(757) 333-3333
Collisions on the road happen every day in the city of VA Beach and often involve injuries. While cars are the main mode of transportation for many people, they are also very dangerous.
Motor vehicle collisions are a leading source of personal injuries and accidental deaths in Virginia, and many of these accidents are caused by the negligence of others. Even if you drive defensively, other drivers often mess up through inattention and carelessness.
If you were injured in a car accident that was not your fault, you may have the right to demand compensation with help of an attorney. This can include payments for medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering.
A Virginia Beach car accident lawyer can help you file an insurance claim for compensation and protect you from unfair settlement offers as well as other auto insurance company tricks. Our skilled personal injury attorneys have the knowledge to build a powerful claim for the damages you deserve following your car accident.
Virginia law allows injured individuals to allege that another driver was negligent and that their negligence caused the injured individual’s losses. Even a favorable police report is not necessarily enough to prove fault. Negligence carries a very specific legal definition and requires a plaintiff to prove three things:
In car crash cases, there is always a duty on the part of the defendant driver to obey the rules of the road to prevent injuring others. It does not matter whether the plaintiff was driving their own car, was a passenger in another driver’s vehicle, or was a passenger in the at-fault driver’s car – all motorists assume a duty to use care to protect all others they encounter on the road.
The first part of any car crash case that a lawyer must prove is that the defendant violated their duty as a motor vehicle operator to prevent injury to another person. Proving automobile negligence in a Virginia case is more than offering a police report. In fact, the police report is always inadmissible in court.
Rather, the officer and more importantly, eyewitnesses, are required to prove the defendant violated a rule of the road that led to the auto accident. Bringing forward evidence that the defendant acted carelessly, by, for example, using their phone or driving while intoxicated, may be necessary to get the most money possible.
A Virginia Beach lawyer can help claimants develop strategies in their car accident claim that give them high chances of success with the other people’s insurer or with juries if needed.
Car accidents can result in severe injuries, even at low speeds. Some common injuries in car crashes include:
Any physical injuries can form the basis of a claim, but a comprehensive case presentation should examine the full impact of the accident upon the plaintiff’s life. This means a car wreck claim could include a request compensation for not only medical losses but also loss of quality of life resulting from the accident. These may include hobbies and sports you were prevented from enjoying. We at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers try hard to get to know our injury clients in order to humanize the proof the harm in auto accident cases.
Regardless of the extent of a plaintiff’s injuries, he or she only has a limited time to file a claim. According to VA Code §8.01-243, courts will generally only hear a case if a plaintiff files within two years of the date of injury. This rule, known as the statute of limitations, could derail an otherwise solid claim. Working with one of our Virginia Beach attorneys can help an injured person file within the time limit and prevent them from being barred from their due compensation following a severe car accident.
In VA Beach, when an individual is unable to settle a legal dispute, and they file a claim, case, or action, they have officially initiated a lawsuit with the Virginia Beach Circuit Court. The initial process for filing a car accident claim in Virginia Beach requires an attorney to file a complaint against the at-fault party. The complaint states the facts of the case, how the accident happened, how the individual was injured, and why the at-fault party is to blame. A claimant must provide a copy of the complaint to the at-fault party, and after it has been served, a claimant’s attorney may file an answer to the complaint.
Every complaint filed in Virginia Beach must have the defendant’s name and address to ensure that the lawsuit is served to the correct parties. Complaints also must factually state how the motor vehicle accident happened and the day that the crash occurred to verify that the claimant is filing within the appropriate statute of limitations. All associated damages also must be listed so that the defendant knows what injuries and faults are allegedly against them. A lawyer in Virginia Beach could help someone with this process after they have suffered injuries in a serious car crash.
After a claimant files a car wreck lawsuit in circuit court, the defendant will be served with a copy of the lawsuit. The defendant’s insurance company will hire an attorney to file an answer to the lawsuit and represent the defendant. The claimant will try to set a trial date as quickly as possible, to prevent the at-fault driver and his or her insurance company from dragging things out even further.
During the time leading up to the trial, the claimant and the defense conduct discovery. Discovery consists of written questions exchanged between the parties, depositions of parties and witnesses, and de bene esse depositions of expert witnesses. During the 30 days prior to trial, the parties will normally file Motions asking the judge to rule prior to trial that certain evidence can or cannot come in at trial.
On the day of trial, the parties and their attorneys will get to the courthouse first thing in the morning. The judge will instruct the bailiff to bring the jury panel out. The attorneys will select a jury from the panel. After the jury is selected, the attorneys will make opening statements, where they summarize what they expect the evidence to be. The claimant’s attorney goes first followed by the defense/insurance company attorney.
Following opening statements, the claimant’s car crash lawyers will put on his or her case. This is because the claimant has the burden of proof. This will consist mostly of calling witnesses to testify about 1) how the car wreck happened and 2) the nature and extent of the claimant’s injuries. The claimant’s attorney will also introduce documents such as photographs of the wreck, medical bills, and lost wage documentation.
After the claimant’s attorney rests, the defense/insurance company attorney will put on his or her car accident case. The defense/insurance company will call witnesses and introduce documents in an attempt to refute or minimize the injured person’s claim. Once the defense rests, the claimant’s attorney has the opportunity call additional witnesses to rebut new things brought up by the defendant.
After the claimant and the defense present all of their evidence, they will go over jury instructions with the judge. If there are objections to any jury instructions, the judge will rule on the objections. After this, the judge will read the jury instructions to the jury.
Once the jury hears the instructions, the parties will make closing arguments. The claimant will go first, since the claimant has the burden of proof. The claimant will argue why the at-fault party was negligent and how the plaintiff was seriously injured because of that negligence. The defense/insurance company attorney will try to highlight weak points or inconsistencies in the claimant’s case in an attempt to escape responsibility. The claimant’s attorney has the last chance to speak to the jury during rebuttal argument.
The judge will excuse the jury to the deliberation room once closing arguments are over. In the deliberation room, the jury will decide how much compensation the claimant is entitled to for the harms and losses suffered due to the defendant’s negligence. This monetary number is called the verdict. Once the jury reaches a verdict, it will notify the judge. The judge will call the jury back into the courtroom and read the verdict aloud.
Expert witnesses in car wreck cases typically include medical doctors. This is because doctors are qualified to render opinions concerning the causation of injuries. These opinions would talk about the claimant’s various injuries and how they affected this person from a medical standpoint.
Also, if the injury is severe enough, other experts could testify. For example, a vocational rehabilitation expert could testify about how treatment may go based on their medical limitations. Additionally, an economist may speak to the present value of any future lost wages the claimant may sustain because of the injuries they suffered in the crash. A lawyer could help someone build a proper case following a car accident.
Motor vehicle accidents are common sources of personal injuries in Virginia Beach. While it may be easy to prove that the other driver was at fault in some collision cases, like a rear-end collision, others require a more in-depth legal analysis. At Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, where we focus on these auto accident cases, we know how to interview the police and subpoena the most important proof. This can include police dash camera video footage to show just how dangerously the other driver acted.
If you were injured in a car crash that was not your fault, you should talk to our Virginia Beach lawyers. An experienced car injury lawyer can protect you from insurance companies who take advantage of unrepresented claimants by convincing them to take reduced settlements or to drop their cases entirely.
The dedicated attorneys of Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers can work with you from day one to analyze your case, determine its full value, and fight for the fair compensation you deserve. There may be evidence that will not be available later, so contact a Virginia Beach car accident lawyer immediately to pursue the full compensation to which you may be entitled.
A three car collision resulted in Plaintiff becoming a quadriplegic. There were major contributory negligence issues which were hotly contested, as Plaintiff was alleged to be improperly stopped on the roadway. The case settled in mediation for $6,500,000.00.
A highway worker was hit by a drunk driver on I-264 in Norfolk. He suffered an amputation of both legs. The worker received $2.86 million at settlement – $936,775 for a personal injury claim and $1.9 million in workers’ compensation.
We represented a high school junior that was rear ended by a business owner driving a company vehicle that failed to brake. Our client suffered extensive injuries that resulted in her missing a semester of her junior year and the chance of playing collegiate softball. The case settled in mediation 2 months before trial.
A heavy equipment mechanic developed a mild traumatic brain injury symptoms due to his work. He suffered from permanent hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as, balance problems and falls. We secured a settlement for his injuries.
After suffering injuries in a car accident, the victim could not reach a fair settlement with the other driver’s insurance company. The case, filed in Norfolk Circuit Court, eventually led to a proper settlement that compensated the victim for his injuries.
200 Kellam Rd #101
Virginia Beach
VA
23462
Phone: (757) 333-3333
They are the best. I've not found a better law firm in Hampton Roads than Cooper Hurley. They are very thorough and attentive to your case as well as great in following up to ensure you're kept apprised with updates. I would highly recommend them.
Gerry N.
