Personal Injury Law in Norfolk, VA

Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Norfolk? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Norfolk, VA can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law in Norfolk relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.

Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Norfolk, VA

Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.

A few of the most common personal injury claims are:

  • Car Accidents
  • Slip and Fall
  • Dog Bites
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Workplace Accidents
  • Burn Injuries

Most Common Injuries in Norfolk 

DriveSmart Virginia echoed a study from the CDC that states auto accidents, generally due to recklessness or alcohol impairment, are the leading cause of injury and death in Virginia. This holds true for Norfolk, where the shipping industry employs thousands throughout the city.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Norfolk, VA

Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Virginia

A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either settlement or a court appearance.

The Norfolk Circuit Court generally hears the personal injury claims filed by residents of the county. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you in these matters.

Virginia Personal Injury Settlement

With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and factors that impact the final amount.

The City of Norfolk provides online forms in order to report personal injuries that take place on city property. However, due to the individual nature of personal injury claims, there are too many factors to have a reliable average of personal injury settlements or awards. It should be noted that 90% of personal injury claims never go to court, and instead end in settlements.

If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in VA, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all.

Damage Awards in Virginia

If your Virginia personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted.

Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses.

General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant compensate you for the pain and anguish.

Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. 

Virginia has no caps in place for damages awarded due to pain and suffering, except for the statutes capping medical malpractice suits. In this case, there is a cap of $2 million in place.

Statute of Limitations in Norfolk, VA Personal Injury Law?

The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized.

Virginia has a 2-year statute of limitations for a personal injury claim. Norfolk residents must file within this time frame, or risk having it dismissed by the court.

We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury. 

Work With an Experienced Norfolk, VA Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Norfolk against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Virginia state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!

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