Introduction
Joseph A. Blaszkow began practicing law in 1981, giving him more than 40 years of personal injury litigation experience in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., a tenure that predates the existence of most traffic configurations he now handles claims on. Blaszkow Legal, PLLC operates at 5270 Shawnee Road, Suite 102, Alexandria, Virginia 22312, reachable at 571-341-7241 and 703-879-5910. The firm’s team includes attorneys Kevin Brosnan, Garner Nottingham, and Tyler Melton alongside Blaszkow, giving clients access to a full legal team rather than a solo practitioner. Free consultations are offered, cases are taken on contingency, and availability runs around the clock.
The firm has developed a proprietary approach to case handling called the Blaszkow Legal Method, built on a straightforward premise: prepare every case as if it will go to trial. The practical effect is that approximately 85 percent of cases settle, and they settle better because the opposing party knows the firm is ready to litigate. Trial readiness is the source of negotiating power, not a fallback position reserved for cases that do not settle.
Virginia’s contributory negligence doctrine makes that readiness more consequential than in most other states. A plaintiff found even one percent at fault for an accident is barred from all recovery under Virginia law. That rule demands careful case preparation and a thorough liability analysis from the very first contact with a potential claim.
Practice Areas
Car Accidents
Car accident cases in Northern Virginia involve some of the most complex traffic environments in the country. The Springfield Mixing Bowl, where Interstate 95 and Interstate 495 converge, generates significant accident volume. The GW Parkway, a 25-mile federal roadway stretching from McLean to Mount Vernon, creates federal jurisdiction considerations that affect how claims involving that roadway must be handled. Additional high-incident corridors include the BW Parkway and the surface roads throughout Mount Vernon, Fairfax, Lincolnia, and Lorton. The firm handles accident claims arising from all of these environments, understanding the specific legal and procedural dimensions each presents.
Truck Accidents
Commercial truck cases require investigation beyond what standard auto cases involve. Driver log books, electronic logging device data, maintenance records, and cargo loading documentation all become relevant to establishing how a crash occurred and who bears responsibility. Federal motor carrier regulations impose obligations on both drivers and carriers that create additional liability theories when violations are present. The firm investigates these records as a matter of standard practice in truck accident cases.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accident victims often face the compounding difficulty of bias from insurance adjusters who assume the motorcyclist bore some responsibility for the crash. In Virginia, that assumption is legally dangerous because of the contributory negligence bar. The firm addresses those assumptions directly, building the evidentiary record needed to establish the other driver’s full fault.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accident claims frequently involve severe injuries because pedestrians have no protection in a collision with a motor vehicle. The firm has achieved notable results in pedestrian cases, including a $1 million recovery for a pedestrian struck by a rideshare driver.
Rideshare Accidents
Uber and Lyft accident claims involve a more complex insurance analysis than standard vehicle cases. The coverage available depends on the phase of the driver’s activity at the time of the crash: whether the driver was waiting for a ride request with the app on, en route to pick up a passenger, or actively transporting a passenger. Each phase triggers different coverage levels from the rideshare company’s insurer. The firm handles rideshare accident claims and understands how to apply the correct coverage tier to each situation.
T-Bone Accidents
T-bone collisions, where one vehicle strikes another from the side, frequently produce severe injuries to the occupants of the struck vehicle because the side of a car provides far less structural protection than the front or rear. These cases often arise from red light violations or failure to yield, and camera footage from traffic infrastructure or nearby businesses is often critical to establishing fault.
Whiplash and Soft Tissue Injuries
Whiplash injuries produce symptoms including neck stiffness, headaches, dizziness, numbness, and fatigue that can persist long after an accident and significantly affect daily function. Insurance carriers often contest these injuries because they do not always appear on imaging. The firm documents these cases thoroughly to establish the medical reality of the harm and its effect on the client’s life.
Bus Accidents
Bus accident cases involving DASH, WMATA, and Greyhound require attention to whether the operator is a government entity, because government entity claims involve different notice requirements and procedural rules than standard negligence cases. Notice to government entities in Virginia must generally be provided within one year. Federal Transit Administration regulations also apply to certain bus systems. The firm handles these procedural layers as a matter of course in bus accident cases.
Premises Liability and Slip and Fall
Virginia law categorizes visitors to property as invitees, licensees, or trespassers, with different duties of care owed to each. Invitees, such as customers in a store, are owed the highest duty of care, including reasonable inspection for and correction of dangerous conditions. Virginia’s contributory negligence doctrine applies with equal force in premises cases, requiring careful liability analysis from the outset. The two-year statute of limitations in Virginia applies to premises liability claims, and cases involving government-owned property require notice within one year.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
When an at-fault driver flees the scene, the injured victim is not without options. Uninsured motorist coverage on the victim’s own policy provides a mechanism for recovery. Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles uses CRD-93 forms in connection with these claims. The firm handles hit-and-run cases and guides clients through the uninsured motorist claim process from the first call through resolution.
Federal and Military Vehicle Accidents
Accidents involving federal government or military vehicles are governed by the Federal Tort Claims Act, which creates a separate administrative and litigation process different from standard Virginia negligence cases. The procedural requirements and timelines under the FTCA are distinct, and failure to comply with them can bar a claim entirely. The firm handles FTCA cases for clients injured by federal or military vehicles.
Maryland Cases
The firm extends its coverage into Maryland, including Silver Spring and Oxon Hill in Prince George’s County. Maryland also applies contributory negligence, as Virginia does, but Maryland’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years rather than Virginia’s two, providing additional time to pursue claims that arose in that state.
Results
The firm’s results include a $1.4 million recovery for a motorcyclist and a $1 million recovery for a pedestrian struck by a rideshare driver. The 85 percent settlement rate produced by the Blaszkow Legal Method reflects cases resolving at terms favorable enough that trial was not necessary, while the preparation to go to trial remained the foundation of every negotiation.
Location and Service Area
The Alexandria office at 5270 Shawnee Road, Suite 102, serves as the base for a practice area spanning Northern Virginia, including Arlington, Fairfax, Leesburg, Alexandria, Springfield, Lincolnia, and Lorton. Maryland coverage extends to Silver Spring and Oxon Hill in Prince George’s County. Washington, D.C. matters are also handled. Bilingual support is available for non-English-speaking clients.
Client Focus
All cases are handled on contingency, meaning no attorney fees are collected unless the firm recovers compensation. Free consultations are available, and the firm is reachable 24 hours a day. Joseph Blaszkow’s four decades of practice in this specific geographic market, combined with the Blaszkow Legal Method’s trial-ready approach, gives clients a litigation infrastructure that insurance adjusters understand and account for in their settlement calculations.
FAQ
What is Virginia’s contributory negligence doctrine and why does it matter?
Virginia applies pure contributory negligence, which means that if a court finds the injured person was even one percent at fault for the accident, that person recovers nothing. This is one of only a few states that still applies this rule. It makes complete liability analysis essential from the very first stages of a case.
What is the Blaszkow Legal Method?
The firm prepares every case as if it will proceed to trial, regardless of whether settlement is expected. This preparation means the firm can credibly threaten litigation when insurance carriers lowball offers, which is why approximately 85 percent of cases settle. The settlement numbers reflect the firm’s demonstrated willingness and ability to try cases.
How does rideshare insurance coverage work in an Uber or Lyft accident?
Coverage depends on the driver’s status at the time of the crash. If the app is off, only the driver’s personal insurance applies. If the driver is waiting for a request with the app on, the rideshare company provides limited liability coverage. If the driver is en route to pick up a passenger or actively transporting one, the rideshare company’s full commercial policy applies.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Virginia?
Virginia imposes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Claims against government entities in Virginia require notice within one year. Maryland’s personal injury statute of limitations is three years. Missing these deadlines typically bars any recovery, so early contact with an attorney is important.
Does the firm handle cases involving government vehicles or federal property?
Yes. Accidents involving federal government or military vehicles fall under the Federal Tort Claims Act, which imposes specific administrative requirements before a lawsuit can be filed. The firm handles FTCA matters alongside standard Virginia negligence cases.
Closing
Blaszkow Legal’s foundation is four decades of personal injury practice in one of the most legally demanding accident environments in the country, where contributory negligence, federal roads, government entity rules, and complex rideshare coverage create layers of analysis that general practitioners often miss. Joseph Blaszkow and his team in Alexandria bring that accumulated knowledge to every case, backed by a trial-ready approach that shapes how insurance carriers respond at the negotiating table. Call 571-341-7241 or 703-879-5910 for a free consultation.
Website: alexandriainjuryattorney.com