Car accidents in Loudoun County, Virginia are sometimes fatal events. While victims frequently suffer injuries in the immediate aftermath, the consequences of the crash may last for months or years. If you were hurt because of another driver’s negligence, you may be wondering what to do next. Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone. With the trusted personal injury attorneys at Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP on your side, you can get the compensation you need and deserve.
Legal Options After A Car Accident In Loudoun County
After an accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance company will likely contact you to make a settlement offer. Be careful when dealing with any insurance company. Insurers are notorious for making absurdly low settlement offers and even denying legitimate claims. The insurance company may ask you to give a recorded statement. But these statements are routinely used against victims to try to blame them for the accident. You should refer the insurance company to your lawyer.
Your Loudoun County, Virginia car accident attorney will then demand the compensation you deserve. There’s also the possibility of using your uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage if the driver flees the scene, doesn’t have insurance, or doesn’t have enough insurance to pay your damages.
If the insurance company won’t cooperate or refuses to make a fair settlement offer, we will build a case to take to trial.
How Can A Loudoun County, Virginia Car Accident Attorney Help Me?
Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis LLP has experience helping car accident victims get justice for their injuries. Our network of expert witnesses can assist with properly valuing your claim to make sure you get fair compensation. Also, we understand how to build a case in court, what sort of evidence will be necessary to support your claim, and how to obtain that evidence. We know the law and we know how to get results.
Common Causes Of Car Accidents
Holding the other driver responsible for your accident starts with understanding why the wreck happened in the first place. These are a few of the most common reasons car accidents happen:
- Texting while driving. Texting while driving is a nationwide problem that doesn’t show signs of going away. But few people understand the real threat of this negligent behavior. Sending or reading a text message takes your eyes off the road for about five seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the entire length of a football field with your eyes closed.
- Driving under the influence. Everyone knows it’s illegal to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, “drugs” include prescription medications as well, even if the driver is legally using them. Driving under the influence is often accompanied by other dangerous behavior because the driver’s reaction time is significantly impaired.
- Drowsy driving. Studies have demonstrated that driving with inadequate sleep is similar to drunk driving. According to the National Sleep Foundation, driving after being awake for 18 hours straight is like driving with a 0.05 blood alcohol content (0.08 is considered drunk). Delayed reaction times, which increase the risk of a serious or fatal accident, are common with drowsy driving.
- Speeding. Statistics show that speed is responsible for over 25,000 crashes per year in Virginia. When you speed and break the law, you’re automatically considered negligent. But speeding also takes the form of driving too fast for the given environmental conditions, such as traffic density and inclement weather.
- Reckless driving. There are many forms of reckless driving in Loudoun County, Virginia. Excessive speed (20 mph over the posted limit or above 85 mph regardless of the limit) and failure to maintain control of the vehicle are just two of them. “Reckless” means the driver shows disregard for the consequences of his or her actions and indifference to the safety of others.
Damages You May Suffer From A Car Accident
A critical part of your car accident case is thoroughly and accurately establishing your damages. That means understanding the losses you’ve suffered because of the at-fault driver and pinpointing a fair dollar value which will make you whole.
You only have one shot at getting the damages right. Once you settle your case or it goes to trial, you won’t get to ask for more money later. That means if you leave out a certain type of damages or incorrectly calculate their value, you could lose out on compensation you deserve.
These are some of the damages you may be eligible for, depending on the circumstances in your case:
- Medical expenses. These cover a broad range of costs, such as hospitalization, surgeries, follow-up treatments, prescription drug costs, and much more.
- Future medical expenses. You may require physical therapy or rehabilitation, long-term care, or adaptive medical equipment.
- Lost wages. The time you lose from work due to recovering from your accident, medical appointments, and more can be compensated.
- Lost future earnings. You may not be able to work at the same level of productivity as before your accident, or you could have to walk away from a promising career and thereby lose significant sums of money.
- Pain and suffering. This category includes the physical pain you will experience long after the accident, plus emotional suffering.
- Wrongful death. If the accident victim dies, his or her family may have a wrongful death claim against the responsible driver.
Contact Our Loudoun County, Virginia Car Accident Attorney Today
Our attorneys have fought for the rights of car accident victims for over 40 years. When you retain us as your law firm, you have a trusted ally that will walk with you each step of the way. If you or a loved one were hurt by an irresponsible driver, give us a call today to get started on your case.