A car accident can leave you feeling vulnerable, angry, and anxious. After all, you are likely facing thousands or more in medical bills with no way to pay them if your injuries keep you from working. If another party caused your accident, you can hold that driver liable. Unfortunately, it is often much more difficult than it should be to recover the compensation you deserve.
A personal injury lawyer in Alexandria is here to help. The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC will be here every step of the way, managing your claim and protecting your right to compensation.
The Insurance Company Will do What It Can to Devalue Your Claim
A Recorded Statement Can Be Your Claim’s Downfall
If an insurance adjuster is trying to get in touch with you, you may feel pressured to talk to him or her. This is not a requirement.
In fact, we recommend that you do not do this, at least not before speaking with us.
Insurance adjusters do a good job of acting sympathetic and supportive. They do this because their job is to earn your trust, so that you will believe they are looking for a win-win resolution. Their goal, however, is to save the insurance company as much money as possible.
An insurance company can use anything you say to an insurance adjuster against you. Even seemingly innocent statements you make that you believe help your case are subject to manipulation. For example, if you say that you are okay or apologize for the accident, the insurance company can claim you admitted to causing the accident or said that you are uninjured.
The Insurance Company May Attempt to Blame Your Injuries on Another Incident
Insurance companies lead you to believe that you need to sign a medical release prior to them processing your claim. Signing such a release can be a mistake. In many cases, the insurance company is looking for preexisting injuries on which to blame your symptoms.
We will ensure the insurance company only has access to the medical records related to your car accident.
The Insurance Company May Trick You into Accepting Much Less than You Deserve
The insurance company might attempt you get you to accept a settlement that is much less than you deserve. We recommend that you do not agree to any settlements without running them by us first.
Liability Is Not a Foregone Conclusion
Liability is not always easy to prove. However, evidence such as a police report can help. For example, if the other driver received a citation, you may be able to satisfy two of the four elements required to establish liability. Those two elements are “duty of care” and “breach of duty.” (If the other driver did not receive a citation, you would need to start at the beginning with those two elements.)
Evidence we might need to prove breach of duty and causation might include:
- Eyewitness testimony
- Surveillance video
- Photos of the accident scene
- Cell phone records
- Testimony from expert witnesses (e.g., first responders, car accident reconstruction experts)
If our evidence clearly shows that the other driver breached a legal duty, the next element is demonstrating that the breach proximately caused your losses, legally known as “damages.”
To establish your damages, we may use any of the following:
- Medical bills
- W-2s and pay stubs
- Testimony from expert witnesses such as doctors, vocational experts, or forensic economists
- Testimony from friends and family
- Your entries from a pain journal or other testimony
Alexandria Car Accident Lawyer Near Me 571-229-1800
Getting You Fair Compensation Is Our Goal
Car accident compensation varies according to the impact suffered and the extent of the injuries. However, you may be entitled to compensation for any of the following:
- Loss of income
- Loss of future earning potential
- Emotional distress
- Counseling expenses
- Surgery and hospitalization expenses
- Physical therapy/rehabilitation
- Long-term care
- Durable medical equipment
- Costs of household labor replacement
- Costs of accessibility additions/modifications to home or vehicle (e.g., widening doorways, adding wheelchair ramps)
- Pain and suffering
- Inconvenience
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Sometimes, a car accident claims the death of a family member. In fatal car accidents, we can file an Alexandria wrongful death claim to recover damages on behalf of the estate and surviving family members.
Alexandria Car Accident FAQ
If you find yourself confused and overwhelmed by the car accident claims process, you are not alone. When you have been injured in a car accident, it is normal to have many unanswered questions.
For this reason, we have answered some of the top questions regarding car accident claims in Alexandria below. If you have further questions, be sure to contact our office so we can discuss your car accident in detail.
How do Insurance Claims Work in Alexandria?
The state of Virginia follows a fault-based system for car accidents and insurance purposes. This means that when you are involved in a car accident in Alexandria, you will need to file a claim with the liable party’s insurance provider instead of your own.
Dealing with the liable party’s insurance company is sure to be a challenge. Insurance companies are notoriously difficult when it comes to paying out on car accident claims. They have numerous tactics up their sleeve and will look for every opportunity to reduce your benefits or deny your claim entirely.
It is important to have an Alexandria car accident attorney step in and handle the negotiations process on your behalf. That way, you do not have to worry about being taken advantage of during your greatest time of need.
How Long do I Have to File My Alexandria Car Accident Claim?
When you are filing a car accident claim in Alexandria, you are held to the Virginia statute of limitations. Under the law, you will have a maximum of two years to get your claim filed before the statute of limitations expires. If the statute of limitations runs out, and your claim has not been filed, the Alexandria civil court system will not have the authority to hear your case.
If you were to file a car accident claim once the statute of limitations had passed, the liable party would simply file a motion to dismiss your case on the grounds that the statute of limitations had expired. The judge presiding would have no other choice but to grant their motion. You can avoid this becoming an issue with your case by reaching out to a lawyer for help soon after your car accident.
Will My Case Have to Go to Court?
It is possible that your case will have to go to court. It depends on whether the settlement from the insurance company is enough to meet your needs. Insurance companies are only required to pay up to the limits of the policy. If your damages exceed these limits, the insurance company is not going to cover the remaining losses.
Instead, if you want to recover any damages that the insurance company won’t, you may need to be prepared to bring your case before a judge. Although this may be overwhelming, you can feel more confident in your decision to hold the at-fault party accountable with help from a car accident attorney.
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We Put Our Insurance Industry Knowledge to Work for You
Prior to starting The Parrish Law Firm, Jim Parrish actually helped large insurance companies avoid paying claims.
Jim founded The Parrish Law Firm to advocate for victims. Though he no longer does insurance defense work, he uses the knowledge he gained from multiple years in the insurance industry to your advantage.
You Have a Limited Time to Act. Do Not Risk Your Right to Compensation. Call Us Today
Waiting does not help your case. For one thing, Virginia’s two-year statute of limitations might bar you from filing a lawsuit if you run out of time. Even if your accident only recently occurred, taking action now can potentially preserve evidence that otherwise might be lost.
The sooner you begin, the sooner your resolution may happen. In addition, knowing you have someone with years of accident experience in your corner can help lessen any uncertainty you may have about the process.
To see how we can help you put your life back together, contact us today.
Call or text 571-229-1800 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form