Archives for CAnglin3824

Case Study – Nursing Home Negligence

One of many, Anglin Law Firm Case Studies for Nursing Home Negligence.  The Plaintiff, an elderly woman in her 70s, had been admitted to a long-term care facility after her surgery. She was in need of assistance when she was being transferred from the bed to a wheelchair. The surgery had caused limited strength and mobility to walk or stand on her own.

In this case study, Upon being admitted to the long term care and rehab facility, she was required to have a Care Plan. The plan stated that she must be lifted from the bed into the wheelchair with a “Transfer Board” for either moving her to a wheelchair or back to the bed. One day, staff had did not use the Transfer board and moved her using a “fireman’s carry”. Two staff members picked her up by her arms and legs and attempted to move her to the wheelchair. Upon moving her this way and not according to the Care Plan, they inadvertently hit her leg on the bed frame and she sustained a fracture. This represents a clear breach of both the express and implicit duties of care owed to the woman.

As Chris Anglin of Anglin Law Firm duly noted in the above case study, the case was settled outside of court, pre-suit, and the elderly woman was awarded a cash settlement. The nursing home’s insurance carrier settled based upon a demand package drafted by a Raleigh, North Carolina nursing home negligence attorney.

 

Chris Anglin_CaseStudy_NursingHomeNegligence

Christopher Anglin        
Managing Partner, Anglin Law Firm – Raleigh, NC

Chris Anglin is the Managing Partner of Anglin Law Firm in Raleigh,NC. He primarily practices in the areas of Personal Injury (car accidents, slip and fall, nursing home negligence and medical malpractice), Real Estate Closings, Wills and Estates and Civil Litigation, since the fall of 2011.

Chris is a graduate of Elon University School of Law in 2011 and an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Wake Forest University.  While a student at Elon University he was a member of the Student Bar Association Social Committee of Delta Theta Phi Fraternity, a member of the Law Society and International Law Society where he took on the responsibilities of Leadership and advising First Year Student members at Elon University.  He also studied abroad and participated in the UNC Summer Abroad Program in partnership with the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia and completed coursework in Environmental and Australian Law.

Chris also makes a point to stay active in several NC Bar Association member activities and other organizations.  As well as, created a Leadership scholarship fund for Campbell University 2nd year Law students. http://law.campbell.edu/news_article.cfm?id=42701&t=reason-receives-anglin-law-leadership-award

He participates in the NC Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service as well as other non profit efforts to help the attorney and business communities.

 

Anglin Law Firm NEW Personal Injury Commercial, Raleigh, NC

Check out Anglin Law Firm NEW Personal Injury Commercial in Raleigh,NC!

We’re very proud here at Anglin Law Firm.  It’s been over 4+ years in the practice and we are continually making strides in our efforts to do a job well done, as well as be customer focused and provide the needed support to win a case.

Take a moment to watch our new internet commercial and let us know if you like it!  Also, be sure to share our information with others you know who might need our help.

Our areas of practice include:

  • Personal Injury (as seen in the commercial)
  • Real Estate Closings
  • Wills and Estates
  • Civil Litigation
  • Landlord/Tenant Resolution

 

 

Contact us today at 919-803-1516, if you or someone you know is in need of help.  Chris Anglin “Has your back” and will help to settle/win the case.

If You’ve Been Hurt in an Accident…

If You've Been Hurt in an Accident_AnglinLawFirmWhat should you do if you’ve been hurt in an accident or a car accident and sustained a personal injury in Raleigh, North Carolina?  Unfortunately, many people will be in an accident and injured at some point in their lifetime.  The FIRST thing to do is get to a safe place.  But there are many more things that you need to do in order to care for yourself and maximize your chances for success with a personal injury case. Remember, that not all injuries are felt or are visible immediately following an accident.  The injuries sometimes show up later and the effects are longer lasting.

If you’ve been hurt in an accident, here are key steps to protect your case and prepare for your initial meeting with your motor vehicle accident attorney in Wake County:

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Types of Personal Injuries and Accidents

In the every day world of busy living, different types of accidents and personal injuries are bound to happen.  It’s when we least expect it.  The important thing that we need to understand, is that there are ways to prevent them.  If it does happen and it’s not our fault, there is a process that you can utilize to be compensated for “pain and suffering”, especially if it prevents you from earning a living.  Some types of injuries and accidents can lead to cash settlements that only an experienced lawyer who knows how to mitigate the system can help you get awarded.  It is not a smart decision to go about your normal life if something is inherently wrong as a result of the accident or injury.  It could be a snowball effect where one thing effects another and can lead to years of discomfort and lost wages.

In matters of truth and justice, there is difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same.  ~ Albert Einstein

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Dealing with Car Insurance Adjusters

If you’re in an automobile accident in the Raleigh, North Carolina area, a car insurance adjuster from the other driver’s insurance company will contact you. It’s important to be well prepared to speak to the adjuster. It’s always recommended that you have an attorney represent you. However, if you decide to represent yourself, here are some ways to maximize your chances for success:

  1. Remember that everything you say is being recorded. The car insurance adjuster is not on your side and will try to elicit statements from you in order to help shield their driver from liability and minimize the value of your case. Simple things, such as saying you are feeling “okay” or being unclear on the details of the accident can be used against you. The adjuster will suggest that if you indicated that you were “okay” in your initial statement that you were not actually injured in the accident. If you are sketchy on the details of the accident, the attorney will suggest that this lack of clarity means you were not paying attention when the accident occurred or that your version of events is untrue simply because you waiver in your statement. Conveniently, many insurance companies will only save a written transcript of your statement and will have no audio recording to substantiate the statement. If a lawsuit has to be filed, it will often be your word against a written transcript.
  2. Provide adequate documentation. You need to provide the car insurance adjuster documents to help substantiate any claims you are making whether it is for lost wages, medical expenses or property damage. The car insurance adjuster needs to be able to justify any payments which they make to you. It is important that you get medical bills and records from your doctors, pictures of the damage to your vehicle, repair costs and/or service invoice from the auto body repair shop and verification from your work for your lost wages. It is your job to prove what your damages are to the adjuster and they will never take your word for it.
  3. Remain Calm. It does not help to get angry or yell at the car insurance adjuster. You need to remain as calm as possible when speaking with them. When evaluating your case, the adjuster is not just evaluating the documentation, they are evaluating you. They are trained to think ahead about what a theoretical trial would look like. If you come off as being hot-headed and unable to control your temper, the adjuster will extrapolate this to the way you would behave at a future trial. Who do you think a jury will like better and believe? A witness who gets angry at the drop of the hat and looks like they’re about to get into a barroom brawl or a witness who is calm, cool and collected? A jury will obviously like and believe the calm witness more. It can be difficult to control your emotions, but the calmer you are, the more likely you are to receive a favorable offer from the adjuster.
  4. Ask for more than you want. This is a common negotiating tactic which most people know about. Prior to beginning negotiations, you should pick a number that you are willing to settle for. If you are formulating the number in mid-conversation, this makes it more likely that you will make a mistake or settle your case for less than it is worth. After picking the number, your initial offer needs to be higher than what you are willing to accept. This leaves you room to negotiate with the car insurance adjuster. They will gradually increase their offer as you decrease yours.
  5. Don’t seem desperate. Car insurance adjusters can sense desperation, the way that women can sense the desperation of men. Meaning, that if you act like you need the money immediately, the adjuster will use this in order to make you take a lower offer. Remember that the adjuster has a long time to resolve the case while you may need to get your car repaired to get to work and your medical bills paid in order to avoid bill collectors. You can seek a quick resolution to your case without seeming overly desperate. Make sure to make no indication to the adjuster of any financial or transportation issues that you are having. The adjuster will not be swayed by this and will only use the information to make a lower settlement offer.

 

Hopefully these tips will help you resolve your case favorably. Please stay tuned for future tips for dealing with adjusters.

Remember that dealing with an automobile accident in Raleigh, North Carolina is complex and you should hire a car accident attorney in Wake County to help you with your case! Please contact us at 919-803-1516 or http://anglinlawfirm.com/contact-us/ to have your free consultation today.

Tips for Selling Your Home

Moving from your home in Raleigh, North Carolina is one of the most stressful situations which most people will experience throughout the course of their lives. It is right up there with divorce and a major illness. https://www.healthstatus.com/health_blog/depression-stress-anxiety/top-5-stressful-situations/ Of course if you are a home owner, generally one of the prerequisites to moving, is selling your home and paying off your mortgage. If you plan ahead of time, you can maximize your sale price and it can make the entire moving process much easier. Below are a few tips in order to help make the transition:

  1. Post a Video about your home On-Line- Take a video of your home and your neighborhood in order show how your home stands out from others in the Wake County area. People will notice something which is unique, so if you have a deck with a great view or your favorite coffee shop is next to your home, make sure to get this on video and post it.
  2. Social Media- This is one type of on-line stalking that you actually want. Make sure to post your home on your social media pages. This is a great way to connect with people you know and as strange as this sounds, your friends’ friends. You never know who will be looking for a home in Raleigh, North Carolina.
  3. Research, Research, Research!- This is not the time to be lazy, like in high school, and hope you will do well on the test without studying. Instead of being rewarded with an A+, you are rewarded with more $$! Work with your agent in order to scope out your competition and know what the price and condition of other homes in the Raleigh, North Carolina is. Buyers will see these homes and you want to make sure that your home is up to par.
  4. Convenience- Make it as convenient as possible for your home to be shown. You want to have a flexible time frame for your home to be shown. If it is too restrictive, the buyers, who will have limited time to look, will just go to other homes which are open and you could miss a potential buyer.
  5. Get help from your neighbors-When you have an open house, make sure to advertise in your neighborhood’s e-mail list or online message board. This allows your neighbors to bring their friends and co-workers to the open house who may be looking for a home. There is no better advertising that a kind word from your neighbor!

 

Make sure to stay tuned for future tips for selling your home in the Raleigh, North Carolina area. As your closing attorney, we attempt to make the home selling process as smooth as possible. If you have any questions, please contact us at anytime. We can be reached at 919-803-1516.

10 Reasons to Create an Estate Plan Now

Many people think that a Raleigh, North Carolina estate planning attorney should be for someone else, not them. They may rationalize that they are too young or don’t have enough money to reap the tax benefits of an estate plan. But as the following list makes clear, estate planning is for everyone, regardless of age or net worth.

  1. Loss of capacity.What if you become incompetent and unable to manage your own affairs? Without an Estate plan, the courts will select the person to manage your affairs. With an Estate plan, you pick that person through a Raleigh health care power of attorney.
  2. Minor children. Who will raise your children if you pass away? Without an Estate plan, a court will make that decision. With an Estate plan, you are able to nominate the guardian of your choice.
  3. Dying without a will.Who will inherit your assets? Without an Estate plan, your assets pass to your heirs according to your state’s laws of intestacy (dying without a will). Your family members (and perhaps not the ones you would choose) will receive your assets without benefit of your direction or of trust protection. With an Estate plan, you decide who gets your assets, and when and how they receive them.
  4. Blended families.What if your family is the result of multiple marriages? Without an Estate plan, children from different marriages may not be treated as you would wish. With an Estate plan, you determine what goes to your current spouse and to the children from a prior marriage or marriages.
  5. Children with special needs. Without an Estate plan, a child with special needs risks being disqualified from receiving Medicaid or SSI benefits, and may have to use his or her inheritance to pay for care. With an Estate plan, you can set up a North Carolina Supplemental Special Needs Trust that will allow the child to remain eligible for government benefits while using the trust assets to pay for non-covered expenses.
  6. Keeping assets in the family.Would you prefer that your assets stay in your own family? Without an Estate plan, your child’s spouse may wind up with your money if your child passes away prematurely. If your child divorces his or her current spouse, half of your assets could go to the spouse. With an Estate plan, you can set up a trust that ensures that your assets will stay in your family and, for example, pass to your grandchildren.
  7. Financial security. Will your spouse and children be able to survive financially? Without an Estate plan and the income replacement provided by life insurance, your family may be unable to maintain its current living standard. With an Estate plan, life insurance can mean that your family will enjoy financial security.
  8. Retirement accounts. Do you have an IRA or similar retirement account? Without an Estate plan, your designated beneficiary for the retirement account funds may not reflect your current wishes and may result in burdensome tax consequences for your heirs. With an Estate plan, you can choose the optimal beneficiary.
  9. Business ownership. Do you own a business? Without an Estate plan, you don’t name a successor, thus risking that your family could lose control of the business. With an Estate plan, you choose who will own and control the business after you are gone.
  10. Avoiding probate.Without an Estate plan, your estate may be subject to delays and excess fees (depending on the state), and your assets will be a matter of public record. With an Estate plan, you can structure things so that probate can be avoided entirely.

 

If you would like further information, regarding a Raleigh estate planning attorney please contact Anglin Law Firm at 919-803-1516 or Chris Anglin via email at chris@anglinlawfirm.com.

When to Seek Medical Attention

If you have a potential personal injury case in Raleigh or Wake County, you should immediately proceed to see your personal physician or the appropriate type of physician for whatever injury you have sustained. One of the most common issues for plaintiffs (injured party) in personal injury cases is that they have waited to see a physician for several weeks or months after their accident instead of going to see the physician immediately.

This hurts the viability and potential value of your case because the Raleigh or Wake County insurance company will claim that because there is a “gap in coverage.” This means that the Raleigh or Wake County insurance company will claim that you were not injured as a result of the accident. They will try this argument no matter how ridiculous it is. A common scenario for this type of situation is where a teenager or adult in their early twenties has a joint or back injury in an accident. They will wait a while to seek treatment. In turn, the Raleigh or Wake County insurance company will argue that the eighteen year old’s back injury is not a result of the accident, but that they have a deterioration of the muscles and spinal discs in the back despite no history of this. This is of course ridiculous because only an extremely small percentage of eighteen year olds will have deterioration at this age. The insurance company will pretend to itself that the eighteen year old is actually eighty-five years of age.

Many people will be offended by this; however, if you think about it from the insurance company’s perspective, it makes perfect sense. Instead of paying many thousands of dollars to the injured party, the adjuster can tell you or your attorney that the injuries you sustained in the accident are not related to the accident because of a “gap in coverage.” So remember if you are in a Raleigh or Wake County personal injury accident, you need to proceed to your doctor or the appropriate physician immediately, both for your own personal health and to protect your personal injury case. Anglin Law Firm offers free consultations for personal injury cases in the Raleigh and Wake County area. We can be reached at anytime at 919-803-1516.

Anglin Law Leadership Award

Anglin Law Firm was proud to present its Second Annual Anglin Law Leadership award at Campbell University School of Law on March 21, 2015 to second year student Katherine Reason.  She attended Michigan State University graduating with a B.A. in communications in May 2011. Mrs. Reason was one of the many qualified applicants who applied for the scholarship; however, her application stood out due to her commitment to volunteering for the underprivileged in her community and being the incoming Editor-In-Chief of Campbell’s Law Review. She has worked extensively with Disability Rights North Carolina through providing mentorship to children with Autism.  She also excelled academically through serving as a teaching scholar for Torts 1 and Torts II.

Mrs. Reason embodies the values which the award was created to recognize. In order for students to become successful attorneys, they need to be well rounded and engaged in their community. Mrs. Reason displays these traits and is sure to be successful in her legal career in a few short years.  Mr. Anglin was glad to present the award to Mrs. Reason and said, “That Katherine Reason serves as a role model for her fellow students and will do big things as an attorney. If I had applied for this while in law school, I wouldn’t have had a chance.”  Here is a link with a picture on Campbell ‘s website:

http://law.campbell.edu/news_article.cfm?id=42701&t=reason-receives-anglin-law-leadership-award

 

 

Problems With Real Estate Closings

A real estate closing in Raleigh, North Carolina is typically the largest financial transaction which most people go through in their lifetime. This blog post will discuss some of the issues which can arise during the final stages of the closing process. Having your home purchase offer accepted is like getting that runner’s high during a marathon; however, if you stumble at any stage of the marathon, the purchase may fall through and put you back at the starting line. Just like an athlete trains for a race, you can train yourself for the daunting final steps in purchasing a home. Remember that you should be patient and pace yourself. Too many people become emotionally distraught during the real estate closing process in Raleigh, North Carolina and this impacts both the individual and their spouse. Keep in mind that you will own the home for years or even decades to come and this is just the final stage before you own the home!

  1. The termite inspection reveals extensive damage. The lender will have a pest inspection done on the home (at your expense – usually less than $100) to make sure there is no serious damage caused by wood-munching insects like termites and carpenter ants. This inspection protects the lender’s interest in the property. If it is an investment property, tenants who discover termite problems after moving in often abandon the property, which leaves the landlord holding the bag. Some lenders may not require a termite inspection, but it may be in your best interest to get one anyway. If the inspection uncovers any evidence of visible infestation, the problem areas may have to be remedied before escrow can close. If the problems are too severe and/or the seller won’t pay to fix them, you’ll have the option to walk away, as long as your purchase agreement has the proper contingencies.

    2. The appraisal isn’t high enough.
    The bank will have the home appraised (again, at your expense) in order to protect its interest in the home. It wants to make sure the home is worth at least as much as you will be paying for it so that, if foreclosure is in the future, losses can be recouped. If the appraisal comes in too low, the seller will have to lower the selling price or you will have to pay cash for the difference. It may be possible to get a more favorable second opinion from a different appraiser.

    3. There are issues with the title
    . During the escrow process, you’ll hire a North Carolina real estate attorney to do a title search and you’ll also get title insurance. Most states do not require buyers to use an attorney but North Carolina is one of the few that do. The title search ensures that no one else has a legal claim to the property you want to buy (such as the IRS, the state or a relative of the seller), and title insurance protects you against any future claims to the property. If there is some sort of lien or claim against the property, the issue will have to be resolved before the transaction can proceed.

    4. The home inspection reveals major defects.
    Most purchase offers have an inspection contingency written into them, so that if the home inspection reveals serious problems, the purchaser can back out without penalty. Almost all lenders will require an inspection; however, even if it a cash closing (no loan) an inspection is always recommended. If you didn’t put this contingency in your contract, you may lose your earnest money. If not, the process of negotiating with the seller to have the home repaired or to credit you money at closing in order to handle the repairs yourself, can potentially hold up the purchase process and delay your closing.

    5. You get cold feet or the seller backs out.
    The contract will outline justifiable reasons for either the buyer or seller to back out without penalty, such as not waiving a contingency or not meeting a deadline. However, if you decide, after waiving the contingencies, that you don’t want to go through with the purchase (for example, because you found another house you like better), you’ll again lose your earnest money. The reasoning here is that the seller should be compensated for the time the home was off the market, which will delay the amount of time it ultimately takes him or her to sell (and which may have financial ramifications for the seller). Conversely, if the seller decides to back out simply because of a change of heart or because a better offer was made, you will have a legal right to collect damages from the seller.

    6. Your financing falls through.
    Savvy buyers don’t make offers on homes without getting preapproved – that is, without getting a written loan commitment from a bank that it will provide you with mortgage of a certain amount (and savvy sellers don’t accept offers from buyers who aren’t preapproved). However, there are things that can prevent the loan from closing, such as if you lied on the application, interest rates increase sharply, your job situation changes or your credit score goes down. Do not incur any substantial debt during the sixty days prior to the closing date as it will impact your credit score. This can delay or cancel the closing.

    7. The property is in a high-risk area and you don’t want to live with that risk (or pay to insure against it).
    In North Carolina, the main type of hazard insurance homeowners purchase is flood insurance. Depending on the location, this type of insurance can be very expensive. To prevent unpleasant surprises during escrow, ask your agent, neighbors, and/or the city planning department, when you first start looking for a home, which natural hazards exist in your desired area, what type of extra insurance you might have to buy, and how much it might cost.

    8. The home isn’t insurable.
    If a previous homeowner has made a major insurance claim on the home, such as water damage or a mold claim, this will show up in insurance records, and insurance companies may refuse to insure the home, thinking that it is too much of a risk. If a home is not insurable, you will not be able to buy it unless you are an all-cash buyer, as lenders require you to maintain homeowners insurance until the mortgage is fully paid off. Of course, even if you are a cash buyer, it probably isn’t a good idea to buy an uninsurable home.

    9. There are costly differences between your good faith estimate and HUD-1.
    When you get your loan preapproval, and again when you put an offer on a specific property, your lender should give you a good faith estimate detailing the closing costs associated with obtaining financing on the home. The good faith estimate is basically a rough draft of what the HUD-1 Form you will receive at least 24 hours before the closing date. As its name implies, the good faith estimate should be a close approximation of what you will actually end up paying – ideally within 10%.

10. Errors prevent closing on time. There are many different parties involved in closing escrow, and if any            one of them makes a mistake, your closing can be delayed. Depending on what your purchase contract         stipulates and whose fault the delay is, if you don’t close on time, you may have to pay the seller a penalty for every day that the closing is late. The seller could also refuse to extend the closing date and the whole deal could fall through. In a best-case scenario, the seller could simply agree to extend the closing date with no penalty. After all, if the deal doesn’t close, the seller will have to start all over again, too.

These are just some of the problems that occur during a real estate closing in Raleigh and other parts of North Carolina. It will be a stressful process but once your purchase is completed you can begin your life in your new home. Anglin Law Firm is a real estate law firm that is here to help you! if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us using the comments tab below or call us at 919-803-1516.