Car Accident Attorney Arlington VA

Over $25 Million Recovered for Victims of Negligence

In 2017, drivers in Virginia were involved in more than 127,000 accidents, resulting in 65,306 injuries and 843 fatalities, according to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Virginia Highway Safety Office. More than 2,500 of these crashes occurred in Arlington County alone, resulting in 5 fatalities and 1,036 injuries. While the overall crash rate has decreased since 2016, the number of fatalities in the Commonwealth represents a 10.8% increase from the previous year.

If you were injured or your loved one was killed in a car collision caused by another person or entity, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your losses. It can be difficult to prove fault and/or negligence in car accident claims and, therefore, it is important that you discuss your claim with an experienced attorney.

Seeking compensation after a car accident can be a lengthy and complicated process requiring considerable paperwork, investigations, and back-and-forth negotiations with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Having an attorney on your side can help to minimize any unnecessary delays and ensure you are treated fairly throughout the duration of your claim.

Unlike many other states, Virginia does not follow the law of comparative negligence. Instead, Virginia is one of only a few states to still follow contributory negligence laws. Essentially, what this means is that, in order to bring a personal injury or wrongful death claim, you must be found completely free of fault. If you wish to recover compensation for your damages, you must show that the other person was entirely at fault for the accident.

In many cases, the negligence of another driver can lead to an accident that ultimately results in you being seriously injured. Examples of this include:

• A motorist who is texting while driving, looking at a GPS device, or otherwise distracted
• Someone who drives while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
• A driver who is fatigued, falls asleep at the wheel, or drives while drowsy
• Someone who engages in reckless driving, including excessive speeding or tailgating
• A motorist who fails to follow the rules of the road, such as by failing to yield
• An inexperienced driver who makes an unsafe turn, lane change, or another action

In addition to driver negligence, the negligence of another person or entity may cause an accident. For example, a tire manufacturer may fail to properly test the safety of its products, leading to the distribution of thousands of defective tires. If one of these defective tires blows out and leads to an accident, the manufacturer may be found liable.

Investigating Your Car Accident

While proving negligence may seem like a straightforward task, the reality of the matter is that your claim will need to be supported by multiple forms of strong evidence to be acceptable by insurance. As mentioned before, an insurance adjuster’s sole job is to find ways to shift blame for the crash to you and minimize losses for the insurer. The more evidence that can be collected in your favor, the better your chances will be of securing a fair settlement.

Car accident lawsuits in Virginia are subject to several different statutes of limitations depending on the circumstances of the crash. Code of Virginia section 8.01-243 states that car accident injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the date of the accident, while property damage claims are subject to a five year statute of limitations. Wrongful death claims from car accidents must be filed within two years of the victim’s death, which could be later than the date of the accident.

Filing a lawsuit after any of these deadlines have passed can result in your case being dismissed, thereby preventing you from seeking compensation for your losses. Even if you are confident your case will be resolved through an insurance claim, it is crucial you get started and speak to an attorney as soon as possible after your collision to give yourself plenty of time to prepare your case and gain leverage during settlement negotiations.

How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?

Every car accident is different, therefore every car accident injury claim will be different. It is virtually impossible to provide a rough estimate of a car accident claim’s worth without examining the evidence surrounding the crash. It is best to speak with an attorney after your collision to get a more accurate representation of your recoverable damages.

Pursuing car accident claims tends to be more complex in Virginia than other areas of the U.S., primarily due to the law of contributory negligence. If a jury finds that you are even 1% at fault for the accident, you will not be able to bring a claim. It is absolutely critical, therefore, that you speak to an experienced and skilled attorney about your case.

At the Law Offices of Ryan Quinn, PLLC, we have handled thousands of personal injury and wrongful death claims throughout Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Our Arlington car accident lawyer has recovered more than $25 million on behalf of our clients. We can help you determine if you have a case, as well as the full extent of your damages. Our mission is to work directly with our clients throughout the process, with the shared goal of maximizing recovery.