Helping You Recover Compensation for Your Injuries & Anguish After an Accident that Wasn’t Your Fault
What is a personal injury claim? When a person is injured because of the misconduct or negligence of another person or company, in Virginia, they may be able to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit to recover financial compensation.
The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, PC is a downtown Norfolk personal injury law firm serving clients throughout Virginia. We can help you seek compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and other financial losses you’ve suffered as a result of a Norfolk accident that wasn’t your fault.
If you or your loved one were injured in an accident, contact our Norfolk personal injury lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation.
Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyer Richard Serpe
For more than 37 years, Norfolk personal injury attorney Richard Serpe has helped individuals and families seriously injured due to the negligence of another person, a dangerous product, or company.
Richard Serpe has earned a reputation as a well-respected, hard-working attorney with a tenacious approach to every case.
He has a tremendous track record of success in obtaining favorable jury verdicts and settlements for his clients. A large portion of his career has been devoted to the representation of injured children.
Awards and Recognition
- Best Lawyers® : (2005 – Present)
- Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year (2020)
- Super Lawyer : (2006 – Present)
- Martindale-Hubbell: AV Preeminent Rating
- Avvo.com : Rated 10/10 – “Superb”
- Expertise.com: Best Personal Injury Lawyers in Norfolk (2020 – Present)
Norfolk Personal Injury Cases We Handle
What types of incidents fall under personal injury cases? Norfolk personal injury cases can arise from a variety of situations. Here’s a list of common cases we handle.
Car accidents result from actions like distracted driving (such as texting or talking on the phone), speeding, reckless driving, drunk driving, and failure to obey traffic signals and signs. Frequent car accident locations in Norfolk, Virginia, include intersections like Tidewater Drive and E. Little Creek Road, as well as major thoroughfares such as Hampton Boulevard, interstates like I-264 and I-64.
Motorcycle accidents often stem from factors such as collisions with other vehicles, frequently due to the other driver’s failure to notice or yield to the motorcycle. Additionally, hazardous road conditions, like gravel, potholes, or uneven surfaces, contribute to motorcycle accidents.
Tractor-trailer driver negligence can lead to accidents with other cars through actions such as distracted driving, due to activities like texting. Additionally, factors like speeding, fatigue, or failure to maintain a safe following distance contribute to the heightened risk of collisions.
Dog bites and attacks are commonly caused by factors such as a lack of proper training or socialization, leading to aggressive behavior in dogs. Additionally, negligent pet ownership, including failure to secure or control the dog, can contribute to situations where bites and attacks are more likely to occur.
Wrongful death occurs when an individual’s death is caused by the negligence or recklessness. Common causes of wrongful death include fatal car accidents due to distracted or drunk driving, and medical malpractice resulting in a patient’s death due to surgical errors.
Maritime accidents, often occurring in the context of shipping or offshore operations, commonly resulting from factors such as equipment failures or lack of training leading to collisions and groundings.
Accidents on the water, including boating incidents and recreational mishaps, can be caused by factors like operator inexperience, excessive speed, alcohol impairment, or inadequate safety precautions, contributing to capsizing, collisions, or drowning incidents.
Premises liability cases often arise from hazardous conditions on a property, such as wet floors, uneven surfaces, or poorly maintained areas, leading to slip and fall accidents.
Medical malpractice commonly occurs due to factors such as surgical errors.
What is the average payout for a personal injury settlement?
Settlement amounts are based on both the damage done and the severity of the injuries sustained. Another major factor? Insurance coverage and policy limits. Agreed to in the insurance policy purchased by the insured, policy limits often represent the ceiling for settlement negotiations.
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your situation, you may be entitled to one or more of the following types of financial recovery:
- Medical bills: Whether you need an ambulance ride to a hospital, a life-saving surgery, or years of physical therapy– medical bills can add up quickly. A Norfolk personal injury lawyer can help you seek compensation for these bills, as well as any future medical expenses associated with your injury.
- Lost income: Accidents can put people out of work for months or even permanently. Loss of earnings can be factored into your settlement.
- Pain and suffering: This is often based on how much pain you suffered, or continue to endure, as a result of the accident.
- Wrongful death: If your loved one was killed, you’re probably grief-stricken and wondering how you’ll shoulder medical bills, funeral costs – not to mention the loss of future income for your family. Of course, the emotional loss cannot be understated either. The Virginia Wrongful Death Statute allows certain family members to bring a claim for the losses they have suffered from the death of a loved one.
Virginia Personal Injury Settlement Examples
- $5 Million – Defective Vehicle Leads to Wrongful Deaths
- $2 Million – Medical Malpractice Birth Injury
- $1.6 Million – Drunk Driver Causes Injury
- $300 Thousand – Drunk Driver Causes Car Accident
- $150 Thousand – Texting and Driving Car Accident
- $100 Thousand – Mail Carrier Bitten by Dog
- $425 Thousand – Child Attacked by Dog
Should I hire a Norfolk personal injury lawyer for my accident?
Do I need a lawyer for my personal injury case? After suffering an injury that wasn’t your fault, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Your injuries, the insurance companies, the at-fault party, and the legal system are a lot for anyone to face.
Insurance companies know most people are inexperienced with the personal injury claims process. If they see an opportunity to minimize or deny your claim, they’ll take it. While its not required, hiring a Norfolk personal injury lawyer to advocate for needs can level the playing field.
And if the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement, a personal injury lawyer can further escalate your claim by filing a lawsuit. Here are a few ways our Norfolk personal injury lawyers can use their legal education, experience, and expertise to fight for maximum financial recovery:
- Investigate your accident and determine the potential value of your personal injury claim
- Protect you from abusive insurance company tactics
- Negotiate with the insurance company to recover a just settlement
- File a lawsuit if the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement
These are just a few of the ways a Norfolk personal injury attorney can add value to your claim. Schedule your free consultation today.
What are the steps in a Norfolk personal injury case?
How long does it take to resolve a personal injury case? The duration varies depending on factors like the complexity of the case, negotiations, and court schedules. Some cases settle relatively quickly, while others may take months or even years to reach a resolution. Here are a few general steps in the process:
- Initial consultation. When a client schedules their free consultation with our team, they share their story and learn of their legal options. A discussion of the person’s rights leads to a decision of whether to work together or not. If the person wishes to hire our firm, they’ll be required to sign an agreement allowing us to represent them.
- Investigation. Our Norfolk personal injury 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 some cases, we may even hire experts to better understand what led to the incident.
- Documentation. Your attorney will work with your healthcare provides to assemble as much information about your injuries as possible. Hospital bills and medical records will be compiled to further support your case.
- Settlement negotiations. In order to receive a fair offer from the insurance company, we compile a demand package that contains pertinent results from the investigation and documentation process. 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.
- 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.
How long do I have to file a Norfolk personal injury lawsuit?
Under Virginia law, it is necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit within strict deadlines imposed by law. In many cases, Virginia provides for a two-year deadline also known as a Statute of Limitations. However, every case is different and this deadline could vary depending on the circumstances of the situation.
While two years may seem like a long time, your healing, the investigation, and negotiations can be quite lengthy.
To protect your rights, you should speak with a Norfolk personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Once you have missed this deadline, you will no longer be able to file a claim for financial recovery.
Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers
When you put your trust in the Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, P.C., you can rest easy knowing we’ll act with your best interests in mind. With open ears and hearts, our team is eager to help you in your hour of need.
If you or your loved one has been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact us for a free consultation.
We are located in the Crown Center Building in Downtown Norfolk. 580 East Main Street, #310 Norfolk, VA 23510. We have clients across the state of Virginia and will come to you if you can’t come to us.
No Legal Fees Unless We Win
We understand the fees associated with a lawsuit can be a barrier to justice. Our Norfolk personal injury lawyers believe that everyone should have a voice when it comes to asserting their rights. Corporations and insurance companies have tremendous resources, and our no-fee promise levels the playing field.
Our no-fee promise means that you don’t owe us any legal fees unless we settle or win your case (click here to learn more about contingency fees). The attorneys at the Serpe Firm will work on your behalf to get a fair settlement. We will only charge legal fees if you receive a settlement or verdict.