Williamsburg Attorneys Serving Clients in Personal Injury
OVER 150 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE
Suffering injuries because of another party’s negligent or wrongful conduct can mean facing mounting medical bills, not being able to work, and experiencing physical and emotional trauma that lower your quality of life. One legal recourse you have to receive compensation after a Williamsburg accident is to file a personal injury claim.
To give yourself every chance to recover losses, it’s essential to hire experienced personal injury lawyers to represent you. The Williamsburg personal injury lawyers at Huffman & Huffman Brothers-in-Law have been helping people in Virginia since 1973. We know how much you’re struggling, so let us help you fight for your rights.
What Can I Expect When Working With a Personal Injury Lawyer in Williamsburg?
The personal injury claim process begins with a free consultation. A lawyer will assess your case to see if they can provide the assistance you need. If your lawyer thinks they can be of help and you’re prepared to move forward with them, you’ll sign a contract, and your lawyer will get to work. You can expect your lawyer to take the following key steps.
Evidence Gathering
Your attorney will start by gathering different types of evidence, such as medical records—to show the severity of the injuries you sustained—as well as copies of the police report and witness statements. In some personal injury cases, they’ll also need to reach out to expert witnesses who can offer their professional insight.
With the information they’ve gathered, your attorney will then give you an idea of the personal injury damages you can claim. These may include medical expenses, lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, and loss of companionship.
Negotiation
The next step in filing a personal injury claim is to negotiate with insurance companies. This is usually a contentious process that requires experience. Your lawyer will aggressively negotiate with insurers to help you recover your losses with an injury settlement.
Sometimes, however, insurance companies don’t cooperate. They may state that you are partly responsible for your injuries, and since Virginia follows pure contributory negligence laws, you’ll be barred from recovering compensation even if you’re just 1% at fault for the accident.
Filing a Lawsuit
If the insurer is refusing to settle or is offering a low settlement, your attorney can help you obtain fair personal injury compensation by taking the case to court. That will require going through the discovery process. Witnesses can be called in for depositions and expert witnesses can also offer their testimonies.
It’s possible to reach a settlement at any point as your lawyer prepares the case for court. You also have the option of mediation to reach an agreement. This involves a neutral third party who helps both sides find the best outcome. If these options aren’t appropriate or can’t bring the parties to an agreement, the case will go to trial.
The trial will allow your legal counsel and the defendant’s team to state their cases. Each side will present evidence and then sum up their argument. A jury will then decide on the most appropriate action.
What Types of Personal Injury Cases Do Lawyers in Williamsburg Handle?
Williamsburg personal injury lawyers handle many types of cases, the most common of which include:
- Auto Accidents: Car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents are all cases that a lawyer can help with, including those that involve uninsured and underinsured drivers.
- Medical Malpractice: Malpractice cases may involve failure to diagnose or treat, errors that occur during medical procedures, medication errors and many other types of negligence.
- Product Liability: If you have sustained injuries because of malfunctioning products like household items, medications, or vehicle parts, a lawyer experienced in product liability law can help.
- Premises Liability: Slip and falls are a common type of premises liability claim, but they can also include incidents that involve dog bites or negligent security.
- Wrongful Death: If a loved one suffered from a fatal accident caused by someone else, you may have grounds for a wrongful death claim. These claims are highly complex and require an experienced attorney.
These are just a handful of case types a personal injury lawyer can work on, but there are also many others, ranging from nursing home abuse to boating accidents. It’s always best to schedule a consultation with a lawyer to find out whether they can help with your specific case.
How Can I Choose the Best Personal Injury Attorney For My Case?
When choosing a personal injury lawyer, you should always take the time to research the lawyer’s background and ask them the appropriate questions during your initial consultation. Below are some of the most important considerations when hiring a lawyer.
- Their Results: It’s not enough to see that a lawyer has had many cases. You should look into the details of those cases, including the kinds of settlements they were able to obtain for their clients. Sometimes, less experienced attorneys will settle cases very quickly for low amounts just so they can build their numbers up.
- Their Relevant Case Experience: The cases the lawyer has handled successfully should also be relevant to yours. A lawyer who is very good at obtaining car accident settlements may not have the experience to tackle medical malpractice, for example.
- Their Fee Structure: Many lawyers won’t charge any upfront fees because they work on contingency. That means they only get paid if you do. However, you should always ask to avoid any potential surprises. Additionally, ask what percentage of your settlement will go toward the firm’s contingency fee. Not all firms charge the same, but the typical fee is around 33%. A higher fee means less money in your pocket after the settlement.
- Their Communication and Availability: You should feel comfortable speaking with your lawyer and asking questions about your case. You also shouldn’t have to chase them down to hear how your claim is going.
- Their location: It’s often beneficial to hire a lawyer who is local to the area, as they’ll have better knowledge of any local laws that may apply to your case.
Vitally, the lawyer you choose should never promise results. They can offer advice and potential outcomes, but if they assure you that they will win or promise any specific amount of money, that’s a red flag.
Our Williamsburg Personal Injury Lawyers Are Here To Help
After suffering losses because of another person’s negligence or intentional misconduct, it’s essential to hire personal injury lawyers who can help you fight for compensation. At Huffman & Huffman, our team has decades of experience helping the people of Virginia. Our Williamsburg personal injury lawyers can help you understand your rights, carefully assess your claim, and guide you toward the course of action you’re most likely to benefit from.
If you’ve been suffering because of another party’s conduct, don’t wait another day to get help. Call Huffman & Huffman to schedule a free consultation.