You want to be able to think the best of people and you want to be able to give businesses the benefit of the doubt too. It’s hard to imagine that an insurance company would actually be sneaky in its attempt to deny your Virginia car accident claim. I have news for you, though. The insurance company views you as an adversary. You are a claim that will cost money and the insurer will employ all kinds of tactics to avoid paying you.

Smile, You’re on Camera
Did you know that the insurance company might have hired someone to follow you around town? This private investigator may be videotaping you doing everyday activities and the worst part is that you may be completely unaware that you are under surveillance. If you exaggerated your activity level in any way or if it appears that you are able to do something that goes against your reported injuries, this videotape will be used against you.

You’ve Been Google’d
As YouTube and social networking sites have become popular, insurance companies have started trolling these websites looking for information that they can use to deny claims.  If you post something on Facebook about break dancing, when you claimed you could not run, climb or stoop, you can basically forget about your claim.

For more information, be sure to order a copy of Fairfax accident attorney Ben Glass’s book, Five Deadly Sins That Can Wreck Your Injury Claim.

Click here to view the embedded video.

How to find the right lawyer for your case’ in an interview.

Most personal injury lawyers offer a free consultation. I think as we discussed earlier, there are lots and lots of lawyers who advertise that they handle personal injury claims. I can tell you that not all of them do. So some of the things that we talk about and the truth about lawyer advertising, you want to find a nationally board certified specialist. Virginia doesn’t certify lawyers, but there is a national board certification. You want to find a lawyer who has an established track record of being involved in big cases, so you want to ask them, show me your verdicts. Show me your settlements. Now look, every lawyer who has been practicing for any length of time has lost cases. We’ve all lost cases, but you want to find someone who has been in the game, who actually goes to trial and get them to show you the papers that say they’ve been there and not just tell you about it.

I have a small practice and so I’ve limited myself to personally injury cases, mainly car accident cases, medical malpractice cases and to helping people who are seeking to recover disability benefits. Grace, when you get sick and you can no longer work. Typically, you’ll have a disability policy through your employer, those cases are tough. I help people get those benefits paid as well. Lots of cases that can be settled without a lawyer and that’s not something that you’ll hear most lawyers tell you. Small case, you get hurt, you see a doctor once, maybe a couple of times, you go get some physical therapy, you’re going to do better settling that case on your own. You should get my book and you should read it so that you can know what the process is about. And where lawyers help is when the case gets more complicated. If you have a herniated disk, you have a broken bone. You’ve got lots of medical bills. There are a lot of stuff that needs to be sorted out and that’s where an experienced personal injury attorney can really add value to your case, help you maximize your recovery from the insurance company.

We recently had someone pose the question, “if I was in a car accident that wasn’t my fault, is the most I can recover for my injuries the maximum amount of the other driver’s insurance?”

Here is how we answered the question – even if you take the other driver to court, the reality is that you will probably only be able to recover the maximum amount of the at-fault driver’s insurance.  You also may be able to obtain compensation from your own insurance company, if you have “underinsured motorist coverage.”

It is possible to go after the other driver’s personal assets, but there is the possibility that he or she could file bankruptcy to try and discharge liability for the judgment.  Also, a trial can become expensive, as you have to hire doctors to testify.  Juries do often award more money than what the defendant has in insurance, but you could still end up with less in your pocket, because you have now incurred additional expenses.

The best thing to do in this type of situation is to sit down with an experienced Fairfax car accident attorney who can explain your options and the realistic amount of compensation you may be able to recover.

For more information regarding Virginia car accident cases, be sure to order a copy of Ben Glass’s book, Five Deadly Sins That Can Wreck Your Injury Claim.

You should never rely on a lawyer to tell you whether you should see a doctor or not.  Your attorney should also not tell you which doctor to choose.

It is up to you to decide if you need to seek treatment for your injuries.  You might want to ask yourself if you would still see a doctor if the accident was solely your fault.  Answering this question will help you determine if your motives are right in seeking medical care.  You don’t want to pursue medical care only because you believe that it will add more value to your accident claim.

Your doctor will play an important role after your auto accident by recommending the appropriate treatment for your injuries.  That is why it is so crucial that you choose someone who is best suited to treat your condition.

Once your doctor has created a treatment plan for you, it is important that you follow through.  The insurance company will review your medical records and will know what type of care you received.  The insurer will also know if you missed appointments.  Don’t give the insurance company any reason to undervalue your claim.

To learn more about what you should and shouldn’t do after a Virginia car accident, read Ben Glass’s book, Five Deadly Sins That Can Wreck Your Injury Claim.

If you have been injured in a Virginia car accident, be prepared for the insurance company’s “low ball” offer.  Many victims have discovered that insurers are back to their unfair settlement tactics.  It is unfortunate, because there was a time when the settlements being offered were reasonable.

Why are insurance companies making such low settlements?  There are probably a couple of reasons for their change in behavior.  The first possible explanation is the current economic conditions.  Insurance companies are trying to hold onto as much money as they can, for as long as possible.  In car accident cases, it seems that some of the big insurers are almost forcing claimants to hire lawyers if they want to get paid fair settlements.  This tactic will most likely hurt these insurers in the long run, because car accident attorneys are generally able to get claimants higher settlements than people who do not have legal representation.

The other reason that insurance companies may be changing their tactics could have to do with the massive turnover rate within the industry.  Due to the economy, many insurance companies have been laying off experienced adjusters, or forcing them into early retirement. The less experienced adjusters often try to prove themselves by forcing unreasonable settlements on claimants.

The best thing to do if you are trying to obtain a settlement for your injuries is to hire a Fairfax car accident lawyer who can ensure you are treated fairly. You should also obtain a copy of Ben Glass’s book, Five Deadly Sins That Can Wreck Your Injury Claim.

It is easy to judge other people and their actions.  You may have heard of someone who pursued a lawsuit against a driver to recover compensation for his or her soft issue injury and thought the person was a fraud.  If you have been injured in an accident, though, you may have changed your view.

While the majority of car accidents result in nothing more than minor injuries that require little treatment, some crashes will lead to injuries that cause persistent pain and a long recovery.  Even a soft tissue injury can be life altering.

You may never have thought that you would need the services of a personal injury attorney and may have not thought that you would ever sue someone.  A good personal injury lawyer will work honestly to ensure that you are compensated according to what the law provides and that you are not taken advantage of by the insurance company.

Do not be ashamed or embarrassed about talking with a personal injury lawyer and taking steps to file a claim against the other driver.

Before you hire a lawyer or talk with the insurance adjuster following an accident, order Ben Glass’s book, Five Deadly Sins That Can Wreck Your Injury Claim.

The time period following a car accident is challenging.  You are trying to recover from your injuries, you might not be working and you are confused about what to do next.  A lot of people have questions after an accident.  Below are some common questions asked by accident victims.

Why does the insurance adjuster keep calling?
The first thing you need to remember about the adjuster is that this person works for the insurance company.  You may feel pressured to settle quickly and you may be told that you don’t need an attorney.  The insurance adjuster’s job is to settle for as little as possible.  It can take time for you to realize the full extent of your injuries, which is one reason you should contact a Fairfax car accident lawyer before accepting a settlement offer.

Will my medical bills be paid?
Medical bills add up fast when you are injured. Under Virginia law, you can collect compensation from your own medical payment coverage to pay your medical expenses.  If you go this route, you can still pursue an injury claim against the defendant’s insurance company.

Do I need a personal injury lawyer?
If you were seriously injured in the accident, it is a good idea to contact an attorney. A personal injury attorney will be able to gather evidence regarding your accident and document your injury.  He or she will also be able to negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company to ensure that you are fairly compensated.  If you go to trial, your attorney will be able to represent your case.

For information about what actions you need to avoid after an accident, order Ben Glass’s book, Five Deadly Sins That Can Wreck Your Injury Claim.

A car accident is a new experience for most of us. It’s not often that you are rear-ended by another car or hit head-on by an SUV.  You probably have a lot of questions and are getting overwhelmed.  If you are injured, it is even worse.  Below are answers to some commonly asked questions regarding Virginia car accident cases.

Do I have a case and if so, how much money can I collect?
When you are injured in a crash and require medical care, the bills add up quickly.  If your accident was caused by the other driver, you may have a case and can pursue financial compensation, which will help with your medical bills and other expenses.  The amount of money you can collect is based on a lot of factors. In determining the value of a claim, you would need to consider the amount of your lost income, vehicle damage, medical expenses and treatment you will need.  The value of your case will also be dependent on the types of injuries you sustained.

Is there a deadline as to when I can file my accident claim?
Yes.  In Virginia, you have two years from the date of the accident, unless you are a minor.  This deadline is known as a statute of limitations.  Even though you have two years, you shouldn’t wait too long to talk with a Fairfax accident lawyer who will work on getting you compensation for your injuries.  An attorney will build your case by interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence, so the more time, the better.

For more information about how to proceed with your car accident case and actions you need to avoid, order Ben Glass’s book, Five Deadly Sins That Can Wreck Your Injury Claim.

When you are injured in a Virginia car accident, your goal with your medical care should be to recover quickly, not to maximize your potential settlement.  You need to be honest with your physician and not exaggerate your accident.

It is important that you do not exaggerate the facts of your auto accident to your physician.  For example, don’t tell your doctor that the car was totaled when there was only a minor dent on the vehicle.  Your doctor may be called to testify about your injuries during the trial and it can be pretty embarrassing for him or her to find out that the damage to your vehicle was minimal.

You need to be honest when it comes to the symptoms you are experiencing following your collision.  Your case will not be stronger if you exaggerate your pain and discomfort, so there is no need to do so.  In fact, you could end up hurting your case if you play up your symptoms.  Video surveillance may show you doing activities that you claimed to your doctor that you couldn’t do.

The best thing you can do at your doctor visits is to be brutally honest.  That also means you need to give an accurate medical history, including any prior accidents or significant injuries.  The insurance company will already have this information anyway, so there is no need to hide it from your doctor.

For more information about what you should do after an accident, check out Ben Glass’s book, Five Deadly Sins That Can Wreck Your Injury Claim, at www.TheAccidentBook.com.