Charlotte Injury Lawyer Blog

On May 14, 2009 attorney Michael Chandler of the law firm of Hull & Chandler obtained a jury verdict in the amount of $44,100 against a dog owner who was found to be negligent. The dog in question attacked the claimant on February 25, 2007. The claimant suffered a badly dislocated ankle in the attack. Prior to the trial the only offer from the defendants was $1,000, made just three weeks before the trial.

The prosecution of dog attack/bite cases can be a lot more complicated than one might presume. In order to prevail, the owner or keeper of the dog must be shown to have acted in a negligent manner. A common misconception is every dog gets "one free bite". This is not always the case and a recovery can often be achieved when the dog has never bitten or attacked in the past. Another issue that can complicate the case is the type of insurance the owner carries. Many policies now exclude dog attacks form coverage. At Hull & Chandler, we are experienced at handling dog attack cases and have experience in obtaining recoveries where other law firms have told the claimant the case is without merit. If you or a family member has been injured by a dog or other domestic animal you need to consult a personal injury attorney who is experienced in handling similar cases.

To most people in North Carolina the goal when purchasing car insurance is to save as much money as possible. It is only when a person has been in an automobile accident that they become concerned with the actual terms of their insurance policy. If you are at fault in the car accident, you could be liable to the other driver if your insurance cannot fully cover their claim. If you are not at fault and you are injured in the accident, the at-fault driver may not have the insurance coverage necessary to pay your claim.

In North Carolina every driver is required to have $30,000.00 of liability coverage per person $60,000.00 per accident. ( N.C.G.S. § 20-279.21) This liability coverage does not cover you but rather covers the injuries of the other party if you are at fault in an accident. While these same limits have applied since 1999, medical costs and other measures of damages have increased dramatically. Depending on your personal assets, a higher amount of liability coverage may be recommended.

As stated above, liability coverage does not pay you if you are injured. Since many drivers have the minimum limits coverage described above or no insurance at all, you may want to purchase Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM) and Under Insured Motorist Coverage (UIM). Under Insured Motorist Coverage (UIM) protects you if the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance coverage to pay your claim. Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM) can be purchased to protect you if the at fault driver has no insurance at all.

Adding UM and UIM coverage should not be very costly and may be very important in the event you actually have an insurance claim. If you would like to discuss your insurance policy with a lawyer please feel free to contact the law offices of Hull & Chandler, P.A.

The law office of Hull & Chandler, P.A. recently doubled our office space to accommodate our growing practice. We currently have four lawyers that focus on a variety of legal issues including personal injury (car accidents, motorcycle accidents, brain injury, slip and falls, dog bites, etc.), business litigation (shareholder and partnership disputes, non-competes, trade secrets, etc.), business transactions (start-ups, contracts, tax planning, employment agreements, etc.) and estate planning.

Along with the expansion of the office, we are in the process of upgrading the technology in our conference room to allow computer and internet access. We hope that the improved technology will help us more effectively serve our clients in the future.

If you have recently been injured in an accident in North Carolina you may require the assistance of a competent personal injury attorney to ensure that you are properly compensated for your loss. Different legal issues and potential injuries arise in car accidents, trucking accidents, dog bites, slip and falls or other types of injury cases. You will require an attorney with an understanding of what insurance policies may be used to compensate you for your injury. A lawyer that is unfamiliar with the types of insurance available may settle your case with the primary insurance and not be aware that a second or third policy is available to compensate you for your injury.

It is also important that the law firm have experience with your particular type of claim. Specific injuries may require specialized medical treatment for recovery and expert testimony to prove your case. An attorney already familiar with your type of injury and claim will know how to prove your case in court.

Since many injury cases go to court, there is extensive legal precedent that can trip up a novice attorney. Familiarity with this legal precedent will allow your attorney to better advise you as to the value of your case during settlement negotiations.

When deciding on which law firm best fits your needs it is important that you be able to speak with an actual attorney. If you are unable to speak with the lawyer up front, you may not have easy access to the lawyer later in your case.

Choosing an experienced personal injury lawyer to assist you in your injury case can help maximize the value of your claim and prevent unnecessary delay in resolving your claim.

At Hull & Chandler, P.A., located in Charlotte, North Carolina, we feel that we fit the criteria above and would be happy to discuss your case with you.

A Will is the basis of every carefully developed estate plan. It lets you control what happens to the assets you have built up after your death. You use your Will to direct exactly how your estate will be handled, divided and received by your heirs.

Without a Will, North Carolina law decides how your property will be distributed. The State's way of distributing your estate may be very different from the way you want it distributed. The following are some examples of what may happen if the State decides where your assets to at your death.

If you have a spouse and a living parent, approximately 50% of your estate will go to your wife and the rest will go to your parents.

If you have a spouse and a child, approximately 50% of your estate will go to your wife and the rest will go to your child.

If you have a spouse and more than one child, approximately 33% of your estate will go to your wife and the rest will go to your children.

If the state controls the disposition of your estate, it will also control how any assets going to a minor (someone under 18) will be held after your death. Expensive court-supervised methods may be employed by the state in distributing and managing your child's share of your estate. These expenses and administrative hassles may be avoided through proper estate planning.

Most important for parents is not the disposition of their property after their death, but rather, the proper care and custody of their minor children. Custody of minor children is decided by the courts and there is no guarantee that family members or godparents would receive custody of the minor children. North Carolina law provides that a designation of a guardian in a Will shall be considered by the court as a "strong guide" as to whom to appoint as guardian.

Without a Will, there are many potential pitfalls, delays, and hassles for those that you leave behind. Plus, there are not guarantees as to who will acquire your property.