If you’ve been injured in a rear-end collision that was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. In Virginia, you have the right to file a personal injury claim, or lawsuit, against the at-fault driver to recover monetary damages.
After a rear-end accident, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Your injuries, insurance adjusters, the at-fault party, and the legal system are a lot for anyone to face. Our Virginia personal injury law firm can help recoup compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other financial losses you’ve suffered. You won’t owe us any legal fees unless we settle or win your case.
If you are interested in speaking with an experienced Virginia car accident lawyer, contact us for a free consultation (757)-233-0009.
Virginia Car Accident Attorney
For more than 35 years, Richard Serpe has helped personal injury victims seek the compensation they deserve. He’s earned a reputation as a well-respected, hard-working attorney with a tenacious approach to every case he takes on. Mr. Serpe has a track record of success in obtaining favorable settlements and verdicts for his clients.
Best Lawyers® (2005 – Present); Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers (2020); Virginia Super Lawyer: (2006 – Present); Avvo.com : Rated 10/10 – “Superb”, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory: AV Preeminent rating (highest given).
Here’s How A Lawyer Can Help Your Case
Here are a few ways a Virginia car accident attorney can use their legal education, experience, and expertise to protect your rights and add value to your claim:
- Investigate your accident and determine the potential value of your claim
- Protect you from abusive insurance company tactics and costly mistakes
- Negotiate with the insurance company for a favorable financial recovery
- File a lawsuit and go to trial if the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement
A Virginia car accident attorney can help you negotiate a fair settlement and ensure you’re not being taken for a ride. This typically results in a higher settlement than you might have been able to recoup on your own.
Rear-End Collisions Causes
Rear-end accidents or rear-end collisions happen when a driver hits the back of the vehicle in front of them. These incidents are often the result of tailgating or following too closely. They also occur when the driver of the front vehicle stops suddenly and without warning. Sometimes, rear end accidents set off a chain reaction crash involving multiple cars and drivers.
Rear end collisions can happen for a number of reasons. For instance, such an incident may involve:
- Drivers who follow too closely – Virginia law requires drivers to maintain a safe following distance. Allowing for a three to four second following distance gives drivers the time and space to safely adjust their speed in case of changing traffic patterns. This distance becomes even more important during bad weather or periods of heavy traffic. The faster you’re traveling, the more time you’ll need to stop your car.
- Driver inattention – Distracted drivers may not realize you’ve stopped for a stop light, stop sign, or for traffic. When they fail to recognize slowing or stopped traffic, the driver is more likely to drive into the back of the vehicle ahead of them. As texting while driving has become more widespread, so too has driver inattention.
- Sudden stops – When a vehicle stops suddenly, the cars behind them must adjust quickly to prevent a collision. If they’re not prepared to stop in time, a crash may occur.
- Reckless Drivers – Drivers who consume alcohol or drugs and decide to get on the road often cause severe and fatal accidents.
Rear-End Car Accident Settlements
Rear-end car accident settlements are based on both the damage done and the severity of the injuries sustained. Another major factor? Insurance policy limits. Agreed to in the auto insurance policy purchased by the insured, policy limits often represent the ceiling for settlement negotiations. An experienced Virginia car accident lawyer can advocate for your needs and fight for the best possible settlement.
Compensatory Damages
Depending on the specifics of the car crash, accident victims may be entitled to one or more of the following types of compensatory damages:
- Medical Bills: Whether you take an ambulance ride to the hospital, an emergency life-saving surgery, or months of physical therapy, medical bills add up quickly. Victims can seek compensation for those bills, as well as any future medical expenses associated with their injuries.
- Lost Wages: Rear-end car accidents can put people out of work for weeks, months, years, or even permanently. This loss of earnings and the possible loss of future earnings can be included in your settlement.
- Pain and Suffering: This often involves measuring the severity and permanency of the your car accident injuries.
- Wrongful Death: If your loved one was killed in a rear-end crash, you’re probably grief-stricken and wondering how you’ll pay for the medical bills and funeral costs. Not to mention the loss of future income for your family. The emotional loss cannot be understated, either. In Virginia, certain family members may bring a claim for the losses they have suffered from the wrongful death of a loved one.
Statute of Limitations (Deadlines)
If you’ve been injured in a serious car accident that wasn’t your fault, time is of the essence. The statute of limitations for Virginia personal injury claims and lawsuits is typically limited to just two years. However, sometimes special circumstances may apply that will alter that deadline.
While two years might seem like a long time, the healing process, the investigation, and settlement negotiations can be lengthy in some cases. The sooner you call to schedule your free consultation, the sooner you can put the entire incident behind you.
Norfolk Car Accident Lawyers
Richard Serpe
is a highly skilled Virginia personal injury attorney with a reputation for meticulous preparation and presentation. He has a tremendous track record of success in obtaining favorable jury verdicts and settlements for his clients.
For over 35 years, he has focused his legal career on helping victims of negligence get their lives back. Contact us for a free consultation. Serving Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Chesapeake, Suffolk, and all of Virginia.
