Virginia Beach Car Accident Lawyers

General Information About Car Accidents

Car accidents can divide our lives into before and after when we will be forced to restore our health and damaged property. Sometimes this is difficult to do due to injuries or lack of resources. Virginia Beach car accident lawyers can help in this situation. They will handle all legal issues related to the accident. This will allow you to focus on your recovery after the accident.

How Many Car Accidents Happen in Virginia Beach

According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), there were 5,194 crashes in Virginia Beach in 2023:

  • Fatal – 36
  • Injury – 1,584
  • Property Damage – 3,574

Unfortunately, there were no casualties:

  • Fatalities – 36
  • Injuries – 2,578

Causes of Car Accidents and Dangerous Places

According to the 2023 DMV report in Virginia Beach, the most common causes of accidents were:

Alcohol Related362
Speed Related727
Unrestrained Person Involved119
Pedestrian Involved90
Distraction Involved776
Driver Cell Phone Involved52
Driver Texting Involved6
Teen (15-19) Driver Involved861
Mature (65+) Driver Involved1083
Bicycle Involved47
Moped Involved18
Motorcycle Involved124
Large Truck Involved27
Deer Involved14
Train Involved1

You can also highlight the most dangerous intersections in Virginia Beach for 2023:

  • Princess Anne rd and Baxter rd
  • Independence blvd and Columbus st
  • Virginia Beach blvd and Witchduck rd
  • Virginia Beach blvd and Malibu dr
  • First Colonial rd and Virginia Beach blvd
  • Virginia Beach blvd and Thalia rd
  • Ferrell pkwy and Indian River rd
  • Northampton blvd and Diamond Springs rd
  • Virginia Beach blvd and Central Park ave
  • Lynnhaven pkwy and Rosemont rd.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents often cause a variety of injuries. Injuries of varying types and severity may occur depending on various factors, such as the travel speed or collision. All injuries can be divided into general categories:

  • traumatic brain injuries
  • back injuries
  • whiplash
  • bone fractures
  • concussion
  • internal organ injuries
  • limb amputation
  • rib fractures
  • spinal cord injuries
  • lacerations
  • nerves damage
  • burns
  • paralysis.

Degree of Fault and Insurance in Virginia Beach

Virginia is a fault state meaning that the at-fault party is financially responsible for the injuries caused.

The rule of pure negligence applies. Each party’s guilt percentage is assessed; if a party is at least 1% guilty, it will be prohibited from demanding compensation.

The statute of limitations in Virginia Beach is two years from the accident date.

In Virginia Beach, the only mandatory uninsured vehicle fee is $500. A car insurance policy is recommended, but not required. It has minimum limits:

  • $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person
  • $50,000 for bodily injury for the entire incident
  • $20,000 for property damage.

Why Hire Car Accident Lawyers in Virginia Beach

Car accident lawyers in Virginia Beach can help in many cases, such as when the other party puts the blame on you or when the insurance company offers a low level of compensation.

The main task for lawyers will be to prove your innocence. To do this, they conduct a thorough investigation of the accident. They collect various evidence and study the police report and witness statements. If necessary, specialists in accident reconstruction are involved. To formulate a claim, multiple reports from medical specialists are requested.

Virginia Beach Car Accident Lawyers know all the subtleties and tricks that insurance companies resort to to deny your claim or significantly reduce its level. Therefore, they negotiate based on the collected case materials. Very often such negotiations lead to a positive result and settlement of the case.

Cases where negotiations reach an impasse are referred to court. Experienced car accident lawyers in Virginia Beach have a thorough knowledge of local laws and procedures. Therefore, they are always ready to defend the interests of their clients in court and prove to the jury the fairness of the claims.

Helpful Skills for Virginia Beach Car Accident Lawyers

Analytical thinking
When conducting an investigation and collecting evidence, it is necessary to clearly understand which factors and evidence improve the client’s position, and which may be ambiguous or interpreted differently. Through analysis, only useful evidence can be selected when forming a case.

Ability to persuade
A handy skill for lawyers. He assists car accident lawyers in Virginia Beach throughout the process, from persuading a client to enter into an employment contract and negotiating with an insurance company to presenting a case to a jury.

Understanding client needs
Only a good lawyer will be able to listen and understand all the experiences and needs of the client. This will help the client feel supported by the lawyer. It can also help the lawyer convey the client’s concerns to the jury and tip the scales in his favor.

How to Find Car Accident Lawyers in Virginia Beach

In the modern world, the most effective search will be on the Internet:

social networks: go to various legal forums and groups, ask questions, and ask for recommendations on car accident lawyers in Virginia Beach

specialized directories: look for information in directories like Justia or FindLaw, and use various search filters to find lawyers in your area

local firms: visit the websites of local law firms and read their lawyers’ experiences and client reviews.

Do not abandon simple and classic search methods:

personal recommendations: ask friends, co-workers, or family to recommend car accident lawyers they have hired.

local advertising: view local media and call contacts, ask questions, and schedule consultations

initial consultations: go to meetings with Virginia Beach car accident lawyers, discuss your case with them, and choose the one who inspires you with more confidence.

What Should I Do After a Car Accident

Seek medical help and help others involved in the accident get medical help. It is important to identify injuries early and begin treatment. This will also help you link your injury to the accident and obtain compensation.

Move to a safe place to avoid another accident. Mark the location of the accident with hazard lights on the vehicles involved in the accident. This will allow other drivers to avoid collisions with stationary vehicles.

Call the police at the scene of the accident and wait for them to arrive. Get an incident report from them. This can be important evidence in your case.

Notify your insurance company.

Collect all possible information about the accident. Take photos of damage to cars, braking distances, and road signs. Exchange all information with others involved in the accident. Save contact details of witnesses.

Consult a car accident lawyer.

What Not to Do After a Car Accident

To admit guilt
You cannot admit guilt of any kind. When communicating with other participants in the accident, representatives of the insurance company, or giving statements to the police, tell only the facts. Do not judge your actions during an accident. Any hint that you admit guilt can be used against you in the future.

Agree to a quick settlement
Insurance companies primarily care about their profits and therefore try to underestimate the level of compensation. Contact a car accident lawyer in Virginia Beach. He will help evaluate your case. You can then decide whether to accept the quick settlement offer.

Discuss your case on social networks
Social networks often help us in many matters. But in this case, it is necessary to refrain from discussing your case. All statements, assessments, and assumptions can harm your position.

Car Accident Compensations

Virginia Beach provides the ability to obtain compensation for economic and non-economic damages, as well as punitive damages.

Economic damage usually includes everything that can be calculated and supported by checks or invoices:

  • material damage
  • medical expenses
  • lost wages
  • rehabilitation cost
  • other financial costs incurred due to the accident.

Non-economic damage is more difficult to calculate; you can only estimate:

  • loss of quality of life
  • pain and suffering
  • loss of consortium.

Punitive damages are used only to punish the guilty party. They are used extremely rarely due to the difficulty of proving the intentionality of the culprit’s actions.

Responsible Driving Can Prevent Car Accidents

Follow traffic rules.

Avoid distractions when driving.

Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Consider weather conditions when driving.

Eliminate aggressive driving style

While driving, pay full attention to the road situation.

Use only a serviceable vehicle.

FAQs

Is it necessary to hire a lawyer after a car accident in Virginia Beach?

It’s not obligatory. However, hiring a Virginia Beach car accident lawyer can greatly improve your chances of receiving adequate compensation.

Will I have to go to court if I hire car accident lawyer in Virginia Beach?

Not necessary. Many cases of road accidents are successfully settled through negotiations with the insurance company. The case may go to court if negotiations are unsuccessful.

How much compensation can I expect for a car accident claim?

The amount of compensation depends on the severity of your injuries, the extent of property damage, lost wages, and several other factors. Your lawyer will evaluate the details of your case and work to secure the maximum compensation possible.