Personal Injury Attorneys Continue to Deliver for Our Clients — One Week’s Story

BDBF partner Dan Shaivitz delivered outstanding results to several victims of automobile accidents in just one week of June 2022.  It reminded Dan why he enjoys doing what he does and helping the people who come to BDBF with their worst problems. It also reminded Dan of how unreasonable insurance companies can be and how clients need skilled representation in a variety of courtroom situations and out of court, dealing with insurance companies and their adjusters.

Tuesday – Trial 1

The first of Dan’s two trials involved a dispute over what a fair and reasonable award for our client should be when he was hit by a negligent driver. There was no contest that the other driver was at fault.  In fact, the other driver didn’t even appear in court to contest how the accident happened.  However, the insurance company was certainly there to fight over our client’s medical expenses and the valuation of their pain and suffering.

As is customary, Dan had negotiated with the insurance company prior to trial.  Unsatisfied with what the insurer was offering, Dan took the case to trial.  The judge awarded our client $10,000.00 more than the insurance company’s best offer before the trial.

Thursday – Trial 2

The second of Dan’s two trials involved our client who was struck from behind by an uninsured driver.  Because the other driver didn’t have insurance, our client had to sue her own insurance company for uninsured motorist benefits. Like the last trial, there was no dispute over who was at fault.  Unlike the last trial, the other driver did appear in court with counsel.  Like the last trial, the insurance company was certainly there to fight over our client’s medical expenses and the valuation of their pain and suffering,  The judge awarded our client $2,000.00 more than the insurance company’s best offer before the trial.

Many clients are surprised that they find themselves 1) in a situation where another driver was uninsured; and (2) in a fight with their own insurance company when they think that their own insurer would certainly offer fair compensation in their interests.  Think again.

Friday – Traffic Court

The last appearance in court didn’t involve our own client’s trial.  Dan and Liz Farley appeared in traffic court to observe the trial of a driver who struck our client.  Sometimes, it is critical to understand the traffic court proceedings to get the best opportunity to settle an injury claim before filing a lawsuit.  While we could have ordered a transcript of the trial, there is no substitute for being there, in person, to weigh the credibility of the at-fault driver.  Dan also stood by our client’s side and helped her present evidence in support of the traffic citations the at-fault driver received. Unfortunately, the other driver in that case made a left turn in front of our client and failed to yield the right of way to our client who was driving straight through the intersection on a green traffic light.

With the assistance of our client’s testimony and the photos and video we took to traffic court, the judge found the other driver guilty of two traffic citations that directly related to our client’s accident.  Although these guilty findings did not cause the other driver’s insurance company to accept fault for the accident, we now will know exactly what the other driver will say when testifying in trial for our client’s injury claim and we will be ready to cross-examine him with his prior testimony.

We find tremendous professional satisfaction in assisting our clients who are injured in automobile accidents.  Please feel free to reach out to BDBF Partner Dan Shaivitz at (301) 656-1177 or dshaivitz@bulmandunie.com if we can ever assist you.