Arlington Car Accident Lawyer

Car Accident Lawyer Arlington, VA

If you’ve been hurt in a car crash in Arlington, you may be dealing with serious injuries, expensive medical bills, and concern about your financial stability. Our Arlington, VA car accident lawyer at Blaszkow Legal, PLLC has been fighting for injured clients across Northern Virginia for 43 years. We handle every aspect of your claim so you can focus on getting better. We take on the insurance and legal tasks while you prioritize your recovery. Consultations are always free, so please contact us today.

Why Choose Blaszkow Legal, PLLC for Car Accidents in Arlington, VA?

Experience Rooted in Northern Virginia

Joseph “Joe” A. Blaszkow, CEO and Managing Attorney, has been practicing personal injury law for 43 years. He is licensed in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., and he knows how insurers, adjusters, and Arlington County courts operate. Joe is a member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, the Alexandria Bar Association, and the American Association for Justice. He made history in Virginia as the first attorney in the state to secure a punitive damage award against a drunk driver. If you’ve been looking for a personal injury lawyer in Arlington, VA, our firm can review your case with you over a consultation.

A Record That Speaks for Itself

We’ve helped our clients recover millions of dollars in compensation across a wide range of personal injury cases. Results include a $2 million recovery in a wrongful death truck accident, a $1.4 million settlement for a motorcyclist struck by a negligent speeding driver, and a $1 million settlement for a pedestrian hit by a rideshare vehicle. No two cases are identical, but we approach each one with the same level of investigation and commitment.

Contingency Fee Representation

We don’t charge you anything upfront to retain our legal services. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win. We believe in providing this structure so that injured people can get the assistance they require without the added stress of another immediate expense. We know that those who have been seriously injured may already have medical bills, property damage, and other losses to deal with.

What Our Clients Say

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“Blaszkow Legal did an excellent and thorough job handling my case. Correspondence was prompt and extremely informative. Kevin Brosnan put in a 110% effort in negotiating the best settlement possible. He explained all the strategies and the advantages and disadvantages. I highly recommend this excellent Law firm!!” — Mark Lame

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle in Arlington

Arlington sits at a complex intersection of commuter corridors, federal highways, and dense urban traffic. I-395, Route 50, the GW Parkway, the Beltway approach near the Pentagon, and Columbia Pike all generate serious crashes on a regular basis. We handle a wide range of auto accident claims throughout the area.

• Rear-end collisions. These are far more serious than they look, as whiplash, herniated discs, and spinal cord injuries can result from impacts that leave little visible damage to a vehicle. Insurance companies routinely use the minor property damage argument to minimize injury claims, but we fight back on that tactic by strongly advocating for our client’s needs and recovery.

• Distracted driving accidents. Texting and inattentive driving causes a significant share of crashes in Northern Virginia. Virginia law prohibits handheld device use while driving, and when a distracted driver causes a crash, that violation can influence your case.

• Bus accidents. Uber and Lyft accidents involve layered insurance coverage that most people are not familiar with. We handle rideshare accident claims for drivers, passengers, and third parties, including Lyft accidents and Uber accidents. Bus accidents could have been the result of negligence on behalf of the driver, but this could also point to a government entity sharing liability.

• Drunk driving crashes. Our founder was the first lawyer in Virginia to win a punitive damage award against a drunk driver. These cases can support claims beyond standard compensatory damages. If a drunk driver injured you in Arlington, please contact us now so we can help.

• Multi-vehicle accidents. Crashes involving three or more vehicles present complicated questions about fault and insurance coverage. Multi-vehicle accident claims in Virginia are governed by contributory negligence rules that require careful investigation from the outset.

• Hit-and-run accidents. These cases require a different legal approach, often involving uninsured motorist coverage. We know how to pursue hit-and-run claims and protect your rights when the at-fault driver disappears.
• Wrongful death. Car accidents may result in a fatality, where surviving loved ones can pursue justice and restitution for their losses. They may be owed payment for funeral costs, burial, medical expenses of the person before they passed away, loss of companionship, and more. Our team knows how to handle these cases with the compassion and strategy needed.

Virginia Legal Requirements for Car Accidents

Virginia is one of a small number of states that follows pure contributory negligence. Under this rule, if you are found even one percent at fault for a crash, you may be barred from recovering any compensation at all. Insurance adjusters know this rule, and may actively look for any basis to assign partial fault to injured claimants. The Virginia Code governing contributory negligence is one of the most claimant-hostile standards in the country, which is why thorough investigation is essential from the very start.

Virginia also has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims under Virginia Code § 8.01-243. So what happens is if you miss that deadline, then you likely lose your right to sue, regardless of how serious your injuries are. There are narrow exceptions, but we do not recommend counting on them as they may or may not apply to your situation.

Drivers in Virginia are required to carry minimum liability insurance under Virginia Code § 46.2-472. But minimum coverage may fall far short of what a seriously injured person needs. Understanding uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in Virginia is a critical part of protecting yourself before and after a crash.

What Damages Are Recoverable in an Arlington Car Accident?

When someone else’s negligence causes a crash, Virginia law allows injured victims to pursue compensation across several categories, including economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.

Economic damages cover the direct financial losses you’ve suffered. Medical bills, including emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, and future treatment costs, are recoverable. So are lost wages for time you’ve missed at work, and lost earning capacity if your injuries affect what you’re able to do long-term. Property damage to your vehicle, rental car costs, and other out-of-pocket expenses also fall into this category. According to NHTSA crash data, motor vehicle crashes impose enormous economic costs on victims and families across the country each year.

Non-economic damages are harder to put a number on, but they’re just as real. This can be pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the impact a serious injury has on your relationships and daily activities are all compensable under Virginia law. These losses often represent the largest portion of a fair recovery in serious cases.

Punitive damages are available in limited circumstances, typically when conduct was willful, wanton, or showed a conscious disregard for others. Drunk driving is one common example of when punitive damages may be successfully pursued. Punitive damages can be awarded, but sufficient evidence must be shown to prove the offender’s behavior was particularly reckless or negligent.

The CDC’s injury data consistently shows that motor vehicle injuries produce some of the highest rates of long-term disability and economic hardship among all injury types. Knowing what you’re entitled to recover matters, so please do not settle too quickly before you are aware of the full value of your case.

Contact Blaszkow Legal, PLLC

If you were hurt in a car crash in Arlington, VA, the decisions you make in the days and weeks that follow can significantly affect your case. Don’t give a recorded statement to the insurance company before speaking with an attorney. And do not accept a settlement offer before you know the full extent of your injuries. We work on contingency, so there’s no fee unless we win. Our team responds promptly, and can get you the information you need to make an informed decision. Contact us for a free consultation to talk through what happened and what your options are.