand.”

Adjuster: “Can you tell me, where were you coming from?”

Adjuster: “Where were you going?”

Adjuster: “What were you doing immediately before the accident?”

Adjuster: “Is there anything at all that you could have done to avoid the accident?”

Adjuster: “When was the very first moment in time that you saw the other car?”

Adjuster: “How far away was the car when you saw it?”

Adjuster: “How much time passed between the time you first saw the car and impact?”

Adjuster: “Now, please forgive me. I have to ask everyone this question. Had you had any alcohol to drink that day? Had you taken any drugs or medication?”

Adjuster: “Were you injured in any way?”

“Adjuster: “What was injured in the wreck?”

Adjuster: “Ok. Your back, neck and knee were hurt. Was anything else hurt?”

Adjuster: “Have you had problems with your neck before the accident?”

Adjuster: “Have you seen any medical professionals for these injuries?”

Notice Anything?

These are just some of the questions that an adjuster will ask. Do you notice any thing about the questions? Ask yourself two questions:

1. If the accident was completely and totally the other driver’s fault why do all of the questions relate to the injured person and not to the person who caused the accident?

2. The adjuster needs to get a recorded statement “for her file”. Oh . . . What does that mean?

Questions about the Auto Accident

Shouldn’t she already have a collision report in her file? Doesn’t the collision report say what happened? Didn’t the investigating officer perform a thorough investigation? Didn’t he obtain statements, take measurements, record weather information and document road conditions? Didn’t he prepare a detailed written report? Didn’t he indicate clearly in that written report that the collision was caused by the other driver? What else does she need “in her file”?

Questions about your Medical Treatment

Didn’t the doctor and other medical professionals perform examinations? Don’t they usually record their findings? Don’t they usually document their diagnosis and prescribed course of treatment? Aren’t the medical records readily available? Wouldn’t these records be a more accurate and thorough source of information about your medical condition than asking you to answer questions with no preparation in a casual conversation? Wouldn’t obtaining those records be a better way to get the information that she needs “in her file”?

Would you be surprised to know . . .

She already has the report. She is going to get the medical records.

So what’s with all the questions?

She is fishing. All of these questions are designed to do one thing. They are designed to gather information that can be used to pay you nothing or pay you less than you deserve. It is her job to resolve this claim in a way that is best for her employer.

The Business Model for Insurance Companies

Think about it for a moment. Insurance companies do two things. They collect premiums and pay claims. All companies seek to maximize profits. Insurance companies maximize profits by collecting as much money as possible in premiums and paying out as little as possible in claims. Her job is to help them pay out as little as possible for your claim.

Doesn’t it make sense to have someone on your side? Shouldn’t you have someone working for you? Wouldn’t it be nice to know someone is there to make sure you are treated fairly? Wouldn’t it be great to have someone who Speaks for you?

What if I told you that help was a phone call away? What if I told you that we would take care of everything? What if I told you that there would be no charge for our services unless we are successful? In decades of representing injured people, I have never seen one case where an injured person would have been better off it they had not called.

Call (910) 341-7570(910) 341-7570 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to speak with someone about your case. Or you can call for a free copy of my book The North Carolina Auto Injury Book or download it free here.

Property Damage Claims after an Auto Accident in North Carolina

Property damage claims arise when your car is damaged in a wreck or collision that was not your fault. The responsible driver’s insurance company will assign a property damage claims adjuster. The adjuster is responsible for resolving the claim in the way that is best for his employer. He is employed by the insurance company.

Property damage claims are generally easier to resolve than bodily injury claims. The insurance company should pay the cost to repair or replace your car. You may need a rental car. The cost to repair your car can be established by a reputable repair shop. The cost to replace can be established through on-line research. There may be an additional claim for diminution in value where your car has had extensive damage.

So, why do I need a lawyer to handle my property damage claim if I was not injured?

Chances are, you don’t. Like anything, some of these claims get complicated, but many are straight-forward. Lots of people are capable of handling this process by themselves without a lawyer. Some people change their own oil. Some people handle their own propety damage claims.

When should I get lawyer to handle my property damage claim?

However, if there is any chance that you were injured in any way in the accident, then you should call us immediately. (We are located in North Carolina. If you are in North Carolina and you may be injured, call us at (910) 341-7570(910) 341-7570. If you are outside of North Carolina, please call an injury lawyer in your state.) If you are stiff and sore then you may be injured. It is important that you get a medical examination to determine whether you are injured and whether your need treatement. Here is why:

People almost always say something in conversations with the insurance adjuster for the property damage claim that diminishes the value of their bodily injury claim. They might make a comment about the accident that causes the adjuster to deny the claim altogether. Or more commonly, they make comments about their injuries or medical treatment that dramatically reduce the value of their claim.

Most of the time, they never even know what they said. They may never know that they should have received more money. They go on thinking that is the way it works and they don’t get the medical treatment and compensation to which they are legally entitled.

If you are in North Carolina, it is best to call us now. Ask questions. Get information. Then decide how you should proceed. The information is free. There is no obligation. The adjuster knows how it works. You should, too.

How much does it cost to get a lawyer to help me with my property damage claim?

If we represent you on an injury claim, we handle the property damage for free. We don’t charge a dime. We don’t charge a fee up front. We do not charge a fee on the back-end. We do not charge a fee at all.

Why does your law firm help people with property damage claims for free when you are representing them on their injury claims?

I think we get a little more money for property damage claims than you would. It is not because we are smarter than you are. It is simply because we are more familiar with the process. It is something we do every day.

However, that is not the only reason we do it. We handle property damage claims for our injured clients in order to prevent the common mistakes that people make when they handle these claims on their own. These mistakes can cost them hundreds on a property damage claim and thousands or tens of thousands on a personal injury claim. It is our job to make sure people are treated fairly for their auto injury claims. We take that responsibility very seriously.

If you have questions about this or anything else relating to your auto injury claim, please give us a call at (910) 341-7570(910) 341-7570 or toll free at (910) 341-7570(910) 341-7570

I was injured because another driver was texting. How much money will I get for my auto accident if I get the best lawyer possible?

Immediately after an accident, no lawyer can tell you how much money you will receive. Generally, more serious injuries result in larger settlements. However, that is an oversimplification and other issues can affect the outcome of your claim.

Other issues may include contributory negligence, insurance coverage, liens, subrogation and expenses. Medical expenses, future medical expenses, permanent injury, scarring, loss of use, loss of income must be considered. We can help you address each of these issues in a way that is most beneficial to you.

The way that we do that is by looking at your case like it is its own independent corporation. All corporations need to do two things: Maximize revenue and minimize expenses.

Also, we also position your case for successful settlement from the first day. Successful cases are those that are properly diagnosed, treated, and documented from the beginning. If any of these is missing, the case will never resolve for full value. We monitor every step of your medical care.

Sometimes people try to “do it themselves”. I understand the idea. I want to save money just like any one else. The problem is that mistakes made early in injury cases can never be completely fixed. They will always reduce or eliminate the claim’s value.

In the years I have been doing this, I have never met one person who would have been better off if they had not called.

The best thing to do is to get information before you hire a lawyer, sign a form or settle you case. Call (910) 341-7570(910) 341-7570 now for a free copy of The North Carolina Auto Injury Book or for a free explanation of your legal rights and responsibilities.

If you have been injured in an auto accident, you will soon be contacted by an insurance adjuster. The insurance adjuster works for the insurance company, not for you. The adjuster is under no legal or moral duty to protect your rights. The adjuster may be nice and professional. He may tell you that the insurance company has accepted liability and will pay the claim. But how much will they pay? The adjuster will tell you that they cannot give you legal advice and then sit in silence as you make mistakes that could cost you thousands of dollars.

One of the first things he will do is attempt to obtain a recorded statement. Never give a recorded statement without consulting with an experienced injury attorney first. The recorded statement may seem harmless, but it is carefully designed to elicit information that may be harmful to your case. It is critical that you know your rights immediately, so that you can protect yourself from further financial harm.

You can get the information you need by calling us for a FREE consultation or by requesting my FREE book, The North Carolina Auto Injury Book, including 20 Secrets to Maximize Your Recovery. It is for sale at Amazon.com or yours free if you call (910) 341-7570(910) 341-7570 or (910) 341-7570(910) 341-7570.

Look for Experience, Knowledge, Reputation, and Results

I started helping injured people in the fall of 1997. I had just graduated from law school and set up my office. I knew I wanted to work with injured people so I went around to other established injury lawyers’ offices. I gave them my card and asked them to send me the difficult cases that they did not want. They did.

For the next decade I took every difficult case that walked in the door. The only cases I would not take was where a person was lying about an accident or faking an injury. For much of that time, I did everything myself. I gathered evidence, investigated injuries, retrieved medical reports, found medical experts, collected documents, and cross-examined doctors.

I also tried cases in front of juries. I tried cases in big cities and small towns in the eastern, central and western parts of North Carolina. I won and I lost. I learned a lot from the wins. I learned more from the losses.

I really enjoyed that time. I gained knowledge and experience that comes from years of daily practive. Those lessons cannot be learned from books. I developed a reputation as an honest, hard-working lawyer who would not stop until I achieved justice for my clients.

I am very proud the work we did then and the work we do now. Although we have grown and we handle very serious injury cases, we have not changed. I am older, and hopefully a little wiser. I have never changed in my commitment. Our firm continues to use the knowledge, experience and reputation that I gained during those years to help every person we represent today. Our results and client satisfaction demonstrate that continued commitment.