Virginia Car Accident Attorney
If you have been injured in a car accident, it is important to speak with a Virginia car accident lawyer as soon as possible. A skilled attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Many laws apply to car accidents, and navigating the legal process alone can be difficult. An experienced lawyer will know how to build a strong case on your behalf and will fight for your rights.
At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., we have experience handling various car accident cases. We understand the impact an accident can have on your life, and we will work tirelessly to get you the compensation you need. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation if you have been injured in a car accident. We will review your case and help you determine the best course of action.
Virginia Car Accident Statistics
Virginia is a beautiful state of small towns, scenic byways, and rolling hills. But it’s also a state with a high number of car accidents. The Virginia DMV reported that there were 105,600 total crashes in the state in 2020, causing 847 fatalities and 52,668 injuries.
The 105,600 total crashes included:
- 791 fatal crashes,
- 34,056 injury crashes,
- and 70,753 property damage-only (PDO) crashes.
The 847 fatalities included:
- 614 drivers killed,
- 119 passengers killed,
- and 114 pedestrians were killed.
The 52,668 people injured included:
- 41,264 injured drivers,
- 10,218 injured passengers,
- and 1,186 injured pedestrians.
These numbers highlight the importance of being cautious on the road and speaking with a Virginia car accident lawyer if you have been involved in an accident. If you have been injured, getting medical attention as soon as possible is important, and then contacting a lawyer to discuss your case. Do not try to navigate the legal process alone – let us help you get the compensation you deserve.
Common Car Accidents in Virginia
Many different types of car accidents can occur in Virginia. Some of the most common include:
- Head-on collisions: Head-on car accidents happen when one driver crosses the center line into oncoming traffic. These accidents can be devastating and often result in serious injuries or fatalities.
- Rear-end collisions are one of the most common types of accidents. They often occur when a driver is following another vehicle too closely and does not have time to stop when the car in front of them brakes.
- Side-impact collisions: Side-impact collisions, also known as T-bone accidents, can happen when one car hits the side of another. These accidents often occur at intersections when one driver fails to yield the right of way.
- Rollover accidents can happen when a car overturns, often after hitting another object or veering off the road. These accidents are often more severe than other car accidents, as they can result in serious injuries or fatalities.
What Types of Injuries Do Victims Suffer in Virginia Car Accidents?
Motor vehicle accidents can cause a wide range of injuries. Some of the most common include:
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Internal bleeding
- Leg injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
These injuries can significantly impact your life, and you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A Virginia car accident lawyer can review your case and help you get the compensation you deserve.
What To Do After a Virginia Car Crash
If you have been involved in a car accident, there are a few important things you should do:
Seek Medical Attention
If you are injured, you should always see a doctor after a car accident, even if it was a minor fender bender. Often, serious injuries do not appear immediately after an accident. A doctor can evaluate your condition and provide you with the necessary medical treatment.
Get the Other Driver’s Information
Make sure to get the other driver’s name, address, phone number, insurance information, and license plate number. This information will be vital if you need to file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
Take Pictures at the Scene of the Accident
If possible, take pictures of the accident scene, including any damage to your car and the other driver’s car. These pictures can be used as evidence if you need to file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
Call a Virginia Car Accident Lawyer
After seeing a doctor and gathering evidence, you should call a Virginia car accident lawyer. An experienced lawyer can review your case and help you get your deserved compensation.
Do not hesitate to call us if you have been involved in a car accident. We are here to help you through this difficult time. Our experienced Virginia car accident lawyers will fight for your rights and get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.
The Importance of Seeking Medical Treatment After an Accident
Many auto accident victims think it is not necessary to go to the doctor after an accident. After all, if they don’t feel they have a catastrophic injury,, why go through the hassle and expense? However, it’s important to understand that not all serious injuries are immediately apparent.
Some injuries, such as whiplash or traumatic brain injuries, may not show symptoms until days or weeks after an accident. That’s why it’s important to seek medical attention immediately after an accident, if you have any symptoms, even if minor. A doctor can evaluate your condition and provide you with the necessary treatment.
If you wait too long to see a doctor, insurance companies may argue that your injuries are unrelated to the accident. This could result in them denying your claim or offering you a low settlement.
Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) and Car Accident Claims
After an accident, you will likely receive medical treatment from your doctor to improve your condition. You may reach a plateau in your recovery where further medical treatment is not expected to improve your condition. This is known as maximum medical improvement (MMI).
Once you have reached MMI, you may still have some residual symptoms from your injuries. For example, you may have chronic pain or reduced range of motion in your joints. These types of injuries are known as permanent partial disabilities (PPDs).
If you have suffered PPDs after an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your past and future medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A Virginia accident lawyer can evaluate your case and help you get your deserved compensation.
Establishing Liability in Virginia Car Accident Cases
You will need to establish liability to recover compensation after a car accident. This means you will need to prove that the other driver was at fault for the accident. To determine liability, insurance companies will look at:
- The police report
- Eyewitness testimony
- Accident reconstruction experts
These factors will help to determine who was at fault for the accident. Once liability is established, you can start to recover compensation for your injuries.
Why You Should Wait to Talk to the Insurance Company
After a car accident, you will likely be contacted by the insurance company. It is important to remember that insurance companies are not on your side. They have one goal: to pay you as little as possible.
When victims attempt to handle their cases themselves, insurance companies often take advantage of them. Insurance companies will try to settle your case for as little money as possible. They may also try to deny your claim altogether.
It’s important not to give a statement to the insurance adjuster until you have spoken with one of our auto accident lawyers. Anything you say can be used against you, and it is important to have an experienced advocate on your side.
What Are the Time Limits for Filing a Car Accident Claim in Virginia?
In Virginia, you must file a personal injury lawsuit two years from the accident date, in most cases You will be barred from recovering any compensation if you do not file your lawsuit within this time frame.
Damages Available to Car Accident Victims in Virginia
If you have been involved in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. The compensation you are entitled to will depend on your injuries’ severity and your case’s facts.
Compensation for Medical Bills
Medical bills are among the most common types of compensation in car accident cases. You may be entitled to reimbursement for your past and future medical expenses if you have been injured in a car accident. This may include:
- Hospital stays
- Doctor’s visits
- Surgeries
- Prescription medication
- Physical therapy
Compensation for Lost Wages
If you have missed work because of your injuries, you may be able to recover lost wages as part of your car accident settlement. To recover lost wages, you will need to provide documentation of your lost earnings, such as pay stubs or tax returns.
Compensation for Pain and Suffering
You may also be able to recover compensation for pain and suffering as part of your car accident settlement. This damage is meant to compensate you for the physical and emotional pain and suffering you have endured because of your injuries.
Punitive Damages
In some cases, you may also be awarded punitive damages. Punitive damages punish the at-fault driver for their negligent or reckless behavior. Punitive damages are not available in all car accident cases and can be challenging to recover.
How Much Is My Virginia Car Accident Claim Worth?
Each case is different, so it is impossible to say how much your claim is worth without knowing the facts of your case. The amount of compensation you are entitled to will depend on various factors, such as the severity of your injuries and the extent of your damages.
To learn more about your car accident claim worth, contact a car accident lawyer at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. today.
Factors That Impact the Value of Your Claim
Several factors will impact the value of your car accident claim, including:
The Severity of Your Injuries
The severity of your injuries is one of the most critical factors that will impact the value of your claim. If you’ve suffered a minor injury, such as a sprained ankle, you may only need to visit the doctor a few times, and your injury may not need any follow-up treatment.
On the other hand, if you’ve suffered a serious injury such as a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury, you may need long-term or even life-long medical care. The more severe your injuries are, the higher your medical bills will be, and the greater your pain and suffering. As a result, you will likely be entitled to a higher settlement for your injuries.
Contributory Negligence in Virginia
Virginia is one of a handful of states that follow the doctrine of contributory negligence. This means that if you are partially at fault for the accident, you will be barred from recovering any compensation.
For example, if another driver rear-ended you, but you contributed to the accident by slamming on your brakes, you may be found to be partially at fault. As a result, you would be unable to recover any compensation for your injuries.
Contact a lawyer today to learn more about contributory negligence and its impact on your car accident claim.
Virginia Is an “At-Fault” Car Insurance State
Virginia is an at-fault car insurance state, meaning that the driver responsible for causing the accident is also responsible for paying for the damages.
If you’ve been in an accident that another driver caused, you may be able to file a claim with their insurance company to pay for your damages. However, if the other driver does not have insurance, or their insurance is insufficient to cover your injuries, you may need to file a claim with your insurance company. This is known as uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
If you have any questions about filing a car accident claim in Virginia, contact a car accident lawyer at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. today. We offer free consultations and would be happy to answer your questions.
What Can a Car Accident Attorney Do For Me?
When you hire a car accident attorney, you are handing them the keys to your life and telling them that you trust them to get you through this tough time. Here are some of the things a car accident attorney can do for you:
Get You the Compensation You Deserve
A car accident attorney will first evaluate your case and determine how much it is worth. They will then negotiate with the insurance company to get you the highest settlement possible. If the insurance company is unwilling to give you a fair settlement, your attorney will file a lawsuit on your behalf.
Manage the Paperwork
When dealing with an accident, a lot of paperwork must be completed. This includes police reports, insurance forms, medical bills, and more. A car accident attorney will handle all this paperwork for you to focus on your recovery.
Answer Your Questions
After an accident, you probably have a lot of questions. A car accident attorney will answer all of your questions and help put your mind at ease. They will also update you on your case status so that you know what to expect.
Contact an attorney at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. today to schedule a free consultation. During this consultation, your Virginia car accident attorney will review your case and answer any questions you have.
Why You Should Choose Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. to Handle Your Case
The Virginia car accident lawyers with Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. have a proven track record of success helping clients obtain the maximum compensation possible for injuries they have suffered due to the negligence of others.
Our firm has consistently demonstrated the expertise needed to help our clients see that justice is served. We have the resources necessary to conduct thorough investigations of all the circumstances contributing to a motor vehicle accident, gathering the evidence to establish negligence and other types of liability.
Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has obtained more than $500 million in verdicts and settlements, and our attorneys have more than a century of combined legal experience. Two of our partners are certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Our firm has also earned the highest AV® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, one of the most respected attorney-ranking service organizations in the United States. Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. attorneys work passionately on behalf of our clients to help them secure fair compensation – no case is too complex for us to prosecute.
Our Car Accident Case Results
Here is a small sample of some of our results:
- $6 million for a client who suffered a brain injury after being involved in a rear-end collision.
- $4.8 million for a severely injured client after another vehicle struck his motorcycle.
- $1.9 million for a client who suffered a permanent back injury due to a car accident.
- $1.5 million for a client who had to undergo multiple surgeries after a negligent motorist cut off his motorcycle.
- $1 million settlement obtained on behalf of our 19-year-old client, who was a passenger in a car in which the driver lost control, causing a collision. As a result, our client suffered extensive brain damage with cognitive impairment. He was in a coma for an extended period. Although he has regained consciousness, he is unable to care for himself. The law firm asked the Court to appoint a guardian to care for him. The law firm is helping to establish a special needs trust so that the proceeds from the settlement will be protected against any medical liens.
- $1 million settlement on behalf of a client who suffered a brain injury when the driver of the car in which he was a passenger lost control of his vehicle.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation if you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident. We will review your case and answer any questions you have. Rest assured that we will work tirelessly on your behalf to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Will My Virginia Car Accident Case Go to Trial?
Most car accident cases in Virginia are settled out of court. However, if the insurance company is unwilling to offer a fair settlement, we are prepared to take your case to trial. Our experienced car accident lawyers have extensive experience litigating car accident cases and will fight for you every step of the way.
How Long Will It Take to Settle My Case?
The time it will take to settle your case depends on several factors, and no two cases are the same. Sometimes, it may take months or even years to settle. However, our attorneys will work diligently to help you obtain a fair settlement as soon as possible.
Types Of Car Accident Cases We Handle
We handle all types of car accident cases, including those involving:
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Side impact collisions
- Rollover accidents
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Hit and run accidents
- Drunk driving accidents
- Intersection accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
Contact the Virginia Car Accident Lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Today
If you are looking for the highest level of representation available for your personal injury case, turn to Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Our firm has helped clients recover more than $500 million in compensation, and we have more than 100 years of combined experience. All of our partners are recognized by Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers®, and our firm includes three past presidents of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
We work to help our clients obtain fair settlement offers to compensate them for the injuries they’ve suffered, but our attorneys are extremely well-equipped to go to trial if needed. Call (202) 659-8600 or contact us online to get the proven legal representation you deserve.
