When a victim has been injured in an accident caused by another party, Virginia law allows them to seek financial compensation for the losses the injuries have caused them. These losses can include economical, such as medical expenses and lost wages, as well as non-economical, such as pain, suffering, and emotional anguish.
Although there is nothing in the statute that states a person needs a personal injury attorney when pursuing a claim, the truth is that a victim will likely be more successful in their claim and receive the compensation they deserve for their losses if they have a Virginia injury attorney advocating for them.
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When choosing an attorney, it is important for a victim to feel comfortable and confident with the lawyer they choose to represent them. It is recommended that a victim meets with several Virginia accident attorneys before making their decision.
The majority of accident attorneys do not charge for an initial consultation. In fact, many work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they do not get paid unless they are successful in the legal action. Consultations are also confidential, so even if you meet with an attorney and decide to retain another, anything you discussed with them about your situation is private.
When meeting with potential attorneys, the following can help you decide if the attorney is the right one for you.
Make Sure to Bring All Documents from the Incident with You
Before you head to your consultations, you will want to gather all of the documents you have that are related to the incident or accident that caused your injuries. These documents will provide information about the accident, as well as what your expenses/losses have been thus far:
- Police report about the accident
- Incident report (if the accident took place at a business, work, etc.)
- All medical reports and physician notes
- All medical bills, including doctor visits, hospital stays, medication, and medical equipment
- Pay stubs showing lost wages and lost benefits
- Receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries
- Any other documents you think may be pertinent to your case
Questions for the Attorney
It is also a good idea before you meet with an attorney to write down some notes about the accident. This helps to not only refresh your memory but also allows you to make sure you have the details of the accident written down. Your attorney will need these details when preparing the case.
It is also a good idea to write down any questions you may have for the attorney in order to ensure you do not forget to ask, which can be easy to do when discussing an overwhelming and traumatic event.
Some questions which may apply to your case that you may want to confirm include the following:
- Do you work on a contingency fee basis or do you charge an hourly fee? How will the fee be calculated?
- Are there costs associated with my case that I will have to pay out-of-pocket?
- How many cases like mine have you handled?
- How long will it take for my case to resolve?
- How much is my case worth?
- How likely is a successful result?
Contact a Virginia Accident Attorney
Whether the injury happened in a vehicle accident, from a defective product, or some other type of incident, a Virginia accident attorney can assist you in collecting financial compensation for the losses you have suffered.
The Virginia beach personal injury attorneys from Shapiro & Appleton have been advocating for victims and their families for more than 30 years and will use all available resources to obtain the best result possible for the circumstances of your injury case. Call our office today at (833) 997-1774 for a free case evaluation.