Courageous Personal Injury Lawyers Based in Richmond, Virginia
Accidents can strike anytime, anywhere. Without warning, you could be left with significant damages through no fault of your own, including costly medical expenses, property damage, decreased wages, and other, harder-to-measure losses. A Richmond, VA personal injury attorney can help you take steps to get back on your feet after an accident and seek payment from the responsible party.
At Merrick Brock, PLLC, we have a demonstrated track record of success in injury claims, including hard-fought victories in car accidents, slip-and-fall cases, wrongful death, and more. We refuse to settle for anything less than what our clients' damages are worth, as we pursue the best result in every case.
Determining Fault in a Richmond, Virginia Car or Motorcycle Accident
Fault in a Richmond car or motorcycle accident is not always obvious at first glance. Investigators look at traffic signals, right-of-way rules, speed, lane position, and driver conduct to determine who caused the collision. Police reports, witness statements, photographs, and, in some cases, footage from nearby cameras can all help piece together how the crash happened.
Virginia follows a pure contributory negligence rule, which is stricter than the comparative fault system used in many other states. Under this rule, an injured person who is found to be even slightly at fault for causing the accident can be denied compensation, regardless of how serious the other driver's negligence may have been.
This makes a thorough investigation critical, since an insurance company will often look for any reason, however small, to shift blame onto the injured person. At Merrick Brock, PLLC, we will do everything we can to protect your claim, gathering evidence to support your side of the story.
Seeking Compensation in a Truck Accident Claim
Truck accidents often cause more grievous injuries than typical passenger vehicle collisions, given the size and weight difference between the vehicles involved. These claims can also be more complicated, since multiple parties may share liability for your damages. A trucking company, cargo loader, maintenance provider, or vehicle manufacturer could all bear some fault, depending on who or what caused the crash.
Commercial truck drivers and carriers must follow federal safety regulations covering hours of service, vehicle maintenance, cargo securement, and driver qualifications. A violation of these regulations can serve as strong evidence of negligence. Seeking compensation after a truck accident often requires pulling driver logs, maintenance records, and company policies to determine whether these rules were followed.
How Premises Liability Claims Work in Virginia
Property owners and occupiers in Virginia have a duty to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors. When a hazard causes a preventable injury, the property owner may be held liable if they knew, or reasonably should have known, about the danger and failed to correct it or provide adequate warning.
The level of care owed can depend on the visitor's status. Invitees, such as customers at a business, are generally owed the highest duty of care. Licensees, such as social guests, are owed a somewhat lesser duty. Proving a premises liability claim usually involves showing that the owner had actual or constructive knowledge of the hazard and enough time to address it before the injury occurred.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Injury Claims in Richmond, Virginia
Non-economic damages represent the losses that do not carry a specific dollar figure, such as pain, suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. These losses are real, even though they are harder to calculate than medical bills or lost wages, and a careful review of the injury's impact on daily life can help support a fair valuation.
Virginia law allows compensation to flow to statutory beneficiaries, which typically include the surviving spouse, children, and grandchildren of the deceased. If none of these relatives survive, the beneficiaries may instead include the deceased's parents and siblings. When no statutory beneficiaries exist, the recovery can pass to other heirs under Virginia's intestate succession laws.
In most cases, Virginia personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of the incident. Missing this deadline can result in the loss of the right to pursue compensation, so it is best to speak with an attorney well before that time runs out to preserve evidence and protect your claim.
Contact Our Richmond, VA Personal Injury Lawyers
At Merrick Brock, PLLC, we are well-known across the area for our aggressive representation and clear legal advice. Call 804-500-9796 or contact our Richmond, Virginia personal injury attorneys to schedule a free case review. We strive to deliver exceptional results in every case.
From our offices in Richmond and Lynchburg, Merrick Brock, PLLC represents injury victims and their families throughout Central Virginia and communities across the Commonwealth. We serve clients in Richmond, Henrico County, Chesterfield County, Midlothian, Glen Allen, Short Pump, Mechanicsville, Chesterfield, Bon Air, Tuckahoe, Ashland, Petersburg, and surrounding areas. Our attorneys also assist clients throughout Lynchburg, Northern Virginia, and the Hampton Roads region, including Alexandria, Arlington, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.
Results listed are not a guarantee or indication of future case results.
1801 Libbie Avenue, Suite 100, Richmond, VA 23226
804-500-9796
