Automobile Accidents

• $1.2 Million Verdict in Hampton, Virginia

  Ben Glass | March 20, 2006 5:26 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  In this case two defendant drivers blamed each other for an accident that caused injuries to the innocent plaintiff. The victim suffered a broken arm and complex regional pain syndrome. The case was tried in Hampton Circuit Court and the highest offer from the insurance company was $50,000.This case reflects the fact that you need a lawyer who is prepared to do battle in court. Some lawyers...

• $8 Million Fairfax County Verdict

  Ben Glass | March 20, 2006 5:21 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  A Fairfax County jury has returned a verdict of $8 million for the wrongful death of a terrific teenager who was killed by a truck driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel. The verdict against Danella Companies is one of the largest verdicts ever in Fairfax for a wrongful death.This verdict reflects the truth that even in this age of "tort-reform" and lawyer bashing, a Fairfax jury will listen...

• $250,000 Verdict for Bus Passenger

  Ben Glass | March 01, 2006 10:38 AM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  A Fairfax County, Virginia jury has awarded a 74 year old wheelchair bound passenger $250,000 for injuries she sustained when her wheelchair fell over during a trip.The plaintiff claimed she sustained fractures to her face and femoral neck and that the femoral neck fracture could not be surgically repaired.The plaintiff's claim was that she would require narcotic medication for the rest of her...

• Getting Full Value for Your Damaged Car

  Ben Glass | February 24, 2006 8:09 AM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  Boise personal injury attorney Jeff White has written a great note about insurance companies are working to keep their payments to you low (surprise, surprise) for losses to your cars. It seems that the insurance companies are once again reaching deep into the "black box" of computer databases to find the "truth" after an automobile accident.

• Your Health Insurance May Only be a Glorified Loan

  Ben Glass | February 20, 2006 5:12 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  Most people believe that if they are in an accident their health insurance will pay the bill, acting as an insurer. In most cases, however, the health insurance company is only loaning you the money, to be repaid if you recover that money in an lawsuit. So, for example, you are in a car accident and incur $25,000 of bills. Your health insurance company pays. You later recover $100,000 for your...

• You Are Allowed to Check Out Your Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer

  Ben Glass | February 18, 2006 7:33 AM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  I was in court Friday. Unfortunately I was suing two lawyers who had given bad advice to a car accident victim and then had let the statute of limitations run. His claim against the drivers and insurance companies for his personal injuries was forever barred.Problem is that neither of the two lawyers who represented him carry legal malpractice insuranceIncredible as it may seem, while most...

• "I'd Rather the Kids Drink at My House"

  Ben Glass | February 16, 2006 12:00 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  How many times have you heard some idiot parent say "Oh, well, the kids are going to party anyway, I'd rather them do it at my house. It's safer?" While this particular case, fortunately, did not end up in a drunk driving accident and injury the judge slammed the door shut behind two really irresponsible "parents."The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld a 27-month jail sentence (yes, 27 months! In...

• Insurance Company Says "When Pigs Fly"

  Ben Glass | February 16, 2006 9:50 AM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  Boise personal injury attorney Jeff White has a great post about a $3 million dollar verdict over a big insurance company's refusal to pay valid claims. Some states do a lot to protect policyholders. Virginia, unfortunately, tends to protect the insurance companies from "bad faith" types of lawsuits.

• Scare Tactics Used to Sell Insurance Miss the Point

  Ben Glass | February 16, 2006 9:37 AM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  Here's an article from a local newspaper. It's well intentioned in that insurance of all sorts is important but its often confusing for the consumer. The problem here is that the article resorts to the common scare tactics of "multi million dollar lawsuits are increasing." That's just "noise." The articles misses a very important teaching point.One of the most important insurance policies you...