Our partner, Matt Van Sickle, has provided insurance coverage analysis and defense services for a variety of carriers in North Carolina. He has experience handling a range of personal injury and property damage claims, from routine soft tissue injuries to claims involving catastrophic injury and death.

Coverage cases require prompt and careful analysis. Due to the potential risk of a bad faith claim, Matt understands an insurer’s need to timely address a potential coverage issue. Matt has experience analyzing coverage claims on a tight deadline, and can advise insurance claims representatives about the potential claims and risks involving in declining or withdrawing the defense of an insured. Where appropriate, Matt can also assist by filing a declaratory judgment complaint to obtain a judicial determination that there is no coverage for a particular situation.

A majority of Matt’s insurance defense cases involve representing businesses operating in the amusement industry. Matt has experience handling claims involving such venues as water parks, ski resorts, traveling carnivals, and go-kart tracks.

Matt also has experience handling trucking cases, acting as defense counsel for a major interstate flatbed trucking company. These cases range from minor property damage claims to those involving catastrophic personal injury.

Amusement and trucking cases frequently involve a careful analysis of technical regulations and industry standards. Because of the highly regulated nature of these industries, it is important for amusement insurers and trucking companies to seek counsel who understands the nuances of these regulations and standards. For cases involving catastrophic injury, it is likely that there will be an extensive discovery to analyze the claimant’s medical and life care treatment. Matt has experience handling such discovery, and can advise you on this process as part of developing your defense strategy.