Motor Vehicle Accidents
PRACTICE AREAS
Manassas Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer
If you or a family member was recently involved in a motor vehicle accident, you have probably learned that the collision itself is only the beginning of a complex, frustrating legal process. Attending to medical needs and mental well-being after an accident can be difficult. This is even more exhausting when you’re struggling to work with insurance companies for fair compensation.
The Virginia attorneys at The Manassas Law Group have handled many personal injury claims involving car accidents in Manassas, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, and surrounding areas. Contact an experienced Manassas car accident lawyer today by calling (703) 361-8246. At the initial free consultation, we’ll discuss your legal options and determine whether we can pursue your car accident claim.
Do I Need An Auto Accident Attorney?
Seeking a lawyer to help you with your claim might seem like one more burden initially. But the truth is, if you or a loved one is dealing with serious injuries after an accident, you need and deserve an experienced legal team on your side. The Virginia legal process for car accident claims can be confusing, and insurance companies often try to get you to settle for the lowest amount possible. Our goal in these cases is to take as much of the stress out of an accident recovery as possible so our clients can focus on their physical recovery. Let a Prince William County car accident lawyer from the Manassas Law Group handle the work of negotiating with insurance companies and preparing for court while you heal.
Types of Motor Vehicle Accidents
Serious accidents can happen on the highway, in residential neighborhoods, and even in parking lots. At MLG, we have handled injury claims resulting from:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Commercial vehicle accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- And more
No matter what kind of vehicles were involved in the accident, all drivers have a duty to drive safely and follow the law. Your life can change in an instant when other drivers breach this duty.
Common Causes of Motor Vehicle Accidents
Distracted driving, cell phone use, and disobeying the speed limit are all common causes of car accidents in Virginia. Impaired and distracted drivers make a conscious decision to drive unsafely and engage in reckless driving. As a result, they knowingly risk the lives of everyone on the road with them.
Sometimes forces beyond our control can contribute to car accidents. Road hazards, weather conditions, and unsafe roads can all be contributing factors in an auto accident case. However, even these cases are not always cut and dry. You need a seasoned car accident attorney from the Manassas Law Group to help you navigate and investigate this situation.
Consequences of an Auto Accident
Auto accidents can have life-altering consequences for those involved. Car accident victims often suffer from emotional and mental injuries as well as physical injuries. In severe cases, auto accidents can cause catastrophic injuries and even death.
Catastrophic Injuries
A catastrophic injury is a severe injury that has a major impact on the life of a car crash victim. These injuries typically affect the brain or spinal cord and have a drastic, permanent impact on the life of a car accident victim. For example, spinal cord injuries can cause paralysis and loss of motor control. Traumatic brain injuries may not be visible, but they can have a severe impact on memory, personality, and cognitive function. Some car accident victims are severely burned or suffer traumatic amputations due to the accident. These injuries leave someone permanently disfigured and often require lengthy, expensive medical care.
Wrongful Death
In the most tragic cases, motor vehicle accidents can be fatal. When this happens, the at-fault driver should be held accountable for their actions. Surviving family members can pursue a wrongful death claim against the negligent driver.
This type of claim will not bring back a loved one, but compensation can help cover the unexpected funeral costs and help your family stay financially secure. Seeking compensation for a lost family member can come with feelings of doubt and guilt, but this can also be a way for many families to seek justice, especially if the at-fault party is not held criminally responsible for the death they caused.
What Should I Do After A Motor Vehicle Accident?
After a car accident, your immediate responsibility is to seek medical care for those injured and report the accident to local law enforcement. Doing these key things can help get everyone the attention needed to help them heal as easily and quickly as possible. If possible, you should document everything you can about the accident. This includes where and when it happened, the weather conditions, and who was involved. Take pictures of the intersection, road conditions, and any injuries. Collecting evidence at the scene can help preserve it for a court case or settlement later on.
If you are injured in a car accident in Virginia, there are some laws you must follow.
Legal Responsibilities
In Virginia, it’s illegal for those involved in the accident to leave the accident scene before taking care of certain requirements. After removing the vehicles from the way of traffic, those involved need to exchange information. This includes contact information, license number, and registration number. Failing to exchange this information can result in a felony charge.
What Kind of Compensation Can I Get From A Car Accident Claim?
The benefit of working with our experienced Manassas car accident attorneys is that we know there is more to a personal injury claim than compensation for medical bills. In many cases, we may be able to win additional types of compensation for our clients, including:
- Future medical costs, including physical therapy
- Physical pain and suffering
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Loss of enjoyment in life
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral expenses
- And more
An insurance company has every incentive to offer minimum compensation, even in car accident cases where the severity of the injury is evident. With our law firm in your corner, you will have a legal team ready to fight back aggressively when insurers decide to play hardball. Rest assured, our car accident attorneys will do everything possible to make you financially whole.
Statute of Limitations For Personal Injury Claims
In the state of Virginia, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years. This means that automobile accident victims have two years from the date of injury to pursue compensation from the negligent party. This time can fly by when you are focused on healing and finding new routines with your injury.
At the Manassas Law Group, we can fight for full compensation for your injuries while you focus your energy on recovering. With our Manassas, VA law firm behind you, you can rest easy and devote yourself to healing while we handle all the paperwork.
How A Manassas, VA Car Accident Attorney Can Help You
At the Manassas Law Group, we keep your best interest in mind at all times. Working with a skilled car accident lawyer from our team means your rights are protected and you can focus on healing while we fight for you. Many car accident cases require extensive evidence of negligence. Our attorneys can focus on proving the facts of the case while you follow your doctor’s orders and recover.
Proving Negligence
The most difficult part of any personal injury case is proving negligence. To justify negligence, you and your legal team have to prove four different elements: duty, breach of duty, injury, and damages.
- Duty: the other driver has a duty to drive safely and obey the law.
- Breach of duty: you must prove that the other driver breached their duty in some way. This can be cell phone usage while driving, driving under the influence, or failing to obey the law by speeding or driving recklessly.
- Injury: you must be ready to prove that your injuries are a direct result of the accident. This is where comprehensive medical documentation is advantageous.
- Damages: you must be able to prove that the injuries caused damages, or financial losses, to you or your family.
Contributory Negligence
Virginia’s contributory negligence laws make personal injury cases a little more difficult, as they are quite different than other states’ contributory negligence laws. Under this rule, people who contribute to the accident that caused the injury are not able to pursue compensation at all. This is where a skilled legal team can help tremendously. The car accident lawyers at the Manassas Law Group have the experience and knowledge necessary to fight for full compensation and prove that the negligent party holds full responsibility.
Contact The Manassas Law Group | Arrange A Free And Confidential Consultation
If you or a loved one was injured in a motor vehicle accident, a car accident lawyer from the Manassas Law Group is ready to help. We can identify your legal needs and begin developing a legal strategy right away. Plus, our firm operates on a contingency-fee-basis, which means you don’t owe us anything unless we recover monetary damages in your case.
We encourage you to speak with a qualified Manassas motor vehicle accident attorney at MLG as soon as possible. Establish your attorney-client relationship today by calling 703-361-8246.
