VIRGINIA PERSONAL INJURY CASES
If you’ve been injured because of the reckless or negligent behavior of another person, consider seeking the support of an experienced Virginia personal injury lawyer. Our team is well-versed in the claims process, statute of limitations, defenses to liability, damage caps, and other important factors that may prove relevant to your claim.
Seeking compensation for your own injury or on behalf of another warrants the assistance of a dedicated Virginia personal injury attorney. We can provide you with an honest assessment of your options and answer any questions you might have about the claims process. Don’t be intimidated by overly complicated procedures – we’ll handle it for you so you can focus on recovery.
UNDERSTANDING VIRGINIA PERSONAL INJURY LAW
Those who assume responsibility for the health and safety of others are morally and legally required to act responsibility. That’s true whether they operate a business, practice medicine, or simply take their car on the highway.
Under such circumstances, a single moment of inattention or negligence can lead to an accident. Victims may sustain extensive psychological and physical injuries – sometimes, accidents even result in death. Such incidents can usually be prevented if responsible parties are cautious and adhere to safety protocol. Too often, though, innocent individuals are left to shoulder the burden that so often accompanies being involved in an accident. Brain injuries, burns, and spinal cord injuries may impact their lives for years to come.
Virginia personal injury law states that injured victims have the right to pursue compensation for damages caused by another person’s negligence. This includes many kinds of preventable injuries like car accidents, premises liability injuries, and defective product accidents that occur as a direct result of carelessness, malice, or negligence.
VIRGINIA PERSONAL INJURY SETTLEMENTS
A majority of Virginia personal injury cases seek compensation for compensatory damages. These are designed to compensate plaintiffs for the full value of their losses, both economic and non-economic. Economic damages, or special damages, are those that have an indisputable financial value that can be proven with evidence. Non-economic damages, or general damages, are more subjective, with values that depend on the unique circumstance of the case at hand.
Medical expenses are among the most common type of economic losses. They can be quantified through bills and receipts, and are easy to trace back to a specific incident. Other economic damages may include lost income due to time spent out of work, lost sick or vacation days, and the costs of repairing or replacing damaged personal property. Loss of future earning capacity is also a form of economic loss.
Non-economic damages are the losses related to the plaintiff’s pain and suffering, which can take a range of forms. For instance, an injury that will heal completely over time but is still physically painful in the present may justify a certain degree of civil recovery. An injury that results in permanent disability, on the other hand, may lead to serious emotional anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.
Punitive damages are intended to specifically punish a defendant who acted with disregard to human life or with the intent to cause harm. With those definitional requirements in mind, though, they’re awarded very rarely and at the discretion of a civil court. An experienced personal injury lawyer can explain in detail which damages might be recoverable in your case during a private consultation.
VIRGINIA WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUITS
The unexpected loss of a loved one can be traumatic, especially when the death was the result of negligence or oversight by another person. If you’ve suffered such a loss, a Virginia wrongful death lawyer can review the facts of your case and determine whether your have grounds for a lawsuit. An attorney can seek compensation for the harms and losses you’ve suffered, and work to ensure that the person responsible is held liable.
A wrongful death lawsuit is a legal claim brought by the surviving family members of someone killed as a result of someone else’s reckless or neglectful behaviors. This kind of lawsuit is brought in civil court, like other kinds of personal injury matters. Essentially, the victim’s family pursues legal action on the behalf of their deceased loved one. While nothing can undo the damage that has been done, financial compensation can help ease the burden that an unexpected loss often brings.
Under Virginia’s Wrongful Death Statute, a claim must be brought by the personal representative of the estate – essentially, whoever is appointed by the state or by the will. The spouse and children of the deceased are eligible to collect in a wrongful death suit. Other family members who are financially dependent on the deceased may also be entitled to damages.
There are several types of damages which can be collected in a wrongful death claim in Virginia. These damages include pain and suffering, loss of consortium or companionship, medical bills, funeral expenses, reimbursement for lost income, services for the deceased, and in cases of willfully reckless conduct, punitive damages.
COMMON TYPES OF VIRGINIA PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUITS
Personal injury cases involve incidents that occur because of unintentional or intentional acts that result in harm to an innocent party. Common personal injury cases include the following:
Virginia personal injury claims center around proving that the injured person was hurt because of the actions or wrongdoing of another. If you can prove fault, you may be entitled to financial compensation for the losses suffered, no matter the type of accident. In some circumstances, a victim may even be able to recover punitive damages from the at-fault party.
COMPENSATION FOR PERSONAL INJURY VICTIMS
The amount depends on your specific set of circumstances. A person who is responsible for an accident that leads to an injury may owe the injured person for things including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income because of the incident, and/or because of the time spent unable to work or undergoing treatment
- Permanent injury or disfigurement
- Loss of social and educational experiences, including missed school, vacations, or special events
- Emotional damages like stress, embarrassment, or depression
The following guidelines typically apply:
- The more painful and permanent the injury, the higher the potential damages
- The more invasive and long-lasting the medical treatment, the higher the potential damages
- The longer the recovery period, the higher the potential damages
- The more serious and visible any permanent injury, the higher the damages
A personal injury attorney can look at the facts of your case and give you honest insight into the value of your claim. While you may be tempted by a quick payout from the insurance company, an attorney may counsel you that it’s in your best interest to wait for a better offer.
PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS SERVING VIRGINIA
Distance should never prevent a person from getting the quality legal service and justice they deserve. That’s why we offer meetings in our office and safely and securely online. Although we are based in Norfolk, our clients reside across the state and the nation. Richard Serpe is licensed to practice law in Virginia, Texas, and Louisiana. As a paperless office, we’ve been technologically equipped to securely and effectively serve our clients for decades.
FREE VIRGINIA PERSONAL INJURY CONSULTATIONS
When you need an advocate, we are just one phone call away. Our clients become like family – and as family, we take your concerns to heart. Call or text us at (757) 233-0009 to set up your free consultation.
