Car accidents and slip and falls can cause injuries that change your life in the blink of an eye. If you are looking for Virginia personal injury settlement help and don’t know where to look, start with the reputable attorneys at Richmond-based personal injury law firm Burnett & Williams.
Thankfully, if you have been involved in a car accident, truck accident, slip and fall, or any other incident that has resulted in serious injury due to someone else’s negligence, there is legal recourse to get you compensation for the damages you have suffered. And while there is a stigma against personal injury victims as being “money-hungry,” this is nothing but a myth, as those who pursue personal injury claims are often simply trying to get their lives back on track.
As part of a personal injury settlement, a victim will receive financial compensation for the damages they have suffered from the accident. The most obvious components of this are the tangible costs, including medical bills and the cost of repairing property damage; however, there are also less tangible expenses that victims face. For example, many victims must take time off work to recover, and a fair personal injury settlement should compensate them for their lost wages, in addition to their medical expenses. There is also pain and suffering that result from the aftermath of your injury.
Navigating a Virginia personal injury case
However, navigating the process of a personal injury settlement can be a daunting task, especially for victims who already have so much to worry about in the aftermath of an accident. Insurance adjusters will attempt to lowball you, trying to get you to accept less than you deserve. That’s not to mention the numerous hoops you have to jump through and legalese you have to understand before you even reach the stage of receiving a settlement offer.
Perhaps the most important law for personal injury victims to remember when pursuing a personal injury claim is the statute of limitations. This legal requirement defines how long you have to file a lawsuit for damages resulting from the accident.
Each state’s statute of limitations is different, but in many, including Virginia, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident. If you wait more than two years to file a claim, the statute of limitations expires, and you will not be able to get the compensation you deserve.
Many states also have additional laws that can affect your ability to pursue legal recourse for your injuries. For example, the Commonwealth of Virginia has a very strict contributory negligence law, which states that if the victim was even 1% responsible for their injuries, they could be barred from receiving any damages. Thus, something as simple as failing to look both ways properly before crossing the street or admitting fault by saying “I’m sorry” can cause your case to get thrown out.
How a personal injury lawyer will help you get the most out of your personal injury settlement
Thankfully, law firms can help equalize the playing field, helping victims fight for what they deserve in their personal injury cases. It’s important to remember that the insurance companies are multibillion-dollar corporations with virtually limitless resources at their disposal. And what’s more, they make money by not paying you, or at least paying you as little as possible.
Hiring a personal injury attorney gives you resources of your own, from the investigation process to negotiations, that will help you stand up for your rights as an accident victim. Your lawyer will negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf so that you can focus on your recovery.
One of the main reasons why having a skilled and experienced personal injury attorney in your corner is so important is that they offer a certain level of gravitas to your case that you wouldn’t otherwise have. The best personal injury lawyers have a reputation that precedes them, both in and out of the courtroom. When you are represented by an attorney who has a track record of successful jury awards, it can help during the negotiation process because the insurance company might not want to take your case to court and risk losing even worse than they would have otherwise.
Contact Burnett & Williams today for a free consultation on how to get fair compensation for your personal injury claim
If you are the victim of a car accident or any other accident that has caused you to be injured due to someone else’s negligence and need personal injury settlement help, contact the skilled and experienced lawyers at Burnett & Williams for a free consultation today. They will review your case and determine if they are right to help you get a fair settlement.