HENRICO COUNTY CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a car accident in Henrico County, Virginia, you can rest assured that the car insurance companies for the at-fault party are working tirelessly to minimize or even deny your claim. That is their job: to pay out as little money as possible. The exact opposite is true of the experienced car accident lawyers at Blaszkow Legal. It is our job to fight for you, against the insurance companies. We work hard to maximize your claim, and get you all of the compensation that you deserve.

The car insurance companies have adjusters and defense lawyers looking at your case from the moment the accident happens. You deserve someone on your side, working just as hard for your interests. Call Blaszkow Legal today, and speak to one of our Henrico car accident attorneys now.

Insurance Company Tactics After a Virginia Car Accident

At fault insurance companies do everything they can to kick the legs out from under a client's case. The insurance companies routinely take advantage of unrepresented parties. The best way to stop them is to speak to a car accident lawyer immediately, to make sure that you are protected.

Here are some of the most common tricks and tactics that the defense insurance adjusters will use to attack your case:

• Being nice and empathetic on the phone. Insurance adjusters are very well trained to get as much information out of you as possible. They do this by lulling people into a false sense of security. They will be very friendly to you on the phone, and make you believe that they are trying to make sure that you are properly taken care of. This could not be farther from the truth.

• Convincing people to submit to recorded statements. Most insurance adjusters will eventually ask people to take recorded statements, and when the adjusters ask, will vary from case to case. If they sense that a person is resistant or hesitant, they will delay it to build up a false sense of trust in the injured person. This statement is ultimately transcribed, and the insurance adjusters will go over it in minute detail to see if there is any statement in there that can be used as an admission, to attack the case. Because of Virginia's contributory negligence law, if the insurance company can allege that you were even one percent responsible for the accident, they can potentially defeat your case!

• Making immediate settlement offers. Insurance companies have increased this tactic lately, where they will initially offer people thousands of dollars to settle their case. They do this without seeing any medical records, just to make the injured person go away. Never accept a settlement offer from an insurance company without speaking to a lawyer! Insurance companies have no responsibility to tell you what you may claim after a car accident that was not your fault. Once you accept their money, you are waving any claim that you might have, especially in light of your medical bills and treatment!

How Will Our Henrico Car Accident Lawyers Help You?

Insurance companies take advantage of unrepresented parties. That is the long and short of it. It is our job to protect you, and make sure that you are not taken advantage of! For example, if you have been to the hospital, and you send the car insurance company your emergency room bill, often that emergency room bill is going to show what your deductible is, and what your own health insurance has paid. The car insurance company is going to offer to pay you for whatever you had to pay out of pocket, so that you are not inconvenienced by the accident. However, your claim is not merely for your deductible or your copay or your balance! Your claim is for the full amount of that bill, no matter what any other source paid! The insurance adjusters will not tell you this!

We will also immediately begin investigating the person who caused the accident, and how the accident happened. This is extremely important, because of the law in virginia. Insurance companies are very quick to deny claims, and we have to develop evidence to stop them from doing just that. The longer it takes for an investigation to start, however, the more chance there is that evidence can be lost over time. Camera footage can get recorded over, and people's memories can fade.

Attorneys Fees and Virginia Car Accidents

At Blaszkow Legal, we pursue all personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. That means, just like the commercials say, we don't get paid unless you collect money. As a client, there is no risk to you to speak to an attorney. Our consultations are completely free.

If, ultimately, you lose your case in court, you still don't know us any attorneys' fees.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in Henrico County

Henrico County is a great place to live and work, but car accidents are very common, more so than is average, per capita, in Virginia. From Glen Allen to Highland Springs to the Bermuda Hundred, car accidents happen frequently, to the average tune of 15 every day throughout Henrico County! (1)

Some of the most common causes of these accidents include:

• Speeding

• Aggressive

• Driving reckless

• Driving drunk

• Driving impaired (by drugs)

• Distracted driving

• Fatigue

• Failing to pay full time and attention to the roadway

If you have been involved in an accident that was not your fault, you're going to have a lot to deal with after the crash. Never go through this stressful time alone. Speak to a Henrico County car accident lawyer who can help you get the compensation you deserve, so you can focus on your recovery, and getting back to you where you were before the crash.

(1) - Per the Henrico County Police, there were 5,456 car accidents in 2022.

Picture Credit - News 6, Richmond

Different Types of Henrico Motor Vehicle Accidents

Not all accidents are the same, and not all are car versus car accidents. Some involve other vehicles, which, due to their sheer disparity in size, can result in severe, and even catastrophic injuries.

1. Bus accidents. Bus accidents can be very horrible incidents, and if the bus is filled with passengers, can sometimes be classified as a mass casualty incident. A passenger is generally going to be blameless in the happening of the accident, thus taking away one of the common arguments that insurance companies use against claimants. However, due to the large number of people involved, and the seriousness of the injuries, there are often issues with available insurance coverage. Speak to an experienced bus accident lawyer immediately

2. Truck accidents. Big rigs drive on almost every road, at almost any hour of the day. Truck accidents are also serious, and can sometimes result in wrongful death claims. Investigating the negligence in truck accidents can be very complicated, due to the large number of regulations and rules that the trucks and truckers have to follow. At Blaszkow Legal, we are experienced in investigating and prosecuting these cases

3. Motorcycle accidents. Motorcycle accidents commonly occur because car drivers do not watch the roadway with enough attention, and do not see the smaller motorcycles on the road. This is generally referred to as failing to keep a proper lookout, or failing to pay full time and attention to the roadway. Speak to an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer to help you recover for your injuries

4. Pedestrian accidents. A pedestrian is completely unprotected when hit by a large object, and this includes even a very small car. Pedestrians can suffer injuries not only from the impact of the car, but also from hitting the ground

5. Bicycle accidents. Bicyclists have to follow the rules of the road, but even when you are doing everything that you are required to do, negligent car drivers can still strike you, and cause serious injuries. Contact an experienced bicycle accident lawyer immediately if you have been hurt.

What steps should you take after a Henrico car accident?

There are numerous steps that you can take after an accident, to protect yourself and also to protect your claim, moving forward:

• Identify the other driver. Most people will tell you to exchange insurance information, but this is not enough! An insurance card tells you who is paying for the policy, but not who necessarily is driving the car. Think about it - you can let your friend drive your car, and their name is not on your insurance card. Your claim is always against the negligent driver! Always get a picture of the state driver's license of the other motorist.

• Take lots of pictures. Digital cameras are on every cell phone, and you cannot have enough pictures. Make sure that you get pictures of your vehicle, the other vehicle, any debris on the roadway, any tire marks, traffic signs, stop lights, and more.

• Identify the passengers of any vehicle involved. Never rely on an insurance company to give you this information. We often find this is the case when Uber and Lyft are involved in crashes. They will never release the information for the passengers, without a subpoena. Always get the name, address, phone number, and email address, any passenger of any vehicle involved in the crash.

• Identify witnesses. Witnesses can make or break a case, and it is important to obtain their contact information. Sometimes, responding police officers will not record their names, if they think they have all of the information they need. Always get the name, address, phone number, and email address of any person who says they saw any or all of the accident.

• Do not speak to the insurance companies until you have spoken to a car accident attorney! Remember, insurance companies are not on your side. Always speak to a Henrico car accident lawyer first!

• Get medical treatment! It is important, after a car accident, for you to be evaluated by a medical professional who can check you out, from top to bottom. There are some injuries that are not immediately visible, such as concussions, internal injuries, and small fractures. If you have been involved in a car accident, you need to go to a hospital for an evaluation. If you do not believe your injuries were that impactful, go to an urgent care center. Do not go to a limited practice provider, such as a chiropractor or physical therapist. These people, while they may eventually become part of your treatment team, are not competent to do a comprehensive examination. You need to get a medical doctor's evaluation for that

• Call a Henrico Car Accident Lawyer. Insurance companies are betting on the fact that over 70% of people who are involved in car accidents will not talk to an attorney. The less you know about the law, the better off the insurance companies are.

What if the Other Driver Had No Insurance?

Uninsured motorist claims are extremely common between Richmond and Washington dc. An uninsured motor is playing is how a case is pursued, when the at-fault party does not have any car insurance coverage. This can happen in crashes involving stolen vehicles, or where a vehicle was operated without permission.

An uninsured motorist claim is pursued through your own car insurance coverage. This is why we so strenuously recommend giving your own insurance as little information is possible until you have spoken to an attorney. Many people believe that their own car insurance will be on their side. However, in a UM case, it it very quickly becomes adversarial, and the same insurance company that you pay money to every month, well now be actively fighting against your case.

Always talk to an experienced Henrico car accident lawyer as soon as possible after an accident, especially if the other driver does not have car insurance - read our article for more information here.

Call a Henrico Car Accident Lawyer for Help Today

Don't let car insurance companies take advantage of you, after an accident. Call an experienced team of attorneys, paralegals, and staff who are going to investigate your claim, and fight the insurance companies to get you all of the compensation that you deserve. Attorney Joe Blaszkow has been fighting for injured Virginians for over 40 years, and will fight for you, too!

Contact us today for a free, no obligation consultation about your Henrico Car Accident Today.

Richmond Office:
7824 Shrader Road, Richmond, Va. 23294
804-273-8929

Picture credit - WRIC