If you have recently been injured in some type of accident, it is likely you are feeling pretty overwhelmed. Not only are you in pain, but you are dealing with phone calls and paperwork requests from insurance companies, physicians, and possibly the police department. In your current state of mind, how can you be sure you are taking actions that will be best for you in the long term? The best way to know for sure is to hire an experienced personal injury attorney. Below are just a few of the … [Read more...]
What happens if Your Child is injured at a Sports Facility?
Each year, more than 3.5 million children age 14 and under receive medical treatment for sports related injuries. As a parent, the thought of your child suffering a sports related injury is likely one of your major fears. After all, nobody wants to see their child going through physical and emotional pain. If such an incident occurs in your family, you may wonder if you have any legal recourse against the facility in which the injury occurred. The answer depends upon if the injury was the … [Read more...]
Is Getting Sick on a Cruise Ship Grounds for a Lawsuit?
If illness has ruined your well-deserved vacation on a cruise ship, you may wonder if you are entitled to sue the cruise line for medical expenses and other damages which occurred as a result. Just as with any personal injury case, your ability to file a lawsuit against the cruise line depends on if you can prove that 1) The cruise line or one of its employees was negligent (did not exercise reasonable care), and 2) That negligence caused your illness. There are three main causes of illness … [Read more...]
Auto Accidents and Your Insurance Rates
If you are involved in an auto accident, chances are you will be very grateful to have your insurance company on your side as they help you work through the many decisions you need to make after the fact. Your insurance company will talk you through the process of getting your car inspected and then either repaired or replaced to get you safely back out on the road again. However, once the initial shock of the car accident has worn off, you may be wondering if what occurred will mean an … [Read more...]
School Bus Accidents
Does your child ride the school bus to school each day? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that school buses are the safest mode of transportation for getting children back and forth to school. They have found students are 50 times more likely to arrive alive if they take the bus than if they drive themselves, are driven by a family member, or ride with friends. However, no mode of transportation is perfect. NHTSA also reports that from 2004-2013, there were … [Read more...]
Does Driving Without Insurance Harm My Personal Injury Claim?
It is important to note that all drivers should carry insurance. First, the state of Virginia requires that drivers must have a way to pay for injuries or property damage that result from a car accident. You can do this by either: 1) Paying an uninsured driver’s fee of $500, which must be paid each time you renew your vehicle’s license plates, or 2) Purchasing car insurance with a minimum coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury/death of one person, $50,000 for bodily injury/death of two or more … [Read more...]
Traumatic Brain Injuries
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year. Of those, 1.365 million result in emergency room treatment, 275,000 result in hospitalization, and 52,000 result in death. Over 35 percent of TBIs are caused by slip and fall accidents, and more than 17 percent are the result of automobile accidents. Traumatic brain injuries are categorized as mild, moderate, or severe, as determined by the … [Read more...]
Car Accidents Involving Pedestrians
The number of pedestrians involved in automobile accidents each year is staggering. According to the Center for Disease Control, 4,743 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in 2012, and another 76,000 were injured. This means that there is one automobile-related pedestrian death every 2 hours and one injury every 7 minutes in the United States. Naturally, whether you are in the role of driver or pedestrian, this is the type of accident you would like to avoid. As a driver, it is … [Read more...]
Personal Injury Awards and Bankruptcy
Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows you as an individual to cancel out many, and sometimes all, of your debts. When you file for bankruptcy, you will be asked to inform the court of any property you own (both land and personal property, such as clothing and jewelry), your income, your living expenses, your debts, and two years’ worth of expenses and information on the sale or exchange of property. People filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy often wonder if they are required to disclose money … [Read more...]
Do I Need a Lawyer Even if I Have Insurance?
Simply put, even when you have insurance, a personal injury lawyer will be able to simplify your journey through the legal process. Attorneys are allowed to collect evidence on your behalf, record eyewitness statements, file legal paperwork, and negotiate with the insurance companies of other parties involved. All of this enables you to better focus on your mental and physical health in the aftermath of your accident. Below are some more detailed reasons why hiring a personal injury lawyer … [Read more...]