If an accident has completely turned your life upside down, you probably find yourself lying awake at night wondering:
- How will I pay my medical bills?
- How can I recover my lost wages from work?
- Can I receive fair compensation for my injuries?
- How do I deal with the insurance companies?
The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, PC is a Norfolk-Virginia based law firm that has helped accident victims and their families for over 34 years. We represent victims injured in many different types of accidents including: Hampton dog bites, car accidents, maritime accidents, wrongful death, brain injuries, child lead poisoning, tractor-trailer and truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, and any other type of accident caused by someone else’s negligence.
Hampton Personal Injury Lawyer FAQs
- Do I need a personal injury lawyer?
- How will I pay my medical bills?
- How much is my Hampton personal injury case worth?
- Deadlines for Virginia personal injury claims
- Contact a lawyer to help you get the settlement you deserve
Do I need a personal injury lawyer?
A: The simple answer is no. However, you need to be careful not to sign away your legal rights with the other insurance company for a small settlement. Insurance companies know that most people are inexperienced with the personal injury claims process and will try to settle a claim as quickly as possible. If you prematurely agree to a settlement and sign the release papers, you cannot ask for more money later.
Why hire a personal injury lawyer?
After an accident, it can be difficult to know who to trust. While you might expect the insurance company to have your best interests at heart, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Insurers are out to turn a profit. If they see any opportunity to deny a claim or minimize a settlement, they’ll take it. A personal injury attorney can help you negotiate a fair settlement and ensure you’re not being taken advantage of.
How will my medical bills get paid?
When you’re injured there’s no time to waste worrying about who will pay for life-saving medical treatment. But as you begin to heal, the medical bills start to pour in. Treatment for life-threatening injuries is priceless, but they can be incredibly expensive. The anxiety will start setting in: who will pay for my medical bills?
When you’ve got medical bills piling up, it’s very tempting to accept the first settlement the insurance company offers you. However, if you accept that offer, you are signing away all of your rights. When accepting the check, you’ll have to sign a release agreeing that the payment is a “full and final settlement.” Once you’ve signed it you’ll never again be allowed to ask for more compensation if your injuries start causing you problems again.
An experienced personal injury accident lawyer will ensure 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.
How much is my personal injury case worth?
Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may be entitled to one or more of the following types of compensation:
- Medical bills. When someone else caused your injuries, you shouldn’t be responsible for the medical bills. By seeking compensation for all the care necessary for your healing process, you can recover costs including hospital bills, physical therapy and any future medical expenses associated with y our injury.
- Lost wages. Serious injury accidents can put people out of work for days, weeks, months, or even permanently. Loss of income due to your injuries can also be included in your settlement.
- Pain and suffering. The emotional and psychological pain of an accident can outlast even the most serious of physical injuries.
- Property damages. When an accident involves your property (cars, bicycles, motorcycles, etc.), property damage settlements can cover repairs or pay for a replacement.
- Punitive damages. Reckless, careless individuals are often punished for their negligence through punitive damages. In addition to compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, punitive damages serve as a deterrent from any future reckless behavior.
- Wrongful death. When a loved one was killed in an accident, they leave behind bills and funeral costs – and the loss of future income for their family. Of course, their loss is felt emotionally as well. This loss of companionship and affection is priceless. Learn more about Virginia wrongful death cases.
Deadlines for Virginia Personal Injury Claims
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. However, sometimes special circumstances apply that can alter that deadline. It is important to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible after the accident to protect your rights. After this deadline has past, the law will not allow to file a claim for your injuries.
Contact Our Personal Injury Attorneys
The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, PC has helped victims of Virginia accidents for over 33 years. We offer free, no obligation consultations. We also offer a no free promise which means, you don’t owe us any legal fess unless we settle or win your case. Give us a call today at 877-544-5323
