When to Hire a Chesapeake Car Accident Lawyer

Serious car accidents are not uncommon in Chesapeake, Virginia (VA). In fact, there were 2,521 car crashes and 1,566 injuries in the city of Chesapeake, according to the Virginia DMV. Many of these car wrecks probably occurred on Interstate 264 (I-264), I-464, I-64, U.S. Route 17, Route 460, and Route 168. These are some of the busiest highways and roadways in and around Chesapeake.

Imagine you're driving along I-464 headed towards Great Bridge when another driver slams into the back of your car. The impact is so severe that you suffer whiplash and smacked your head very hard on the driver side window. You get treated at a local hospital, probably Chesapeake Regional Medical Center, and are now faced with trying to sort out all of the important details to figure out what to do next. This is a frustrating and difficult situation to be in with many questions that need to be answered: does the at-fault driver have insurance? How bad is the damage to my vehicle? Who will pay for my medical expenses?

This is the time to hire a Chesapeake car accident lawyer. You need someone who can take some of the burden off your shoulders and make sure you receive proper compensation for your injury, any lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Injuries like whiplash will require rehabilitation and a head injury could cause brain damage and potentially weaken your cognitive functions, along with other very serious side effects. Considering the other driver was at fault, their insurance should pay for your medical bills. But what if the other driver doesn't have insurance? Well, in Virginia (VA) you should have Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage on your insurance policy. This allows you to file a claim against your own insurance company under the UM provisions to recover enough compensation to help with expenses. You can also use this type of insurance if you're the victim of a hit-and-run accident.

What if the at-fault driver in Chesapeake was drunk? This is when we pursue what's called "punitive damages." This is compensation that is a form of punishment against the drunk driver in an effort to dissuade the at-fault driver from ever behaving so recklessly again, and dissuade other drivers from mimicking that behavior.

What if you had a preexisting condition prior to the accident? This does not mean your injury claim is illegitimate. Granted, there's a good chance the insurance defense lawyers will try to use your preexisting condition against you, but we take a different stance on preexisting conditions. If you suffer a head injury in your car wreck, but have a preexisting knee injury, we don't feel that injury is relevant. So, don't think that just because you have a preexisting condition your case is ruined. You probably still have a legitimate injury claim.

This is the type of information and advice you can, and should, receive from a Chesapeake car accident lawyer. If you would like to discuss your situation with us, please feel free to contact our office at 757-460-7776 or fill out the quick contact form on the right side of your screen.