Maurer LawMaurer Law2026-08-30T02:37:25Zhttps://www.maurerlawpa.com/feed/atom/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/sites/1504381/2025/01/cropped-Site_Graphic-32x32.jpgOn Behalf of Maurer Law<![CDATA[Legal options when wrongful death is caused by a relative ]]>https://www.maurerlawpa.com/?p=476532026-08-30T02:37:25Z2026-08-30T02:37:25ZA wrongful death is devastating under any circumstances. Yet, when the person potentially responsible is another relative, grief can become intertwined with guilt, anger and concerns about damaging family relationships in ways that many other wrongful death scenarios do not.
North Carolina families facing this situation may understandably hesitate to consider legal action, but it’s important to understand that a wrongful death claim is not always as simple as one family member personally pursuing another.
What do families need to know?
Under North Carolina law, a wrongful death action is generally brought by the personal representative of a deceased person's estate when their death was the result of another’s negligent, reckless or deliberate (and unlawful) actions.Family-related wrongful deaths can occur in many ways. One relative might negligently cause a motor vehicle crash while another family member is a passenger. A dangerous condition on a relative's property could cause a fatal injury. Other situations may involve negligent firearm handling, boating accidents or other preventable incidents.Under certain circumstances, insurance may play a major role. For example, an auto insurance policy could potentially provide coverage after a fatal vehicle accident. Homeowners or other liability coverage might apply under certain circumstances as well. Pursuing compensation may, therefore, involve negotiating with an insurance company rather than insisting that a relative to personally pay the entire loss.An experienced personal injury legal team can investigate a loved one’s death, identify applicable insurance coverage, explain who has authority to bring a claim and pursue appropriate compensation accordingly. In this way, legal guidance can help families to separate – to a degree – the question of financial accountability from the complicated emotions that arise when a tragic accident involves someone they love. ]]>On Behalf of Maurer Law<![CDATA[Costs commonly tied to degloving injuries]]>https://www.maurerlawpa.com/?p=476462026-08-17T02:53:52Z2026-08-17T02:53:52ZDegloving injuries are among the most severe forms of traumatic injury. They occur when skin and underlying tissue are forcibly separated from muscles, bones or other structures. Motor vehicle collisions, motorcycle crashes, industrial accidents and incidents involving heavy machinery can cause these devastating injuries.
Beyond the immediate physical trauma that affected individuals face, victims may face substantial associated expenses that may impact – and even drain – their bank accounts repeatedly for years if they don’t seek adequate compensation from liable parties.
Why are these injuries commonly so costly?
Emergency treatment is often only the beginning when it comes to the medical expenses of a degloving patient. A severe degloving injury may require ambulance transportation, hospitalization and one or more surgeries. Physicians may need to remove damaged tissue, repair blood vessels or perform skin grafts and reconstructive procedures. Some patients require lengthy stays in intensive care and/or specialized burn and wound-care units.Additional procedures may become necessary as healing progresses. Infection, tissue death and poor circulation can complicate recovery. In particularly severe cases, doctors may be unable to save an injured limb, resulting in amputation and the need for prosthetic devices.Rehabilitation can be very challenging and costly. Physical and occupational therapy may be necessary to restore strength, movement and independence. Victims can also require assistive devices, home modifications or ongoing nursing assistance. Psychological treatment may be appropriate when disfigurement, chronic pain or the circumstances of the accident result in significant emotional trauma.A degloving victim may also be unable to work during recovery and may lose weeks or months of income. Permanent limitations could prevent a victim from returning to a former occupation altogether, creating a claim for diminished future earning capacity.Regardless of the exact circumstances that an individual degloving victim is facing, chances are that the months and – at minimum – first few years after their trauma occurs are going to be very expensive. Working with a skilled legal team can help them to seek the maximum amount of compensation to which they are entitled from responsible parties. ]]>On Behalf of Maurer Law<![CDATA[Who has legal standing to file a wrongful death lawsuit?]]>https://www.maurerlawpa.com/?p=476392026-08-01T13:48:12Z2026-08-01T13:48:12ZA lawsuit begins with the estate
Wrongful death statutes are state-level laws, which means the procedures are different in every jurisdiction. In some states, close family members have the statutory right to file a wrongful death lawsuit. In North Carolina, the law requires that the personal representative or executor of the person who died file the lawsuit.
They take legal action seeking to recover losses on behalf of the estate. They then distribute the proceeds of successful litigation among immediate family members, such as the surviving spouse and children of the decedent.
In some cases, the personal representative may be an immediate family member. In other cases, the family members of the person who died may need to communicate with the personal representative administering their loved one’s estate to discuss the potential need for a wrongful death lawsuit.
Retaining legal guidance is often necessary when planning for wrongful death litigation. Grieving families and personal representatives may need to consult with a lawyer to determine if their situation warrants litigation, and that’s okay.]]>On Behalf of Maurer Law<![CDATA[3 potentially catastrophic crush injury consequences]]>https://www.maurerlawpa.com/?p=476332026-07-19T00:42:06Z2026-07-19T00:42:06Z1. Compartment syndrome
Crush injuries can disrupt the flow of blood and other fluids in bodily tissues, leading to increased pressure in the affected body part. Compartment syndrome can cause permanent damage to muscles, blood vessels and other tissue, causing lifelong medical issues and a loss of function.
2. Nerve damage
Crush injuries often cause severe trauma to tissue and to the nerves in the damaged area. Even after the body heals the initial injury, the nerve damage may cause painful sensations or a loss of sensation. Both sporadic unpleasant sensations and a loss of sensation can affect quality of life and the ability to work. Nerve damage can affect a person’s daily life, functional capabilities and ability to sleep.
3. Amputation
When crush injuries cause severe damage to bones, musculature, nerves or connective tissue, doctors may decide that removing the damaged body part is the best course of treatment. Removing the crushed limb or extremity may help limit lasting pain symptoms and other complications. Life after a surgical amputation is often very different than it was before, with people having different support needs and reduced income.
People with catastrophic injuries caused by car crashes or other incidents need professional advocacy. Working with a personal injury attorney can help those with severe injuries handle insurance negotiations or prepare for lawsuits if necessary.]]>On Behalf of Maurer Law<![CDATA[3 types of common driver distractions]]>https://www.maurerlawpa.com/?p=476302026-07-09T07:57:08Z2026-07-09T07:57:08ZDriver distractions cause serious accidents every day. Even a driver who is focused on the road could be hit by another negligent driver and end up with broken bones, internal injuries, a traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury and many other life-altering injuries.
But not all types of distraction are the same. There are three general categories that drivers should keep in mind—and that all drivers should seek to avoid.
Visual distractions
One of the most obvious types of distraction is a visual distraction, meaning that the driver is not looking at the road. They may be changing the radio station or reading a text message. Even a parent who turns to talk to children in the back seat is visually distracted.
Manual distractions
Next, drivers can be engaged in manual distractions, even while they continue looking at the road. Someone who is holding a cellphone in one hand or picking up a cup of coffee to take a drink during their morning commute is experiencing a manual distraction.
Mental distractions
Finally, cognitive distractions mean that the driver is not fully paying attention, even if they still appear to be watching the road. A driver who is daydreaming is mentally distracted, for example, and it can affect their reaction time. Talking to passengers, singing along with the radio or trying to listen to GPS directions can also create cognitive distractions.Have you suffered serious injuries in a crash caused by a negligent, distracted driver? If so, take the time to carefully explore all of your legal options for seeking financial compensation.
]]>On Behalf of Maurer Law<![CDATA[Why isn’t auto technology preventing accidents?]]>https://www.maurerlawpa.com/?p=476282026-06-24T07:59:55Z2026-06-24T07:59:55ZWhen you look at older types of auto technology, the goal was typically to reduce injuries. Car accidents were going to happen, but things like seatbelts or airbags made the injuries suffered in those accidents a bit less severe. Designing cars with crumple zones helped to dissipate the energy in the crash, further reducing those injuries.
Modern auto technology, on the other hand, often focuses on preventing the crash from happening in the first place. Examples include automatic braking systems, self-driving systems, lane departure warning systems, sensors and backup cameras. They can all help a driver avoid a crash.Despite the development of this technology, though, car accidents remain one of the top causes of injuries and even fatalities in the United States. Studies do not find that there has been a significant reduction. Why isn’t the technology working?
Drivers may be getting worse
Some safety experts believe that the technology is working, but that it is actually the drivers who are getting worse.Some of this comes from complacency. People put too much trust in the technology, believing the car will avoid accidents, so they are less likely to drive safely.Some of it also comes from distraction. The more technology is crammed into a modern vehicle, the more systems a driver has to manipulate or interact with. This can take their focus off simply driving their car in a safe manner.For both of these reasons and more, drivers are still causing a serious number of accidents. If you have been injured due to someone else's negligence, then you need to know how to seek appropriate financial compensation.
]]>On Behalf of Maurer Law<![CDATA[Estimating lost income for a wrongful death lawsuit]]>https://www.maurerlawpa.com/?p=476272026-06-13T19:10:03Z2026-06-13T19:10:03ZWages usually increase over a lifetime
Most people gain experience that makes them eligible for better positions throughout their careers. They may start in one job but retire from a completely different one. They may also be eligible for regular raises, as well as more comprehensive benefit packages as they accrue seniority with their employers.
Determining the value of a deceased person's future earning potential can be a very difficult undertaking for those grieving a recent loss. An attorney can help conduct the research necessary to estimate future lost wages. They can also manage the process of preparing court paperwork, negotiating with the other party and documenting the economic details that guided their calculations.
Families who have support have a better chance of securing fair outcomes in wrongful death cases. Having experienced legal guidance can help families seek justice when one person's misconduct or negligence has a profoundly negative impact on others.]]>On Behalf of Maurer Law<![CDATA[Consider future expenses in personal injury claims]]>https://www.maurerlawpa.com/?p=476262026-06-01T16:42:41Z2026-06-01T16:42:41ZPeople who are involved in an accident of any sort, including those involving semitrucks or motor vehicles, are at risk of serious injuries. Some of those may be catastrophic and require lifelong care.
If you’re involved in an accident that’s the result of someone else’s negligence, you may decide that you’re going to seek compensation. As you do this, it’s imperative that you remember to include your expected future expenses related to the injuries in that claim.
Why are future expenses important?
Future expenses are important in personal injury claims because once you have a settlement or an award, you can’t come back to ask for more money if you run out. You have to consider all sources of future expenses related to the injury. This can include lost wages, medical care, assistive devices, home modifications, personal care and anything else you may need as a result of the injury that stemmed from the accident.
How can you determine what you’ll need?
It’s impossible to see into the future to know exactly what your expenses will be. Because of that, your legal representative will look into ways that they can estimate what your needs will be. This could be looking at lifelong care expenses for someone with similar injuries who’s close to your age. Other financial damages can be more difficult to determine, so they may look at similar cases to determine what damages they received. Many factors go into these personal injury claims, so it’s usually beneficial to work with someone familiar with similar cases. There are time limits for getting these cases filed, so getting started soon after the incident occurs is critical.
]]>On Behalf of Maurer Law<![CDATA[Teen drivers are especially likely to cause fatal car accidents]]>https://www.maurerlawpa.com/?p=476222026-05-15T21:50:43Z2026-05-15T21:50:43ZDrivers between the ages of 16 and 19 have an especially high chance of causing a fatal car accident. Reports show that their fatal car accident rate is three times as high as the rate for older drivers. Typically, once a driver is in their 20s, their fatal accident rates notably begin to decline.There are many potential reasons for this, with one of the most common being a lack of experience. This just makes critical mistakes more likely. As young drivers learn, some of them are going to engage in risky behavior or drive in ways that are negligent and dangerous. While many of them will learn from these mistakes and hone their skills, some will also cause serious accidents along the way.
Wrongful death damages
If you have lost a loved one in a car accident caused by another driver, you may be considering seeking compensation. This can start with normal damages that may apply to most serious car accidents, such as emergency medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. It can also extend to distinctly wrongful death-related damages, such as funeral and burial costs.At the same time, a wrongful death has a significant impact on the family. In some cases, people can seek compensation for things like a loss of support, the loss of a potential inheritance and the loss of a close relationship with a parent or spouse. You may also want to consider lost future wages, which are especially important if the person who passed away in the accident was the family’s main breadwinner.These are just a few areas to help you get started, and any individual accident could span far more reasons for compensation. Carefully consider all of your legal options after a fatal car accident.
]]>On Behalf of Maurer Law<![CDATA[Serious injuries can affect a family’s financial stability]]>https://www.maurerlawpa.com/?p=476182026-05-02T21:03:40Z2026-05-02T21:03:40ZPeople who are involved in serious crashes can sometimes suffer from catastrophic injuries. These injuries will typically affect the victim for a long time after the injury occurs. The effects that the victim has to deal with can impact every area of their life, including their family’s financial stability.
Understanding some of the more common financial impacts that come with this type of injury may be beneficial for people facing this type of situation.
Reduction or cessation of income
There are a few things that happen with a catastrophic injury that can affect the victim’s finances. One of the immediate impacts is that the victim may not be able to return to work. This can halt their income, but some may have disability coverage or paid time off to soften the financial blow. Once those run out, the full effect will be felt. Even if the victim can return to work, they may not be able to work full hours. This is often due to issues with mobility, strength, concentration, or pain, all of which may continue for a long period of time after the injury occurs. A reduction in hours can have a negative impact on the income of the family.
Expenses related to the injury
Another factor that negatively impacts the family’s financial stability is the added expenses that stem from the injury. This can include medical bills, therapy, prescriptions and personal care assistance. In some cases, home and vehicle modifications might also be necessary. All of these expenses can add up quickly, and some families may turn to credit cards or loans to cover them. If the catastrophic injury was the result of another person’s negligence, seeking compensation may help to improve the financial stability of the family. These cases can be complex, so it’s often best to work with someone familiar with these matters.
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