You were driving through Fredericksburg, Virginia when suddenly a car came out of nowhere and slammed into the side of your vehicle. You felt a rush of shock as the impact occurred and you realized you had been in an accident. The force of the collision caused your car to spin out, and it finally came to rest on the side of the road.
The other driver had been speeding and not paying attention to their surroundings, so they were clearly at fault for the accident. As soon as the dust settled, you realized that you had sustained several injuries from the crash.
Your neck was incredibly sore from whiplash, and your arm was throbbing with pain where it was pinned between debris in the car. You also had a deep cut on your forehead from hitting your head against the window during impact.
After being checked over by emergency medical personnel at the scene of the accident, they determined that you needed to be taken to a nearby hospital for further care.
Car accidents are always a shock. No one wakes up expecting to be injured, but it happens everyday on Virginia roadways.
At the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, we are committed to helping our clients fight for the financial compensation they deserve following a car accident. While you recover from your injuries, you should not have to stress about how you will afford to pay your medical bills while you cannot work.
Let a Fredericksburg personal injury lawyer work on your behalf. When you want to work with a Fredericksburg car accident lawyer, we are ready to help.
Recovering Damages Following a Car Accident in Fredericksburg
Car accidents can result in severe injuries, financial loss, long-term trauma, and sometimes even death. Unfortunately, car accidents are far too common. According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, 118,498 crashes occurred in 2021 alone, resulting in 58,786 injuries and 968 deaths. Those who cause such accidents should be held accountable for their negligent actions.
As you receive medical treatment for your injuries and take the necessary time off work to recover, you may be concerned about your rising medical expenses and lack of income to pay them. Do not worry. Your Fredericksburg car accident attorney will help you determine who the liable party is, so you can seek compensation from their insurance company to pay for all your losses.
Economic Damages
In the context of a car accident, ‘economic damages’ refer to the quantifiable monetary losses a person may experience. Basically, economic damages are the financial losses you may have incurred due to the accident.. These types of damages include:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Lost earning capacity
It is generally simple for you and your lawyer to determine how much most economic damages are worth. Medical bills will cost you a specific amount of money, while you can easily define lost income with a pay stub. However, even economic damages can become complicated when your medical treatment is ongoing, or you are expected to require lifelong treatment.
Lost earning capacity can be more difficult to determine. For instance, let’s say you work a job that involves manual labor, but the injuries you sustain in your car accident prevent you from being able to work that job again.
In that case, your attorney will make a case to the insurance company that your earning capacity is diminished and that you should be paid for lost future wages. .
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are less straightforward than economic damages. The amount you receive from your non-economic damages will depend on how severe your injuries are and how significantly they have affected your life.
Non-economic damages include:
- “Pain and suffering” and inconvenience
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
These damages could result in compensation, but usually only if you have physical injuries as well. For example, if you were rear-ended and experience minor injuries that resolve quickly, you probably aren’t going to be able to recover “pain and suffering” compensation for your accident.
If you are unsure whether you qualify for a specific damage following your accident, speak with your Fredericksburg car wreck attorney. They can guide you through the process and help you account for all your losses.
How Can a Fredericksburg Car Accident Attorney Help?
I recommend that everyone who has been injured in an accident talk to an attorney about their case. Talking with a personal injury attorney without hiring them is typically called a “free consultation” or “free claim review.”
During this first meeting, you’ll describe your accident and your injuries, and the attorney will tell you what you can expect from your injury claim.
If your injuries were minor, then you may be able to settle your case without an attorney. If your injuries were not minor, then it is more likely that you’ll need an attorney.
Most people hire an attorney to get the best possible settlement amount for their case, but there are other reasons to hire an attorney. An injury lawyer will:
- Handle communications with the insurance company and your medical providers
- Find accident evidence, interview witnesses, and get support of medical experts
- Negotiate with the insurance company adjusters
- Gather and manage all medical documentation for your accidents
- Save you the time and headache of navigating the pitfalls of personal injury law
In addition to helping you recover damages, the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC can assist you through the legal process in many other ways. We can communicate with the insurance company on your behalf, handle paperwork for you, and ensure your case meets important legal deadlines. While we work on your case, you can take the time you need to recover from your injuries and spend time with your loved ones.
Determining Liability
To recover damages, you must first determine who the liable party is. It is fairly easy to assign liability in some situations, such as if another driver rear-ends your car. However, liability may be up for debate in other cases, especially if multiple parties’ negligent acts combined to cause the crash.
When this happens, your Fredericksburg car wreck lawyer will work aggressively to hold the at-fault party (or parties) responsible for the accident. To prove liability, your lawyer may review:
- Police reports
- Traffic camera footage
- Eyewitness testimonies
Additionally, your lawyer can work with other professionals, such as accident reconstructionists, to prove how your accident occurred and who is at fault. They may also speak with medical professionals about your injuries’ severity and their likely impact on your life moving forward.
Adhering to the Statute of Limitations
In Virginia, you have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit, according to Va. Code § 8.01-243. After your injury, you should not wait to seek legal counsel. Two years may seem like a long time, but the more time your lawyer has to build your case, the better.
If you do not file your lawsuit within the proper timeframe, you could lose your right to recover damages. No matter the situation, as soon as we begin representing you, we will do whatever it takes to ensure we file your lawsuit within the statute of limitations.
Speaking with Insurance Companies On Your Behalf
After an accident, the at-fault party’s insurance company may call you to ask for a statement about what happened during the accident. They will ask you about your injuries and how the accident occurred.
However, you should refrain from answering any questions or giving a statement. Instead, refer them to your Fredericksburg car accident lawyer. Insurance companies are notorious for twisting victims’ words or taking them out of context to avoid paying them the compensation they deserve.
Our founder, Jim Parrish, started his career defending insurance companies. During that time, he got an insider’s view on the tactics they use to deny claims. For example, some insurance companies use AI technology to mass reject claims.
The results of these mass rejections by AI tools are often unfair to accident victims. Our team knows how to defend against these tactics and fight to get the compensation you deserve.
By working with the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, you ensure you have someone to communicate with insurance adjusters on your behalf. Your attorney will have your best interests in mind during every conversation, and they will not say anything that could compromise your position.
Fredericksburg Car Accident Lawyer Near Me 571-229-1800
Contact the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC to Start Working With a Fredericksburg Car Accident Lawyer
After a car accident, you must seek medical attention for your injuries. As soon as possible after your injuries are stable, you should contact a law firm that can work on your behalf with your best interests in mind.
At the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, we will identify the liable party for your accident, help you seek the damages you are entitled to, and speak with the insurance company on your behalf so you can recover from your injuries. Contact us today for a free claim review.
Unsure about what to do after a car accident or have questions regarding your auto accident case that remain unanswered? Download our free Virginia Car Accident Guide eBook or give us a call.
Call or Text 571-229-1800 or Complete a Free Case Evaluation form