Virginia Auto Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been hurt in an auto accident, the auto accident lawyers at CHASENBOSCOLO are here to help. Car crashes rarely end well, resulting in vehicle damage, injuries, and mounting medical bills. Some victims may never walk again, while others may never return to their job due to reduced mobility. The most serious auto accidents are fatal. Victims and their families are often left holding the bag, feeling as if they have little choice but to settle directly with the insurer. With the right Virginia car accident lawyer in your corner, you could recover the fair compensation that you need to recover and rebuild after the accident.
CHASENBOSCOLO proudly serves injury victims in the Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., areas. Since 1986, we’ve worked with thousands of auto accident victims with the mindset that putting people first should mean more than money. Our community-minded approach to litigating accident claims has helped our firm plant deep roots in the states we serve.
Don’t let an insurer bully you into taking less than your accident is worth. CHASENBOSCOLO offers the No Fee Guarantee®, which means you pay no attorney’s fees or other legal expenses unless you receive a monetary award. Call us at (855) 245-9890 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation, and let’s put your needs before the insurer.
What Advice Would You Give Someone Who Has Just Been Injured In An Automobile Accident?
Do I Need An Auto Accident Lawyer?
While you may be very confident that another driver was at fault for your accident, you should not expect that motorist’s insurance company to be willing to admit to as much. An insurer is compelled to do whatever it can to minimize the amount that it pays you to resolve your claim. One way an insurance company will attempt to do this is by assigning a majority of the blame for the accident to you. An insurer may accomplish this goal by having a representative contact you and ask you to provide a recorded statement about your accident. Beware, however: agents will usually ask questions specifically designed to elicit damaging responses from accident victims.
In other cases, an insurance company may quickly offer you a lump sum settlement and then pressure you into accepting it under the guise of it being more money than one would recover with the help of an attorney. In truth, these settlement offers are almost always lowball offers, far less than what victims are actually entitled to.
You should not speak to an insurance company until you have obtained legal representation. An experienced attorney can handle such conversations on your behalf and immediately begin negotiating for a fair and full settlement to your case.
Why Choose CHASENBOSCOLO To Handle My Case?
CHASENBOSCOLO was founded in 1986 with the simple philosophy of taking care of the client being our top priority. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for thousands of clients.
Barry M. Chasen has more than three decades of experience and has received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a peer rating denoting the highest level of professional excellence. Benjamin T. Boscolo joined the firm in 1987, is licensed in Maryland and Washington, D.C., and is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association, Prince George’s County Bar Association, and American Association for Justice.
We will negotiate for a settlement that covers all of your past, present, and future expenses. When an insurance company refuses to provide an appropriate amount, our firm will not hesitate to file a lawsuit.
Types Of Car Accident Cases We Handle
No two car crashes are the same. Every single accident involves its own unique factors, not only with different people being involved, but also different vehicles, settings, and causes.
Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Virginia include, but are not limited to:
- Distracted Driving
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of Alcohol or Drugs
- Tailgating
- Failure to Yield
- Reckless Driving
- Speeding
- Improper Turns
- Inclement Weather
- Driver Fatigue
- Dangerous Roadway
- Unsafe Lane Change
- Rollover Accidents
- Rear-End Accidents
- Hit and Run Accidents
- Single Vehicle Accidents
- Multi-Vehicle Accidents
- T- Bone Collisions
- Accident with Uninsured/Underinsured Driver
The different injuries that victims can suffer in these cases can also vary depending on numerous factors, such as the speeds of the vehicles involved and the points of impact. In many cases, people suffer very debilitating injuries that not only require significant medical care but also impact their ability to work.
Insurance companies often are unwilling to pay, even if you suffered serious injuries. CHASENBOSCOLO has experience recovering maximum compensation for such injuries as:
- Neck Injuries
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Head Injuries
- Burn Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Paralysis
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Nerve Damage
- Internal Organ Damage
- Lacerations
- Whiplash
- Fractures
Many accidents can cause people to sustain injuries that ultimately prove to be fatal. When a person is killed in a motor vehicle crash, the family members of the deceased may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent parties.
What Should I Do After A Car Accident?
The steps you take after a car accident can significantly improve your chances, both of recovering much quicker and of holding the at-fault driver accountable. Here’s how CHASENBOSCOLO suggests victims react after their accident:
- If you’re not hurt, check on the welfare of any passengers. Exit the vehicle if doing so doesn’t cause new injuries or further discomfort, and check on other driver(s) to make sure they’re not trapped. Do not remove other passengers unless their life is in danger.
- Take as many photos as possible. Use a video feature if your phone has enough space for lengthy video clips.
- Call the police. When injuries are reported, they’ll typically dispatch an ambulance and fire truck.
- While waiting for law enforcement, get as much information as possible from the other driver and any witnesses. If a commercial truck or semi are involved, get the Department of Transportation number from the back of the trailer or side door, as well as the trailer number and the company name.
- If an ambulance arrives before law enforcement, seek immediate treatment, and answer health and condition questions that the emergency medical technicians ask.
- If law enforcement arrives first, stay by your vehicle and answer all questions completely and truthfully. Do not volunteer extra information, but stick to the basics.
- Phone your insurer to report the accident. Let the representative know a police report has been filed. Avoid going into great detail but offer facts and vehicle information (and nothing more unless required by law).
- Go to the hospital to be examined by a medical professional.
- Call CHASENBOSCOLO. From there, they’ll guide you through the next steps.
- Continue receiving medical care to help speed up your recovery. Provided the medical care relates to your accident, we may be able to recover the amount you spend or are billed.
Some of the steps listed above may be out of order depending on your condition when the medics arrive. If you’re hurt, you may not be able to give a statement right away.
How Compensation Works In Car Accident Claims
The more evidence our firm collects, the greater your chance of settling. As those chances increase, so will your settlement offer. Therefore, compensation is calculated based on the facts surrounding your case, along with:
- The amount of work you’ve missed and are expected to miss
- The combined total of all medical expenses related to your accident
- Documented proof of pain and suffering
- Repair estimates or full replacement value of the vehicle
- Sum of all personal property damages
- Loss of consortium
Once information is collected and enough evidence exists to move forward, we’ll file an initial complaint and enter the prelitigation settlement phase. If a settlement can’t be reached, we’ll take your case to court
A Complete Guide on What to Do When You Get in a Car Accident
Auto Accident FAQs
Victims may have questions about their auto accident. Some common questions include:
How Does Contributory Negligence Work?
If your accident was partially due to your own actions, some states will either reduce your final settlement by the percentage of fault you have or eliminate your claim altogether. Contributory negligence laws in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia mean victims who are even 1 percent at fault may be barred from recovering compensation.
How Long Do I Have To File A Car Accident Claim?
Virginia Code § 8.01-243.A establishes a statute of limitations of two years from the date of an accident to bring legal action for injuries arising from a car accident. When a person is killed in an automobile crash, the statute of limitations is also two years for a wrongful death claim, and the limitations period begins on the date of a person’s death. Moreover, a civil action relating to property damage has a five-year statute of limitations under Virginia Code § 8.01-243.E.
Am I Guaranteed Compensation For My Accident?
While we’d love to promise that every accident claim will end with a favorable settlement, the truth is we can’t promise the outcome of any case. Each auto accident is unique and must be approached as such. We work hard to settle every case we get, but the reality is that nothing in personal injury law is guaranteed.
What If I Was Hit By A Ride-Sharing Vehicle?
Companies like Uber and Lyft have their drivers undergo criminal background checks, but no driving tests are done. If a distracted, intoxicated, or aggressive ride-sharing vehicle driver hit you, we’ll need to look at both the driver’s personal insurer and the liability bond that is activated when the driver has passengers.
How Can I Prove Who Was At Fault?
Proving fault in car accident cases can be difficult, and often requires evidence that traffic laws were violated. Some violations may be obvious—such as running a red light, following too closely or failing to yield or stop at a stop sign—while others may require an investigation. After the collision, you should speak to any witnesses and obtain their names and telephone numbers, as their statements can be valuable when building your case and proving who was responsible for the crash. You also should request a copy of your police report, as this may contain more information about the cause of the crash.
Should I See A Doctor After The Crash?
Yes. Even at low speeds, car accidents involve large amounts of force, and much of that force is transferred to the driver and any passengers inside the vehicle. Seeing a doctor should be your first priority after a car accident—even if you don’t think you’ve been seriously injured—as you may have internal injuries or an injury that may take days or even weeks to show up.
How Can A Lawyer Help Me After A Car Accident?
At CHASENBOSCOLO, we know how a car crash can change your life. You may be injured, disabled, unable to work and in need of expensive medical treatments. Our Maryland car accident lawyers are dedicated to helping people in these situations move on with their lives.When you call us, we’ll do everything we can to get you the compensation you deserve. We have the resources and the experience to handle every aspect of your claim while you focus on getting better.
How Much Does It Cost To Get A Lawyer?
Many people are hesitant to call an attorney after a car accident because of the high costs of representation. But at CHASENBOSCOLO, you don’t ever have to worry about being able to afford our representation. Our car accident lawyers use the No Fee Guarantee®—which means that unless you get money for your crash, you don’t have to pay us any attorney’s fees.
Will I Have To Go To Court?
Whether or not you have to appear in court depends on the cooperation of insurance companies involved with your case. Our Maryland car accident attorneys can often use the evidence we collect during our accident investigations to help negotiate fair settlements without filing lawsuits. But when insurance companies refuse to play fair, we’re not afraid to take them to court to help ensure our clients are fairly compensated.
How Much Is My Car Accident Case Worth?
The unique ways your life was affected by your car accident help determine the value of your claim, such as:
- Costs of your future medical care
- How your accident happened
- Lost wages and future loss of income
- The length of your treatment
- The severity of your injuries
- Transportation costs to and from treatment
What If An Attorney Already Told Me I Don’t Have A Case?
Seek a second opinion if you were turned down by another attorney. Just like doctors or professors, attorneys can have different opinions based on the same sets of facts. If another attorney has reviewed your case and said they cannot help you, contact CHASENBOSCOLO today. We know the law in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., and our 24/7 legal staff is available to speak with you anytime.
How Long Will My Case Take?
How long it takes to resolve your car accident case depends on many factors, including:
- The complexity of your accident investigation. A rear-end crash at a stop sign often requires less time to investigate than a multi-vehicle pileup on a busy interstate. No matter how your accident happened, we’ll take the following steps to conduct a thorough investigation of your claim:
- Take witness statements of drivers and passengers who were at the scene.
- Communicate with all of the insurance companies involved with your accident.
- Use photos and other evidence to help determine who caused your crash.
- The insurance company’s cooperation. Insurance companies may offer a fair settlement as soon as your treatment is complete, or they may hold back a fair offer until a lawsuit is filed.
- The length of your treatment. To determine the full value of compensation you’re owed for your injuries, you must follow a course of treatment until your doctor believes you’ve reached maximum medical improvement—or to the point where your condition is stable and the future costs of your care can be determined.
Virginia Auto Accident Statistics
The Virginia DMV reported that there were 127,375 total crashes in the state in 2017, causing 843 fatalities and 65,306 injuries. The 127,375 total crashes included 787 fatal crashes, 42,425 injury crashes, and 84,163 property-damage-only (PDO) crashes. The 843 fatalities included 608 drivers killed, 121 passengers killed, and 114 pedestrians killed. The 65,306 people injured included 50,045 injured drivers, 13,690 injured passengers, and 1,571 injured pedestrians. Among the injured, there were 7,624 people seriously injured, including 5,693 drivers, 1,484 passengers, and 447 pedestrians.
The 10 Most Common Causes of Car Accidents, and What You Can Do About It
According to the DMV, the number of fatalities in 2017 was a 10.8 percent increase from 2016. There was one crash every 4.1 minutes, 2.3 lives lost per day, and 179 persons injured per day because of traffic accidents that year. Of the 127,375 total crashes, 105,744 (83.0 percent) occurred on non-interstate settings and 21,631 (17.0 percent) occurred on interstates. Additionally, 92,716 (72.8 percent) were classified as multi-vehicle crashes and 43,659 (27.2 percent) were single-vehicle crashes.
The DMV reported that 35,522 crashes (13.7 percent) involved drivers following too close, 18,601 (7.8 percent) involved failure to yield, 8,031 (3.4 percent) involved an improper lane change, 6,525 (2.8 percent) involved running a stoplight, and 3,401 (1.4 percent) involved an improper turn.
CHASENBOSCOLO Is A Results-Driven Law Firm
If you’ve been injured and need legal assistance, let CHASENBOSCOLO help. Throughout our history, we’ve helped recover compensation for many injured people, and we want to work hard for you, too. There are never up-front fees, and your initial consultation is free; you won’t pay anything unless we get money for you.
We want to earn your trust and will fight in and out of the courtroom to make sure the negligent party is held accountable. To schedule a consultation, call (855) 245-9890 or fill out our contact form.
