Gloucester Personal Injury Lawyer

You may not expect to be injured as you are going about your daily routine, but data collected by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that accidents are pretty common. The ten leading causes of nonfatal injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms are unintentional incidents, including motor vehicle collisions, pedestrian accidents, slip and falls, and many more. Victims suffer significant physical pain, but there are emotional and financial implications, as well.

 If you were hurt in an accident that was not your fault, Virginia law may allow you to recover compensation for these losses. However, you may feel helpless and not know where to begin with options to enforce your rights. You can trust a Gloucester personal injury lawyer to protect your interests, so please contact Hampton Injury Law PLC to set up a case evaluation today.

 The Legal Basis for Virginia Personal Injury Claims

 The specific circumstances may vary, but accidents usually happen because someone was careless or reckless. Legally, the theory of liability is negligence, which requires you to prove that:

• The responsible party had a legal duty to act with reasonable care;
• That person or entity breached this duty by acting unreasonable given the situation;
• There is a direct link between the breach and the accident in which you were injured, such that you would not have been hurt but for the breach; and,
• You suffered losses because of your injuries.

Types of Personal Injury Cases 

The most common types of personal injury accidents are traffic-related, including car crashes, truck collisions, motorcycle wrecks, and other incidents involving a motorized vehicle. Depending on the circumstances, pedestrian, scooter, and bicycle accidents may also fall under the umbrella of traffic accidents. 

Additional examples of personal injury cases based upon the legal concept of negligence include: 

• Slip and fall accidents and other incidents caused by dangerous conditions on property;
• Dog bite and animal attacks;
• Medical malpractice; 
• Defective and dangerous products; and,
• Nursing home neglect and abuse.

There are also some personal injury claims that are not based upon negligence, though you may still have the right to pursue compensation from the person or entity that caused the accident. For instance, injuries from defective products proceed under the theory of strict liability, so you do not have to show fault to recover compensation.

Seek Compensation for Your Personal Injury Losses

In many accident cases, the responsible party has liability insurance to protect against losses. As such, you must file a claim with an insurance company to recover monetary damages. You may be able to reach a settlement through negotiations with the insurer. However, if you cannot resolve your claim by agreement, the next step is to file a lawsuit in civil court. Through either strategy, it is possible to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, emotional distress, and other losses.

Speak to a Gloucester Personal Injury Lawyer About Potential Legal Remedies

For more information on your rights as a victim of an accident, please call Hampton Injury Law PLC to schedule a case evaluation with a Gloucester personal injury attorney.