Helping You Recover Compensation for Your Injuries and Anguish After an Accident that Wasn’t Your Fault
When a person is injured because of the misconduct or negligence of someone else, in Virginia, they may be able to recover a financial award. While nothing can undo the damage that has been done, a Virginia personal injury lawyer can help you make up for financial losses stemming from your accident.
The purpose of a personal injury claim or lawsuit is to help the victim get their life back, or as close as possible, to the way it was before the accident.
A financial award may cover ambulance rides, doctor visits, physical therapy, surgery, lost income, pain, and mental anguish. And if your injury will affect the rest of your life, you may be entitled to compensation towards life-long medical care and future loss of income.
Trusted Advocates For The Wrongfully Injured
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 35 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, including car accidents, drunk driving injury, dog bites, wrongful death, boat accidents, birth injury, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, dangerous products and more.
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).
Hire a Virginia personal injury lawyer or go it alone?
Here are a few ways a lawyer can use their legal education, experience, and expertise to protect your right to compensation:
- 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 full and fair compensation
- File a lawsuit if the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement
These are just a few of the ways a personal injury lawyer can add value to your claim. Schedule your free consultation today.
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:
Free Consultation
During an initial consultation, you’ll share your story and learn about your legal options. 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.
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.
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.
Documentation
Our legal team will work with your healthcare provides to assemble all of the information needed for your case.
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.
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.
Virginia Personal Injury Settlements
There are many factors that go into the valuation of your Virginia personal injury case. Some factors include whether or not there is insurance coverage and how much is available for your injuries. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your situation, you may be entitled to one or more of the following types of financial recovery.
- Medical Bills: You may seek compensation for any medical care related to the incident. This often includes hospital bills, physical therapy, surgery, and future medical bills if your injuries are permanent.
- Lost Wages & Future Income: Some accidents result in injuries that leave victims out of work for weeks, months, or even permanently. You may seek compensation to recover those lost wages. If you are no longer able to work due to your injuries, this may be factored into the settlement as well.
- Pain and Suffering: Physical pain and suffering (mental anguish) based on the seriousness of your injury may be factored into your settlement.
- Wrongful Death: When a loved one is killed in a personal injury accident, they leave behind bills, 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. A personal injury lawyer experienced with the Virginia’s wrongful death statutes will fight on behalf of your family.
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 Virginia personal injury attorney as soon as possible to discuss your situation.
Start Your Free Consultation
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 35 years. Connect with us if you’d like to discuss your situation.
