Injured In a Scooter Accident in North Carolina? We Can Help.

Electric scooters travel up to 15 miles per hour. If a rider is struck by a car, serious injury or death can result. Some of the risks that Bird, Lime, Jump & Lyft riders face include:

· Riders are less visible to car drivers

· No barrier between scooter rider and road

· Road hazards

· Scooter instability

· Inexperienced riders

· Panic stop

· High-risk behavior

· Vandalized scooters 

Even people who carefully ride scooters and react well to pedestrian and vehicle traffic can be caught off-guard and injured, either by a scooter defect or a negligent third party.

Why You Need a Lawyer After an Electric Scooter Accident


Because they are a new form of transportation, electric scooter accidents can involve tricky and unsettled legal issues.

An electric scooter accident can result in serious injuries that can affect you and your family for the rest of your life. If someone else was at fault, they should pay for your medical bills, your lost wages, and your pain and suffering. You want a tenacious personal injury lawyer on your side to demand fair compensation for your losses. At Tippens & Zurosky we specialize in helping victims of particularly serious injuries. Call us for help today 704-343-0018

I Was Hit By An Uninsured Driver in Charlotte – Now What?

It is bad enough to get into an automobile accident that is not your fault, and then you find out that the other at-fault driver had no valid automobile liability insurance.  Unfortunately, uninsured drivers are more common than you would think as over the years the percentage of uninsured drivers has varied from ten to fifteen percent of all drivers on the road.  When you consider the total number of people driving around the United States, and specifically North Carolina and South Carolina, the number of uninsured drivers nationwide is in the millions. North Carolina and South Carolina both require that automobile owners have liability automobile insurance. Unfortunately, some people just get liability insurance for the express purpose of getting their vehicle legally registered, and then either cancel the policy, or stop paying the premiums, which also invalidates the policy.  If the economy is not doing well, and people are stressed for money, not paying expensive car insurance is one of the first things people will do to keep the lights on and a roof over their heads.

If you are hit by an uninsured driver, your uninsured motorist steps into the place of the absent liability insurance company of the at-fault driver.  You might think that your insurance company is going to bend over backwards to help you navigate your uninsured claim.  But, as has been discussed previously, your insurance company is in the business of making money.  How much money they make is simply the difference between the amount of premiums they collect, and the amount of claims that they pay out on.  And, that includes your uninsured claim!

It is normal to think that because you are dealing with your own insurance company that they will treat you fairly, or even better than any other claimant.  But in actuality, your uninsured motorist claim is treated by your insurance company just like any other claim.  You have to prove your case to your uninsured automobile insurance company just like you would if you were dealing with the at-fault drivers’ automobile liability insurance company. 

What Should You Do If You Are Hit By An Uninsured Driver?

Call the police immediately so an accident report is generated, showing the other driver was at fault.  Just because you are dealing with your own insurance company, doesn’t mean they are just going to take your word for it.  They are going to investigate it, and determine fault on their own. 

Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible. Often insurance companies do not move at the speed that people would like them to move, so the earlier the process is started the better.

Make sure you see a doctor, or other medical professional, immediately.  Again, the longer you delay seeking medical treatment, the more your insurance company will hold that against you in assessing your damages. The other danger in delaying medical treatment is that the longer the gap is between seeing the doctor, and the date of the accident, sometimes the less able, or less likely, your medical professional is to relate what is going on with you to the motor vehicle accident in question.

Get a property damage estimate as soon as possible, so that you know the amount your insurance company is going to have to pay to get your car fixed.  If your car is going to be deemed a total loss, know the value of your car before speaking to your insurance company about the total loss payment.

Tippens & Zurosky has represented people involved in uninsured auto accidents and hurt on the job, in North Carolina and South Carolina for over twenty years. Let us help you deal with the unexpected, and get your life back on track.  Call us toll free at (877) 372-3580, or 704-343-0018 to schedule a consultation so that we may assist you.    

 

Driving Tired Is a Main Cause Of Accidents In North Carolina and South Carolina

In today’s day and age, many drivers in North Carolina and South Carolina have a difficult time getting a good night’s sleep.  Tired drivers can be just as dangerous to share the road with as drivers that have consumed alcohol, or used drugs.  Tired drivers can also be just as dangerous to share the road with as drivers that are distracted by texting, eating, reading, or using social media.  Not getting enough sleep can do more than just effect a person’s ability to drive.  Lack of sleep can increase the aging process, lower a person’s immune system, impair memory, and contribute to depression.  The reality of the matter is that when a person is sleep deprived they are literally not themselves.

Many drivers that you are sharing the road with are exposed to too much artificial light in the form of computer screens, phones, televisions, and other electronic devices.  The human body has an internal clock that relies on the rising and the setting of the sun to regulate sleep patterns.  Artificial light from devices can wreak havoc with the body’s natural ability to regulate its own sleep patterns.  So, if a person habitually stays up late watching television, or playing video games, or using social media, there is a good chance that they may develop an interruption in their sleep patterns that turns them into a tired driver.  Driving while tired slows down your reflexes, and inhibits your judgment, thus making you more likely to cause an accident, and less likely to avoid one happening in front of you!  Interestingly enough, there is an increase in car accidents following the nationwide switch to Daylight Savings Time.  The facts are that it does not take much to turn a person from a focused driver to one that is sleep deprived, and thus dangerously driving while tired.

So, if you know that you have a long drive ahead, or even if it is just your normal work day, the experts say to shut down those devices at least an hour before bedtime.  Also, avoid caffeine and alcohol before bedtime, and keep the bedroom at cooler temperatures as a cooler body sleeps better.  We all owe it to our fellow drivers that we share the road with to be rested, and not a hazard because of lack of sleep.  Take care of your own sleep health, and the other drivers on the road, and don’t engage in driving while tired!

Tippens & Zurosky has represented people involved in auto accidents and hurt on the job, in North Carolina and South Carolina for over twenty years.  Let us help you deal with the unexpected, and get your life back on track.  Call us toll free at (877) 372-3580, or 704-343-0018 to schedule a consultation so that we may assist you

Charlotte Distracted Driver Accident Lawyers

Summer is Here!  So, Just Be Safe!!!

School is out, and aside from dealing with the fact that the kids are home all day, and are already bored, this is your time of year to relax, kick back, and head to your favorite vacation spot.  Whether you choose to go the beaches, mountains, area pools or the lakes, it is important to remember that the rest of the drivers on the road with you may not be focused on their driving, and instead are hurrying to their vacation destination. They may also be distracted by their children in the car, who when they are not zoning out on their phones, or other devices, are causing a ruckus by fighting over who gets the phone charger next!  The driver of the car next to you, or behind you, may also not be paying attention to the road because they are busy trying to read their work emails, or coordinate with other family members as they descend upon the common family vacation destination.

So, be sure to be aware of your surroundings, because those around you may not be aware of their following distance, speed, failure to maintain their own lane of travel, or just plain inattention.  To make matters even more challenging, the summer is when those massive thunderstorms, hailstorms, and downpours make their visits to North Carolina and South Carolina.  Take extra caution in rainy weather and keep a safe following distance as slick roads tend to shorten the distance that we think is safe in inclement weather.  Get plenty of rest before you start your journey, and that will assist you in keeping eyes on the traffic, and the road conditions, both of which can change literally around the very next curve of the road on those long trips to the beach, or mountains.

The hazards of the road are only one potential danger.  Be careful if you choose to celebrate the awesomeness that is America with fireworks, supervise any children participating in the celebration very carefully, and by all means keep them out of any potential to get in harm’s way.  Likewise, be aware and careful when firing up a gas grill for a seemingly short distraction could be far longer than you think it was, and can lead to a gas build up that when ignited can have drastic consequences.

The powerful rays of the sun are a potential danger during the summer months so make sure you stay hydrated, have on plenty of sun protection, and are watching the children for signs of heat stroke.

Finally, be aware of any animal hazards while swimming, and don’t forget that we share the oceans, rivers, and lakes of North Carolina and South Carolina with wild creatures such as sharks, alligators, snakes, jellyfish, eels, and snapping turtles.  If you are taking a dip in the ocean, or a lake at night, that is also the time when many animals are looking for their dinner, and if you are not aware of what is sharing the water with you, then you may find that you, your child, or a pet is the victim of an animal attack.  Remember you are wading into their home territory, and not the other way around.

    

Tippens & Zurosky is available to serve your auto accident and workers’ compensation needs, and wishes you a safe and happy summer.  Tippens & Zurosky has represented people involved in auto accidents, or hurt on the job in North Carolina and South Carolina for over twenty years.  Let us answer any of your questions regarding any automobile accident, or work-related injury.  Call us toll free at (877) 372-3580, or 704-343-0018 to schedule a consultation so that we may assist you. 

Who Can You Trust When You Have An Accident?

It used to be in the time before social media, texting, and cell phones, that if someone knew they had wronged you in some way, they would take responsibility for their actions.  If someone caused a car accident, they would admit to their insurance company, and the investigating officer that it was their fault.  Now, we hear of those people that encourage the person they hit in an automobile accident to not call the police “because their insurance is good, and they will take care of everything.”  But, when they do talk to their insurance company they say that you were at fault, and they were the innocent party.  If you are involved in an automobile accident, it is sad to say, but you cannot rely on the other party to do the right thing.

First, immediately call the police to get an accident report done that shows exactly how the accident happened.  Take pictures of the accident scene, your injuries, and the license plate of the other party.  If there are any witnesses to the accident, find out what they saw, encourage them to talk to the police, and get their contact information .  A lot of folks want to wait to see how they feel before seeking medical attention.  But, the insurance company will not give you that benefit of the doubt, and will hold a delay in medical treatment against you.  Even though their insured driver was the one that injured you, the insurance company’s sole goal is to get out of this situation for as little money as possible.  So, don’t delay in seeking medical care.  Consult a doctor, or chiropractor immediately, so that your injuries are documented, and there are not gaps in your treatment.

It also used to be that if you got hurt on the job that you could rely on your long-time employer to take care of you, and get the workers’ compensation process started for you.  Some employers, though it seems fewer and fewer by the year, still do this, and really have their employees’ best interest at heart.  An all too increasing number of employers will do anything they can to deny workers’ compensation claims.  Don’t fall for the manager that tells you to go home, or that tells you they have no idea how to file workers’ compensation claims.  Most managers as part of their training know how to file workers’ compensation claims for their injured workers, they simply don’t want to do so, and have the injury be tagged to them, and thus be known as an “unsafe” manager.  Is this your problem as the injured worker?  Of course not!  So, the unfortunate answer to the who can you trust question above, if you have a workers’ compensation claim, is…no one but yourself!

If you are hurt on the job, don’t automatically think your employer, or supervisor is going to be a responsible manager, and do the right thing by reporting your injury, and making sure you get the medical care you need.  Make sure an accident report is done on the day of your injury.  Make sure you seek medical attention as soon as you possibly can do so.  Make sure you know the names and contact information of any witnesses to your accident on the job.  Above all else, do not do what some managers suggest, and go to a hospital, or urgent care, and tell the doctor that is happened at home, or somewhere else other than at your place of employment.  The first time you see a doctor is very important in workers’ compensation cases.  Because if you have a contested case, that first medical record is the very first evidence a hearing officer for workers’ compensation commissions will look at to determine if your case is compensable, or not compensable.

Also, if you are involved in an automobile accident, or injured on the job, it is helpful to speak with an attorney before you speak with any insurance company.  You can’t even sometimes trust what your own insurance company tells you, particularly if they are the ones that have to pay out on your behalf.  Tippens & Zurosky has represented people involved in auto accidents and hurt on the job, in North Carolina and South Carolina for over twenty years.  Let us help you deal with the unexpected, and get your life back on track.  Call us toll free at (877) 372-3580, or 704-343-0018 to schedule a consultation so that we may assist you. 

How Some Companies Avoid Having Their Employees Have Workers’ Compensation Cases – Gaming the System

With the dark clouds of an economic downturn seemingly on the horizon, companies are looking for ways to save money, and develop a cushion in case things really do get worse for them.  One of the most expensive parts of any company’s overhead is paying for workers’ compensation insurance.  The more workers’ compensation claims a company has in a given year, the higher their workers’ compensation premiums will be in the next year.  So, this year particularly, companies are very wary of incurring additional workers’ compensation expenses, which leads them to act in very creative ways to avoid having the claim show up on their books.

Instead of opening up a workers’ compensation claim for their employee who just got injured on the job, many employers will encourage their injured worker to use their company health insurance to pay for all medical bills related to their injury.  Some companies even go so far as to help their injured employee get on short-term disability, so that the injured worker has some money coming in while they are out of work.  In this scenario, the injury is never reported as workers’ compensation, thus never counts against the company for the purposes of assessing workers’ compensation premiums for the next year.  We have heard injured workers tell us that their companies have told them that they “don’t do” workers’ compensation claims, or the company “takes care of everything,” and they have nothing to worry about because their bills are being paid, and they are getting a short, or long-term disability check.


But, the reality is that the injured worker has plenty to worry about.  If the injured worker was in an automobile accident on the job, many hospitals will not even file health insurance, instead claiming a lien against the liability insurance company for the driver that caused the accident.  The injured worker then has to worry about getting stuck with an expensive hospital bill that is not paid in full!  Short-term disability policies may also not cover the injured worker for the time he, or she, is out of work because of their work-related injury.  There might not be a long-term disability policy available to the injured worker, or if there is, the transition between the policies is not seamless.  Thus, the injured worker may not be getting a weekly check for being hurt on the job like they would if they were on workers’ compensation.  For an accepted workers’ compensation claim, the company, or workers’ compensation insurance company, is obligated to pay the injured workers medical bills in full, 2/3 of their average weekly wage while they are written out of work, and a settlement for a permanent injury.  So, the only one that benefits from a legitimate workers’ compensation case from being handled this way is – the company!  If you are injured on the job, make sure you do what is best for you, and not what is best for your company!  Your interests and the company’s interest are not remotely the same, and don’t let them convince you otherwise.


If you have been injured on the job, don’t get an opinion on what you should do from your supervisor, manager, or the human resources department. You need to protect yourself, and the first step in that is calling us! Tippens & Zurosky has knowledgeable, experienced attorneys certified in North Carolina and South Carolina, who focus on workers' compensation and automobile accidents.  Call us toll-free at 877-872-3580, or at 704-343-0018, for a free consultation.  Let us help you!

Having a Super Workers’ Compensation Claim Starts with A Super Attorney

The Super Bowl has turned into a veritable national holiday in the United States.  No matter if your team is in the big game, or not, many folks tend to tune in to see the latest commercials, the halftime show, and even who wins!  This year’s Super Bowl pitted the young upstart Los Angeles Rams against the tried and true New England Patriots led by the grizzled Head Coach Bill Belichick, and the legendary quarterback Tom Brady.  In a throwback game, the Patriots prevailed 13-3, buoyed by a suffocating defensive effort, and making the clutch plays when it mattered.  At the end of the game, Sean McVay, the Rams Head Coach, was still flabbergasted by what had happened to his team, uttering the words “I got outcoached.”

If you have a workers’ compensation case in North Carolina or South Carolina, it stands to reason that you want to be the New England Patriots, and not the Los Angeles Rams!  Don’t pick an attorney that is going to be outcoached, and out maneuvered.  Simply, if you are seeking representation for your workers’ compensation case, just like the Super Bowl, experience really does matter.  Tom Brady, the Patriots quarterback, had been there before, and it showed.  Jared Goff, the Rams quarterback, was playing in his first Super Bowl, and that showed too.  Don’t entrust your workers’ compensation case to an attorney that does not practice workers’ compensation, or does not have the level of experience that you want.  You want someone like Tom Brady that has been there before, and has the experience to do the very best to prevail on your case.  The Super Bowl is one game for all the marbles with no do-overs, or second chances.  Likewise, you have just one workers’ compensation claim, and how it turns out could go a long way in determining your medical, and financial, future.  

In a workers’ compensation case, your attorney serves as your quarterback, head coach, and your defense.  Coming up with a strategy to achieve the best result on your unique set of workers’ compensation case facts is crucial.  Sometimes as a workers’ compensation attorney you need to think outside the box, and try something the other side does not expect.  Other times you need to stick to your game plan, and trust that things will go exactly how all of your experience says it will go.  Coach Belichick, and Tom Brady are known for in game adjustments based on the flow of the game.  A good workers’ compensation attorney knows how to adapt to the flow of a case, and to do his, or her, best to achieve the best result for their clients.

Tippens & Zurosky is here to serve your auto accident and workers’ compensation needs, and has skilled and compassionate attorneys available to answer any and all questions that you might have about your case.  We have been there before and know what to do to help our clients navigate the often confusing world of workers’ compensation.  We know how to perform in the clutch, and give every bit of our effort for our clients because we know your case is not just a game, but real life with very real repercussions.  Tippens & Zurosky has represented people involved in auto accidents, or hurt on the job in North Carolina and South Carolina for over twenty years.  Let us answer any of your questions regarding any automobile accident, or work-related injury.  Call us toll free at (877) 372-3580, or 704-343-0018 to schedule a consultation so that we may assist you.