McLean, Virginia Personal Injury Attorneys

Experienced Lawyers for Injury Victims in McLean, VA

The physical, financial, and emotional weight of a sudden injury can feel overwhelming. When your suffering is no fault of your own, the situation can be all the more frustrating. However, if your injuries were a direct result of someone else's intentional or careless actions, you may be legally entitled to financial recovery. If you or a loved one has experienced harm due to negligence in McLean, Virginia, a reliable personal injury attorney can help you receive the financial relief you deserve.

The lawyers at Locklin & Coleman, PLLC have over 60 years of combined legal experience, and we have represented clients in a wide variety of personal injury cases. We prioritize small caseloads to give each client the attention they deserve when their life has been upended. Moreover, we defend each client vigorously and aggressively when advocating for their interests and protecting their legal rights. Our more than 100 positive reviews from satisfied clients can attest to our commitment and success when representing the people of McLean and the surrounding areas.

Defining Damages in Your Personal Injury Case

When insurance companies, judges, and juries set out to determine how much money a plaintiff or claimant is entitled to in a personal injury case, they will consider the full scope of harm the person has suffered due to the defendant's negligence.

The severity of injuries, the length of recovery, testimony from doctors, and the costs of medical bills can all play a role in calculating a dollar amount of compensation. In most personal injury cases, there will be two major types of potential damages:

Economic Damages

Expenses that can be tied to specific dollar amounts are typically referred to as economic damages. These may include hospital fees, surgery costs, medications, physical therapy charges, and more. Plaintiffs can be compensated for the amount of income they will lose out on because they are disabled, because they cannot return to work while recovering, or because they need to go to medical appointments related to their injuries. Everything with a tangible cost, down to gas prices or bus fares used to get a person to and from medical appointments, can be included in economic damages.

Non-Economic Damages

In contrast, the term "non-economic damages" is usually used to refer to the harm a person has suffered that cannot be obviously valued through an amount of money. Courts will generally consider how a person's injuries have impacted their everyday life. Severe injuries can rob someone of their ability to live independently, comfortably, and happily.

While no amount of money can make up for a reduced quality of life, a personal injury claim can address the intangible damages a person has suffered and provide them with the compensation they need to move forward.

Understanding How to Establish Liability in Virginia

Plaintiffs must first establish liability before they will be able to recover compensation. Under a fault-based legal system, most states nationwide require proof that the defendant was at fault for the plaintiff's injuries before the plaintiff will be entitled to compensation. However, the state of Virginia is relatively unique, with one of the strictest liability thresholds in the country.

Under the "pure contributory negligence" rule, a plaintiff must prove that a defendant was 100 percent culpable for causing an accident that led the plaintiff to suffer harm. This means that even if you suffer life-threatening injuries in a car accident, you may not be eligible for compensation if the court finds you to be even one percent responsible for causing the collision.

Reach Out to a McLean Personal Injury Attorney

We understand that life-changing injuries can be overwhelming. You do not have to fight legal battles related to these issues alone. At Locklin & Coleman, PLLC, we can make sure that yet another burden will not be added to your shoulders. Our McLean personal injury lawyers can help alleviate the stress and confusion you may feel, and we will fight to ensure that you receive what you are owed. To set up a free consultation and explore your options, contact our offices at 703-392-6686.