One thing to keep in mind is that not all injuries show up right away. Accidents such as slip and falls and those involving a vehicle may have you feeling as though you don’t need medical attention and can continue on as though nothing severe just occurred. The reality is, many injuries remain hidden for a period of time and without a full physical by a health care physician, you may not be aware of this until the conditions finally reveal themselves. And then it may be too late to treat.
Symptoms that Signify that You Need to Seek Medical Treatment
Based on some information provided by dmv.org, there are some signs to look out for that may indicate you have suffered from a personal injury following an accident and you are going to want to consider seeking medical treatment if you haven’t done so already.
No matter how small or significant these symptoms may be, if you didn’t feel it before the accident, chances are it was in fact brought on because of it. And did you know that if your accident was caused by a negligent act displayed by another individual or entity, you could be entitled to receive compensation for your medical bills, loss of wages if you aren’t able to work, and the pain and suffering? Our Virginia accident lawyers specialize in getting their clients the compensation they deserve and are more than willing to assist you should you believe you are eligible to receive it.
Here’s Why You Don’t Want to Wait
There are a number of reasons why it doesn’t benefit you to wait to seek medical attention but two reasons include:
- The longer you wait after the accident has occurred, the harder it will be to prove your injuries were in fact caused during that incident. The other party involved could argue that you were injured while doing something else and are now trying to pin the liability on them.
- Without receiving a physical, you don’t know what could be wrong with your body. You are placing yourself at risk by not seeking medical attention as the unknown injuries, if any, could lead to more serious conditions or could become more difficult to treat.
Speak with One of Our Accident Lawyers in Virginia Today
If you have discovered that you didn’t suffer an injury, it is rather important that you understand what you are entitled to receive. Give us a call today and we will gladly place you in touch with one of our top attorneys in the field.
Virginia lawyers are essential in the comprehensive recovery of accident injury damages.
Accident attorneys in Virginia initiate legal action to support victims’ rights to compensation for injuries and property damage loss under the State laws that provide for payment when an injured party was harmed through no fault of their own, referred to as “damages.” Experienced personal injury attorneys understand an insurance company’s desire to close out claims quickly, and are aware of imposed time constraints under Virginia’s statutes of limitations.
It is important to contact legal counsel shortly after an accident resulting in harmful losses, to avoid any aggressive approach from insurance representatives with low settlement offers, and to make certain legal action is not dismissed by the court because of missed filing timelines with the appropriate agencies involved.
Utilizing experts in various fields, a lawyer will build a strong case by:
- sending investigators to an accident scene,
- reviewing police reports, witness testimony and medical reports,
- hiring appropriate financial experts to make valuations of loss,
- assessing initial cause of the accident, and
- drafting and filing complicated insurance and legal documents.
Damages.
A Virginia accident lawyer can explain valuation determinations for auto insurance claims, and other accidents requiring damage compensation. Legal counsel is instrumental in determining the financial responsibility for economic losses, including lost wages, medical bills, medical care and treatment, plus household expenses; and non-economic harms, including pain and suffering, loss of consortium, or companionship. Punitive damages are meant to punish the individual who caused harm, or injury and loss to the victim. They are contingent upon proving that a defendant deliberately, with reckless disregard, acted in a manner to cause harm to another person. An accident attorney can apprise victims of loss regarding awards of punitive damages in relevant cases.
Motor vehicle.
In Virginia, individuals have a duty to stop after an accident occurs involving personal injury, or property damage and must report the accident immediately to the nearest police authority. Drivers should exchange pertinent information regarding licenses, insurance and registration of vehicles and share that information with law enforcement. A driver must report an accident within 24 hours when property damage, injury, or death occurs. Auto accident attorneys can explain Virginia’s car insurance requirements and how they affect the recovery of compensation after an accident utilizing the contributory negligence rule where individuals may not recover damages if they share any fault in the accident. Personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the accident, and five years for property damage claims.
Personal injury.
If a person is hurt because of the action, or inaction of another individual, they may recover compensation when fault and/or liability is proven for the resultant harm. Recovery of damages is contingent upon a personal injury lawyer proving that the individual, or entity was negligent, caused the injury and owed a duty of care to the victim. When personal injury is caused by another’s actions in Virginia, the statute of limitations is two years to file a lawsuit from the date the injury occurred, was discovered, or should have been discovered through reasonable care. An attorney can apprise individuals of any deviations from that timeline.
Premises liability.
When an individual is hurt on another person’s property, the victim may take legal action if the injury was caused by poor property conditions, including improper maintenance, upkeep, or unforeseen interactions with occupants on the premises. An invitee may be owed a duty of care, but a trespasser may not be owed that same duty. Homeowners’ insurance may cover these types of injuries in many cases.
Medical malpractice.
Virginia medical malpractice actions occur when a person is injured while under the care of a licensed health care professional. Legal action must be filed within two years of the date of the incident, or two years from the date of the injury, but there are specific requirements regarding foreign bodies left inside victims, and diagnoses errors for malignant tumors, cancer complications and spine schwannomas. Consultation is necessary with a medical malpractice attorney to ascertain specific time limitations for each individual case. Virginia does have a cap on certain medical malpractice damages and they are awarded based on a sliding scale, ranging from 1.5 Million Dollars to 2.9 Million Dollars, depending upon the timeline of the medical malpractice harms under Virginia State Statute 8.01 581.15.
Individuals who are contemplating malpractice legal action in Virginia must certify the action with a qualified medical expert who believes the medical treatment in dispute fell below the applicable standard of care based on a “reasonable understanding of the facts,” and that that deviation from the standard of care was the proximate cause of the medical malpractice injury, or harm.
Workers’ compensation.
When a person becomes injured on the job, or contracts an illness that is job-related, they should hire the services of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney, who can assist with a claim for monetary damages. Injuries may be caused by an accident, or event that results in a physical injury, a medical condition caused by repetitious use of a body part, or conditions associated with the workplace environment itself. A lawyer can deal with the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Claims Division at the Department of Labor on a client’s behalf.
Wrongful death.
In Virginia, family members, or legal representatives must file a wrongful death legal action within two years from the date of the incident that caused an untimely death, in order to secure compensation when a loved one dies because of the negligent, reckless, or deliberate act of another. A Virginia wrongful death attorney can assist with damage valuations and timelines relevant to a case. Compensation may cover:
- Medical bills and treatment during final illness, or injury,
- Funeral and burial expenses,
- Lost wages relevant to life expectancy compensation, and household services,
- Compensation for loss of love, companionship, protection, and parent-child relationship.
Accident victims should attempt to minimize additional stress by hiring competent legal counsel who can objectively speak on their behalf in a courtroom, and work toward damage recovery.
