When Do You Need to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Virginia?

Top-Rated Auto Accident Attorney Representing Car Crash Victims Throughout Virginia in Personal Injury Settlement Negotiations and at Trial

Motor vehicles are the most dangerous products in America. They cause more injuries and deaths than any other product sold.

The numbers are staggering. Last year there were more than 6 million motor vehicle crashes nationally. Of these wrecks, roughly 2 million caused injuries. And more than 34,000 auto accidents caused death. At least 30,000 people have died in car wrecks each year since 1946.

The number of car accident injuries and death tell just part of the story. There are also enormous social costs from traffic crashes.

Those of you hurt in an auto accident may have large medical bills and require future treatment. And if your injuries are severe you may lose income from work or even have to change careers, if you’re able to work at all after the car accident. These items are called economic damages because they can be calculated.

Your motor vehicle accident may also cause pain and suffering. These damages, called noneconomic injuries, are often worse than the physical injuries.

After a car accident, having the right personal injury attorney can be the difference between financial recovery and debt. Receiving compensation for the medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering that result from an unexpected motor vehicle crash can reduce your family’s financial stress and allow you to focus on your recovery.

I represent clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries in motor vehicle crashes throughout the state. And I’d like to serve as your Virginia car accident lawyer.

Call now for a free consultation: (804) 251-1620 or (757) 810-5614. l’ll help you get every penny you’re owed from the negligent driver and their auto insurance carrier – either through a car accident settlement or a trial by jury.

How Do I Find a Good Personal Injury Lawyer for My Car Accident Case?

So you’ve been hurt in a car crash and think you have a case. How do you find the right auto accident attorney?

Below are questions to ask to find the best car accident law firm.

Does your lawyer handle personal injury cases exclusively, or a variety of legal matters?

Does your attorney settle every car accident claim he handles, or is he willing to take your personal injury case to trial before a jury if necessary?

Does your attorney have experience handling catastrophic injuries and getting high verdicts and settlements?

Is your attorney an active member of state and national trial lawyer groups?

Does your attorney have the financial resources to handle your auto accident case and to hire the best expert witnesses?

Is your lawyer familiar with your type of car accident injury?

Has your attorney taken on the insurance carrier in your case before?

Is your attorney familiar with other benefits you may receive because of your automobile accident injuries, such as Workers Compensation, Social Security Disability, or Long Term Disability?

Does your lawyer write and lecture about personal injury law?

Theories of Liability: Who Do You Sue After a Car Crash?

Under Virginia tort law you may seek compensation from multiple parties if you’re hurt in an auto accident, including:

Other Driver

If you are injured or suffer property damage because of a driver’s negligent operation of a motor vehicle, you may recover compensation from the negligent driver.

Virginia is an at-fault state when it comes to auto accidents. You must prove that the other driver was negligent, and that this negligence caused the car crash and your injuries. If you can prove this, then the negligent driver must pay for your damages.

Determining fault is easy in many motor vehicle accident cases. But sometimes it’s difficult. Your car accident attorney will collect evidence to show that the other driver failed to use a reasonable about of care – and that this breach of the duty of care caused the traffic crash. Sometimes this means hiring expert witnesses to prove the other driver’s negligence caused the accident.

Courts consider many factors when deciding whether a driver was negligent. These factors include:

Speeding

Driving slower than the posted speed limit

Failing to follow traffic signals and signs (running a red light, failing to stop at a stop sign, etc).

Driving too fast for the weather conditions

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Last year there were more than 100,000 reported motor vehicle accidents in Virginia. A car crash every four minutes.

Many of these auto accidents were caused by negligence. One driver’s decision to act negligently changing another driver’s life forever

If you’re reading this article chances are good that you or a loved one has been hurt in an auto accident and are looking for a top-ranked Richmond car accident lawyer. You’re in the right place.

First let me say how sorry I am for the pain and frustration you and your family are going through. I understand that car accidents can cause serious injuries. And stress from the pain, lost wages, and high medical bills can lead to physical, mental, and financial struggles following your car wreck.

I believe that negligent drivers must be held accountable for the injuries, pain, suffering, and financial harm they cause. And that the last thing you need while trying to recover is to have to deal with the insurance company blowing you off.

As your Richmond VA auto accident attorney, my job is to help you understand your legal rights following a car crash and to pursue those rights aggressively so that the other driver and his or her insurance company are held accountable.

This article provides an overview of car accident claims and lawsuits in Virginia. After reading this article you will know:

Common Causes of Auto Accidents

What to Do if You Are in a Car Accident

What Information You Should Exchange After a Motor Vehicle Accident

What to Do if You Are Injured in an Auto Accident

How to Prove Fault After a Motor Vehicle Crash

What to Do if You Were Partially At Fault for the Accident

Legal Options if a Vehicle Manufacturing Defect Contributed to the Accident

Virginia Auto Insurance Requirements

Supplemental Auto Insurance Policies That Can Help You After a Motor Vehicle Accident

The Steps in an Auto Insurance Claim

If You Need a Car Accident Lawyer

How a Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney Can Help You

If you have questions, or are looking for a top-ranked car accident lawyer in Richmond, call me for a free consultation: 804-251-1620.

When you hire me as your car accident attorney, you’ll know that you have a tireless advocate who is committed to helping injured drivers, pedestrians, passengers, and bicyclists obtain fair compensation to cover damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Depending on the details of your auto accident, you may be able to obtain monetary damages through insurance claims or a civil lawsuit against the negligent driver and any other responsible parties. Whatever it takes, I’ll take action to protect your rights as a motor vehicle accident victim.

If You Only Take One Thing Away From This Article … Speak to a Richmond Auto Accident Lawyer First

I get it. I’m biased. But one of the most important things to do when you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident is to speak to a car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

In the past few years insurance companies have become aggressive in trying to close auto accident claims quickly. Many people have called me after receiving a settlement offer from the insurance company within weeks of the accident. They don’t know what to do.

Receiving a quick auto accident settlement offer may seem like a good thing. But it’s not. Insurance companies want you to settle the claim before you know the extent of your injuries. They know that resolving the claim now can save tens of thousands of dollars later, especially if you find out that surgery, therapy, and more missed from work are necessary.

This is one of many reasons to call a Richmond car accident attorney right away – even if the insurance carrier appears to be treating you fairly.

What Are Causes of Auto Accidents in Virginia?

Driving in Central Virginia and around its major cities, counties, and towns is dangerous.

Each year thousands of people are hurt in auto accidents in and around the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

Some crashes happen on major highways such as: I-85; I-95; I-295; Broad Street; Chippenham Parkway; Route 288; Powhite Parkway; Hull Street; Jefferson Davis Highway; and Route 1.

Other crashes happen on neighborhood roads and in parking lots.

Every auto accident is unique. But there are many common causes:

Speeding: Driving too fast is a leading cause of motor vehicle accidents in Richmond. The driver of the other car may have been going above the speed limit or driving too fast for the weather conditions.

Distracted Driving: Distracted driving is becoming one of the leading causes of car accidents. Take a look at the driver beside you the next time you are at a stoplight. There is a good chance that driver is checking his cell phone. But texting and talking on the phone are not the only driving distractions that cause accidents. Using the radio, typing information into the GPS, or looking at something on the side of the road or in the backseat also cause crashes.

Drunk Driving: Many people drive while under the influence of alcohol, even though they could face jail time. Alcohol may slow down a driver’s response time and impair his judgment. These diminished skills cause accidents.

Driving Under the Influence of Drugs: The use of prescription drugs is common. And some, such as opioids, cause side effects that affect driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported an increase in the role of drugs in fatal car crashes.

Reckless Driving: Refusing to stop at stop signs or stop lights, changing lanes when there is not enough room, weaving in and out of traffic, and taking a turn too fast increase the risk of an auto accident.

Driver Fatigue: More and more people are not getting enough sleep. The NHTSA estimates that sleep-related car crashes are responsible for thousands of injuries each year. Fatigued driving can impair a driver’s reflexes, causing crashes.

Improper Vehicle Maintenance: A driver’s failure to maintain their car may cause brake or tire failure, which can lead to motor vehicle accidents.

Defective Equipment: Some auto accidents occur due to manufacturing defects in the automobile. This may result in a products liability claim against both the auto manufacturer and the parts manufacturer.

These are just some of the causes of car accidents in Central Virginia. There are many other reasons that an accident may happen.

And if you were injured while driving on the job you may be entitled to many types of workers compensation benefits in Virginia, including lifetime medical care, temporary total disability, permanent partial disability, and a lump sum workers comp settlement.

What to Do if You Are in a Car Accident in Virginia

No matter the cause, it’s important that you know what to do after an auto accident in Virginia. This starts by being prepared before the accident happens.

I recommend keeping the following items in your glove box:

Pen

Paper

Disposable camera (Your phone may have a camera. If so, the disposable camera can serve as a backup if your phone is damaged in the car crash).

Your vehicle registration

Your insurance card (Keep one copy in your wallet or purse, and one in the glove box).

Emergency contact numbers.

The phone number for a towing company

After photographing the auto accident scene, move your vehicle out of traffic if no one is injured and it’s possible to do so without causing more property damage. Be careful to avoid moving traffic nearby.

Once the vehicles are out of the way you should call the police in the town or county where your accident happened.

Your next step is to exchange information with the other driver.

What Information Should You Exchange With the Other Driver?

I recommend exchanging the following information with the other driver when you are out of harm from traffic:

Name

Address

Phone number

Email

Driver’s license number

Insurance company name, phone number, and policy number

Make, model, and year of the other driver’s car

License plate number of the other driver’s car

VIN number of the other driver’s car

Document whether the other driver appears intoxicated.

I also recommend writing down:

The name and contact information of all passengers and witnesses.

What time the accident happened. This is important when reviewing phone records to see if the other driver was on his or her cell phone at the time of the motor vehicle crash.

The weather and visibility conditions at the time of the accident.

Landmarks (buildings, stores, cross streets) near where the accident happen.

Whether the other driver appears intoxicated.

Whether the other driver is uncooperative.

Once you have this information you can fill out a report to submit to your insurance company. This information will also be helpful to your Richmond car accident attorney.

What to Do If You Are Injured in a Car Accident in Virginia

If you have been hurt in a car accident in Virginia, do not worry about getting the information discussed above. If you are injured in an auto accident you must:

Call 911. Report the accident and ask for medical assistance. Wait for the ambulance and first responders to arrive.

Get the medical attention you need. See the doctor right away – even if you think your injuries are minor and you’re ok.

Give only the necessary information to the police so that the responding officers can file their crash report.

Never admit that you were at fault for the accident. The accident recreation experts can determine fault.

Call an experienced car accident lawyer in Richmond- before you speak to the auto insurance company.

No matter how straightforward you think liability is, it’s important that you speak to a Richmond auto accident attorney before you speak to the insurance company about your accident and injuries.

Insurance companies often try to settle cases before you’ve had an opportunity to determine the extent of your injuries. Accepting a quick settlement is usually a mistake. Protect your rights and hire a Richmond auto accident lawyer who can protect your interests when dealing with the insurance company handling your claim.

What if a Manufacturer’s Defect Caused the Car Crash?

Some motor vehicle accidents are caused, in part, by vehicle manufacturing defects. Examples of defects include:

Stuck accelerator pedals.

Faulty tires and tire tread.

Electrical problems, including cruise control systems short circuiting.

Master computer failure while the car is in motion.

Brake system failures.

Ignition switches shutting off while the car is moving.

If a defective vehicle part contributed to your accident and injuries, you may have both a personal injury action against the other driver and a product liability action against the manufacturer of the defective part. Your car accident lawyer can evaluate both claims to determine all possible sources of compensation for your damages.

What Types of Damages Can You Recover After a Car Accident in Virginia?

Your Richmond VA motor vehicle accident lawyer will help you recover all possible damages for your injuries and property damage.

There are two types of damages in car accident claims: compensatory damages and punitive damages.

Compensatory damages include both economic and non-economic damages that are calculated to put you in the position you would have been in had the car crash never occurred. They include:

Property Damage: This includes the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle.

Medical Expenses: You may be entitled to compensation for the cost of doctor bills, hospitalizations, therapy, rehabilitation, medications, and related costs such as assistive devices and braces.

Future Medical Expenses: Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may require lifelong medical treatment, pain management, and even home modifications. You may seek compensation for these future medical costs through a car accident lawsuit.

Lost Wages: If you miss time from work because of your injuries or treatment, you may claim damages for this lost income.

Loss of Earning Capacity: Your injuries may keep you from returning to your pre-injury employment. As a result, you may have to take a job that pays less. You can recover for this loss of earning capacity.

Pain and Suffering: You may claim damages for the pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life that you have had because of your car accident injuries. As a Richmond automobile accident attorney I work with psychologists, psychiatrists, grief counselors, social workers, and case managers to show the loss, pain, and suffering caused by your car wreck and injuries.

Scars and Disfigurement

When calculating non-economic damages such pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life, you would use a multiplier. This means you multiply the amount of your economic by another number to determine how much to ask for in settlement.

The multiplier used depends on other factors, including: how many medical appointments you had to attend; the location of your injuries; and, the length of treatment. The more required of you to recover, the greater the multiplier used.

Virginia also allows you to seek punitive damages. These damages are meant to punish the negligent driver. Not every case calls for punitive damages, only those involving reckless or intentionally harmful behavior. An example is drunk driving.

Virginia Auto Insurance Requirements

Virginia requires drivers to show that they can pay for losses caused by motor vehicles they own or operate.

There are two ways to satisfy this requirement: 1) purchasing car insurance or 2) paying an uninsured motorist vehicle fee.

If you certify that your vehicles are covered by an auto insurance policy, the policy must have the following minimum limit of liability:

$25,000 per person for bodily injury or death.

$50,000 per accident for bodily injury or death involving two or more people.

$20,000 per accident for property damage

In addition to bodily injury and property damage liability insurance, you must also purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM). This type of insurance provides bodily injury and property damage protection if you are injured in an accident caused by an uninsured motorist, a hit and run driver, or a driver whose liability limits are not high enough to cover your damages.

Many Virginia drivers are either uninsured or underinsured. Buying additional coverage is the only way to protect yourself if you’re ever hurt in a Virginia auto accident.

Types of Supplemental Auto Insurance in Virginia

Additional motor vehicle insurance you should consider purchasing includes:

Collision Coverage: This insurance, also known as physical damages coverages, pays for the repair or replacement of your automobile no matter who – or what – caused the accident.

Comprehensive Coverage: This insurance pays for damages from almost all possible causes such as vandalism, water, fire, hail, and wind.

Medical Expense and Loss of Income Benefits Coverage: This insurance, also called MedPay, pays for medical treatment and lost income up to certain amounts. These benefits are available regardless of fault.

As your auto accident attorney I’ll help you recover payments through these supplemental policies after your car wreck.

Steps in a Virginia Auto Insurance Claim

Some auto accident claims resolve through negotiation. Others require a trial by jury.

I prepare every accident claim as though it will go to trial. This gets the best possible result in negotiations.

Below is an overview of the steps in an insurance claim:

1. Contact the police after the accident: The insurance company will request a copy of the police crash report when investigating your claim. The report should contain helpful information.

2. Call your insurance carrier: Give your insurance company facts about the accident, including the cars and drivers involved, your injuries, and when the crash happened. Ask for a claim number.

3. Follow up. A claims adjuster will investigate and work on your claim. The adjuster may ask you for a recorded statement as part of the investigation. Call an auto accident attorney before giving a statement. An innocent mistake during this conversation can hurt your claim.

4. Vehicle damage inspection: The claims adjuster will ask you to end pictures of the accident. The adjuster may even visit and inspect the vehicle themselves or request that you take the vehicle to an auto repair shop for a property damage estimate.

5. Review of facts: The adjuster will review your statement, the vehicle damage estimate, and other information received to determine the amount of damages suffered. The adjuster will then review your auto insurance policy to see what level of liability coverage is available.

6. Initial offer: The adjuster will make a settlement offer.

7. Negotiation: Never accept the insurance company’s first offer. You and your car accident lawyer should have developed a negotiation strategy and settlement goal before receiving the first offer. You can respond accordingly.

8. Resolution: Either you reach an agreement with the insurance company, or you don’t. If you don’t then you proceed with your civil action and present your case to a judge or jury at trial. If you resolve your case prior to trial, you will sign a release. Then the adjuster will issue payment.

Do You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident?

You can handle your auto accident claim on your own. And sometimes there is no reason to hire an attorney. But usually this is a mistake.

On average accident victims that hire an attorney recover more money through settlement than those that don’t. This is because an experienced Richmond car accident lawyer knows how to develop and present a case to get the most amount of money from the insurance company possible.

You may make a critical mistake if you try to represent yourself. And a mistake in negotiating an auto accident claim can cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Hire one of the best car accident attorneys in Richmond VA so that you can maximize your financial recovery while focusing on your health.

How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help You?

As your auto accident attorney I will:

Listen: I know how important it is for you to be able to tell your story. I want to understand how your crash happened, what injuries you suffered, how much time you’ve missed from work, what medical care you’ve received and will need, and why you want to pursue an auto accident claim. I will listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and discuss all available legal options, including personal injury, Virginia workers compensation, long term disability, and Social Security Disability claims.

Provide an Overview of What to Expect: There are many moving parts in motor vehicle accident claims. I will explain what you can expect throughout the personal injury claims process and what steps you should take along the way to give yourself the best chance of success.

Help You Get Necessary Medical Treatment: I will work with the insurance companies (auto insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, private health insurance, etc.) and health care providers to make sure your injuries are addressed and you receive proper medical care after a car wreck.

Coordinate Rental Car Coverage and Property Damage Claims: Depending on the severity of your car crash, you may be unable to drive your automobile. This will make it difficult to return to work and attend medical appointments. As your car accident attorney I will help you get your car repaired or replaced.

Investigate the Accident: I will conduct a detailed investigation of the car wreck, with an eye on determining who was at fault.

The investigation will include: reviewing police reports; taking and reviewing photographs of the crash scene; reviewing all available video footage, including traffic cameras; interviewing witnesses; reviewing witness statements taken by other parties such as the police and insurance company; researching the driving records of all drivers involved in the auto accident; requesting and reviewing cell phone records to determine if distracted driving was a factor; obtaining your medical records; working with treating physicians to establish damages, the extent of your injuries, and the medical care you will require; analyzing warnings, tickets, or citations given by the police for the accident; reconstructing the accident scene; meeting with economic experts to determine your loss of earning capacity due to the car accident injuries; and, more.

Identify Insurance Policies to Pay Damages: Proving fault is helpful only if there is available insurance coverage or assets from which you can be paid. I will identify all available insurance policies that may pay for your injuries.

Complete Necessary Paperwork for Your Accident Claim: As your Richmond motor vehicle crash attorney, I will take care of filing all necessary documents with the insurance companies and courts, if necessary. I handle filing deadlines and statutes of limitation so you don’t have to.

Try to Negotiate a Full Settlement of Your Car Accident Claim: My goal is to resolve your case fairly and efficiently. I will send a demand letter to all appropriate insurance companies outlining our theory of the case and what damages I think you’re owed. This starts the negotiation process.

Take Your Case to Trial: I believe in preparing your case as though it will go to court. This aggressive approach allows me to negotiate better settlements for accident victims. But if the insurance company is unwilling to offer a fair settlement, I will fight for you in court.

Resolve All Liens: Depending on the facts of your case, there may be healthcare liens, workers’ compensation liens, or other claims owed out of the proceeds of your trial award or settlement. As your car accident attorney I will negotiate these liens down so that you pocket more money.

Handle Your Case on a Contingency Fee: I understand that a serious car accident can cause financial stress. You will have no out-of-pocket costs. And I will not charge an attorney’s fee unless you recover through settlement verdict.

The insurance company has experienced adjusters and defense attorneys trying to find a way to deny your claim or reduce its value. Fight back by hiring one of the best car accident lawyers in Richmond, Virginia.

Injured in an Auto Accident? Get a Free Case Review from an Experienced Car Accident Attorney in Richmond.

If you drive a car on local roads, streets, and interstates in Central Virginia, there is a high probability that you will get into an auto accident sooner or later. No matter how careful you are when driving, you can’t control other drivers who may not be paying attention. Someone else’s negligence can cause a terrible crash or multi-car pileup.

If you’ve been through a car accident before, you know there is a lot to deal with after the crash. While you’re trying to get better, the insurance company is trying to deny your claim. Take care of your injuries and family. Let me take care of the legal matters. Come see why I’ve been voted one of the best personal injury lawyers in Virginia the past four years in the areas of motor vehicle accidents, brain injury, and trucking accidents.

As your Richmond auto accident attorney I’ll take care of the legal situation and work on getting you a top-dollar car accident settlement. I can help regardless of the type of car accident case you have. I handle auto accident claims involving: brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, concussions, back injuries, neck injuries, paralysis, amputations, and even wrongful death.

I hope you feel comfortable contacting me to share your auto accident story. And that you will call me if you’re an auto accident victim in: Richmond; Petersburg; Hopewell; Colonial Heights; Amelia County; Caroline County; Charles City County; Chesterfield County; Dinwiddie County; Goochland County; Hanover County; Henrico County; King William County; New Kent County; Powhatan County; Prince George County; Sussex County; Midlothian; Bowling Green; Ashland; Mechanicsville; Glen Allen; Moseley; Bon Air; Atlee; Tuckahoe; or, Sandston.

Call today so that we can work together to put your life back together: 804-251-1620.