Annandale Personal Injury Lawyer
It can happen with no warning: a motor vehicle collision, a sudden slip on an icy walkway, a mistake by a healthcare provider, or even an attack from a domesticated animal. Whatever circumstances led to you sustaining a severe injury, you may now be struggling immensely with its physical, fiscal, and personal consequences—all because someone else acted irresponsibly while you were doing your best to be careful and safe.
You do not have to accept injuries and losses caused by someone else’s negligence without a fight, especially if you have a dedicated Annandale personal injury lawyer by your side. Once hired, your knowledgeable attorney could explain your recovery options to you, help collect and preserve relevant evidence, and accurately valuate your damages so you can effectively pursue the compensation you need.
Comprehensive Recovery for Personal Injury Damages
Whenever someone violates a responsibility they have to act reasonably under particular circumstances and causes another person to get hurt as a direct result, that injured individual may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit or settlement demand against them. As with any other type of civil litigation, a personal injury claim’s purpose is to compel a liable defendant to provide financial restitution for specific losses sustained by the filing plaintiff, with the ultimate goal of restoring the plaintiff as much as possible to their pre-accident condition.
With this in mind, recoverable damages in a typical personal injury case are not limited to objective economic losses like missed work income, medical bills, and the costs associated with repairing or replacing damaged property. In addition, a severely injured plaintiff could possibly recover for non-economic consequences of their injury as well, such as lost enjoyment of life, physical pain, and emotional damage and suffering.
In cases involving egregious negligence or intentional misconduct, a civil court may even decide to impose punitive damages against a defendant expressly in order to punish them for their actions. As an Annandale personal injury attorney could explain in more detail, though, Code of Virginia §8.01-38.1 does not allow a punitive damage award to exceed $350,000 in value under any circumstances.
Navigating Around Potential Legal Roadblocks
Unfortunately, Annandale and other locales within the Commonwealth of Virginia can be particularly difficult places to seek civil compensation in, thanks to the “pure contributory negligence” system maintained by civil courts here. While most other states allow plaintiffs who are partly responsible for their own damages to recover for at least a portion of their total damages, this system completely prohibits all recovery for an accident victim found at all to blame for their injuries.
Additionally, VA Code §8.01-243 establishes a filing deadline of two years on most personal injury claims, meaning that courts will often throw out cases filed more than two years after a plaintiff discovered their injuries. Retaining a personal injury lawyer in Annandale can help an accident victim ensure they file their claim within applicable deadlines while still building a comprehensive demand for financial restitution.
Talk to an Annandale Personal Injury Attorney Today
Even if you have a strong justification for a civil claim, the idea of taking your case to court can be understandably intimidating, particularly if you are still dealing with the lingering physical effects of your accident. That being said, holding the party responsible for those effects accountable for your ensuing losses can be essential to protecting your long-term financial and personal health.
Working with an Annandale personal injury lawyer could make a huge difference in how likely your case is to have a positive resolution. Schedule your consultation by calling today.
