Automobile Accidents

• Virginia's "Trial Within a Year is 'Rocket Docket' Compared to New Hampshire

  Ben Glass | December 11, 2008 7:21 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  Sometimes folks complain about how long it takes to get to trial in Virginia. After all, they may have gone through a long rehabilitation period after their car accident and then spent some time...

• What's Better, Settling or Going to Trial

  Ben Glass | August 26, 2008 3:46 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  Ah the age old debate about "successful" resolution of a personal injury case. Now, a new study concludes that settling your case is the best way to "win." Kentucky accident attorney Mike Schaffer...

• Graduation Day Driver Who Killed Had Been Drinking

  Ben Glass | August 15, 2007 5:46 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  The Virginia State police are now reporting that Elaine Minnette "Nettie" Thackston, 20, of Fairfax, Va. had been drinking when the car she was driving pulled in front of a tractor trailer on graduation night, killing all four women in the car.Other alcohol and marijuana were also found in the car. While the alcohol limit did not meet Virginia's definition of "drunk driving" it did exceed...

• Chesapeake, Virginia Woman Settles her Automobile Accident Case for $300,000

  Ben Glass | March 24, 2007 10:02 AM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  In this case the plaintiff was hit head on by a tow truck that had crossed the double center lines. An independent witness testified that the defendant was talking on a cell phone and that she saw the driver lean over for something prior to impact. The defendant claimed that a "phantom vehicle" cut him off.The plaintiff was hospitalized at Norfolk General Hospital for two weeks and underwent...

• CELL PHONE BAN LIKELY IN VIRGINIA

  Ben Glass | March 13, 2007 6:18 AM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  It looks as though our 16- and 17-year-old drivers in Virginia will soon be prohibited from using cell phones while the vehicle is in motion. The proposed law allows 16- and 17-year-old drivers to use their cell phone in an emergency but they have to pull off the highway and park.Statistics from the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Virginia Commonwealth University Transportation Safety...

• Uninsured Motorist Insurance

  Ben Glass | February 19, 2007 10:00 AM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  Just got finished reading a police accident report in a Virginia car accident case where the defendant, who blasted through a red light, told the investigator that she was "practicing her driving" when her foot mistakenly mashed the accelerator, instead of the brake.She caused massive injuries and guess what? She has minimal insurance.Fortunately, it looks as though our client had the...

• We Get Questions

  Ben Glass | January 04, 2007 5:22 AM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  From time to time I get questions about Virginia personal injury law emailed me by potential clients. Without revealing personal information, I can answer the questions here because others may have the same question.Question: I've been injured in an accident, what are standard percentages or break-downs for pain ?Answer: there are no standard percentages for pain. Each case is determined on its...

• From the Witness's Viewpoint

  Ben Glass | November 12, 2006 7:40 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  I have a newfound respect for those who witness car accidents and then stick around to make sure the facts are known to the authorities. Last week I witnessed a terrible accident on Northern Virginia's beltway. Travelling about 60 mph, I watched as a car whizzed past me on the left at a high rate of speed, then made a quick change of about 3 lanes going to his right. "What a jerk" I...

• "No Fault" is No Answer

  Ben Glass | October 24, 2006 5:21 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  A new paper published by the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies debunks the myth that "no fault" insurance is the answer to a percevied "tort problem."Sixteen states have adopted a no fault system whereby your own automobile insurance company pays for your damages. This means that even though you may be a good driver, you are really paying the premium of the "average" driver in...

• Allstate Lawyer Wins $11 Million--From Allstate

  Ben Glass | July 06, 2006 4:28 PM | 0 CommentsNorthern Virginia, VA

  Now here's an interesting story. It seems that one of Allstate's car accident personal injury defense attorneys sued Allstate, claiming that the company had "ruined her practice." According to the Insurance Journal Website Allstate Insurance Co. routinely hired Suzanne Guest to represent the company in accident claims.But when two accident victims sued Allstate and Guest, the company went back...