Chesapeake, VA Personal Injury Lawyer

If you’ve suffered an injury due to someone else’s recklessness or negligence, it’s a good idea to consider reaching out to an experienced personal injury attorney in Virginia. Our team is highly knowledgeable about the claims process, statute of limitations, potential liability defenses, and other crucial aspects that could impact your case.

Don’t feel overwhelmed by complex procedures; we’ll take care of the legal aspects so you can concentrate on your recovery. Reach out to our Virginia-based personal injury law firm for a free consultation. You can email us or call/text us at any time at 757-233-0009.

VIRGINIA PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY RICHARD SERPE

The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, PC is a Virginia personal injury law firm serving clients throughout the Commonwealth and beyond. Attorney Richard Serpe has more than 37 years of hard-won experience and results helping his clients get justice. We’ve obtained successful settlements and verdicts in personal injury cases of all varieties.

Awards & Recognition: Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating, Named a Virginia “Super Lawyer” – top 5% of lawyers (2006 – Present), Lawyers.com 5/5 Star Rating, Rated 10/10 “Superb” by Avvo.com, Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® (2005 – Present).

WHEN TO CONSIDER A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER

Here are several ways in which an attorney can leverage their legal education, experience, and expertise to safeguard your entitlement to compensation:

1. Thoroughly investigate your accident to assess the potential worth of your personal injury claim.
2. Shield you from unfair and aggressive tactics employed by insurance companies.
3. Engage in negotiations with the insurance company to secure a comprehensive and equitable compensation package.
4. Initiate legal proceedings by filing a lawsuit if the insurance company fails to present a reasonable settlement offer.

These represent just a subset of the valuable contributions a Virginia-based personal injury lawyer can make to strengthen your claim.

COMMON TYPES OF VIRGINIA PERSONAL INJURY CASES

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 in Virginia include the following:

• Car accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Drunk driving injury
• Bicycle accidents
• Wrongful death
• Dog bites
• Boating accidents
• Birth injury
• Traumatic brain injury

Virginia personal injury cases revolve around establishing that an individual sustained injuries due to the actions or negligence of another party. If you can demonstrate liability, you may be eligible for financial recompense to cover your incurred losses, regardless of the nature of the incident.

HOW LONG DOES A VIRGINIA PERSONAL INJURY CASE TAKE?

Every case is unique, but here are a few of the main steps in the process:

1. Free Consultation: You’ll share your story and learn about your legal options during an initial consultation. This leads to a decision of whether to work together or not. If the you decide to hire our firm, you’ll sign an agreement allowing us to represent you.
2. Investigation: Our team will work to investigate the accident that caused your injuries. We’ll be looking into the statements of witnesses, the police accident reports, and photographs taken at the scene. In more complex cases, we may even hire experts to better understand what led to the incident.
3. Your Recovery: It’s important that you’ve reached maximum medical improvement (when your condition cannot be improved any further), before negotiating with the insurance company. This will ensure that all of your medical bills are included in the settlement, as well as any permanent long-term care that you will need.
4. Documentation: Our legal team will work with your healthcare providers to assemble all the information needed for your case.
5. Settlement Negotiations: We will then submit all of our evidence to the insurance company and state our case. Most cases are resolved at this point, but negotiations with the insurance company can continue for a lengthy period of time. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, a lawsuit may be filed.
6. Resolution: Filing a lawsuit puts the timing of your case in the hands of the court system’s legal process. However, during this time, both parties may agree to mediate in an attempt to settle outside of court. If an agreement cannot be made, your case may go before a judge and jury.

WHAT IS MY VIRGINIA PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM WORTH?

The amount depends on your specific set of circumstances. An injured person may be entitled to:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income because of the incident and/or because of the time spent unable to work or to undergo 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 in Virginia 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.

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS (DEADLINES)

In Virginia, there are strict deadlines for filing a lawsuit. In many cases, Virginia provides a two-year deadline also known as a Statute of Limitations (SOL). However, sometimes special circumstances apply that can alter that deadline. Once the SOL has passed, you will no longer be allowed to seek compensation for injuries relating to your accident. That is why it is so important to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in Virginia as soon as possible to discuss your situation.

CHESAPEAKE, VA PERSONAL INJURY CASES

Choosing the best lawyer for your case can tremendously affect your settlement or verdict. The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, PC has helped accident victims like you fight for what they are owed for more than 37 years. Contact our Virginia personal injury lawyers for a free consultation by calling or texting us at 757-233-0009.