Rappahannock County Personal Injury Lawyer
An injury sustained in an accident can negatively impact your life in a wide range of ways. In the aftermath of your accident, you likely experienced severe physical pain, medical difficulties, and emotional trauma, and you may face financial strain if you cannot afford the steep medical bills associated with your care.
Fortunately, a compassionate personal injury attorney could provide invaluable assistance following your accident and give you peace of mind throughout your healing process. A Rappahannock County personal injury lawyer could help you determine whether another party might be responsible for your injuries and help you pursue financial compensation.
Accidents and Resulting Damages
Personal injury claims can stem from any accident that the injured party believes someone else caused. Motor vehicle accidents, boating accidents, slips and falls on private or commercial property, medical malpractice, and defective medications can all lead to personal injury lawsuits.
Injuries sustained in these kinds of accidents can result in both economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses typically include medical expenses and loss of income. Non-economic losses include mental pain and anguish. A Rappahannock County personal injury attorney could work to identify an injured person’s losses and help them secure every form of payment available for their suffering.
Establishing Liability
State law allows an injured person to seek compensation from the person or entity responsible for their losses. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to establish the at-fault party’s negligence and prove that their negligence caused the plaintiff’s injuries.
To establish negligence, Virginia requires a plaintiff to demonstrate that the defendant breached the duty of care that they owed to the plaintiff, the plaintiff’s injuries were caused by that breach, and the plaintiff suffered harm because of their injury.
The Contributory Negligence Defense
Virginia maintains “contributory negligence” as a defense to a personal injury lawsuit. Under this doctrine, a person is prohibited from recovering any damages for their accident-related losses if their own negligence contributed in any way to the accident. Even if the other party was 99 percent at fault and the plaintiff was only 1 percent at fault, the plaintiff would be barred from recovery.
The challenges that often arise from the contributory negligence defense can make it even more crucial for an injured person to enlist the help of a Rappahannock attorney early on in their personal injury case.
Timing for Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Under Virginia Code § 8.01-243, a claimant generally has two years from the date of their accident in which to file a personal injury lawsuit. It is necessary to file by these deadlines in order for a case to be considered valid, and the court will not approve the claim if it is not submitted in time. A Rappahannock County personal injury attorney who is knowledgeable about the statute of limitations could work diligently to ensure that a plaintiff’s case is filed efficiently.
Engage a Rappahannock County Personal Injury Attorney to Aid Your Case
A qualified attorney who is well-versed in the laws that govern personal injury cases could help you gather all of the necessary evidence prove a third party’s negligence by evaluating your case and developing aggressive legal strategies. If you would like to understand your legal options for pursuing compensation, reach out to a Rappahannock County personal injury lawyer. Call today to schedule a consultation and get started on your case.
