Personal Injury FAQ
Client Reviews
Notice: The client quotations above are not to be construed to guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case undertaken by any attorney of the Law Office of William R.F. Conners, P.C. Each case result depends upon a variety of factors unique to each case and client.
Law Office of William R.F. Conners, P.C.- Information for car accident victims
Experienced Leesburg/Loudoun and Northern Virginia Personal Injury and Car Accident lawyers. Read below for free info, and call us at 703-777-6106 for a Personal Injury consultation.
Phone: 703-777-6106 | Fax: 703.777.0015 | E-Mail
(Q) I was injured in a motor vehicle accident and I am still treating. Should I speak with an attorney?
(A) You should schedule a Personal Injury Law Consultation as soon as possible to explore your rights, obligations and the potential nature and value of the personal injury claim you may have. Don’t wait.
(Q) I was injured in a motor vehicle accident. How much time do I have to either settle or litigate my claim?
(A) In Virginia, the statute of limitations for motor vehicle personal injury actions is two (2) years. If the case is not resolved by settlement or sued upon within two (2) years from the date of the collision, you will lose your claims.
(Q) I was injured in a motor vehicle accident. What can I do to prepare my personal injury claim?
(A) You should compile a folder with all the documents relating to your case including the following documents: a copy of your auto insurance policy, a copy of the insurance policy of each person in your home, the accident report, any information exchanged with the other driver, photos of the place where the collision occurred, any pictures of damage to the vehicles involved, any medical records and copies of prescriptions, a list of all treating locations and providers, receipts of all out of pocket expenses, a copy of any disability insurance or claim forms you completed, all correspondence from your and the other insurance company, etc. You should bring the aforementioned documents to the Personal Injury Law Consultation.
(Q) I was injured in a motor vehicle accident. The other insurance company is trying to have me provide a recorded statement. Am I required to do so?
(A) No. In fact, before providing any statement to the other insurance company, you should consult with a personal injury attorney.
(Q) I was injured in a motor vehicle accident. Should I notify my insurance company?
(A) Yes. You are required to do so and to cooperate with your insurance company.
(Q) I was injured in a motor vehicle accident. I don’t have photos of my damaged car but know where it is being stored. Should I have photos taken of the car?
(A) Yes, you should have extensive photos taken of the car to document the extent and type of damage.
(Q) I was injured in a motor vehicle accident but have suffered prior injuries. Should I tell my lawyer?
(A) Yes, you should disclose all prior relevant injuries to your attorney so that they can best represent your case.
(Q) What is liability coverage on my car insurance?
(A) Your liability coverage is the money that your insurance company would pay out if you negligently injured someone with your vehicle. You should have a minimum of $300,000 of coverage to protect your assets and safeguard your financial future.
(Q) What is uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage?
(A) Uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) motorist coverage is the coverage that your auto policy which you can claim for pay out to you in the event that you suffer a personal injury claim and the liable party has little or no insurance coverage. Your UM/UIM should be at the same level as your liability coverage. Most insurance companies do not encourage purchase of higher UM/UIM coverage limits because it is less profitable to them. However, good UM/UIM coverage is essential. The minimum liability policies in Virginia have limits of $25,000. That amount can easily be exceeded leaving an injured party holding the bag. The roads are full of drivers with inadequate liability (and UM/UIM) coverage. Protect yourself. Contact your insurance company and demand better liability and UM/UIM coverage. It is much more affordable than you may think and worth every penny.
(Q) How are fees for legal services assessed?
(A) For personal injury law matters, the fee arrangement consists of a contingency fee. That means that we only collect a fee if we recover compensation for you through settlement or an award at trial. However, clients are responsible for out of pocket expenses that are incurred on the case which are discussed in detail with the client before they are incurred.
Contact the Law Office of William R. F. Conners, P.C. for assistance with your Family Law, Criminal Defense, and Personal Injury matters.
Consultations offered by appointment • Credit cards accepted • No cost consultation for Personal Injury and Car Accident case consultation
DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.
How do I Know if I Have a Medical Malpractice Claim?
Medical procedures do not always have the desired outcome; sometimes unexpected or unpreventable results occur and are not the consequence of medical malpractice. In order to have a claim for medical malpractice, your injury (or undesired/harmful result of a medical procedure or treatment) must have been caused by negligence by a healthcare professional. Medical professionals must meet the industry’s standard of care when treating patients. This standard of care is determined by the level of care other medical professionals or workers would provide to an individual under the same or similar circumstances. Healthcare workers that are held to this standard may include doctors, nurses, hospital staff members, dentists, other medical related workers or the hospital itself. If the standard of care is not met and the patient is injured as a result of this failure, the injured party may have a claim for medical malpractice. To determine if the facts of your case merit a medical malpractice claim, it is important to speak to an attorney knowledgeable in this area of law.
If you do have a claim for medical malpractice, you must be able to prove certain elements of your case to the judge or jury. There are four elements to prove, the first is that the defendant (medical professional or hospital) had a duty to the plaintiff. The second is that the defendant breached this legal duty and (third) the breach caused the plaintiff’s injury. Lastly, the defendant’s failure to meet the industry’s standard of care (negligence) caused harm to the plaintiff. The third element (causation) is often the most difficult to prove in a medical malpractice case. The plaintiff must show that the defendant caused his or her injury due to negligence; that the injury was not a typical (or common) result of the plaintiff’s illness or medical condition that could not be prevented.
Accordingly, the cause of the plaintiff’s injury may be actual or proximate. If the causation is shown to be actual, the plaintiff’s injury was directly caused by an action (or nonaction) by the defendant. If the defendant had not been negligent, the plaintiff would not have suffered injury. Thus, proving actual causation uses what is called the “but for” test; the injury would not have occurred “but for” the defendant’s negligence (or action). Likewise, the cause of the plaintiff’s injury may be proximate if it can be shown that the defendant’s negligence was the legal cause of the plaintiff’s injury. The proximate cause set forth a sequence of events that caused the plaintiff’s legal injury. Since actual and proximate causation may be difficult to prove, it may be necessary to rely on the testimony of an expert witness to show causation in your case. The facts of your case and kind of injury will help determine the type of medical expert you should have. Additionally, an attorney knowledgeable in medical malpractice litigation will be able to assist you in deciding if expert testimony is in your best interests to prove causation in your case.
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DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.
Contact the Law Office of William R. F. Conners, P.C. for assistance with your family law, criminal defense, or personal injury claim.
Free consultations offered by appointment • Credit cards accepted • Nominal Fee charged for consultations relating to divorce/family law matters.