Injured In A Motor-Vehicle Accident? We Will Protect Your Rights
The Law Offices of Locklin & Coleman, PLLC, stands up for your rights when you or a family member is injured in a motor vehicle accident. We are committed to holding the negligent party responsible for full compensation for your injuries and losses.
After an automobile crash, we strongly suggest you get legal advice before talking to anyone else about the incident. Under Virginia law, motor vehicle accident victims may not be able to recover damages if they are found to be even 1 percent at fault. Anything you say to police, witnesses or your insurance agent could hurt your personal injury claim. Call 703-214-1688 for a free consultation.
The Law Offices of Locklin & Coleman, PLLC, is an established personal injury law firm in Manassas, representing clients throughout Northern Virginia . We have recovered notable verdicts and settlements for drivers, passengers or pedestrians in all types of motor vehicle accidents:
- Auto accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Injuries caused by drunk drivers
- Train or bus accidents
- Boat accidents
Commitment to Full Compensation for Car Accident Victims
Our highly experienced attorneys work to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, future health care costs, disabilities, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life. This includes the ongoing care and lost future earnings individuals suffer from a catastrophic injury, such as a brain injury, spinal cord injury or traumatic amputation. We also handle complex auto accident cases involving leg and hip fractures, neck and back injuries, and other serious injuries.
Our personal injury law firm offers unyielding advocacy for the families of fatal car accident and fatal commercial truck accident victims. We provide compassionate guidance to families coping with the wrongful death of a family member.
What To Do After a Car Accident
When you are involved in a car accident or truck accident, it is easy to get shaken up and answer any questions that are being asked of you without considering the ramifications. However, anything you say now could later be used by the insurance company to deny your claim for personal injury compensation.
There are important steps you can take after a car accident or any other accident to ensure your rights are preserved.
- Collect information from other drivers and witnesses: Collect contact information (business cards, when possible) for everyone involved in the accident and everyone who witnessed the auto accident. Evidence can quickly be lost following a car accident. It is important for your lawyer to talk with witnesses as soon as possible after the car crash, before memories fade.
- Take pictures: Personal injury lawsuits can take months and even years to be resolved. It is important to have pictures that illustrate the extent of vehicle damage, the accident scene, the extent of your injuries, the recovery progression of your injuries, etc. These pictures will be an invaluable resource when preparing your claim.
- Treat injuries with a specialist: It is important to seek proper medical attention following the accident, even if injuries are not yet apparent. When injuries have been identified, such as an orthopedic injury, spinal cord injury or head injury, it is critical to treat with a specialist. Not only will this assure you receive the proper medical treatment necessary, this will assure you that your doctor will fully understand and document the full extent of your injuries — a critical component in ensuring you receive the full compensation you are entitled.
- Document everything: From writing down everything you can recall about the accident (as soon as possible after the accident) to logging doctor appointments, mileage, medical treatments or symptoms, it is important to keep a journal of everything related to your accident, your injuries and your treatment.
- Recognize that the insurance representative is NOT on your side: The insurance adjuster has a sole purpose — to identify means for denying or reducing the amount paid on your claim. If the insurance company determines that you are even 1 percent at fault for the accident, you may not be entitled to any compensation. Therefore, it is important to avoid making any recorded statements about the accident or your injuries without first consulting an attorney.
- Hire an experienced auto accident lawyer: It is critical to hire a personal injury lawyer with the experience to counter the insurance adjuster’s efforts and who knows what it takes to maximize your compensation.
Our experienced attorneys have the skill, commitment and resources to help clients succeed in recovering the full compensation they are entitled after a car or truck accident.
Medical care should be an essential part of your post-accident plan. While there are a lot of other issues you need to address, such as repairs to your vehicle or finding alternate means of transportation, you still need to make sure you know exactly what injuries happened in the accident in order to be able to recover compensation for those injuries.
At The Law Offices of Locklin & Coleman, PLLC, we have seen many clients come to us with great cases that have been compromised due to the lack of evidence needed to connect injuries to an accident. We wanted to provide some basic information below to serve as a reminder to help you with your Virginia motor vehicle accident claim.
Internal Injuries Can Be Difficult To Diagnose, Which Can Impact The Compensation You Receive
Head injuries and other internal injuries often linger long after an accident without any major symptoms present. They can suddenly become extremely serious without any warning. It is extremely important to talk to your doctor about the facts of your accident, so that the examination you undergo can check for these more serious injuries.
Even minor inconveniences can become big deals. For example, let’s say after a crash you hear a crack in your knee when you walk. It didn’t make that sound before the accident, but now it makes noise almost every time you move. It doesn’t hurt, so you pay little attention to it.
Down the road, that crack can become a potential tear that needs surgery. Without any sort of evidence that you can show that connects this injury to the crash, you may be unable to include this surgery as an expense related to the accident. Full disclosures of changes in your health after a crash are necessary to establish the extent of your injuries, as well as the care you will need to recover.
See The Big Picture
The smallest factors can influence the recovery in a case. Knowing how best to protect yourself in these matters is essential to getting the recovery that you need to meet the expenses and damages connected to an accident. You do not want to be forced to deal with these costs out of your own pocket.
Taking proactive steps after an accident can help avoid potential harms that may impact your case’s value. If you contact us soon after a crash, we can help you take the proper actions to build a strong case that maximizes the compensation available to you.
How Do Insurance Companies Evaluate Your Claim?
After an accident, one of the first things that you will often do, if no one is seriously injured and in need of immediate medical care, is exchange insurance information with the other driver. The insurance coverage that each motorist has will be a crucial factor in determining the amount of compensation you may be entitled to receive.
It is important to understand how insurance companies operate after an accident. The most critical thing to remember about insurance companies is that they are going to be most concerned with protecting their bottom line. Your needs and concerns come second, and if you do not know how to get the compensation you deserve for those needs and concerns, you may end up making a significant mistake with your claim.
At The Law Offices of Locklin & Coleman, PLLC, our lawyers have handled many motor vehicle accident cases in Virginia. We wanted to provide you with some very general information regarding insurance companies and how they operate regarding accident claims. For more detailed information about your case, reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation.
Should I Talk To Insurance Companies After My Accident?
You definitely need to inform your insurer of a crash but be very careful about any other information that you provide to them. The reason being: Everything that you say is going to be used when evaluating your claim. If you say something that seems harmless, it can have a major impact upon how the insurer determines what sort of compensation should be offered.
If you have an attorney, the insurance company must go through your attorney in these discussions. This is helpful, because not only will it allow you to focus on your health, but it also protects your claim. Your attorney will know what your case is worth and can stand up for you in conversations with insurers throughout the entirety of the case.
Should I Settle?
Many people simply take the offer that their insurance company makes and move on with their lives. We would caution against that, because there are going to be circumstances where you make a decision that ultimately ends up causing you significant financial harm.
Before you make any decisions, consult an experienced attorney. At our firm, we offer free consultations to people injured in accidents. We can discuss what we feel your claim is worth, and what we can do on your behalf to help you get the compensation you truly deserve.
What About My Own Insurance Company?
You may have been with your insurance company for decades. You might be best friends with your insurance agent. You may feel that the relationship you have is perfect and that they have never ever let you down in the past.
It is great to feel like you have a partnership with your insurance company, but you need to know that once an accident happens, this relationship can change dramatically. The insurance company is looking at the dollars and cents of an accident, and how much this crash could cost potentially cost them. What can they do to make this go away for as little money as possible.
Your own insurance company is not your advocate in an accident case. No matter how friendly they may seem, they are concerned with their interests. You need to have someone on your side who is dedicated to helping you maximize your recovery.
What If The Other Driver Does Not Have Insurance?
Your insurance policy may provide you with uninsured motorist coverage. We can review your policy and explain the potential avenues for compensation that may be available to you. These cases can be very difficult, and it is important to talk to a lawyer before you accept an offer from your insurer or from an opposing party. Agreeing to an offer will, in most cases, prevent you from being able to recover any additional compensation if damages and expenses exceed the amount provided to you.
Getting Your Life Back On Track: Frequently Asked Questions About Auto Accidents
When a motor vehicle accident occurs, you can find yourself with more questions than answers. At The Law Offices of Locklin & Coleman, PLLC, we routinely assist clients in the Manassas, Virginia area as they take measures to move forward after a motor vehicle accident. What follows are some questions that we frequently hear when meeting with auto accident victims for the first time.
What is a tort?
A tort occurs when an action such as a motor vehicle accident causes personal injury. The victim of a tort may opt to sue for damages caused by the tortious act. If you have been involved in an auto collision, an experienced attorney can help you better understand the tort process.
How long do I have to file a claim?
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, the statute of limitations is two years to file a personal injury claim after the date of your accident. For property damage, that timeframe is expanded to five years. A knowledgeable attorney can help you assess your situation before advising you of your best legal path.
Who should I speak with first, a lawyer or my insurance company?
Before speaking to an insurance company, you should first consult with a personal injury attorney. Providing a statement to the insurance company without a lawyer’s guidance can be an especially costly mistake. A seasoned legal advocate can help you better understand what to do after a car accident.
What if I’m in a hit-and-run, and there are no other witnesses, can I still file a claim?
Determining fault after an accident can be complicated. Matters can become especially muddied when the accident is a hit-and-run. Such cases often call for what is known as a “John Doe” claim. Under Virginia law, drivers must carry uninsured motorist protection, which can provide financial relief in the event of an accident involving an unidentified motorist.
Experienced Advocacy After An Auto Accident
We settle out of court only when it is in our clients’ best interests and in line with their wishes. Insurance companies rarely volunteer full compensation. If we cannot obtain a fair settlement, we are always prepared to take the case to a jury. Our reputation at trial often leads to fruitful negotiations.
Virginia Car Accident Lawyers You Can Trust
There are important steps to take after a car accident in Virginia to ensure your interests are protected. Make your first call to The Law Offices of Locklin & Coleman, PLLC. Our commitment to personalized service and results has helped hundreds of motor vehicle accident victims collect what they deserve. We take no attorney fees unless we are successful in securing compensation. Call 703-214-1688 for a FREE initial consultation.
