A personal injury accident can happen in many circumstances, from driving through the busy city streets of downtown Arlington to slipping on a wet floor at work. Another party’s carelessness can leave you, the victim, with serious injuries and high medical bills.
If the accident was not your fault, you shouldn’t be responsible for the medical bills you incur or the treatments you must receive to help you heal. You could be eligible to receive compensation from the party that caused your accident.
If another party caused your accident and injuries, an Arlington personal injury lawyer can help you get relief. Contact Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP today for a free case consultation.
What constitutes a personal injury claim?
The main difference between a regular accident and a potential personal injury case is the way the situation occurred. If another party exhibited reckless behavior or was negligent, causing a dangerous situation to fester, then you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim against the party responsible for your accident.
A personal injury suit allows victims of accidents to claim compensation for their injuries as well as their personal property damage — you may need to repair or replace your car after it was damaged in an accident, and that comes with a hefty price tag.
You may also be eligible for compensation for missed wages from work and a diminished quality of life if your injuries have a profound effect on your life and capabilities.
An Arlington personal injury lawyer can determine the value of your case and what kind of damages you are eligible to collect, then fight to hold the at-fault party financially responsible for their actions.
Personal injury cases are determined by negligence, and in a court of law, your attorney must prove four things to satisfy proof of negligence:
- The defendant had a responsibility to provide a certain level of care toward others
- The defendant failed to fulfill their duty of care
- Their abandonment of the responsibility of care caused the accident
- The victim suffered financial loss due to the accident
How your Arlington personal injury lawyer will review your case depends on the circumstances that caused it. We will usually investigate the cause of your accident and build a solid case for negligence against the party that caused you harm.
Common Types of Personal Injury Claims in Arlington
Personal injury accidents can happen almost anywhere, from your workplace to an icy sidewalk or wet surface indoors. If you are unsure whether your injuries qualify you to seek damages, consult with an experienced Arlington personal injury lawyer to explore your options.
Some of the most common kinds of cases our law firm handles include harm caused by:
- Pedestrian accidents or bike collisions with a vehicle
- Car, SUV, and motorcycle crashes
- Premises liability accidents, such as a slip and fall or falling down stairs
- Medical misdiagnosis or malpractice
- Malfunctioning consumer product injuries or toxic exposure
- Public transportation accidents, like a bus or light rail
These are not the only kinds of personal injury cases we handle. Our Arlington personal injury lawyers deal with many types of personal injury claims, so call today to see if your case qualifies.
The Virginia Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims Can Affect Your Case
Virginia has a time limit — a statute of limitations — for a victim in a personal injury case to file a lawsuit for damages. It’s just two years from the date of the accident, so if you do not file your claim in time, there is a good chance that it will be dismissed, no matter how badly you were injured or how egregiously the other party behaved.
There is an exception to the personal injury statute of limitations, though. If you developed a disease because of medical misdiagnosis or through prolonged exposure to a contaminated product, the statute of limitations to file your case begins when you are diagnosed or discover the symptoms, not when you had your initial exposure.
The statute of limitations matters. The other party’s insurance company will likely be paying for your settlement, and insurance companies typically seek to pay as little as possible if they have to pay at all. They may delay processing a claim you file on your own, waiting for the statute of limitations to expire.
This is why it is so important to talk to a personal injury lawyer as soon as you can about your case. They can work quickly to file your claim before the statute of limitations expires.
Do you need a personal injury lawyer in Arlington, VA?
If you have been hurt in an accident because of another party’s negligence, we may be able to help. Contact Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP today for a free case review.