Yorktown Car Accident Lawyer

After a crash in Yorktown, the most important thing is making sure that you get the medical treatment that you need and that you receive the financial compensation necessary to maintain your quality of life and pay for your medical bills while you are unable to work. While car insurance is designed to protect people when an accident happens, unfortunately, it doesn’t always work this way.

Options for Recovering Compensation after a Crash

After a car crash in Yorktown, Virginia, drivers and passengers have three options for recovering compensation to help them pay for their medical bills, lost wages, and more. These are:

• Filing a claim with the other driver’s insurance. Virginia is an at-fault car insurance state, which means drivers are liable for the accident they cause. If someone else’s fault caused your crash, and this party has insurance, you should file a claim with their insurance company.

• Filing a claim with your own insurance company. You may be able to file a claim with your own insurance company depending upon your coverage. For example, if you carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and the at-fault driver is not insured (or if the accident is a hit and run), you can file a claim under your own policy. You may also seek damages for medical payments and lost wages if you carry this coverage type.

• Filing a lawsuit in civil court. If your damages are significant, you may choose to file a lawsuit directly against the at-fault party in civil court. The at-fault party may be another driver or a third party, such as a vehicle part manufacturer.

What Does Negligence Have to Do With It?

Negligence means the failure to exercise a reasonable duty of care and is the basis for civil claims in Virginia. Negligence is essential because if you cannot prove that the other driver (or party) acted negligently, you may be unable to recover your full settlement amount. Further, Virginia is a pure contributory negligence state. This means that if you are found to be partially at fault for your accident and injuries – even as much as one percent – you will be completely barred from recovering any damages.

Why Do I Need a Lawyer?

You need a lawyer to improve your chances of recovering your full compensation amount. This is especially true if fault is disputed – remember, if you are found to be at fault in the slightest, your full damages amount can be withheld, meaning that you will get nothing to help you pay for your injuries and economic losses. An attorney can prove the other party’s negligence, help you file a claim, help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of filing a lawsuit, and negotiate for a fair settlement amount.