Virginia Beach Car Accidents Lawyer

Negligence Often Plays a Role in Serious Accidents in Virginia Beach

• Distracted Driving- Texting and driving or talking on the phone while driving are an increasing cause of serious injury accidents in the United States. Statistics have shown that distracted driving is the cause of 5,500 deaths and 450,000 injuries each year.
• Reckless Driving- When drivers intentionally go through a red light or stop sign at an intersection, race other cars on the road or make dangerous passes on two-lane roads, they clearly show no care for others’ safety. This type of behavior is extremely dangerous and can cause a serious motor vehicle accident.
• Fatigued Driving- This is not just falling asleep at the wheel. Fatigued driving also occurs when a person is too tired to drive safely because they lack alertness. In the United States, 56,000 sleep-related car accidents occur annually. They cause nearly 40,000 injuries and 1,150 deaths.
• Speeding- Going over the speed limit and causing an accident is automatically deemed as negligence. But this is not the only kind of speeding. Going too fast for weather conditions such as rain, snow, fog, or smoke can count as speeding too.
• Drunk Driving- Despite anti-drunk driving laws, heavy law enforcement, and heightened public awareness campaigns, drunk drivers still cause car accidents. Many of the 8,500 alcohol-related crashes in Virginia involved drivers with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal limit of 0.08%.
• Drugged Driving- The problem of people getting behind the wheel after consuming illegal or prescription drugs is just as serious as drunk driving. These substances severely impair one’s ability to safely operate a vehicle.

Most Common Injuries Associated with Car Accidents in Hampton Roads

• Traumatic Brain Injuries- Traumatic brain injuries are not only life-threatening, but they are impairing. These injuries can include brain hemorrhage, edema, or brain cell damage. Some people never fully recover, while others take months to years of rehabilitation and treatment. The costs are huge, and the pain and suffering are even bigger.
• Broken Bones- Our bones are the very structure of our bodies. Broken bones are excruciatingly painful and can even be life-threatening. Broken bones take time to heal causing the victim to miss work while recovering.  That means lost wages and stacking medical bills.
• Back Injuries- Just like traumatic brain injuries, back injuries are very dangerous. This could be anything from a strained muscle to a spinal cord injury. Any injury to the vertebrae, spinal cord, or the nerves in the surrounding area can result in life-changing injuries or death.
• Internal Injuries- Internal injuries are serious as well as dangerous. They affect the various internal organs such as the lungs, liver, or spleen. Undetected, the consequences can be life-threatening. This is why it is recommended that car accident victims go to a hospital for a medical consultation. These consultations detect internal bleeding that is a result of internal injuries.
• Facial Disfigurement- Many car accident victims end up with facial injuries. Sometimes, the airbags full of dust and chemicals cause burns and bruises. Other times, glass pieces from the windshield cut through their skin. Hitting the dashboard can be traumatic as well. Other injuries take time but eventually heal without consequences. Facial disfigurement, besides physical pain and suffering, brings about psychological torment. It causes the sufferer to lose their self-confidence.
• Death- Sometimes, even the best doctors in the world can’t save a car accident victim. While every life is priceless, the victim’s family should receive compensation for their loss. The value of the compensation weighs heavily on how the accident occurred, any available evidence, and the experience of their car accident attorney.

Know Your Rights After an Accident In Virginia

• Pain And Suffering- Pain and suffering is the legal term for the physical and emotional stress caused by an injury. Some damages that might come under this category would be various aches, temporary and permanent limitations on activity, potential shortening of life, depression, or scarring.
• Past Medical Costs- When you are injured in an accident due to negligence, you are entitled to receive compensation for medical expenses from the injuries you suffer in that accident, among other losses. Documentation for expenses such as doctor bills, pharmaceutical bills, nursing services, and more must be provided and show that they were for injuries caused by the accident.
• Future Medical Costs- Typically, future medical costs are needed for serious injuries or long-term chronic conditions that result from the injuries suffered in the accident. You can recover for future medical expenses if you prove that you will need continued medical care because of the injury suffered in the accident, based on the estimated cost of that care. This is done normally with the help of expert medical testimony.
• Lost Wages- Suffering injuries from an accident will require you to take some time off of work, depending on the severity of the injuries. Most accident injuries require months to years to recover, and others never fully recover. Accident victims are entitled to compensation for their lost wages during the time of recovery.
• Funeral Expenses- If a loved one’s life was lost as a result of a car crash, the victim’s family may be able to receive reimbursement for the deceased’s funeral costs as well as grief.

What Can You Do At The Scene Of An Accident?

• Stop immediately as safely as possible
• Call the police as soon as you can
• If there are injuries, call for medical help
• If capable and the scene is safe, take photos of the scene
• Collect information from all drivers involved in the accident
• Cooperate with officers and tell the truth
• Provide insurance information
• Allow medical responders to check for injuries
• If medical responders advise going to the emergency room, do as they say

Liability in Car Accident Claims

Talking With a Car Accident Lawyer In Virginia Beach