Injury Lawyer Jamestown

Your life can be turned upside down if you are injured in an accident, so it is a relief to know that Virginia law protects victims. However, you may encounter considerable challenges in recovering the compensation you deserve. Legal representation is critical, so please contact Hampton Injury Law PLC to set up a case evaluation with an injury lawyer in Jamestown. You may also find it helpful to review some background information about personal injury law.

Liability Issues in Virginia Personal Injury Claims

When a person is injured in an accident, the cause is usually someone’s careless or reckless conduct. The legal theory of liability is termed negligence, and you will need to prove four essential elements to be entitled to compensation:

• The responsible party had a duty to use reasonable caution;
• That person or entity breached this duty, presenting an unreasonable risk of harm to others;
• The breach of duty was a direct cause of the accident in which you were hurt; and,
• You suffered losses because of your injuries.

One of the most common types of negligence-based claims is motor vehicle accidents. A driver may breach the legal duty of care by speeding, texting while driving, failing to yield, drunk driving, and performing other careless acts. A victim can recover monetary damages by showing that this conduct caused a car, truck, or motorcycle crash. Other examples of negligence in Virginia personal injury claims include:

• Slip and fall incidents or other accidents due to dangerous conditions on property;
• Dog bites and animal attacks;
• Pedestrian, bicycle, and scooter accidents; and,
• Many others.

Seek Monetary Damages for Your Losses

By establishing the essential elements described above, you may obtain compensation for your physical, financial, and emotional losses. These damages generally fall into two categories:

• Economic Damages: These are the out-of-pocket, tangible losses resulting from your injuries. Medical costs lost wages, and any amounts you expend for treatment are economic damages.
• Non-Economic Damages: You cannot put a dollar figure on some types of losses, which are subjective and personal in nature. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, scarring and disfigurement, and others.

Potential Limitations on Your Claim

Even when you can prove the elements of a negligence case, there are limitations that may apply to your situation. The first is Virginia’s statute of limitations, which is two years from the date of the accident or incident that caused your injuries. You must file a lawsuit within this time period, or you lose your right to compensation.

In addition, Virginia follows the rule of contributory negligence, which focuses on how you may be at fault for causing your injuries. If your actions were also negligent, you could not recover any monetary damages.

Trust Your Claim to an Injury Lawyer in Jamestown

Though this overview may be useful, there are many other complicated legal concepts involved in personal injury claims. Knowledgeable representation is essential, so please call Hampton Injury Law PLC right away to set up a case evaluation with a Jamestown personal injury attorney.