VIRGINIA Car
Accident Lawyer

Virginia is home to almost nine million residents. Virginia’s beaches, historical landmarks and scenic attractions make the state a popular tourist destination, with over 42 million tourists visiting the Old Dominion State annually.

With so many people traveling Virginia’s roads, car accidents caused by others are commonplace, often resulting in injuries, fatalities and property damage. Whether you are a resident or visitor to our state, a car accident lawyer can help you in the days, weeks and months after your injury. A competent attorney from Big Auto will fight for your rights and seek the compensation you deserve if your accident took place in Virginia.

How Dangerous Are Virginia Roads?

Virginia ranks in the middle when considering the most dangerous U.S. states to drive in. However, that does not mean the state has minimal crashes.

The following statistics for Virginia crashes in 2022 paint a grim picture:

• Out of the 122,434 total crashes, 942 caused fatalities, and 37,550 produced injuries.
• A crash occurred every 4.3 minutes.
• 59,404 people were injured and 1,005 were killed, both figures representing increases over the previous year.
• Of those injured, 47,137 were drivers, 10,877 were passengers and 1,390 were pedestrians.
• Fatalities included 685 drivers, 149 passengers and 171 pedestrians.

Motor vehicle accidents impact those involved in multiple ways; they can also affect family members not in the crashes. You may qualify to obtain compensation for damages resulting from your collision. Our car accident lawyers can help you determine how much your case is worth even in Virginia.

Several roads in Virginia see more than their share of collisions, including:

• I-64 near Hampton
• U.S. Highway 460
• I-295 in Hanover County
• I-95 in Prince William, Fairfax and Hanover counties
• U.S. Route 13 in Virginia Beach and Norfolk

Be particularly careful when driving these stretches.

What Causes Most Virginia Collisions?

Driver error comes in many forms and is responsible for most collisions. Top causes of crashes include:

• Distracted driving
• Following too closely
• Failure to yield
• Improper lane changes
• Running traffic lights or signs

These negligent behaviors cause otherwise preventable accidents every day. Slick or damaged roads, low-visibility conditions and animal crossings are other common causes. If you suspect a negligent driver caused your crash, inform your car accident lawyer from Big Auto.

We will discuss a few types of crashes and include the injury and fatality count each caused during 2022 in Virginia to demonstrate how dangerous these negligent actions are.

Alcohol-Related Crashes: 6,910 injuries, 274 fatalities

Consuming alcohol before or during driving produces significant impairments that affect the driver’s ability to drive safely. In Virginia, the threshold for drunk driving is 0.08% blood alcohol concentration. However, lower levels also cause impairments, such as:

• Difficulty concentrating or focusing
• Poor judgment
• Extended reaction times
• Lack of coordination
• Blurred vision

Some drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, produce similar debilitating effects.

Distracted Driver Crashes: 20,679 injuries

To drive safely, your hands must remain on the steering wheel, your eyes on the traffic conditions and your mind focused on driving. Anything that prevents these necessary actions is a distraction, including:

• Eating, drinking and smoking
• Hands-on use of a smartphone or other electronic device
• Interacting with passengers or pets
• Daydreaming and gazing at scenery
• Searching or reaching for objects in your vehicle

These distractions usually delay reaction times, making it difficult to avoid collisions.

Speeding Crashes: 24,877 injuries, 441 fatalities

The faster a car goes, the longer it takes to stop. Speed can also affect steering and maneuverability. Speeding drivers may not have time to stop if the traffic ahead slows suddenly, another car attempts to merge in front of them or an animal darts into the road.

Speeding vehicles often intimidate other travelers, which can also lead to accidents.

What Injuries Are Common in Car Accidents?

All accidents are unique. Seemingly similar collisions can produce different injuries with varying degrees of severity. However, many typical injuries may result, such as:

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain or spinal injuries
• Whiplash and concussions
• Internal organ damage
• Cuts, bruises, sprains and strains

While some of these injuries are minor, others are life-threatening. You may need surgeries, rehabilitation, at-home medical equipment and therapy. Meanwhile, you won’t receive pay while out of work during your recovery. Combined, these factors usually cause tremendous financial strain and stress.

Don’t Insurance Companies Pay Willingly?

Drivers pay premiums for car insurance policies. In return, the company agrees to pay valid claims. Unfortunately, you can’t count on insurance carriers to pay fair compensation voluntarily.

Insurance companies will investigate your accident, speak to witnesses and obtain official records. They may also interview your friends, family and acquaintances trying to find ways to discredit you.

Insurance adjusters use various means to arrive at a fair settlement value. Among other factors, they consider the likelihood of you winning a court trial and how much compensation a jury might award you.

Armed with this data, other company representatives typically offer claimants a settlement amount that is much lower than what they know is fair. They may offer a quick but minimal payout or use delaying tactics to make you sweat.

While you probably don’t have experience handling complex accident claims, Big Auto’s car accident lawyers for Virginia, do. We are familiar with insurance company strategies and how to counter them successfully. Our knowledge of applicable local laws means we understand how courts operate. We know what kinds of evidence we need to support your claim and how to find it.

Injured accident victims who hire an accident attorney typically receive much larger payouts than those without legal representation. That’s because we know your rights and will fiercely advocate to ensure that we protect them.

What Is Negligence?

Negligence is the basis for most personal injury claims. Legally, negligence is failing to exercise a reasonable level of care that others would in similar circumstances. Everyone who gets behind the wheel of a car has a duty of care to drive safely to minimize the risk of harm.

Say that Tony caused a wreck. To prove his negligence, your Big Auto car accident lawyer in Virginia must show that:

• Tony owed you a duty of care.
• Tony breached his duty of care.
• Tony’s breach caused an accident.
• You suffered injuries or other damages as a direct result.

Proving negligence typically requires a thorough accident investigation, which your attorney can conduct. Negligence can be an action or an omission, and isn’t always obvious.

For instance, some vehicles are unsafe to drive. Faulty brakes, cracked windshields and missing headlights often contribute to causing accidents. Knowingly operating a dangerous vehicle is a form of negligence.

How Can Car Accident Lawyers Help In Virginia?

Car accidents have consequences. You might sustain injuries that require multiple medical treatments and extended time away from work during your recovery. You may need to hire people to perform everyday tasks that your injuries prevent you from doing.

Meanwhile, several accident-related tasks need your attention in the aftermath of your accident, some of them having strict deadlines. Your Big Auto attorney can take care of these tasks for you, allowing you to focus on recovery.

Provide Legal Advice and Information

Many people who find themselves involved in car accidents don’t know their legal rights or obligations. You may mistakenly think that insurance companies are your friends, not realizing they routinely use underhanded tactics to avoid paying claims fairly.

When you hire a Big Auto car accident lawyer in Virginia, we will tell you:

• The local laws and requirements that apply to your case
• How much your claim is worth
• The challenges you might face
• Your legal obligations and options

We will also present case-specific advice, including things you should and should not do during your claims process.

Handle Accident-Related Paperwork

Any car accident requires you to submit endless claim forms and legal paperwork. You must complete these forms correctly and submit them before their various deadlines. These administrative tasks are a lot to keep track of, so let your lawyer handle them for you.

Investigate Your Accident

To hold someone liable for your damages, your car accident lawyer for Virginia must prove fault. Furthermore, they have to show that you did not contribute to causing your accident in any way. Hiring a competent local attorney is vital because your opportunity for compensation may depend on it.

Virginia is one of only a few states that uses pure contributory negligence laws. You typically don’t have a case if you are even 1% at fault. Opposing insurance companies will try to assign blame to you, attempting to avoid paying your claim.

Your attorney must gather evidence that supports your claim. We will:

• Find video surveillance recordings of your accident, if available
• Speak to witnesses
• Examine police reports, accident scene photos and your medical records
• Investigate the at-fault party’s actions before, during and after the crash

The Big Auto car accident lawyers will leave no stone unturned.

Take Over Communications With Insurance Companies

Insurance company adjusters and other representatives often try to trick injured claimants into admitting fault during recorded conversations. They may offer an unreasonably low settlement, hoping you don’t know you can negotiate for a higher payout.

To avoid making potentially disastrous mistakes — and to avoid the hassles of frequent contact — you can designate your lawyer as your representative. We can require that all communications come through us. We can also be present if you do speak to these representatives.

Negotiate a Reasonable Settlement

Insurance companies may try to damage your credibility, accuse you of fault or deny your claim altogether. They may imply that accepting their initial offer is your only chance of obtaining compensation. These and other actions typically intimidate people without legal representation, potentially reducing settlement amounts.

When you hire an experienced car accident lawyer in Virginia, we will not let anyone take advantage of our clients. We will use our honed negotiation skills to seek maximum compensation for your damages.

Take Your Case to Trial

Unfortunately, some insurance companies won’t cooperate. In these cases, a civil lawsuit and trial may be necessary. Big Auto won’t hesitate to advise this course of action if we feel it’s in your best interests.

What Kinds of Compensation Can You Receive After a Car Accident?

Every collision is different, producing various injuries and damages. An “average settlement amount” does not exist because each case is unique. The car accident lawyer assigned to you for Virginia will assess your circumstances and tell you how much compensation you qualify to receive.

Economic Damages

Injured car crash victims incur several expenses as a direct result of their accidents. Economic damages reimburse you for eligible costs, such as:

• Medical treatments
• Lost wages
• Replacement services
• Property damage

In some cases, you might qualify to seek compensation for future medical expenses and lost earnings. Our lawyers will advise when we discuss your case.

Keep all invoices, bills and receipts because this category of compensation is dollar for dollar. The attorney assigned to you will use them as proof when calculating economic damages.

Non-Economic Damages

Physical injuries and the accident itself often cause long-term repercussions. You may obtain compensation for these intangible injuries, including:

• Pain and suffering
• Anxiety, depression and PTSD
• Losing the ability to enjoy life
• Personal relationship damage
• Permanent disfigurement or disability

As a general rule, the more significantly these conditions impact your life, the more compensation you may receive.

Insurance companies are notoriously reluctant to pay non-economic damages. We may need to arrange for medical examinations and hire expert witnesses to prove the validity of your claims.

Why Contact Big Auto When You Need a Virginia Car Accident Lawyer?

Big Auto is a nationwide law firm with co-counseling abilities to serve injured accident victims in every U.S. location. Our firm’s size and reach provide the resources to handle your case competently and negotiating power that insurance companies respect, while our local attorney network gives you the personal attention you deserve.

No matter what type of motor vehicle accident injured you, a car accident lawyer from Big Auto will protect your rights and seek maximum compensation on your behalf. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. Contact Big Auto today to request your free case review. Call us 24/7 at 1 (844) BIG-AUTO or 1 (844) 244-2886 or submit our online contact form.