(757) 552-6055If you were involved in a car accident, you may think that you can competently handle the claim on your own. You might worry about a lawyer taking part of your compensation and want to avoid this. However, by handling your own car accident claim, you might be jeopardizing it in ways that you don’t […]
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What to Do After a Dog Bite
Approximately 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States each year with up to 800,000 of these incidents requiring medical assistance, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Most victims are children, while many others are postal workers. Because of the possibility of being bitten by a dog at some point in […]
If My Child Trespasses and Gets Injured, Can I Still Sue?
While the general rule is that property owners do not owe a duty to trespassers much beyond not doing things to intentionally hurt them, the law has long recognized the vulnerability of and the need to protect children. Under a legal doctrine called “attractive nuisance” even if your child was on property he or she […]
Is the Employer of an At-Fault Driver Legally Liable for Your Auto Accident Injuries?
Virginia is a fault state for auto accidents. If you receive injuries in a Virginia accident, you can recover compensation from the driver whose negligence caused the accident. In some situations, you also may hold the employer of an at-fault driver legally liable for your auto accident injuries. Legal Doctrine of Respondeat Superior Virginia courts […]
6 Reasons You Should Not Negotiate Your Own Personal Injury Settlement
If you received injuries in an accident and someone else is at fault, you may wonder if you should try to resolve the claim yourself, rather than having a lawyer represent you. If you have only minor injuries, settling your own claim may result in an acceptable outcome. However, if your injuries are severe, attempting […]
When Do Subrogation and Liens Reduce Your Virginia Personal Injury Compensation?
When you receive injuries in an accident, your health insurance usually pays your medical expenses. If you then make a personal injury claim and get money for those expenses from the insurance company of a person who caused the accident, you may discover that subrogation and liens reduce your Virginia personal injury compensation. That’s because […]
Liability for Injuries From Rental Electric Scooter Accidents in Virginia
When clusters of Bird rental electric scooters appeared overnight on sidewalks in Virginia Beach and Norfolk a few months ago, officials in both cities moved quickly to impound the scooters and fine the scooter company. Now, the scooters are back in limited use. Already, they are causing accidents and injuries, raising an important question: What […]
Car Accident Injury Risks for Pregnant Women (and Precautions to Minimize Those Risks)
Expectant mothers and their babies face unique risks in an auto accident. If you are pregnant — or a family member or friend is expecting — understanding the special car accident injury risks for pregnant women helps you identify the signs of an injury if a crash occurs. You can take steps to minimize the […]
Significant Change in Virginia Child Car Seat Law Takes Effect in 2019
Children of any age are at high risk for injury when a car accident occurs — and the smaller the child, the higher the risk. An important change in the Virginia child car seat law addresses the extremely high risk of injury for very small children and takes effect later this year. Virginia Child Car […]
When Can You Sue the Virginia Government for a Personal Injury?
Claims for injuries against a government are very different from personal injury claims involving two private parties. If you suffer an injury because of government or government employee action or inaction, whether you can sue the government depends entirely on the facts and circumstances surrounding the injury or accident — including which government may be […]
What Are the Common Causes of Truck Accidents?
Truck accidents frequently cause severe injuries and fatalities to occupants of passenger vehicles. If you understand the common causes of truck accidents, you protect yourself and your passengers. Are Truck Accidents Always the Truck Driver’s Fault? According to 2017 crash statistics from the Virginia Department of Transportation, the blame for roughly half of all Virginia […]
Who’s At Fault in a T-Bone Accident?
T-bone crashes, also often called side impact or broadside accidents, occur frequently. This type of accident can cause severe injuries. In Virginia, the at-fault driver must compensate the injured victims — but how do you know who’s at fault in a T-bone accident? How T-Bone Accidents Happen A T-bone accident happens when the front of […]
When Do You Have a Personal Injury Case?
Negligence does not necessarily involve the intention to cause harm. It can arise from reckless or careless conduct as well. However, the existence of negligence is not sufficient to provide the basis for a personal injury case. The person’s negligence also must actually cause the injuries suffered. The circumstances of an accident or injury determine whether […]
Negligence, Gross Negligence, Willful and Wanton Negligence in Virginia: What Is The Difference?
In Virginia personal injury law, there are three different types of negligence: Ordinary or simple negligence, gross negligence, and willful and wanton negligence. Which type of negligence exists in a case sometimes plays a significant role in determining the outcome and amount of compensation. Defining Types of Negligence Personal injury cases in Virginia take many different […]
Common Hunting Accident Injuries (and How to Avoid Them)
Hunting accidents can and do happen — and they can have tragic consequences. Safety awareness is an essential part of hunting. As a hunter, knowing common hunting accident injuries helps you avoid circumstances that lead to hunting injuries. Even seasoned hunters may be surprised by the most frequent cause of hunting accident injuries. Hunting Accidents […]
What Is the Virginia Statute of Limitations for a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
If you have a potential legal claim, the law imposes a deadline for asserting your rights. The term for the deadline is statute of limitations. If you suffered injuries caused by someone else, you must make sure that you assert your claim for compensation before the time limit expires. Understanding the Virginia statute of limitations for […]
A Car Owner Can Be Liable for Accident Injuries — Even If the Owner Was Not Driving
In most Virginia car accidents, the driver at fault is responsible for compensating injured victims. In some situations, however, the car owner also may be liable for accident injuries. That can be true even if the owner was not present and was not driving the car. Virginia courts recognize a doctrine called negligent entrustment that imposes […]
When Is a Virginia Property Owner Liable for Injuries to Hunters Under the Recreational Use Statute?
With our popular Virginia hunting season just around the corner, landowners and hunters should know about the state’s law relating to property owner liability for injuries to hunters. The same rules also apply to injuries suffered by other recreational users in the state. The area of law referred to as premises liability includes general principles for determining […]
Left-Turn Accidents: Is the Turning Driver Always At Fault?
All drivers need to know basic rules of the road to stay safe. There is one rule you may not know: When a left-turn accident happens, the turning driver is almost always at fault. So, anytime you make a left turn, exercise extra care. If an accident occurs, you may be legally liable for compensating injured […]
Dog Bite Injuries: Virginia’s One Bite Rule
In 2018, Virginia became the first state to enact a law requiring animal adoption agencies to disclose a dog’s bite history to prospective adopters. (We mentioned this legislation and the case that led to it in a previous blog post.) Yet the state lags behind other states in making owners of dogs legally liable for […]
