Allen & Allen Law Blog Personal Injury Legal News

Robert L. Mertig, Claims Consultant

Author: Robert L. Mertig

Virginia law allows that, even after proper repairs have been made, you can recover the “loss of value” of your repaired vehicle after an accident in addition to the cost of the repairs. 1 Insurance companies and auto repair shops called this loss of value the “diminution of value” or “diminished value” of the vehicle.

In layman’s terms, “diminished value” means the difference in value between a vehicle that has never been damaged and the…

Egena Younger, Claims Consultant

Author: Egena T. Younger

You have been involved in an accident and are contacted by the insurance company. The adjuster requests your full name, address, date of birth and social security number. You feel uncomfortable providing such private information, but you are told that the information is required to handle your claim, or maybe you are told that it is required to properly issue your check upon settlement of your claim. No matter what the reason, this information…

Attorney Jason W. Konvicka

Author: Attorney Jason W. Konvicka

I recently read an article that stated that a person sustains a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States every 21 seconds. In fact, the same article indicated that traumatic brain injuries occur more frequently and affect more people than breast cancer, AIDS, and Alzheimer’s disease combined. At first, I found these statistics surprising. I even questioned their accuracy despite having personally represented numerous traumatic brain injury victims over the years. Then, after…

Attorney R. Clayton Allen

Author: Attorney R. Clayton Allen

As a personal injury attorney, one of the questions I am most frequently asked is why an injured person needs to hire an attorney to represent them. Here’s an outline of how I usually answer that question.

Sometimes you don’t. If your injuries are relatively minor, if your medical treatment is for only a short period of time, and if your medical expenses and other damages are small, and if you are pretty savvy…

Attorney Priscilla R. Woody

Author: Attorney Priscilla R. Woody

The insurance company wants to settle your case as soon as possible if you are injured and not represented by an attorney. Use of a “Scheduled Release” (1) is a tactic used by insurance companies to entice unrepresented claimants (people who are making a claim to the insurance company) to settle their claims quickly. When claimants are wary and unsure of the claim process and their future medical condition, the insurance representative appeases them…

Attorney Malcolm P. McConnell

Author: Attorney Malcolm P. McConnell, III

Sarah Moss (1) was a four year old girl who had one of her kidneys removed and her ureter (2) attached to that kidney was re-attached to the remaining kidney. Unfortunately, while still at the hospital, she began leaking urine into her abdomen from the ureter re-attachment. Her belly swelled with fluid, making it difficult for her to breathe. Electrolytes which should have been excreted with her urine were being reabsorbed into her blood through…

Attorney R. Clayton Allen

By Attorney R. Clayton Allen

While talking to a client today about their auto insurance, I was reminded of a number of misconceptions and misunderstandings many people have about motor vehicle insurance. Here are four of the most common ones I hear.

Myth #1. “The better known insurance companies offer better coverage, so it’s safer to be with one of those.”

The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) Bureau of Insurance issues a form “family automobile insurance policy”. (1) All consumer family auto…

Author: Attorney Chris A. Meyer

Attorney Christopher A. Meyer

Very seldom do we discuss the details of Virginia Supreme Court decisions interpreting insurance contracts; these are true lawyer issues that can put normal folks to sleep.  But this recent case is important if you are in an automobile accident and are seriously injured.  So important that if you are seriously injured and don’t at least ask a lawyer about this you may leave a lot of money that should be yours in the…

Author: William P. Bootwright

Bill Bootwright, Claims Consultant

Just the other night while having dinner at a friend’s house, the question was asked: “how do you go about finding the right attorney,” whether for a personal injury, worker’s compensation, social security disability, wrongful termination case, or other legal matter. With the media being saturated by “lawyer commercials,” phone book displays with advertising on the front and back pages, and self-promoting billboards, I can see where the “average Joe” could be totally confused,…

Courtney Van Winkle - Attorney

Author: Attorney Courtney Van Winkle

Home is where the heart is. Your home is also where you keep many of your most precious belongings. Your home may well be your biggest investment. How do you best protect your home and your personal property from the risk of an unexpected event? How do you keep from being personally ruined if something bad happens? The purchase of homeowners insurance will help you protect the roof over your head and…