Terregino Law, L.L.C.

05/05/2026

I love this. This is the standard.

Preparedness, confidence, and zealous advocacy — every time, on every case.
Your attorney should care deeply about your outcome, not their fee. Because at the end of the day, this is about justice. It’s about correcting a wrong.

I hate injustice. And I fight like hell for my clients.

-Charmaine

Reach out. I’m always here.
FL: 954-802-6056
NC: 919-717-3110

04/13/2026

Here's something a lot of people don't find out about until it's too late.

If your financed or leased car is totaled in an accident, the insurance company pays out what your car is actually *worth* — not what you still *owe* on it. And since cars depreciate, those two numbers usually aren't the same.

Here's a quick example:

You owe $10,000 on your car loan or lease. But your car's actual cash value — what it's worth on the market right now — is $8,000. You get into an accident. Your car is totaled (meaning the cost to repair it exceeds what it's worth). The insurance company pays $8,000 to your finance company. That remaining $2,000 balance? It doesn't disappear. You still owe it — on a car sitting destroyed in a tow yard.

It's a gut punch on top of an already terrible situation.

That's where gap insurance comes in. It covers the difference between what your car is worth and what you still owe. It's usually pretty inexpensive to add to your policy, and you will be SO glad you had it if you ever need it.

If you're financing or leasing your car, go check your policy right now. Make sure you have gap coverage. (Many leases actually include it automatically — but verify, don't assume.)

And while you're at it: make sure you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage too. If you know me, I've probably already nagged you about that more than a few times. 😄

Any questions? Reach out. I'm always here.
- C

Florida office: 954-802-6056
North Carolina office: 919-717-3110

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Disclaimer: I'm a lawyer, but I'm not *your* lawyer (yet 😉). This post is general information, not legal advice. If you've been in an accident, reach out — I'm happy to help.

04/08/2026

I recently signed a client who was injured in an automobile accident. She's young, has a TBI, and is struggling to rebuild the life she had before the crash. The defendant's insurance company swooped in the day after the accident and sent her a check described as payment for "lost wages." It was, in fact, a full and final settlement of her entire claim — for $850. Less than the cost of a set of x-rays. The adjuster apparently figured that someone with significant cognitive issues wouldn't know the difference.

Thankfully, she was referred to me and needless to say, she's not settling her brand new claim for $850. I was able to stop the "settlement" before it became final and kept her from inadvertently closing her entire case for pennies.

There are adjusters who are genuinely fair — they have their employer's interests in mind, sure, but they also try to do the right thing. My dad was one of them, a thirty-year bodily injury adjuster. But some adjusters should be ashamed of themselves.

If you've been in any kind of accident — a car crash, slip and fall, work injury, boat or trucking accident — and you don't know where to begin or what to believe, call me. I'm happy to talk through your case and what your options are, at no charge. My dad told me to always represent people, never companies. I always have, and I always will. 919-717-3110

- C

Disclaimer: I'm a lawyer, but I'm not *your* lawyer (yet 😉). This post is general information, not legal advice. If you've been in an accident, reach out — I'm happy to help.

Florida office: 954-802-6056
North Carolina office: 919-717-3110

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03/13/2026

Hurt at work? You may have MORE than just a workers' comp claim.

Many workplace injuries also give rise to a personal injury case against a third party - think of a delivery driver hit by a negligent motorist, or a warehouse worker injured by defective equipment at the job site.

At our firm, we handle BOTH sides of these cases. With nearly 20 years of experience handling both workers compensation and personal injury cases (often arising from the same accident), we know how to navigate the complex overlap between the two so nothing falls through the cracks — and our clients get every dollar they deserve.

If you've been injured on the job in either Florida or North Carolina, don't settle for an attorney that only knows ONE side of the equation. Call us for a free consultation. No attorney's fee unless we recover for you — though some case costs may apply.

Florida office: 954-802-6056
North Carolina office: 919-717-3110

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*Photo of an actual case we are handling.

Disclaimer: I'm a lawyer, but I'm not *your* lawyer (yet 😉). This post is general information, not legal advice. If you've been in an accident, reach out — I'm happy to help.

01/02/2025

Auto insurance check up:

Do you have UM/UIM insurance coverage? UM (Uninsured Motorist) and UIM (Underinsured Motorist) insurance protect you when you're in an accident with someone who either has no insurance or doesn't have enough insurance to cover your damages. Here's a real-world example:

Let's say you're in a serious accident and have $100,000 in medical bills:

If the other driver has no insurance → Your UM coverage pays up to your policy limit
If the other driver has only $30,000 in coverage → Your UIM pays the remaining $70,000 (up to your policy limit)

UM/UIM insurance is CRUCIAL in protecting you and your car passengers in the event of an accident. It is worth the extra cost on your policy. Double-check your policy today!

Happy New Year - Charmaine

12/08/2024

Fascinating article! Drive safely, especially after holiday celebrations. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/04/09/523011446/how-playing-tetris-tames-the-trauma-of-a-car-crash?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR11UU2tZNrppmmglrSw5PDWKfbrGscWB8yPazgZuqAv42qITnnDrG3hMJY_aem_w5Db-688bcS_4pH-9BkUMA

Researchers were able to dial down painful recollections of a car crash by having people play the video game Tetris while in the emergency room. The technique makes use of the malleability of memory.

07/03/2023

I am reviewing a client's medical bills from a car accident they are were not at fault for and subsequent emergency surgery. If this doesn't tell you our medical system is broken, I don't know what does: $143 a minute time in the operating room. This doesn't include the bills for the physician, the anesthesiologist, the medication, the surgical hardware, the recovery room, any imaging like x-rays, subsequent follow-up appointments, physical or occupational therapy, or anything else. Just actual time in the operating room. If the at-fault car does not have adequate insurance to cover these expenses, the person who was just going about their day and following the rules of the road would be under absolutely crushing medical debt for something they are not at fault for. Also, let this serve as your reminder to ALWAYS CARRY UNINSURED/UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE. Do not try to save a buck declining the coverage, especially in Florida.

04/07/2022

https://www.facebook.com/306604306127367/posts/4987997054654712/?d=n

How do you know when a child is ready to transition from a harnessed seat to a belt positioning booster?

Before moving to a booster seat, they should:
▪Be at least 5 years old.
▪Meet the weight and height minimums for their booster.
▪Be responsible enough to sit properly 100% of the time, even while asleep.
▪Have a safe belt fit.

Wondering why these qualifications are important? https://csftl.org/harness-or-booster/

04/04/2022

Florida friends (and everywhere else), please check your auto-insurance and make sure you have Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage. I cannot stress this enough. Nearly 20% of drivers in Florida are driving around with NO liability insurance - that means if someone hits you in a car accident and you don’t have UM coverage, there is no avenue for you to recover anything from your accident. You can also bet that at least the same amount if not more drivers in S Florida are carrying the bare minimum 10/20 insurance coverage. Any questions, send us a message.

Florida was ranked 6th for most uninsured drivers in a new study by the Insurance Research Council, with more than one in every five motorists driving without insurance.

07/29/2020

Friends and colleagues: I have someone in need of a personal injury/medical malpractice attorney in the Triangle area. Please send me a private message with any contacts. Thanks.