Why do I need an attorney to represent me in my personal injury case?

The insurance policy requires the person who caused your accident to contact the insurance company promptly. As soon as the accident is reported to the company, they begin an investigation and begin preparing to defend the company against your claim. Insurance company employees are knowledgeable about claims and are trained to make your claim cost the insurance company as little as possible.

You need someone knowledgeable working on your claim and looking out for your interests as soon as possible… [ read more ]

FOCUS GROUPS: An Important Tool in a Trial Attorney’s Arsenal

How many times is a play on Broadway rehearsed before opening night? How many times is a scene in a movie shot before the final take? How often does the preacher practice his sermon on Saturday night? As grandma used to say, “Practice makes Perfect!”

So what does this have to do with lawyers and injury cases? A Broadway director wouldn’t consider opening a play without a rehearsal. Brad Pitt wouldn’t release a movie of first takes. No preacher would… [ read more ]

Deadlines in Personal Injury Cases

Author: Attorney Elizabeth M. Allen

Attorney Elizabeth M. Allen

Deadlines. They’re a fact of life. We face deadlines for filing income tax returns, for filing health insurance claims, for submitting college applications, for renewing driver’s licenses, and the list goes on.

Few deadlines are as important as those we encounter when we make a personal injury claim for damages against a negligent third party. Under Virginia law, if a plaintiff… [ read more ]

Virginia Boating Safety: New Required Operator Licenses and Education

Summary by: Robert L. Mertig

Robert L. Mertig, Claims Consultant

As summer approaches, it’s important to be aware of recent changes in the boating laws in Virginia pertaining to the operation of personal water craft (PWC) such as Jet Skis and motorboats. These changes include a schedule of required licenses and boating safety instruction that begin to take effect this summer. Over the next few years, eventually all users of PWC will be required to… [ read more ]

The Recorded Statement: A Trap for the Unwary

Attorney Elizabeth M. Allen

Author: Attorney Elizabeth Morrell Allen

You’ve been in an auto accident that wasn’t your fault. Within a few days, an adjuster for the insurance company of the guy who hit you calls on the telephone. The adjuster wants you to give a recorded statement telling her how the accident happened and also asks you to provide some personal information. She says she wants to help you,… [ read more ]

Securing Witness Information After an Accident

Claims Consultant Chris Cloude

Author: Chris Cloude

You are driving to the grocery store taking your time and following your normal route. As you approach an intersection, the stoplight is green and you proceed into the intersection. Out of the corner of your eye you see a flash, and your car is hit on the passenger side.

A few days later, an adjuster calls you from the insurance company for the person that hit you.… [ read more ]

What Happened to Fair and Reasonable?

Egena Younger

Author: Egena T. Younger

I worked on the defense side for insurance companies for over 17 years. I experienced many years of investigating, evaluating, and negotiating automobile and commercial claims. From the first day of work, I was told to settle cases for a fair and reasonable amount. I was proud to represent the insurance company and its investors by checking every bill and report, to ensure that only what was necessary, related… [ read more ]

What is My Personal Injury Case Worth?

Attorney Charles Littlepage Allen

By Attorney Charles L. Allen

“What is my case worth?” I am often asked this question by clients when I am first getting to know them. The simple answer is this; whatever a jury says it is worth.

Some people with personal injury claims are surprised to find out that they are not automatically entitled to a… [ read more ]

Safety Myth or Reality —Are Teenage Drivers at a Higher Risk for Crashes and Fatalities?

Gayle Bragg

By Gayle Bragg

We frequently hear in the local news about automobile crashes and fatalities involving teenage drivers. Are teenage drivers involved in accidents more than other age groups ? Recently I had the opportunity to study reports from Virginia Commonwealth University Transportation Safety Training Center-Crash Investigative Team. The reports provide a comparison of crash frequencies and causes are examined to explore reasons why and what possible remedial actions can be taken to… [ read more ]

So you want to go to law school? How to get into the law school of your choice.

Attorney Tamara L. Jezic

By Tamara L. Jezic

So you’ve been reading the Allen and Allen blog, and now you’re inspired to become a personal injury lawyer. Next step: applying to law school! Here are some tips from my personal experience on getting into the law school of your choice: