personal Injury claims

Accidents Where the Jaws of Life are Needed

August 5, 2026 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Accidents are very common. While most accidents are minor, some are very serious, resulting in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, NCDOT, there are an average of more than 750 accidents per day in our state. About 300 people a day are injured in crashes in North Carolina, and there are about seven fatalities. Often, serious accidents result in entrapment. First responders may need the help of the jaws of life to remove victims from vehicles after a crash.

What are the Jaws of Life?

The jaws of life are specialty tools that are used to remove a person who is trapped inside a vehicle. There are several different tools that could be utilized. The most common tool that people think of when they hear the term “jaws of life” is the hydraulic spreader. This tool is used to pry open metal through the use of strong pressure. This type of tool can be used, for example, to pry open a jammed door that may have been damaged in the crash.

Do I Have a Valid Personal Injury Case?

July 8, 2026 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Accidents happen very quickly, but in that instant, your whole life may change. When someone gets hurt in an accident, they often assume that their expenses will be paid by the insurance company. In reality, it isn’t always that easy. Insurance companies scrutinize claims very closely and often either provide compensation that is low or deny a claim completely. If you or a loved one was hurt in an accident, you need to understand whether you have a valid personal injury case and how to proceed with your claim.

Who is at Fault for the Accident?

The person or persons who are at fault for the accident should be held accountable. In order to file a lawsuit, you must first determine who is responsible. Generally, insurance companies review the details of the accident to ascribe fault to each party that was involved. Follow the guidelines provided by the North Carolina Department of Insurance. You will want to make certain to call the police to file a report and gather as much information about the accident as possible. Photos, videos, and witnesses, among other things, are important aspects of proving fault in a personal injury case.

Contributory Negligence in Personal Injury Claims in North Carolina

May 6, 2026 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Contributory Negligence in Personal Injury Claims in North Carolina

Accidents happen quite often, and while most of the time they are minor, sometimes they may be severe. When an accident occurs, the negligent party will be held responsible for the resulting damages. Damages could include medical costs, lost wages, and money for pain and suffering, among others. North Carolina law only allows a party to collect compensation for damages as long as the other party is 100% responsible for the accident. You will want to understand this rule, called contributory negligence, to find out if you can get money for your injuries.

What is Contributory Negligence?

Physical Impairment in Personal Injury Claims

January 22, 2026 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Physical Impairment in Personal Injury Claims

Accidents happen quickly and without warning but they can leave victims with lasting injuries. Some injuries heal while others may be lifelong. There are high costs associated with the medical treatment of physical impairments. These costs should not be owed by the victim but instead the negligent party that caused the injuries should be held responsible. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney will help you get the compensation you deserve for physical impairments caused by someone’s negligence.

Understanding Physical Impairment

Tractor-Trailer Crash Causes Explosion

May 7, 2025 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Tractor-Trailer Crash Causes Explosion

Multiple emergency responders, including police, fire, and rescue, responded to an accident involving multiple vehicles. The major crash involved a tractor-trailer and multiple other vehicles, resulting in a fire and explosion. The accident happened on I-40 in Sampson County. The crash closed down Exit 355 while officials investigated the accident and cleaned it up. The eastbound lanes were closed for several hours, and traffic was temporarily rerouted.

https://youtu.be/3WMqdajNDv4

Personal Injury Claims in North Carolina – The Basics

March 16, 2022 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “What can you sue for in a personal injury case?”

Accidents can happen in an instant. When an accident results in serious injuries, the negligent party should be held responsible for your damages. Some accidents cause severe or long-term injuries with extremely high medical bills. You may also incur other damages such as money you lose because you cannot work, and money for pain and suffering. There are a few basic steps that you should understand about personal injury claims in North Carolina. A knowledgeable attorney will help you through the process so you can get the money you deserve for your injuries.

Awarding Attorney’s Fees for Personal Injury Claims

September 22, 2021 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Brad Smith answers the question: “Do I have to pay a retainer fee to get an attorney to represent me in my personal injury case?”

Consider this scenario: You have taken a personal injury claim to trial and it appears the jury will decide in your favor. You learn the verdict: You will receive a larger sum of non-economic damages, along with economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, future lost wages and expenses). After the trial has concluded and an award has been made, your friend asks if you still have to pay your plaintiffs’ attorney fees. He has heard that in a similar case, the defendant was ordered to pay all attorney fees for the plaintiff. You are confused. Why was this not mentioned by your attorney or addressed in the complaint?

Can Your Pre-Existing Condition Affect Your North Carolina Personal Injury Claim?

August 5, 2020 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “What is subrogation and how may it factor into my case?”

Many people assume that they are entitled to file a personal injury claim and receive compensation only if they had no pre-existing medical conditions before the accident that caused or aggravated their injury.

The importance of the recent Bristol-Myers Squibb case

December 6, 2017 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “How much time do I have to file a claim for my personal injuries after an accident?”

Every once in a while an important case comes along that sends the legal system scrambling. Many imagine these cases receive a great degree of fanfare, with names that stick in everyone’s mind. Though that is certainly true in some cases, there are a number of crucially important Supreme Court cases that have tremendous impact on the legal system, which are never widely known outside of the legal community. One example of that is the recently decided Bristol-Myers Squibb case.

When is an injury not enough to justify a personal injury lawsuit?

November 15, 2017 | AS Personal Injury Lawyers

Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: “What can you sue for in a personal injury case?”

Typically, when we discuss a personal injury case we hear a lot of gruesome details about the harm that was done to the plaintiffs. Horrible injuries, including broken bones, head trauma, burns, amputations and many other terrible things are often involved. Though severe personal injury cases grab headlines given their shock value, there are many other personal injury cases and claims that never rise to such a level. Ordinary car accidents occur every day and it is not unusual for the injuries to be relatively minor. If you are fortunate enough to be involved in one of these relatively minor personal injury incidents, how do you know when you have been injured enough to file a claim? To learn more about the subject, keep reading.