Any time you suffer injuries in a vehicle collision, you may benefit from meeting with one of our Virginia Beach car accident lawyers at The Law Firm of Carlton F. Bennett. Your priority after a car accident should be your safety and well-being. Therefore, seek medical attention as soon as possible after a collision. The documentation from this medical evaluation can offer valuable proof of the injuries and damages you suffered from the accident.
Once your injuries are evaluated, contact a Virginia Beach car accident lawyer immediately. An attorney can take over communication with the opposing party’s attorney and insurance representatives. We can help you evaluate the value of your claim and ensure any settlement offer fully compensates you for your losses. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a car accident, reach out to The Law Firm of Carlton F. Bennett as soon as possible.
At Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C., our compassionate car accident lawyers have been helping individuals and families throughout Virginia Beach for more than 30 years. We do everything possible to take the stress off of our clients so they can focus on their recovery, not the complexities of pursuing a car accident claim. When you need an attorney who will fight for your rights to get the compensation you deserve, we’re the team to trust!
Throughout the years, our firm has earned our clients’ trust because we consistently provide:
- Unmatched customer service. We believe that you should always feel like your case is our top priority.
- A true commitment to communication. Your attorney will give you regular updates on the status of your case, and we are always available to take your call and answer questions.
- Extensive experience and resources. With 11 trial attorneys and deep roots in the Virginia Beach area, we offer the power of a big-city firm but the personalized feel of a hometown firm.
Don’t let insurance companies intimidate you into settling for less than what you deserve. When you’ve been injured in a car accident, through no fault of your own — including a hit-and-run incident, you deserve the best representation. In Virginia Beach, VA, that representation is through the lawyers at Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C. Call us today for a consultation.
Get Help from our Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, you should not try to deal with the personal injury claim on your own. Insurance companies have teams of attorneys working to protect their interests. You should, too. Schedule a free consultation with our experienced Virginia Beach car accident lawyers today. Let us help you tell your story. Call the law offices of Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert, & Woodward, P.C. today for help getting the compensation you deserve.
COMMON INJURIES RESULTING FROM CAR ACCIDENTS
An injury from an auto accident can occur anywhere on the body, so it’s important not to ignore certain symptoms you may be experiencing, even days after the accident took place. Here are several common injuries we see regularly that usually are the result of a car collision:
- Whiplash: Whiplash is a soft tissue injury that occurs when the head and neck are forcefully and rapidly jerked back and forth, causing strain or sprain in the neck muscles and ligaments. Symptoms may include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and restricted movement.
- Fractures: Car accidents can lead to fractures or broken bones in various parts of the body, such as the arms, legs, ribs, or pelvis. Fractures can range from hairline cracks to complete breaks, causing pain, swelling, deformity, and limited mobility.
- Head Injuries: Car accidents can result in traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), ranging from mild concussions to severe brain damage. Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, confusion, memory problems, mood changes, and loss of consciousness.
- Back and Spinal Cord Injuries: Car accidents can cause injuries to the back and spinal cord, leading to conditions like herniated discs, spinal fractures, or spinal cord damage. These injuries may result in chronic pain, limited mobility, paralysis, or loss of sensation in various body parts.
- Chest Injuries: The impact of a car accident can cause chest injuries, such as broken ribs, collapsed lungs, or internal organ damage. Symptoms may include sharp chest pain, difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, or organ dysfunction.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Car accidents frequently cause soft tissue injuries, including contusions, bruises, strains, and sprains. These injuries can affect muscles, tendons, and ligaments, leading to pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited range of motion.
- Internal Injuries: Car accidents can cause internal injuries, such as internal bleeding, organ damage, or punctured organs. Internal injuries may not always be immediately apparent but can cause life-threatening complications if left untreated.
- Facial Injuries: Car accidents can result in facial injuries, including cuts, lacerations, bruising, fractures, or dental injuries. These injuries can cause pain, swelling, disfigurement, and potential long-term cosmetic or functional issues.
- Psychological Trauma: Car accidents can have a profound psychological impact, causing emotional distress, anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or phobias related to driving or accidents.
- Burn Injuries: In high-impact or fiery accidents, victims may suffer burns from contact with hot surfaces, flames, or chemicals. Burns can range from first-degree (superficial) to third-degree (deep and severe), requiring medical attention and possibly long-term rehabilitation.
Virginia, car accident cases are typically based on a theory of negligence or carelessness. Generally, a person may be considered negligent if they fail to act with the level of care that a reasonable person would use in a similar situation.
To win a personal injury lawsuit, you must prove that the other party was negligent in some way. Negligence has four elements:
- Duty: the at-fault party (defendant) owed the victim (plaintiff) a duty of care
- Breach: the defendant breached (violated) that duty of care in some way
- Causation: the breach was the proximate (but for) cause of the accident
- Damages: the victim suffered losses as a result
A driver can be negligent in any number of ways. For example, a person who causes a wreck while texting and driving – in violation of Virginia’s distracted driving laws – could be considered negligent. Similarly, if a person is negligent if they pull out without checking both ways and cause a crash.
In some cases, a plaintiff doesn’t have to prove that the defendant was negligent if they violate state law or regulation, and that violation causes an accident. Under Virginia’s negligence per se laws, you can recover financial compensation if you can show:
- The defendant violated a statute enacted for public safety;
- The plaintiff belongs to a class of person for whose benefit the statute was enacted;
- The harm that the plaintiff suffered was the type of harm that the statute was intended to prevent; and
- The violation was the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries.
Consider Virginia’s laws against driving at excessive rates of speed, which are meant to protect other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists from harm. If a driver is speeding and rear-ends another vehicle because they couldn’t stop in time, they may be held liable under a theory of negligence per se. However, if speeding wasn’t the direct cause of the accident, then the plaintiff may not be able to take advantage of this law.
While most Virginia Beach car accident cases involve negligence, there are some situations where the at-fault driver acted recklessly or intentionally – such as drunk driving accidents. In these cases, the injury victim may be able to recover compensation for their injuries and additional compensation meant to punish the wrongdoer.
Proving negligence can be complicated, particularly in cases involving hit and runs, single vehicle crashes, or multi-vehicle accidents. A skilled Virginia Beach car accident lawyer can work with you to help you get maximum compensation for your injuries.
