Chesapeake VA Car Accident Lawyer

When you have been injured in an accident, you need an attorney who can handle every aspect of your legal case for you while you undergo medical treatment. We provide world-class service, so your legal case does not add to the stress brought on by your injuries. 

Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers Will Negotiate with Insurance Companies 

Insurance companies aim to minimize compensation or avoid paying it at all. They have significant advantages over claimants not represented by an attorney, including the following: 

• Experience dealing with car accident claims 
• Representation by expensive lawyers 
• The lack of an emotional stake in the outcome of your claim 

• Abundant financial resources 

It is not uncommon for insurance companies to quickly offer a settlement to unrepresented individuals. These early settlement offers tend to be lowball offers that fall far short of providing the compensation you need.  

If you accept this settlement, you will lose your right to pursue additional compensation in the future, even if the settlement fails to cover all of your needs. 

In addition, anything you say to the insurance company can be used against you in your personal injury claim. Knowing what to say, how to say it, and what not to say are crucial skills that maximize a settlement or verdict. 

Insurance companies hire lawyers, and you should too. We are skilled negotiators who understand their tactics. Moreover, we are unafraid to take them to court, if necessary, to get the compensation you need and deserve. Our record of success gives us leverage at the negotiating table. 

Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers Will Help You Build Your Case 

Before recovering compensation in any personal injury lawsuit, you must present evidence of your injuries and damages to the insurance company or court. To accomplish this, you likely will need at least some of the following: 

• Medical records 
• Expert medical witness testimony 
• Accident investigation 
• A life care planner to determine your future medical needs 
• An economist to testify about your increasing cost of living 
• Witness statements 
• Photographic evidence and video footage 

All the evidence gathered will require detailed analysis by experienced attorneys, consultants, and experts. The evidence must meet the court’s criteria for admissibility.  

Obtaining evidence is cost-prohibitive for some individuals and smaller law firms, but this is what it takes to win, both in court and at the settlement negotiation table.  

At Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, we are the car crash experts, and we can provide resources with no upfront cost to you. 

A Chesapeake, VA, Car Accident Lawyer Can Help Prove Fault 

Proving fault in a Chesapeake, Virginia, lawsuit is crucial. Under Virginia’s contributory negligence law, you cannot collect payment for personal injuries if you share any fault.  This is true even if the other negligent driver was 99% at-fault and you shared merely 1% fault.  It is a harsh rule, but it applies to Virginia car accident cases.  The insurance companies and defense lawyers know this rule and will often attempt creative shared fault arguments.

Work with a Skilled Chesapeake Car Accident Lawyer When Facing Trial 

Our skilled negotiators are typically successful at securing settlements for our clients, which allows them to avoid trials. However, some defendants refuse to offer a reasonable settlement.  

Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers are renowned trial attorneys, and we know what it takes to win in court when faced with a lowball settlement offer   

The Discovery Process 

When a case is headed for trial, it must go through the discovery phase. During discovery, the plaintiff and defendant gather evidence. The defendant may subpoena your medical records to build a defense. 

You can also subpoena evidence about the defendant, such as toxicology test results.  

You may need to participate in a deposition. A deposition occurs outside of court in the presence of attorneys from both sides. During a deposition, you must answer the defendant’s questions under oath. We can also require the at-fault driver or other defendants and witnesses to testify in a deposition for the benefit of your case.  

The Trial 

At trial, our car crash experts will present your evidence to a judge and jury. The defendant will have an opportunity to cross-examine witnesses. The defendant’s counsel will likely try to discredit expert witnesses. 

One of the most important skills of a trial attorney is connecting with a jury. The evidence must be presented in a way that is persuasive and easy for the jury to understand. Our history of impressive verdicts speaks to the talent of our personal injury trial lawyers in accomplishing this. 

Is Virginia a No-Fault State? 

Virginia is not a no-fault state but an at-fault state. That means the at-fault driver’s insurance pays for damages. Every driver with Virginia insurance must carry a minimum of $30,000 in liability coverage per person, $60,000 per accident, and $20,000 for property damage.  Beginning in 2025, the minimum Virginia car insurance limits will increase to $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident.   

However, Virginia is one of a handful of states that gives drivers the option to purchase a type of no-fault insurance coverage in addition to liability insurance. This coverage is known as medical expense payments coverage or MedPay. If you have this insurance, you can file an injury claim under your own policy for medical and some other expenses, regardless of fault.  

The compensation you recover from your MedPay coverage is in addition to other claims you may be entitled to, including:  

• A liability claim against the insurance company for the at-fault driver 
• If the other driver’s insurance is insufficient, you can file a claim against your own underinsured motorist policy. 
• If the other driver lacks insurance, you can file a claim through your uninsured motorist policy.