Fredericksburg Car Accident Lawyer

If you were hurt in a car accident, it might be worth it to speak to a Fredericksburg VA car accident lawyer. At MartinWren, P.C., we have helped many car accident victims obtain compensation for their injuries.

Our Fredericksburg personal injury lawyer lawyers have superb negotiating skills and are always ready to take a case to trial if necessary.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Car accidents occur on highways like I-95 all too often and can result in very serious injuries. Although some of these accidents are due to weather conditions and road hazards, many others are caused by driver error. If you’re considering contacting a car accident lawyer Fredericksburg VA can provide, you might have been involved in an accident for one of the following reasons:

• Fatigue: Driving while tired can be very dangerous, as a car accident lawyer Fredericksburg VA residents trust can attest. Fatigued drivers aren’t able to focus that well on the road and may even fall asleep behind the wheel, causing accidents.
• Drunk Driving: Drivers who drink alcohol before getting in a car put everyone on the road at risk. Being under the influence of alcohol can slow a driver’s reaction time and make him or her less focused.
• Speeding: Nearly every Fredericksburg VA car accident lawyer has also dealt with car accidents caused by speeding. Whether they are in a hurry to get somewhere or didn’t see the posted speed limits, driving above the speed limit is not safe. Speeding slows down a driver’s reaction and perception time.
• Distracted Driving: Many drivers deal with distractions while behind the wheel. They may send text messages to friends, eat food, or even brush their hair or do their makeup while driving. However, getting distracted can take one’s eyes off the road, increasing the risk of accidents. It is important for drivers to avoid all distractions while on the road.
• Improper Vehicle Maintenance: All drivers are responsible for properly maintaining their vehicles. If they fail to do this, they are more likely to cause car accidents, as a Fredericksburg VA car accident lawyer can confirm. For example, if a driver has not serviced the brakes on a vehicle, brake failure can occur and cause an accident.

For a legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer, call 434-817-3100

What Not To Do After An Accident

When we begin learning how to drive, we are often told what to do in the event of an accident. However, less often we are informed about all the things you should not do if you find yourself in the midst of a vehicular collision. There are many ways that people may not realize they are hindering their own chances at receiving a fair amount of compensation in a settlement. As a Fredericksburg, VA car accident lawyer, we understand what to avoid.

Leaving The Scene

Under no circumstances should you ever let the other driver go, even if you think the damage to both vehicles was minimal. People who don’t have proper identifications or insurance may attempt to minimize the damage of the accident and convince you that contacting law enforcement or your insurance company isn’t needed.

Some drivers may go as far as offering to write you a check or give you cash in exchange for not reporting the car accident. And while this may be tempting, it is strongly advised against. Before you leave the scene, you must gather the following information, and then share it with your Fredericksburg, VA car accident lawyer: 

• First and last name (as listed on their identification)
• Driver’s license number
• Vehicle make, model, and year
• Their insurance company name and policy number
• The driver’s address and contact information
• License plate number

Not Calling 911 For Help

Some people may not call the police after a car accident believing they haven’t been injured. However, your body can endure physical injury at just 15mph. For example, a person may find that in the days following the accident their neck and back start to ache, their body is tense, and they aren’t able to move as they normally do. Chances are, they have developed a mild to moderate case of whiplash. If they decide to pursue compensation from the other driver and didn’t call the police, then there is no official report that the accident even happened. Then, both drivers must be taken at their word.

Call the police. File the report. Share it with your Fredericksburg, VA car accident lawyer.

Forgetting To Take Photographs

Unless you were ushered to the emergency right after the accident, then you must have taken the time to photograph or take video of the scene. Important elements to document include the damage to your car, the damage to the other driver’s car, street signs, debri on the ground, broken windshields, visible injuries, tire marks on the ground, etc. If you don’t have any visible evidence to back up your claims, then it can severely impact your ability to seek compensation for injuries and damages later on. 

Whether photographs, video or any other documentation, be sure to share it all with your MartinWren, P.C. Fredericksburg, VA car accident lawyer.

Who is Liable in an Accident Involving a Commercial Truck?

Ask any Fredericksburg VA car accident lawyer, and they’ll likely agree that car accidents involving commercial trucks tend to have devastating consequences. In fact, Recent statistics suggest that trucking accidents involving smaller motor vehicles account for over 60% of truck accidents. If you were the victim of a trucking accident, it’s possible that the insurance company of the truck company may even try to blame you for the accident.

The following goes over the most common reasons trucking accidents occur.

Fredericksburg Car Accident Lawyer Near Me 434-817-3100

Common Causes for Trucking Accidents

• Driving Too Fast: Trucks are large and heavy, when they are driving too fast, it can be difficult for them to slow down. Large trucks often cannot fully stop as quickly as other  vehicles can. A Fredericksburg VA car accident lawyer might argue that even though a truck driver was driving the speed limit, he/she was not driving at a safe speed.
• Traffic Signs and Construction Zones: Changing lanes or merging should be approached cautiously when a large truck is involved, especially when there are no traffic signals to help manage the traffic flow.
• Fatigued Driving: Some truck companies push their employees to drive beyond the amount of time that is legally allowed. Because of this, some truckers drive when they have been on the road for too long. This could cause a trucker to not respond appropriately when faced with a situation that needs them to react quickly.
• Distracted Driving: Talking on the phone without a hands free device can be a potential hazard, and texting should also be avoided at all costs. For truck drivers who spend long hours on the road, they might also become distracted by eating or looking up directions while driving. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to prove that someone was distracted at the time of an accident. An experienced car accident lawyer in Fredericksburg VA may be able to determine if they are liable.
• Driving Under the Influence: Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can skew a person’s judgement and cause them to lose their ability to think clearly. The legal alcohol limit is .08% BAC for most drivers, but commercial truck drivers are typically subject to limits of .04% BAC. In addition to criminal charges, truck drivers who caused an accident while under the influence of drugs or alcohol might face a civil suit from a Fredericksburg VA car accident lawyer.

Contact a Fredericksburg VA car accident lawyer if you have been the victim of the accident, especially if you believe that the trucker was at fault. Truck accidents can be even more complex than other car accidents because there are several parties that may be at fault.

Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit With a Fredericksburg VA Car Accident Lawyer

If you wish to file a car accident lawsuit, you should do so sooner rather than later. In Virginia, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit is two years. It is important to consult an experienced car accident lawyer in Fredericksburg VA as soon as possible to discuss your case and legal options.

A Fredericksburg VA car accident lawyer may help you gather necessary evidence, communicate with insurance companies on your behalf, and ensure your rights are protected.

During your first consultation with a car accident lawyer, expect to answer several questions about your case. For example, he or she may want to find out the extent of your injuries and what caused the accident. If you have any questions you’d like to ask, don’t hesitate to voice them in the meeting.

If you were recently in an accident, then we strongly advise getting support from a Fredericksburg, VA car accident lawyer, like the legal team at MartinWren, P.C. We are prepared to help you and advocate for your behalf, so you can receive the financial award you need to overcome injuries and other losses. Call us today for a free initial consultation either over the phone, or in person! 

Key Evidence For Car Accidents

If you were in a car accident, then you must build the best case possible for your personal injury claim. This means you must get as much evidence that supports your side of the story as you can. The more proof you have, the more likely you are to be given the amount you need in a settlement in order to recover. The at-fault driver and his or her legal team may create fabricated defense strategies as a way to avoid liability, however, do not fall for this frivolous behavior. 

After the car accident, you probably felt shocked and disoriented. You may have had to sit down and gather your bearings before starting to document evidence. Remember that the most influential evidence in any car accident claim will be retrieved from the accident site within minutes of it happening. So unless you have emergency injuries, it’s essential that you act promptly. If you can stand and walk around, here are elements of proof to collect:

• • Photographic evidence: this is vital in casting a light into the truth as to how the accident happened, proving that the other driver is at-fault. You can use your phone to document the scene from various angles, being sure to pay attention to your visible injuries, damage and placement of both vehicles, debris from crash, road defects, and weather conditions.
    

• Driver’s information: you should not let the driver flee the scene without first giving you their identification information. Try to write down their name, home address, contact number, license plate number, ID number, and insurance company/policy. If the driver was operating an employer’s vehicle at the time of the crash, you have to get the contact for the employer as well.
  

• Witness statements: if the scene is too chaotic, you don’t have to get statements from a witness in the moments after the accident. You can just write down their name, phone number, and/or email to be reached out to at a later time. Witness statements can be impactful in showing that you are not responsible for the crash.
  

Copy of police report: the officer who arrived at the scene should have written a report for the accident. Ask the officer for his or her name, badge number, and the police report number. These reports are public record and have information including the officer’s evaluation of who was at-fault. Reports like these can be useful in the fair resolution of a settlement.

If you are looking for a respected Fredericksburg VA car accident lawyer, contact MartinWren, P.C. at 434-817-3100.

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