What is a personal injury and what kinds of cases are considered personal injury cases?

A personal injury occurs when the negligence of one person or group causes injury to another person. In personal injury cases, negligence may be either an action or inaction. The guilty party may have directly caused the victim’s injury by behaving recklessly or may have caused the injury by failing to prevent it when he or she had the duty to do so. Some examples of possible personal injury cases include: slip and fall injuries, nursing home abuse or neglect, automobile accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, and on-the-job injuries.

How do I know if I have a claim?

In order to be compensation, the other driver must be at fault and you must sustain some form of injury as a result of the other driver’s negligence. The injury might be a new one or an aggravation of a preexisting condition.

How is liability determined?

The Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland and Washington DC fall in what is called the contributory negligence jurisdictions. What this mean is that if you have contributed to the accident, you would not be able to collect damages, no matter how small you contribution is to that accident.

What is the compensation for which I am entitled to?

An individual injured in an automobile accident may be entitled to recover the actual expenses associated with property damage and medical costs, economic damages, and emotional and physical pain and suffering.

What is uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage and do I have it?

Uninsured motorist coverage protects you if you are involved in a car accident with a driver who doesn’t have any insurance to pay for your injuries. Underinsured motorist coverage protects you if the other driver does not have enough insurance to pay for your injuries.

Do I get protection when an accident and injury in caused by unknown person, ex. Hit and run?

The uninsured coverage also applies when an accident and injury is caused by unknown person. (EX. HIT AND RUN). Uninsured Motorist insurance is extremely important in terms of providing protection from a number of unforeseeable circumstances. The higher the coverage, the better.

Can you recommend a doctor to me to treat me for my injuries?

You should probably make an appointment with your health care provider or your primary physician. If your physician believes that you need further treatment, he/she would likely refer you to further treatment with a specialist such as a physical therapist or orthopedist. If, however, you don’t have a primary care doctor or a health care provider, we would be able to provide you with a list of health care providers.

How soon after the accident should I seek medical attention?

If you are injured in an automobile accident, you should seek medical attention. Whether or not you have a claim, you should be examined by a doctor, both for your own peace of mind and to document the injury to support your claim. Frequently, an automobile accident injury will not be immediately apparent. Whenever symptoms first appear, go to your family doctor, a hospital emergency room, or another medical professional to obtain medical help. The sooner that you seek medical treatment, the better your claim will be taken seriously, and the quicker benefit of recovery.

Should I give recorded statement to the insurance company of the at-fault party?

You should never give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster of the at-fault party without first consulting with an attorney. Often, insurance adjusters recognize that you could decide to retain a lawyer after a while and would want to solicit information as quick as possible without your interest at heart. The same applies regarding signing documents.

It is especially important to consult an attorney before giving a statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Do not sign any check or document from any insurance company without first consulting an experienced personal injury attorney.

Can I be compensated for lost wages?

Yes, as long as your absence from work was caused by the injury and medically necessary. Make sure that you have records and logs documenting your absence.

Do I need an attorney to handle my personal injury claim?

Before deciding whether you should proceed with or without a lawyer, it is always wise to initially consult with a lawyer. No matter how claim adjusters sound friendly over the phone and no matter how they rush to get you do things, their ultimate motive is to pay you as little as possible to settle your claim. Just remember that your interest and the interest of the insurance company adjuster are at odds. If you are involved in a serious accident, you must seriously consider hiring an attorney.

Do I have to pay you any money when I hire you and how would you assist me?

No. We will be paid only after you are compensated and after you are paid first. Our law firm offers the personal attention, focus and resources that clients who have suffered serious personal injury deserve. We will handle every aspect of your claim from presenting the claim to the insurer, filing suit, conducting discovery and taking the case to trial. Please fill out the form below and we’ll contact you for a free initial consultation:

A personal injury occurs when the negligence of one person or group causes injury to another person. In personal injury cases, negligence may be either an action or inaction. The guilty party may have directly caused the victim’s injury by behaving recklessly or may have caused the injury by failing to prevent it when he or she had the duty to do so. Some examples of possible personal injury cases include: slip and fall injuries, nursing home abuse or neglect, automobile accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, and on-the-job injuries.