Practical Advice: Basics of Handling Auto Accident Claims

A pre-recorded streaming VIDEO replay of the September 2023 webcast, Practical Advice: Basics of Handling Auto Accident Claims.

In 2021 there was a traffic accident every 4.4 minutes in Virginia, involving one out of every twenty-seven licensed drivers, according to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. There is little reason to expect 2023 and beyond to be appreciably better, with the number of licensed drivers and overall miles travelled always increasing.  Many of the claims are handled amicably by insurance, but as every personal injury and insurance defense attorney knows, in a significant number of cases it is necessary to seek the assistance of knowledgeable lawyers.

This seminar serves as both a comprehensive overview and a refresher of Virginia law and practice regarding automobile litigation.  Our experienced speakers discuss every step of the process, highlighting laws, cases, procedures, and best practices to improve your results.  Whether you are contemplating taking your first auto accident case or are a seasoned practitioner wanting the most up-to-date information, this seminar is for you.

• Factors that can influence the decision for a jury or bench trial: statutes, court rules, jury instructions
• Rules of evidence: how hearsay and impeachment rules might make a bench trial better (or worse) for your client
• Financial considerations of a bench trial instead of a jury trial
• Stipulations in bench trials
• Expert witnesses in bench trials
• Reasons why a bench trial can create a better record on appeal
• Ethical considerations of forum selection

Faculty

Stephanie Gacek Cook, Kalbaugh, Pfund & Messersmith, PC / Roanoke

Vaden Warren, Jr., The Warren Firm, PLLC / Charlottesville

About the Speakers

Stephanie Gacek Cook, Kalbaugh, Pfund & Messersmith, PC / Roanoke

Ms. Stephanie Gacek Cook is an Associate Attorney with Kalbaugh, Pfund & Messersmith in Roanoke, concentrating on insurance defense. A graduate of the University of Virginia, she received her law degree from the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University. There she received Honors in Legal Research and Writing, wrote for the Campbell Law Observer, and worked as a research assistant. Ms. Cook was a member of her law school’s moot court team, competing up to the semi-finals in the national competition and earning an award for best brief. Also, during her tenure at Campbell, she interned at the Roanoke County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, worked for a general practice law firm in Dunn, North Carolina, and was a summer associate at an insurance defense firm in Charleston.

After earning her law degree, Ms. Cook practiced in Charlotte, North Carolina, focusing on insurance defense and litigation. She then returned to her hometown of Roanoke, Virginia, where she practiced criminal defense with a focus on white collar crimes and prescription fraud. She joined Kalbaugh, Pfund & Messersmith in 2003 and has worked with clients in products liability, automobile liability, premises liability, coverage issues, and construction litigation. Her successful results have garnered attention within the industry; in 2011 she was recognized as a Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Star and named to the list of Virginia Super Lawyers in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Ms. Cook has also been active in her community, serving as a Barristers Book Buddy, and on committees of the Roanoke Bar Association, the Junior League, and at her church. She has been a member of the American Inns of Court and written articles for the Roanoke Bar Review and the Journal of Civil Litigation.

Vaden Warren, Jr., The Warren Firm, PLLC / Roanoke

Vaden Warren has been practicing personal injury law in Virginia since 1997 and has extensive experience handling a variety of personal injury cases. A 1993 graduate of the University of Virginia, he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. After working for the Virginia House of Delegates, he obtained his law degree from the T. C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond in 1997. While in law school he was a member of the Moot Court Board.

Mr. Warren is passionate about his career in personal injury law and remains active in Virginia’s largest organization of trial attorneys, The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. He has tried more than 100 personal injury cases to verdict.