Corey Pollard Law

09/03/2026

This is why it is so important to seek medical attention as soon as possible following an accident.

Even if your accident was minor, seeking the assistance of a personal injury attorney can make a big difference in recovering compensation.

08/27/2026

What does negligence really mean under the law?

In this video, we break down the legal negligence standard, what it takes to prove someone failed to act with reasonable care, and how that failure can lead to liability.

08/25/2026

Medical professionals have a duty to provide a certain standard of care. When they fall short through misdiagnosis, surgical errors, or failure to act, patients and families pay the price.

If you believe you or a loved one was harmed by a medical mistake in Virginia, Corey Pollard Law can help you understand your options.

08/25/2026

Work-related PTSD in Virginia is compensable and can lead to substantial settlements—even without a physical injury.

If you are not a first responder, winning a claim requires matching your situation to one of three legal pathways:

Compensable Consequence (Easiest): Secondary to a physical injury. You only need to show the work accident contributed to your PTSD to a "minute degree."

Sudden Shock or Fright: Standalone trauma caused by an extraordinary, conscience-shocking event outside your normal job duties (like a bank teller being robbed at gunpoint).

Occupational Disease (Hardest): Cumulative exposure requiring "clear and convincing evidence" under Va. Code § 65.2-401—though Commission case law shows you can also develop PTSD as a disease from a single incident.

Be prepared: defense insurers will dig through your past mental health history and use IME validity testing to argue you are exaggerating.

Know someone dealing with job trauma? Tag them below or share this post.

Get a free, confidential case review: (804) 251-1620 | [Link]

A former insurance defense attorney explains how Virginia workers' comp PTSD claims are proven - with or without a physical injury - and what these cases settle for.

08/21/2026

Injured at work? Don’t wait - report it to your employer right away.

Failing to report an incident could delay or even jeopardize your workers’ compensation claim.

08/20/2026

Repetitive stress conditions can be difficult to evaluate under Virginia workers’ compensation law because gradual injuries are treated differently from a single workplace accident. Some conditions may qualify as occupational diseases, depending on the medical evidence and connection to the job.

08/18/2026

Did a workers’ comp adjuster ask you to sign a Social Security release (Form SSA-3288)? Pause before you sign.

Insurers often use these broad releases to search for an "alternate cause" of disability. They want to mine your past Social Security records to argue that a pre-existing condition—not your workplace accident—is the real reason you can't work.

Here’s what you need to know in Virginia:

You aren't required to sign in most cases: The Workers' Comp Commission cannot force you to sign a broad release for your Social Security records (Arvizu v. Gold).

Answering questions vs. handing over files: You must always answer questions about your health history truthfully under oath, but you do NOT have to give the adjuster a key to fish through your entire federal disability file.

Protect your claim before returning a stack of authorizations.

📞 Richmond: (804) 251-1620
📞 Hampton Roads: (757) 810-5614
🔗 Read the full guide:

No. The Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission cannot order you to sign a release for your Social Security records. But you may want to in two situations.

08/17/2026

If you've been hurt on the job, one of the first things you'll probably receive from the insurance adjuster is a "Medical Authorization Form."

It looks like routine administrative paperwork, but if it's a blank release, you don't actually have to sign it.

Insurers do have a legal right to see records related to your work injury. However, signing a generic form gives them access to your entire medical history - including past health issues that have zero connection to your workplace accident.

Before putting pen to paper:

Make sure the release specifies the exact injury and body part.

Limit the dates so they aren't digging through decades of past care.

Require them to give you free copies of any records they collect.

If you're staring at one of these forms right now and aren't sure what to do, we put together a guide explaining your rights: https://cpollardlaw.com/virginia-workers-compensation/do-i-have-to-sign-a-medical-release-in-my-workers-comp-case/

Questions about your claim? Give us a call at (804) 251-1620

No - you don't have to sign a blanket medical release to get workers' comp benefits. What the insurer can still get, what to sign, and what to do if you already did.

08/14/2026

You do not have to be incapable of performing every activity to apply for SSDI. Social Security looks at whether a medically documented condition prevents you from performing substantial work and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

08/13/2026

Was your workers’ comp settlement check late? You might be owed a 20% penalty.

The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission just released four new opinions. Here are 3 big takeaways every worker should know:

Late Checks Pay Extra: Insurers face a 20% penalty for late settlement checks—even if they attempted to reissue them (Mairena).

"On the Clock" Isn't Enough: Simply getting hurt at work doesn't guarantee coverage in Virginia. You must prove a specific workplace risk or hazard caused it (Anderson).

Early Medical Records Rule: What you tell your doctor during your very first visit carries far more weight than what you say at a hearing a year later (Abebe).

Have questions about your claim or dealing with an insurance company? Read our full breakdown or reach out today for a free case evaluation.

Four new Virginia Workers' Comp Commission opinions (Aug. 12, 2026): late settlement penalties, cumulative trauma, and a brief flagged as AI-written.