Frederick County Car Accident Lawyer
Whether it occurs in a parking lot, at a busy intersection, or on a high-speed freeway, a motor vehicle accident can cause significant physical, financial, and personal harm to every driver, passenger, and passer-by involved. Unfortunately, recovering through civil litigation after such an incident can be uniquely complicated in Virginia, thanks to the uncommonly harsh restrictions that state laws and legal precedents place on personal injury plaintiffs.
In light of that, seeking help from a Frederick County car accident lawyer could make a huge difference in your chances of a successful case result. A seasoned personal injury attorney’s representation might be crucial not only to proving another party’s fault for your injuries, but also to contesting allegations of contributory negligence and demanding fair restitution for all your compensable losses.
Recoverable Damages Through a Successful Claim
Despite the somewhat confusing choice of terminology, “compensable” in the context of civil litigation is not synonymous with “quantitative.” In other words, a car crash victim does not necessarily have to demonstrate the objective financial value of all their losses in order to recover for them. Instead, a Frederick County car accident attorney could help valuate non-economic losses based on a plaintiff’s subjective experiences and demand compensation accordingly.
With that in mind, recoverable damages in a typical auto accident claim may include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Physical and emotional pain
- Lost wages and/or future earning capacity
- Lost enjoyment of personal opportunities
- Vehicle repair/replacement costs
- Lost consortium with a spouse
However, even if a wreck causes a long-term injury likely to cause significant losses in the future, prospective plaintiffs generally cannot wait until the value of those losses becomes clear before they start the filing process. According to Code of Virginia §8.01-243, any personal injury plaintiff who waits longer than two years to file suit after discovering their injuries will generally be barred from recovering any compensation for the repercussions of those injuries.
How Negligence Creates Liability for Accident Injuries
Another quirk of personal injury lawsuits and settlement demands in Virginia is the impact that contributory fault may have on recovery. As with any such claim filed in any state, car wreck victims in Frederick County must prove—ideally with a skilled lawyer’s help—that someone else’s breach of a duty of care was the direct and primary cause of their injuries in order to recover compensation for them.
However, while most states allow plaintiffs who bear “contributory fault”—in other words, plaintiffs who partially contributed to causing or worsening their injuries—to recover at least some compensation, court precedent in Virginia holds that injured parties found at all to blame for their own losses cannot recover anything for that incident. Representation from tenacious legal counsel can often be essential to challenging accusations of this nature and preserving the right to pursue recovery.
Talk to a Frederick County Car Accident Attorney Today
Car accidents are the single most common source of personal injuries in Virginia, and those that occur at high speeds often result in especially severe injuries with consequences that last for years or even decades after the incident actually occurs. If you got hurt because another driver acted recklessly or carelessly around you, seeking guidance from a knowledgeable legal professional might be the only way for you to effectively enforce your right to civil recovery.
A Frederick County car accident lawyer could explain your options and offer guidance about possible paths to recovery during a private consultation. Schedule yours by calling today.
