A car crash occurs every four minutes on our state’s roads, as reported by the Virginia Highway Safety Office. In too many cases, these incidents are not actually “accidents.” They are the results of negligent, reckless acts by careless people. At Marks & Harrison, our Richmond car accident lawyers believe these drivers need to be held accountable. We also believe that their victims deserve full and fair compensation for their injuries.
Insurance companies are out to protect their dollars. That means aggressive action needs to be taken to protect car accident victims’ rights. The Richmond car accident attorneys at Marks & Harrison can help. As one of the oldest and largest car accident injury law firms in Virginia, we have the skill, experience, and resources to stand up to insurance companies and seek the compensation you deserve.
We feature nine offices located throughout Virginia, including our headquarters in Richmond. We can provide a free and confidential consultation today. We will review the facts of your case and discuss all options available to you. Call or reach us online to get started with an expert car accident lawyer now.
Negligence Causes Car Accidents in Richmond and Across Virginia
Driving in Virginia is as dangerous as ever. Virginia automobile crashes, fatalities, and injuries all increased in the past year, the Highway Safety Office reports. Statistics show that more than 120,000 crashes occurred on our streets and highways, including nearly 5,000 in Richmond.
These wrecks resulted in 764 deaths and 63,382 injuries. Why? That’s a good question. The answer is complex. At Marks & Harrison, we know that the main factor behind car accidents is negligence. Many drivers fail to fulfill a duty of care that they owe to others on the road. Negligent driving can take many different forms, including the following:
Another form of carelessness is driving without any insurance coverage. When a driver causes an accident without any coverage or lacks coverage that can pay for the full extent of a victim’s injuries, one may need to turn to their own insurance company to recover under an uninsured/underinsured (UM / UIM) policy. Get in touch with our Richmond car accident attorney today.
Richmond Car Accident Injury Lawyer
When you come to Marks & Harrison for legal representation in your car accident claim, we go to work right away to determine what caused your accident and who was at fault. We work with forensic engineers to prove fault and with medical professionals to establish the full extent of the injuries you have suffered.
Our dedicated car accident attorneys have the knowledge and experience to negotiate skillfully on your behalf out of court. We also have the trial experience and ability to fight aggressively for our rights in the courtroom if necessary.
Insurance representatives are protecting their own companies by minimizing the amounts paid out in accident claims. With our seasoned accident lawyer on your side, you have a dedicated legal advocate to protect your rights and actively pursue the maximum compensation you are entitled to receive.
What Are Your Legal Options After a Car Crash in Virginia?
After an accident, our firm will explore all possible avenues for recovery or compensation for your injuries. You may be entitled to compensation through:
- Liability insurance coverage of the driver at fault for the accident. Under state law, Motor Vehicle Code 46-2-706, all Virginia drivers are required to pay a $500 uninsured motor vehicle fee, show proof of a surety bond that has been obtained by depositing cash or securities with DMV, obtain a self-insurance certificate from DMV, or carry liability insurance. The minimum required liability policy limits are $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person; $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people; and $20,000 for property damage.
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. Despite state financial responsibility laws, the Insurance Information Institute estimates that 10.1% of Virginia drivers are uninsured. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a driver with no liability insurance – or by a hit-and-run driver – you may be entitled to compensation under the uninsured motorist coverage of your own policy.
- Even if the driver who hit you or caused your accident does carry the minimum liability coverage required by law, $25,000 may not be sufficient to cover your damages. If that is the case, you may be entitled to compensation under your own underinsured motorist coverage.
- Other coverage: Our knowledgeable accident attorneys will review your insurance policy and find any other types of coverage that may be available to you, including comprehensive, collision, and medical coverage.
Contact a Richmond Car Accident Attorney After Your Accident
If you’ve been injured in a car crash in Virginia, don’t wait to get help. The quicker you seek out legal assistance, the more likely you are to win compensation for medical bills and lost wages. Contact the Richmond car accident attorneys at Marks & Harrison today.
What Common Problems Arise From Car Accidents?
Traffic accidents, particularly those that cause serious injuries, can have many negative effects on victims, including:
- Doctor visits
- Pain and suffering
- Hospital admissions
- Lost wages
- Medical bills
- Lost future earnings
- Hassles with insurance companies
- Scars and disfigurement
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Wrongful death
How An Accident Attorney in Richmond, VA Can Help Crash Victims
Our team of experienced legal professionals understands the difficult position you find yourself in after a car accident with injuries. It is our purpose to take the weight of the legal process off your shoulders and help you obtain maximum car accident compensation for your injuries. We focus our knowledge and skills on your case so you can focus on your recovery.
As your dedicated legal advocates, it is our job to establish negligence on the part of the other party, demonstrate the extent of the damages you have suffered, and seek the maximum amount available for your recovery.
Our Richmond Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You
If you were injured by a careless or reckless driver, you may be entitled to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Check out our car accident checklist to get a base idea of where to start.
The Richmond car accident lawyers of Marks & Harrison know who to hire in order to go up against the high-powered teams of attorneys used by insurance companies.
We regularly work with forensic engineers to determine causes of accidents and prove fault. We work with doctors, nurses, vocational rehabilitation professionals and economists to prove damages, future medical costs, past and future lost earnings, impairment, disability and loss of earning capacity. We also work with psychologists, grief counselors and others to provide evidence of emotional loss, pain and suffering and loss of companionship.
Two-Car Accidents FAQs
Even safe drivers face the risk of accidents and injuries on the roadways today. A traffic crash is sometimes impossible to avoid because of another driver’s recklessness or negligence. The Virginia Highway Safety Office reports that 131,848 crashes occurred in one recent year in our state, causing 819 deaths and 66,523 injuries.
Most traffic accidents involve one vehicle colliding with another for a wide range of reasons. Marks & Harrison was established more than 100 years ago and our seasoned Richmond car accident lawyers help people injured in two-vehicle accidents obtain the compensation they need and deserve to recover from their injuries. Here we have provided answers to some questions commonly asked about two-car accidents.
The law imposes a time limit, known as a statute of limitations, of two years for filing a personal injury claim in Virginia. However, if you have been injured in a two-car accident caused by the other driver, the sooner you consult with a knowledgeable car accident attorney, the better. Evidence needs to be obtained as soon as possible after your accident and preserved in order to establish your claim.
No, Virginia is one of the 8 states that have no “dram shop” laws. The term “dram shop” comes from 18th century establishments that served gin by the “dram” or spoonful. Many states have laws in place that allow victims of accidents caused by alcohol-impaired drivers to sue the establishment that served the driver under certain circumstances. However, Virginia is not one of them.
You should still be protected if you have uninsured motorist coverage under your own policy. Under Code of Virginia § 38.2-2206, insurers are required to offer this coverage with every automobile insurance policy. It will pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other costs arising from an accident caused by a driver who has no insurance. It will also cover you in case of a hit-and-run accident.
Although you will be filing a claim with your own insurance carrier in this situation, keep in mind that insurance companies are in business for profit. Your insurance company may attempt to minimize the amount it pays out to you. An experienced Virginia car accident attorney can help you fight to recover full and fair compensation.
Our firm works with medical and other professionals to determine the full extent of the losses you have suffered. You may be entitled to claim damages for:
- Medical expenses
- Past and future lost earnings
- Impairment
- Disability and loss of earning capacity
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium or companionship
No. In Virginia, under the state’s “pure contributory negligence” laws, you may not recover compensation if you were partially responsible for causing the accident, as accident victims can in some other states.
Virginia has “pure contributory negligence” laws, which means that fault for a two-vehicle accident is not proportioned between the two drivers involved. In order to recover compensation, it must be determined that the other driver was 100% at fault for the accident.
At Marks & Harrison, we will thoroughly investigate your accident, and we know who to hire to go up against high-powered teams of attorneys working for insurance companies. We work with forensic engineers to establish the cause of the accident and to prove the other driver’s liability.
If someone from the other driver’s insurance company contacts you after the accident, it is generally best not to speak with that person, as it could hurt your claim. Generally, your best course of action is to contact an experienced accident lawyer to deal with the insurance company on your behalf. Bear in mind that the goal of the insurance company is to pay out as little as possible on the claim, and that the company’s representative will try to get you to settle for as little as possible.
Call 911 immediately if you need emergency medical treatment. Otherwise, see a doctor as soon as possible after the accident. Even if you believe that you suffered no injuries, you should see a doctor to rule out the possibility of internal injuries, brain injuries, or other injuries for which the symptoms may not be immediately apparent. Medical treatment is important for your health and for recovering compensation.
Yes. Pictures can help establish your claim. Most people have cell phones with cameras. Use your phone to take pictures of the scene, including any skid marks or roadside damage, your vehicle and the other driver’s vehicle before they are moved, and any visible injuries you sustained.
You may be injured or stunned after an accident, and it is important to have a plan in place including the following steps should one occur:
- Call 911 if anyone is seriously injured.
- Call the police and obtain a copy of the accident report.
- Take pictures of the scene, your injuries, and both vehicles involved in the accident using your cell phone camera.
- Get contact information from any eyewitnesses to the accident.
- Do not admit fault or apologize (apologies can be interpreted as admitting liability).
- Exchange insurance information with the other driver.
- Get medical attention, even for minor injuries. Symptoms of some injuries, such as whiplash, may not appear until the day after the accident, and symptoms of other injuries may take even longer to appear.
- Contact an experienced Virginia personal injury attorney to deal with insurance companies on your behalf and for the best chance of obtaining maximum compensation for your injuries.
Contact Our Richmond Car Accident Lawyers Today
For a free and confidential consultation, call Marks & Harrison today at (888) 807-3136 or use our online form. Our Richmond car accident lawyers can review your case. We can help you to determine your objectives and start working on a strategy to secure the damages you deserve.
If you were injured by another person’s carelessness or recklessness, contact a car accident lawyer near me. You may be entitled to recover damages that include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.
The Richmond, VA car accident lawyers of Marks & Harrison work with the most respected professional resources available to assist in going up against the high-powered teams of attorneys used by big business and insurance companies. We regularly work with forensic engineers to determine causation and prove fault.
We work with physicians, nurses, vocational rehabilitation professionals, and forensic economists to prove damages, future medical costs, past and future lost earnings, impairment and disability, and loss of earning capacity. We work with psychologists, grief counselors, and others to testify to emotional loss, pain and suffering, and loss of companionship.
You are invited to contact our Richmond automobile accident attorneys for a free, no-obligation, and confidential consultation. Our lawyers will analyze your case and advise whether you are entitled to compensation. If we don’t think you need an attorney, we will tell you immediately.
Resources for victims of car accidents in Richmond, Virginia, and nationally:
Richmond, Virginia Car Accident Victim Resources:
- Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV): The Virginia DMV website provides information on reporting accidents, filing insurance claims, and obtaining accident reports. You can visit their website at Virginia DMV.
- Virginia State Police: If the accident involved a law enforcement report, you can obtain a copy from the Virginia State Police. Visit their website at Virginia State Police.
- Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles – Crash Records: You can request a copy of your accident report from the Virginia DMV’s Crash Records section. Find more information at Crash Records.
- Virginia Office of the Attorney General – Consumer Protection: If you have concerns about insurance claims or need assistance with insurance disputes, you can contact the Consumer Protection division of the Virginia Attorney General’s office at Consumer Protection.
National Car Accident Victim Resources:
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): NHTSA offers information on vehicle safety, recalls, and crash statistics. Their website provides resources for victims of car accidents, including information on child safety seats and vehicle recalls. Visit NHTSA at NHTSA.
- Insurance Information Institute (III): The III offers guidance on understanding auto insurance, filing claims, and dealing with insurance companies after an accident. Their website is a valuable resource for understanding insurance-related matters. Explore their resources at the Insurance Information Institute.
- National Safety Council (NSC): The NSC provides safety tips, resources, and educational materials related to road safety and accident prevention. Visit their website for information on defensive driving and accident avoidance at the National Safety Council.
- VictimConnect Resource Center: This national helpline offers support and resources for victims of all types of crimes, including car accidents. They can connect you with local services and support organizations. Visit their website at VictimConnect.
- Your Insurance Company: Reach out to your insurance provider for guidance on the claims process, coverage details, and any additional resources they may offer to policyholders involved in accidents.
These resources should help victims of car accidents in Richmond, Virginia, and across the United States navigate the aftermath of an accident and access the information and support they need.
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