How your car’s “black box” can be crucial to your case.

A denial means the insurance company has decided not to pay voluntarily, but that decision can be challenged, and in many cases, overturned.

Common tactics in salon injury cases include arguing the injury was not that serious, claiming the scarring is barely visible, pointing to gaps in treatment to suggest you were not really in pain, arguing that your emotional distress is exaggerated, offering a settlement that covers medical bills but little or nothing for pain and suffering, and using before-and-after photos to argue the injury is not noticeable.

Who is responsible when you get injured at a salon in Virginia depends on what caused the injury. If it was caused by a hazard on the property, the salon is responsible under premises liability law. If it was caused by a stylist or employee, the salon is responsible under vicarious liability. If it was caused by a defective product, both the salon and the manufacturer may be responsible.

The fact that the other driver was unlicensed does not automatically bar your claim. But it does create complications you need to understand.