Why Do You Need to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Virginia

The question that often comes up when navigating the aftermath of an accident is whether it is really worth involving a lawyer. Well, the answer is a simple yes. 

“A personal injury lawyer defends your rights throughout the entire legal journey. They also gather all the information, speak to witnesses, and determine the value of your claim under the unique circumstances of Virginia law,” says a Virginia personal injury lawyer, Wiley J. Latham, partner at Latham & Martin Personal Injury Attorneys.

This article will explore exactly what a personal injury lawyer does for you and, most importantly, why it matters.

Collecting and Handling Evidence

The state of Virginia follows a pure contributory negligence rule, which means that if you are one percent at fault, you get nothing. That is why you need someone on your side who has all the evidence, who will allow the insurance companies to twist the story and put you at fault.

A personal injury lawyer searches out traffic videos, medical records, and what witnesses actually saw, then puts it all together to fit the law in Virginia. They deal with the recorded interviews, the back-and-forth with the other side, and all those demand letters, to make sure you do not accidentally give the insurance company an easy victory.

Managing Deadlines, Paperwork, and Medical Liens

In Virginia, those deadlines come at you quickly. Notice letters, the statute of limitations, all that. A good personal injury lawyer keeps track of all those dates. 

They make sure to file what you need and ensure that your claim is not dismissed. It is like running a relay. If you make one mistake, like dropping the baton, you lose. 

Personal injury lawyers make sure that you do not make any mistakes. So, you stay in the race. They also handle paperwork requests from insurance companies. So, you do not accidentally miss anything important.

Valuing Your Claim

Insurance adjusters typically start with an offer that is lowball in nature, in the hopes that you do not understand how quickly those costs will add up in the future. The lawyer studies your medical records, tallies up how much time you have lost at work, and figures out what kind of care you will need in the future.

The lawyer then turns all this information into hard numbers on paper, pressing the insurance company to offer a better settlement. If the insurance company still refuses to budge, then the lawyer prepares for court.

Preparing for Litigation

Most cases do settle, but some insurance companies will stall until the very real possibility of going to trial comes in. You do not want to take on an insurance company in court on your own. It is simply too complex for anyone without a legal background.

A personal injury lawyer understands how to write a complaint, deal with all of the hassle of discovery, send out subpoenas, and hire experts who know what they are talking about and can help to explain things like a car accident or a personal injury.

They will also be keeping an eye on the defense medical exams, challenging any shady practices, and reserving all necessary objections for appeal. 

What Should You Look for In a Lawyer?

When choosing a personal injury lawyer, it is important to choose someone who really understands contributory negligence and can explain to you how they will be able to prevent the blame from falling on you.

Ask them how often they go to court; insurers know lawyers who are not afraid to go to trial, and will be more generous with their offerings just to avoid trial. Get the fee agreement in writing, including who is paying for items such as expert witnesses and records.

Also, check whether the lawyer has time for you.  The best law firms take on as many cases as they can really handle, so yours will not get lost in the shuffle.