If you’re involved in a car accident in Virginia, you may need a car accident lawyer to help you get the compensation you deserve. Here’s what you need to know.
Taking Financial Responsibility
In Virginia, if someone is injured in a car accident, the at-fault driver is responsible for the medical bills. Most people plan to take financial responsibility by purchasing auto insurance from a licensed auto insurance company. If the company refuses to pay the bills, call a Virginia car accident lawyer to help you get compensation.
Liability in Car Accident Lawsuits
If you’re injured in a car accident in Virginia, you may be entitled to compensation. You can file a personal injury claim in court for damages resulting from the collision. Motor vehicle accidents may result in a multitude of damages, including economic damages like medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.
Factors That Can Influence a Claim
To prove someone is at fault for a car accident, the legal principle of negligence is used. Negligence means someone did something reckless or careless that directly led to someone else getting hurt. Different forms of evidence may be necessary to prove negligence and hold someone else at fault for injuries and losses sustained in an auto accident.
Wrongful Death Action
If someone passes away as a result of a car accident, the deceased’s family members may pursue the at-fault driver for the loss of their loved one and the loss of their main breadwinner in a wrongful death action.
Filing a Claim for Property Damage
Virginia drivers can file a claim for property damage if their property is damaged in a car accident. They must purchase property damage liability coverage to pay third-party repair bills for all damaged property. If the at-fault driver’s auto insurance company is contesting these bills, those with damaged property can bring a lawsuit against them.
Hiring a Virginia Car Accident Lawyer
People involved in a motor vehicle accident should contact a lawyer right away after the accident occurs. Securing the knowledge of a legal professional early on will help make sure they get everything right in case they need to bring a lawsuit against the at-fault driver and the insurance company.
Legal Requirements After Virginia Car Crashes
Before any civil litigation begins, there are a few procedural steps car accident victims must take in order to avoid being criminally charged with hit and run. Anyone who is unsure whether they have fulfilled these requirements should speak with their Virginia lawyer about doing so before beginning a car crash lawsuit or settlement demand.
Responsibilities of the Injured
People involved in a car accident will need to assist their Virginia car accident lawyers by gathering evidence that can prove their cases if it becomes necessary to go to court. After a car accident, the first thing victims need to do – after securing proper medical care for the incident – is to document all of the damages.
Time Limits on Car Accident Claims
Car accident victims in Virginia have a limited amount of time to file suit. A plaintiff who wishes to file suit for damages related to a personal injury has only two years after discovering those injuries—or two years after the date of a wrongful death—in which to do so. Claims seeking recovery solely for property damage have a filing deadline of five years following the date of the incident in question.
Advantages of Having a Virginia Car Accident Lawyer
By hiring a Virginia auto accident lawyer, you can rest assured that you have an advocate fighting on your behalf and that the full scope of justice will be served, which will ensure safer roadways not only for you and those you love but for your community and state as well.
