Why Hire An Attorney?

Posted by Adam R. Leighton on Nov 28, 2017 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Why Hire An Attorney? The first thing you need to know is that, for a personal injury case, you do not need to hire an attorney at all. An affected party may choose to pursue recovery on their own, and sometimes they can be successful. Most of the time, however, the affected party encounters a difficult system of billing, medical records requests, difficult insurance agents, and long processes which may ultimately prompt the plaintiff to seek help. Throughout my own experiences, I have seen insurance agents insult and completely ignore plaintiffs who are in need of help and solutions to fix their vehicles or get reimbursed for medical expenses. It seems as though they have a different approach to a case when they know the person does not have representation: push the case as fast as possible, rush the client, and belittle their claim to make the plaintiff feel as though their case is small or unimportant, and that taking any settlement right away is in their best interest. An attorney can make such a difference in a case that the insurance company may even replace the original adjuster who was working on the case to a new, more senior-level adjuster as soon as the letter of representation is received.         What a potential client/plaintiff may not know is what the law entitles them to recover. For example, lost wages, pain and suffering, among others. And while many times the latter makes a significant impact in a client’s recovery, that is not where a personal injury case ends. After an attorney successfully settles a case, he/she needs to distribute those funds to the corresponding medical providers. And this is the part where things get difficult, because, who doesn’t like money?         Every provider who has a right to get reimbursed wants to get as much as possible from the settlement. If they notice a client is not being represented, they may even try to collect the money behind the client’s back through a tool called “assignment of benefits”. This tool is typically bundled into the intake documents every patient must fill out during an intake appointment, and many clients do no read or simply do not understand what the paper is stating. With the document signed by the patient, the provider can submit any charges directly to the client’s insurance or even the responsible party’s insurance and collect as much of the settlement...
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Charlotte, NC Sees 6 Pedestrian Deaths in Just One Month

Posted by Adam R. Leighton on Nov 21, 2017 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Charlotte, NC Sees 6 Pedestrian Deaths in Just One Month Charlotte, North Carolina, has just seen its sixth pedestrian accident death in one month, according to the Charlotte Observer. On Monday, October 25th, 62-year-old Daniel Wheeler was struck and killed as he walked on Monroe Road. Wheeler, who worked at a McDonald’s nearby, was a volunteer firefighter and a veteran. When police arrived on the scene, they found the driver of a 2005 Nissan Quest had hit Wheeler and the veteran was pronounced dead the scene. The preliminary investigation into the accident found that the Nissan’s driver, 54-year-old Grigory Vasil Kolesnik, was going southeast in the left lane when he struck Wheeler, who was crossing mid-block and was not in a crosswalk at the time. Kolesnik was charged with reckless driving and death by vehicle at the misdemeanor level. The detectives determined that ice on Kolesnik’s windshield contributed to the accident as it impaired his vision. Neither speed nor alcohol were found to be factors. None of the six pedestrians who died in Charlotte over a span of just 30 days were in crosswalks, and three of those victims were over the age of 60. Pedestrian deaths are surging nationwide Auto-pedestrian traffic deaths are up across the country. A report covered by NPR found that between 2015 and 2016, pedestrian deaths across the country jumped up by 11 percent. The final total was close to 6,000, which is the highest it has been in more than 20 years and the largest recorded increase in pedestrian deaths ever. With all the improvements in autonomous safety features that have come out over the last few years, many experts expected pedestrian fatalities to decrease, so this rise is alarming the auto safety community. While some increase was expected because of a six-percent rise in auto fatalities overall, the pedestrian surge outpaced even that trend. It is worth noting that some drivers do not fully understand some of the newer safety features on cars and end up disabling them, so the full impact of such features on pedestrian safety is not yet clear. Auto safety experts are encouraging car makers to do more to ensure drivers can fully use the newer safety technology on their vehicles. While distracted driving and walking is a factor, speed is one significant culprit in the explosion of auto-pedestrian deaths. Speed limits are being raised around the country, but the faster a car is moving when it strikes...
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Single Car Accidents

Posted by Adam R. Leighton on Nov 21, 2017 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Single Car Accidents A common misconception of motorists is that single-car accidents only occur to careless drivers. In fact, not only are single-car accidents just as common as multiple-car accidents, they are just as fatal. Many factors can contribute to a single-car accident and this does not exclude the “perfect” safe driver. Unexpected factors can also cause a single-car accident, such as wildlife in the surrounding area, adverse weather conditions, or even a cracked windshield.  In any event, you should take the time to do research to find an attorney, like a personal injury attorney Dekalb County GA residents trust, who can assist you in determining what your rights are in a single car accident.  Because of the rising frequency of hit and runs, manufacturer vehicle issues, and distracted drivers, countless attorneys are readily available to assist you with determining your rights.  You should make sure that you contact the police in the event of a hit and run because this information will prove pertinent as your claim, if any, progresses. The following are some examples of parties who may be negligent and cause a one-car accident:   The auto manufacturer—If a manufacturer sells a vehicle or a vehicle component that is defective, it puts drivers at risk for serious injuries. If tires, brakes, steering systems, or other parts suddenly malfunction, a driver can easily lose control and crash into an object.   Another driver—Some one-car crashes occur because a driver was simply reacting to another negligent driver on the road. If another car suddenly veers into an improper lane or fails to yield, a driver may swerve sharply in response and may crash.   A government entity—Cities and states have a duty to keep roads safe for all drivers. If a government entity fails to properly inspect and/or maintain roads, dangerous hazards such as potholes, uneven surfaces, or large cracks may develop and may cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle. If you have recently been involved in an single care accident,  you may be entitled to financial compensation for any wages loss or medical bills.  Because you aren’t an attorney, you should reach out to someone who can assist you in determining if you have a claim to seek compensation for any inconvenience you were caused.  While you are uncertain about the results, a skilled, trained attorney will do a good job assisting you with gaining clarity and...
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