PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS
SERVING VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, AND WASHINGTON, DC

Life can be complicated enough under normal circumstances. But when you or a loved one suffers a personal injury, things only become more challenging. Many things can impact and disrupt your daily life: physical pain and potential rehabilitation time, missing work, and mounting bills can all leave you feeling overwhelmed and stressed about your situation.

At Blaszkow Legal, PLLC, experienced personal injury attorney Joseph Blaszkow and his team team is dedicated to providing individuals and families with strong representation in a wide range of legal matters, and a variety of personal injury claims. We’re here to help you navigate the often-confusing legal landscape and fight your rights. It is our job to get you the compensation you deserve for the injuries caused by someone else's negligence.

If you or someone you love has been hurt, harmed, or injured due to the careless, recklessness, or negligence of another party (person, company, government agency, etc), you have the right to take legal action to make things right. Our team of attorneys and staff at Blaszkow Legal proudly represents clients across Northern Virginia, Maryland, and DC.

Get Justice with Joe - call 703-879-5910 for a free consultation!

Understanding Personal Injury Claims

Personal injury law is an umbrella term that covers a wide range of legal matters, including, but not limited to:

• Car Accidents

• Bus Accidents

• Truck Accidents

• Bicycle Accidents

• Pedestrian Accidents

• Slip & Fall Accidents

• Wrongful Death

• Medical Malpractice

• Drunk Driving Accidents

• Distracted Driving Accidents

• Delivery Driver Accidents

When another individual or party fails to take the proper precautions to ensure the safety of others, serious injuries can occur. This can result in not only dealing with physical and emotional pain but also financial stress from mounting medical bills and an inability to return to work.

Thankfully, there are laws in place that afford individuals in such situations the opportunity to pursue compensation from the responsible party. With the help of experienced personal injury attorneys, you can take the proper steps to file a personal injury claim and pursue either a fair financial settlement or — if necessary — take the issue to court.

Contributory Negligence

All three states in the DMV practice a legal principle called contributory negligence. This means that if you are even 1% responsible for your injuries, you cannot recover. This is the favorite argument used by insurance companies to attack your claim. This is one of the major reasons it is so important to call us right away, after an injury.

What is necessary for you to have a Personal Injury Claim?

In order for you to assert a personal injury claim, another person or entity has to be negligent. The mere happening of an accident is not negligence. For example, if you trip while walking because your shoes were untied, the premises you were walking on are not liable for that fall. However, if you slip because some janitor just super-waxed the floor and did not put out a sign, then your claim is against the building (and/or janitorial service) for failing to warn you about the slick surface.

Negligence, in a nutshell, generally means that a person has violated a duty that they have to you, individually or generally. In car accident cases, a motorist has a duty to drive with due regard for other motorists, and to obey the rules of the road. If someone is speeding, then they are breaking the rules of the road, and violating their duty to use the care necessary.

There are many ways a person or company can be negligent:

• Failing to do something that reasonably should have been done

• Doing something poorly or incorrectly

• Being careless

• Being reckless

• Exhibiting a wanton disregard for others

First Party Personal Injury Claims vs Third Party Personal Injury Claims

In certain jurisdictions, some injuries policies include first party benefits that are considered no-fault coverage. By its very nature, this means that whether the claimant is even partly responsive or not is irrelevant. These benefits are called Medical Expense Payments in Virginia, or Personal Injury Protection in Maryland. In VA and MD, you can file both a first party claim and third party claim.

These benefits are available in Washington, DC as well, but asserting that for accidents within the District of Columbia waives your ability to get other damages. Always contact a personal injury attorney before filing for these benefits.

Common Injuries & Potential Compensation

Even the most simple accidents can result in significant (and potentially life-altering) injuries. Some of the most common bodily injures cited in personal injury claims include:

• Broken Bones

• Lacerations

• Traumatic Brain Injuries

• Spinal Cord Injuries

• Burns

• Bruises/contusions

• Muscle & Ligament Sprains or Tears

While some injuries are less severe and only result in large medical costs, other injuries can have a permanent impact on your daily life. Whether your injury has you missing work for a few weeks or months or is serious enough to jeopardize your ability to work at all in the future, you deserve the chance to seek compensation.

Some examples of the damages that can be claimed include:

1. Medical expenses

2. Prescription costs

3. Pain and suffering

4. Time lost from work/lost wages

5. Future medical expenses

6. Future lost wages

7. Permanent injuries

8. Scarring

9. Inconvenience

10. Emotional trauma or distress

Taking legal action through a personal injury suit allows you to seek damages from the responsible party. A successful personal injury claim can provide you with financial compensation that you can use to pay your medical bills and cover any lost wages.

Why You Need a Lawyer

Insurance companies, whether car insurance companies after an accident, or companies' insurance after a slip and fall, will do everything they can to minimize and ultimately deny your claim. They have a hoard of adjusters and an army of lawyers working tirelessly to defeat you. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by them - or be taken advantage of by them.

Don't let them run over you! If you have been hurt in an incident or accident that was not your fault, then get a team to stand and fight for you! Blaszkow Legal has been fighting for our clients' rights for over 40 years. We know their tricks and their arguments. We're ready to negotiate or to litigate for one purpose - to get you the compensation that you deserve.

When you have skilled legal representation in your corner, you can face your legal challenges with confidence that your best interests will always be the top priority. A knowledgeable attorney will work on your behalf to gather all relevant evidence and documentation of your accident and injury, establish fault, and seek to hold the responsible party accountable.

Call Blaszkow Legal today: 703-879-5910