You could suffer considerable losses due to being injured in an accident that was not your fault. Fortunately, Virginia law provides you with rights as a victim. It is possible to recover compensation through a personal injury claim, but you may encounter numerous challenges. Unless you have an experienced lawyer to advocate on your behalf, you could put your rights at risk. Please contact Hampton Injury Law PLC to set up a case evaluation with a Newport News personal injury attorney to learn about your legal options. You can also read on for some vital information about these claims.
A wide range of circumstances may contribute to accidents, but they share a common element — they are usually caused by negligence. When a person fails to exercise reasonable caution, he or she creates a risk of harm to others. If misconduct leads to a personal injury accident, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses.
Some of the most common types of negligence-based accident claims include:
Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes;
Monetary damages in an accident claim are intended to reimburse victims for their losses after being injured. The goal is to place the victim in the same relative position they’d be if the incident had never happened. There are two types of compensation under Virginia law:
Even when you have solid evidence to prove your right to compensation, there are some critical concepts that affect your claim. One is Virginia’s statute of limitations, which requires you to file a lawsuit in court within two years after the incident that caused your injuries. If you do not initiate litigation by the time the statute of limitations expires, you are barred from obtaining monetary damages.
Also, Virginia applies the rule of contributory negligence in personal injury claims. If your own actions were negligent and were a factor in the accident, you cannot recover any compensation. Virginia is one of just a handful of US states that uses this harsh rule, which is why legal representation is crucial.
This general information may help you understand some of the basic concepts in accident claims, but there are many other legal issues that will affect your case. For more information on your rights and remedies, please call Hampton Injury Law PLC right away to set up a case evaluation with a Newport News personal injury lawyer.
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