PERSONAL INJURY

PERSONAL INJURY VIRGINIA FAQ'S

• How do you know if you have a strong personal injury case?
  Your personal injury case could be strong or have a good chance of convincing the insurance company to offer a fair settlement if you have ample evidence of liability. The more information you have that shows how the defendant contributed to your injuries, the better. No case is guaranteed a win, though. To understand the strengths and weaknesses of your case, you should work with a local personal injury attorney.
• What is considered a personal injury?
  A personal injury is any harm done to someone due to the mistakes, negligence, or intentional misconduct of another person, especially when the situation could have been prevented with more care. Personal injuries commonly describe physical injuries, but claims can also be filed in response to emotional trauma, mental anguish, and financial loss.
• What damages am I entitled to?
  You can sue for economic and noneconomic damages after being in a bad accident that leaves you seriously injured. Economic damages relate to tangible costs, like medical bills, lost wages, and property repairs. Noneconomic damages relate to abstract consequences of injuries, like pain, suffering, and a lessened enjoyment of life.
• How long will it take to settle my claim?
  Your personal injury claim could settle in about 6 months if it runs an average course and there are no heated contests with the opposition. The more challenges and complexities that arise, though, the longer it will take. It is not unusual for some claims to take a year or longer before a fair settlement agreement is reached.
• How are personal injury settlements paid out?
  The average personal injury settlement is paid out as a lump-sum settlement with an agreement that says the claimant cannot seek further compensation from the other party, even if their condition or damages worsen in the future. Rather than receiving a large settlement directly, many claimants will have their attorney’s firm handle the transaction. The law firm will verify that the settlement amount has been provided in full, arrange for the firm to be paid the agreed-upon amount, and then assist the client in the process of getting the remainder moved into a secure bank account or trust, depending on the client’s preference.
• Do all personal injury claims go to trial?
  No, most personal injury claims will never reach the courtroom because the majority settle before a lawsuit is officially filed. Companies prefer settlements because they are private and confidential. If your case needs to go to trial, then there are probably significant complications and contests about liability
• What are the benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer?
  The main benefit of hiring a personal injury attorney is that they can act on your behalf throughout your case, which, in so many words, means there are too many benefits to easily list in one place. For example, your personal injury attorney can investigate your accident, calculate your damages so you know you’re not asking for too little, file your claim, answer challenges, go to court and represent you, and, perhaps most importantly of all, deal with insurance company attorneys and adjusters so you don’t have to! What is the best benefit of hiring a personal injury attorney? It might just be peace of mind.