November 02, 2010 is a critical date for North Carolinians, though most of the general public does not realize the importance of their vote. The insurance industry is making a heavy push, including funding certain candidates, in an effort to bring "tort reform" to North Carolina.

The proponents of such "reform" measures essentially claim that lawsuits on behalf of injured parties raise insurance rates. However, such individuals tout skewed statistics and fail to inform the public of the complete result of such measures. In states where "tort reform" has passed, injured parties have been left without any recourse after sustaining devastating injuries. This scenario applies to both civil cases (such as auto accidents) and workers' compensation claims (work injuries). Simply put, after "tort reform", workers' compensation nearly ceased to exist in many states.  Once such measures are passed, if you have an injury at work, the insurance company will basically deny you any of your rights and refuse to pay your compensation.

The above-noted reality is why (a) it is critical that you vote on 11/02/10 and (b) you vote for individuals that will protect the your rights. You vote for your representatives; shouldn't they cast votes that protect your rights, rather than insurance companies? The North Carolina Advocates For Justice has provided a list of candidates for the Senate, House, Supreme Court, and Court of Appeals which it has endorsed. These individuals are endorsed on a variety of criteria, including their willingness to protect the rights of injured people (you and your loved ones). For a complete list of endorsed candidates, please visit the NCAJ website.