--- description: Injured in a DC car accident? Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. fights for your compensation. Get a free case evaluation today!FAQs title: Car Accident FAQs - Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. --- Car Accident FAQs - Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. # FAQs Last Updated: April 20, 2026 Reading Time: 5 minutes Trusted Content Legally Reviewed by Allan Siegel Updated 2 months ago [Home](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/) » [Washington DC Car Accident Lawyer](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/) » FAQs What's On This Page [Case Results](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/case-results/) $18.8 Million Car Crash $2 Million Car Crash $1.9 Million Car Crash $1.37 Million Car Crash $1.1 Million Car Crash $1 Million Car Crash [View All Practice Areas](https://chaikinandsherman.com/practice-areas/) [Testimonials](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/testimonials-hub/) They were adamant about getting me the best settlement. Torkwase Akinalana Car Accidents Proved to be the perfect advocate Michael Bizik Car Accidents I highly recommend the law firm of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, and Siegel P.C. Anna Pastel-Powell Car Crash Mr. Siegel’s strong conviction, dedication, and determination prevailed in a legal victory. Gail Payne Car Accidents I knew I was in good hands once I stepped into their office. Gladys Ibeh Car Accidents They treated me like I was their only client, from beginning to end. Joy Lopez Car Accidents Contact Us Today! "*" indicates required fields Name* First Last Name* Last Email** Phone*Are you a new client?*Are you a new client? *Yes, I'm a potential new client.No, I'm a current existing client.I'm neitherCase TypeCase TypeMotor Vehicle AccidentSlip & FallAssaultMedical MalpracticeAbuseWork InjuryOtherWere You at Fault?Were You At Fault?NoYesUnknownWhere Did The Incident Occur?Where Did The Incident Occur?Washington, D.C.VirginiaMarylandOtherDid The Accident Occur In the Last Two Years?Did The Accident Occur In the Last Two Years?YesNoShare Brief Description of the Incident* Watch our attorneys explain how they fight for car accident victims across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. With over $1 billion recovered, our team knows how to build a winning case — from investigation through trial. Video Transcript **Speakers:** Ira Sherman, Joseph Cammarata, Stephen Ollar, Allan Siegel **Ira Sherman (00:02):** I would say that Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata and Siegel has a completely different outlook on cases that other people think are garden variety automobile accidents, because to the person who is involved in that accident, that’s not garden variety, that’s altering their life. **Joseph Cammarata (00:21):** First of all, we don’t advertise. People come to us by word of mouth, either from defense lawyers, from insurance companies, from colleagues at the bar. They know that we have decades of experience in the personal injury field. They know that what we bring to bear is a group of lawyers that work and non-lawyers that work as a team to make sure we understand what the nature and the extent of the injury is. We make sure we understand and can express to a third party just what those injuries are, and we work to obtain the most compensation that we can for an individual. **Stephen Ollar (01:04):** What we do a lot of is discovery, not just discovery of the facts of the case, but discovery about insurance. It may be that the individual was operating the vehicle for an employer, and if they were acting with what we call the course and scope of their employment, then there could be potentially additional coverage that would cover a person for those injuries. **Allan Siegel (01:27):** We’ve been handling car accident cases since Don Chaikin founded this firm over 50 years ago. Since we spend a lot of time and we have a lot of those cases, we have developed a level of experience and knowledge that I think is very unique in our field. There aren’t many law firms who can say that they’ve been doing this type of work for over 50 years. **Ira Sherman (01:52):** I care enough to look to determine who this person is and how it affected them, and that takes up a lot of my conversation with our clients. # Car Accident Frequently Asked Questions ## Legal Help After Your Motor Vehicle Accident With hundreds of thousands of car accidents reported in the DC region every year, some causing injury, some resulting in death, and others ending in significant property damage. No matter what the consequences of your auto accident are, the bottom line is that if you were involved in a collision through no fault of your own, then you deserve to seek compensation for your injuries and any property damage that might have resulted. ## Answers from Our DC Car Accident Attorneys At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C., we are committed to helping the victims of serious auto accidents recover compensation. For more than 45 years, our personal injury lawyers have actively pursued car accident cases of every size and degree, recovering hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients. We are prepared to do the same for you. If you have questions that you would like answered before you begin the legal process, we encourage you to read through the list of questions and answers displayed below. Here, you can find information about the many of the different aspects of car accident claims and lawsuits. If you have more questions that you would like answered, then you can contact our firm to schedule a free consultation with a [car accident attorney](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/) at the office. ### Am I obligated to release my medical records to the other driver’s insurance adjuster? No, you are in no way obligated to release any of your medical records to the insurance adjuster of the other driver involved in the accident. In fact, if you have been asked to do so by an insurance company other than your own then you should immediately speak to a professional car accident lawyer. Signing off on the release of your medical records should be done only under a very limited set of circumstances, all of which must be discussed with a legal professional beforehand. Beware that if you allow for the release of your medical records to another insurance company, there is a very good chance that the documents will be used against you in your case. In all circumstances, you should not wait to speak with an attorney about the matter before making any decisions. ### What should I avoid saying when I talk to the other driver’s insurance company? If an insurance company other than your own has been contacting you after the accident in which you were involved, you do not need to oblige their request for information. In fact, the more you say, the more you could be jeopardizing your case. It is very unlike that any insurance adjuster other than your own would have your best interests in mind after an accident. Therefore, it is often wisest to [avoid speaking to the other driver’s insurance company](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/other-drivers-insurance/) altogether. Any and all communications with these adjustors should be reserved for the car accident attorney who is representing your case. ### Does filing a claim mean that I will have to go to court? The act of filing a claim after a car accident does not automatically mean that you will have to go to court. Generally, trial hearings are reserved for those cases in which the injured party is not offered a settlement that is substantial enough to cover his or her injuries, medical expenses, property damage, and / or earning loss. The majority of car accident claims can be settled outside of the courtroom; however, at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C., we prepare every case for court in the event that it becomes necessary to try your case before a judge and jury. We always invest our efforts into what we believe would be best for our client, and if that means going to court, then we will steadfastly stand by your side and represent you throughout the duration of your case. ### Do I have to report the accident to my insurance company even if I didn’t cause the collision? Usually, you should report the accident to your car insurance company. Whether or not you were at fault for the accident is irrelevant when it comes to reporting the collision, because no matter what, your insurance provider usually needs to know about it. Furthermore, the contractual agreement between you and your insurance company calls for cooperation with your adjuster after an accident. Accordingly, you will be expected to provide all pertinent information about the accident, including the details of any injuries that were sustained. The terms of your insurance policy will explain type of information that needs to be provided at this time. If you are not sure if you should involve your insurance company you should contact a personal injury to consult on this before doing anything. ### Do I have to report the accident to the other driver’s insurance company? You are under no obligation to notify another person’s insurance company about the accident in which you were involved. In fact, doing so could significantly jeopardize the success of your case. Unfortunately, any insurance adjuster other than your own could very likely use underhanded tactics to sabotage your ability to obtain compensation for the collision. Words can be twisted and statements can be manipulated for the purpose of denying you the true amount of compensation that you deserve. To best avoid this from happening, it would be wise to direct all of your communications with the other insurance company to your car accident attorney. Anything that needs to be discussed with the other driver’s insurance adjuster can be done by a lawyer who knows what traps to avoid when speaking to an insurance professional. ### What are my options if they say the other driver was not at fault? When a car accident claim is submitted to the insurance company, denial of liability is often one of the first things to occur. The reason for this is because liability is often reasonably considered to be the easiest aspect of the accident to dispute, thus allowing the insurance company to avoid paying out on the claim altogether. If the other driver’s insurance company denies liability for the collision, it will become the responsibility of you and your car accident attorney to prove liability. Proving that the other driver was at fault for the accident can be done in a number of different ways; for example, citing the description of events as detailed in the official police report that was made. ### What’s my case worth? As with all other types of personal injury cases, the worth of a car accident claim cannot be determined until a number of different factors have been reviewed. Circumstances such as wage loss, property damage, medical expenses, physical impairment, disfigurement, scarring, and future evidence can all play into the overall worth of your case. Additional factors that must be considered are the degree of fault, amount of insurance coverage, likelihood of punitive damages, and where the case is filed. The ultimate value of your case will be determined only after a number of circumstances have been fully assessed, so don’t wait to speak with an attorney from our firm today. ### More questions? Get more answers! With more than 90 years of collective experience working in the legal field, Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C., we more than understand the difficulties that can be faced in the aftermath of a car accident that left you or someone you love injured or otherwise harmed. We are committed to achieving maximum compensation for clients. If you have additional questions that you need answered or you would like to begin the process today, please do not hesitate to [contact a DC car accident attorney](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/contact-us/) from our firm today. [Watch Our Video Testimonials](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/testimonials-hub/) Get free advice about the compensation you deserve. At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., our car accident attorneys fight tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve, handling every aspect of your case to protect your rights. Trust us to stand by you and advocate aggressively on your behalf. Speak to a Specialist Visit Us in Person 1232 17th St NW Washington, DC 20036 The car accident lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. serve the entire Washington, D.C. metro area, including [Virginia](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/virginia/) ([Northern Virginia car accident cases](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/northern-virginia/), [Arlington](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/auto-accident-attorneys-in-arlington-va/), [Fairfax County auto accident claims](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/fairfax/), [Woodbridge](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/woodbridge-va/), [Manassas](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/manassas-va/), and [Alexandria](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/alexandria/)) and Maryland ([Bethesda](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/bethesda/), [Hyattsville](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/hyattsville/), [Rockville](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/rockville/), Lau Top 10 Mistakes Made After an Accident Review these common auto accident mistakes to protect your rights. READ OUR E-BOOK Meet Our Team Learn More About Us Ira Sherman Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and New York With over four decades of courtroom experience, **Ira Sherman** is a powerhouse trial lawyer who has won justice for countless victims of serious injury, discrimination, and medical malpractice. Known for his relentless advocacy, compassion, and proven results, he’s the attorney clients trust when everything is on the line. Ira Sherman's Bio Joseph Cammarata Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia A dual board-certified civil trial attorney, **Joseph Cammarata** is nationally recognized for his fierce advocacy, landmark legal victories, and relentless pursuit of justice for victims of serious injury, wrongful death, sexual assault, and civil rights violations. With wins against powerful opponents—including a historic U.S. Supreme Court case securing equal access to justice—he’s the attorney clients trust when they need skill, strength, and results that matter. Joe Cammarata's Bio Allan M. Siegel​ Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia **Allan M. Siegel** is a board-certified trial attorney and partner at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., known for securing justice in serious personal injury, brain injury, and wrongful death cases. Recognized as one of Washington’s *Top 100 Super Lawyers®* and a *Best Lawyer®* in America, he combines strategic precision, courtroom skill, and relentless advocacy to win full and fair compensation for his clients. Allan Siegel's Bio Stephen Ollar Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia **Stephen Ollar** is an award-winning trial attorney and U.S. Army veteran dedicated to holding negligent individuals and corporations accountable. Recognized as a *Super Lawyers Rising Star* from 2020–2025, he’s known for his tenacity, precision, and unwavering pursuit of justice in personal injury, auto accident, and medical malpractice cases. 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