Catastrophes that cause bodily injury often have a significant impact on you and your loved ones. Your injury may require costly medical care, limit your ability to work, and create other hardships in your life. When another party is responsible for causing your injury, the guidance and support of an attorney could be critical in pursuing available legal claims. A Richmond personal injury lawyer could provide you with experienced representation if someone caused you to suffer a serious injury. Contact our office to schedule a free case evaluation and learn more about personal injury cases.
Personal injury cases happen in a variety of situations and settings that involve the liability of others. For example, we often help clients with cases including:
Our Richmond attorneys begin every case with an initial review of the facts and circumstances that led to the personal injury. We may then conduct further investigations into the cause of the injury to evaluate any potential claims. For example, our lawyers may review available accident reports and visual evidence or interview witnesses to establish which parties are likely to be at fault.
A personal injury claim is possible when another party causes harm through wrongful actions or negligence. The standards that determine liability for personal injury can vary depending on the type of case, but often involve a party’s failure to exercise reasonable care in their acts or omissions. Common examples of parties who may be liable for an injury include another person, a company, a government agency, or an employer.
It is not uncommon for multiple parties to have liability in a personal injury case. These cases can be especially complex, particularly if the injured plaintiff is at fault, because of the strict rule of contributory negligence outlined in the Code of Virginia § 8.01-34. If a jury finds that a plaintiff was at fault for causing their own injury, in whole or in part, it can prevent the plaintiff from recovering compensation against other liable parties. A lawyer could help an injured individual consider the merit of a contributory fault claim in Richmond and advise on strategies to resolve the case through settlement or potential arguments at trial.
When taking your claim to court, our lawyers prepare a written complaint that identifies the party or parties with alleged liability and briefly explains how they are at fault. The complaint will also identify the damages suffered from the personal injury. If the claim is successful, recoverable damages could include past and future medical expenses, past and future lost wages, lost earning capacity, pain, suffering, inconvenience, and property damage. The Code of Virginia § 8.01-38.1 also permits the recovery of up to $350,000 in punitive damages, which a jury can award to further punish an at-fault party whose wrongful conduct was egregious.
Under the Code of Virginia § 8.01-243, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim in most cases is two years from the date of the incident that caused the harm. This means that, absent certain exceptions, you must file a claim within this period to preserve your right to recover compensation against a negligent party in court. Talk to a Richmond personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to begin the process of asserting your right to claim damages after an accident. Contact our office today to schedule a free case evaluation.
