Legal Question in Insurance Law in Virginia

Private Attorney Necessary

I was at fault for a minor traffic accident over a year ago. The owner of the vehicle involed contacted my husband, not me, shortly after and asked if he would call our insurance company and have them total her car instead of paying for the actual damage,which was estimated around $3000. She claims she suffers from post traumatic stress syndrome and would not be able to get back into the damaged car. It is now a year later and her insurance company wants my insurance company to pay another $9000 for storage fees, damage to a bracelet and so on. I may have to go to trial because of this and if the verdict is more than the amount I am insured for, I will have to pay. My insurance company is providing an attorney for me but has suggested I may need to hire my own attorney to work with them. Is this necessary? Can the verdict actually be more than $100,000? And by contacting us after the accident with her demands, isn't this considered harassment?


Asked on 12/26/06, 4:27 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Private Attorney Necessary

A verdict in excess of $100,000 for the plaintiff

in this case would not be beyond the realm of possibility but under the facts which you've described not very likely(I would think) from an accident which was initially assessed at $3000.00 for the car.(One attorney should be sufficient to deal with this matter, at least in the initial stages.)

Regarding the palintiff's contact with your husband shortly after the accident, while it may have been inappropriate and ill-advised, would not amount to harassment(in my view).

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Answered on 12/27/06, 11:17 am


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