Car Accident Lawyer Arlington, VA
After suffering from injuries in a car accident, you may be looking for a car accident lawyer Arlington, VA offers. The attorneys at The Law Offices of Ryan Quinn, PLLC are here to help you with your claim and work hard to get you the compensation you deserve. If you were in a car accident in Virginia, it is important to understand how liability is determined and what that means for receiving compensation. We will gather the necessary evidence to show that the other party is responsible for the injuries you are suffering from and will speak with the other driver’s insurance on your behalf to negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement. To see how else we can help you, call our office now.
How is compensation determined in Virginia?
In any sate, it is important to remember that there is a duty of care expected by every driver on the road. This means that every driver behind the wheel of an automobile should be following the driver safety laws to the best of their abilities and ensuring they do not harm other drivers, bicyclists, or pedestrians on the road. However, our Arlington, Virginia car accident lawyer knows that when someone acts negligently or recklessly on the road, they greatly increase the risk of harming others. To prove negligence for your claim, we will want to show:
- The other driver involved had a duty of care. This means to keep you safe, they needed to do or not do a certain thing;
- The driver was being negligent and did not uphold this duty of care;
- Because they did not uphold this duty, they caused an accident to occur that involved you;
- This accident specifically caused you to become injured and/or suffer from property damage.
Do I have to go to court?
Going to court will depend on a few things: whether an appropriate settlement can be reached outside of court and how aggressively you want to pursue compensation. If we speak with the other driver’s insurance agents and they offer us a fair settlement for all of your injuries and the damage that was done, we do not have to go to court. If they do not give us a fair offer, we will encourage you to pursue compensation more aggressively by litigation.
Handling an Accident Caused By an Uninsured Motorist
No car accident is pleasant to deal with, and when the responsible driver is uninsured, it can become even more frustrating. Hopefully you have uninsured motorist coverage as part of your insurance plan, but even then, you should probably seek compensation from the responsible party. The following outlines how to handle an accident caused by an uninsured motorist.
Call the Police
Many uninsured drivers will try to convince you not to call the police after they have caused an accident. Don’t try to be the nice guy. Instead, do what is best for you and call the police. Doing so will ensure you are able to obtain the right information to get your expenses covered by that driver. You also wouldn’t want to be the reason an unsafe driver was out on the road, and calling the police helps to hold the driver responsible.
Refuse a Money Offer
In order to avoid being sued and having to pay the hefty fines from driving uninsured, some uninsured drivers will offer you money on the spot. If they have a significant amount to give you, it might be a little tempting, but keep in mind you could probably get more by suing the driver. You don’t know yet how much it’s going to cost to pay for your injuries or to repair your car, so accepting money on the spot could be detrimental.
Treat Your Injuries
As with any car accident, be sure you get your injuries treated. If this means you have to take a trip to the hospital, go ahead and do it. You can’t very well get the compensation you deserve if you haven’t taken care of yourself, making medical care one of the most important steps. It also helps you find out how much to seek in a personal injury lawsuit.
Collect Evidence
There are different pieces of evidence you’ll need to collect in order to prove your case if you decide to sue the uninsured driver. This includes witness statements from those at the scene, as well as from medical professionals and first responders. It also include photographs of the accident, your injuries, property damage and anything else that might be helpful. You should also gather medical documents that show the extent of your injuries and how much your medical care has cost and is going to cost in the future.
Contact Your Lawyer
A lawyer is someone who will be on your side through this difficult situation. After being injured by an uninsured driver, make your car accident lawyer your first call.
If you would like to learn more about car accident compensation in Virginia, contact our trusted car accident lawyer in Arlington, VA now.