Each case is unique. The value depends on factors like injury severity, medical costs, lost wages, long-term impacts, and available insurance coverage. Our attorneys will provide a realistic assessment of your case value after a thorough evaluation.

Most cases settle within 6-12 months, but more complex cases can take longer, especially if litigation is necessary. We focus on securing maximum compensation, not quick settlements.

If you have been involved in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical costs
• Future lost wages
• Pain
• Property damage costs
• Rental car expenses
• Inconvenience
• Disability
• Lost wages
• Scarring
• Future medical costs
• Suffering
• Permanent injuries

Reckless and careless drivers are often punished by punitive damages, which are awarded in cases that involve willful and wanton conduct. Cases which involve a person driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol often result in these damages.

Yes, medical expenses are recoverable in the average car accident claim. Medical expenses are usually the number one reason why people decide they need to file a car accident claim after an accident and not just depend on whatever the other insurance company wants to give them. With a successful claim, your past and future medical expenses should be covered entirely by the liable driver, up to their insurance cap. Even at that point, though, there might be other applicable insurance policies to file against for any remaining, unpaid medical expenses.

Yes, you can seek lost and reduced wages through a car accident claim. For example, if you miss a month of work because of your injuries, then you can demand a month’s worth of your wages. If you receive employer-provided disability benefits that pay some of your missing wages, then you can still sue for the gap between those benefits and the normal amount. If your injuries are permanent and keep you from pursuing advancements in your career, then you could sue for future wages you will now not get the chance to earn.

Yes, every claim is worth pursuing to some point. At the least, you should always talk to a professional car accident attorney about what happened to get their valuable and experienced input. They can tell you if your claim has a high enough value or strong enough evidence in your favor to pursue. For example, claims dealing with only a few hundred dollars or a couple of thousand dollars are generally straightforward enough to not require an attorney’s assistance. Or if there is strong evidence that shows you were 100% liable for the crash, then a plaintiff’s attorney would likely be unable to accept your case.

No. After your auto accident, the other driver's insurance company will more than likely contact you in an effort to obtain a statement. It is in your best interest to not speak with any insurance adjuster until you speak to an experienced car accident attorney.

Insurance adjusters are trained to ask you questions, which can be construed to make you look like you have some fault in the accident. Insurance companies do not make money by paying claims, and that is why they wish to obtain your statement immediately following the wreck.

Even if you do not realize how your statements may hinder your case, you should not speak to the insurance adjuster. Instead, call the experienced Virginia car accident attorneys at Kalfus & Nachman PC.

Call the police and seek medical attention immediately. You should always seek evaluation by a medical doctor to see if you have any internal injuries. Even if you do not think you are injured, your injuries may not be apparent to you. If possible, take pictures of the damage to the vehicles and the surrounding scene. Be sure to obtain the names of any witnesses to the crash. Have your friends and family confirm the names and addresses of these witnesses.

Even if no one was injured in the car accident, you should call the police. This is especially important if the other party was at fault. The police will write up an accident report, take down driver information and statements, and assess fault. They can also speak to the insurance company. If you have been injured in the crash, notify the police so that information can be included in the accident report.

If you were involved in a car accident, you should try to gather as much evidence as possible. If you can, take pictures at the scene of the accident. Document your injuries and keep a record of your medical appointments, keep a record of how your injuries have affected your life, and ask for copies of your medical records and the police report. If anyone witnessed the accident, try to get their name and contact information, and be sure to get the name, insurance information, and contact information of the other driver(s) involved. You should give all this (and any other evidence you have) to your attorney.

If the other driver fled the scene, you should notify the police immediately. Known as a “hit and run,” this is a crime in Virginia. If you were able to get any information about the other driver—such as their general appearance, the make and model of their vehicle, or even the vehicle’s license plate number—the police may be able to locate them. Even if the police do not locate the hit-and-run driver, you could still have several options when it comes to recovering compensation. Contact our firm today to learn more.

Personal injury victims can be compensated for lost income and lost earning capacity.

• Loss of income refers to actual wages missed due to the injury, like recovering from surgery.
• Lost earning capacity looks towards the future and compensates for reduced ability to earn due to the injury's severity.

For example, a spinal cord injury might prevent someone from working entirely, warranting compensation for future lost income. Proving lost income is simpler with work records and doctor's notes, while lost earning capacity requires expert testimony and considering future promotions and raises.

Most insurance companies require you to file a claim within a few days to a couple of weeks after the accident. There may be some exceptions, including if you were hospitalized. However, you have two years from the date of the accident (in most cases) to file a car accident lawsuit in Virginia. Though this may seem like a long time, it can pass quickly. Over time, evidence can be lost and memories can fade. The sooner you contact Kalfus & Nachman PC, the sooner we can begin building your case.

We recommend that you avoid saying anything to the insurance company after the accident. The insurance adjuster may use something you say against you. You could accidentally admit fault, which could bar you from recovering compensation, or you could imply that your injuries are not that serious, which may lead to a lower settlement offer. The best thing to do is to avoid speaking to the insurance company at all until you have first spoken to a lawyer.

You can sue someone for the extent of your economic damage and a fair amount of non-economic damage after a car accident in Virginia. The total compensation you seek will be based on your losses and injuries, whether that amount is $100,000 or $10,000,000. Virginia does not impose any caps on economic damages, and non-economic damages usually at least match economic damages in value. That said, some cases may become limited by the highest available insurance policy payout based on the defendant’s policy or insurance provider.