If you were hurt in a car accident, it might be worth it to speak to a Fredericksburg car accident lawyer. At MartinWren, P.C., we have helped many car accident victims obtain compensation for their injuries.
Our Fredericksburg personal injury lawyer has extensive experience handling car accident claims and is always ready to take a case to trial if necessary. Put our 15 years of experience to work for you today.
Why Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Fredericksburg
After a car accident, most people realize the importance of getting medical care, but do not overlook the importance of hiring an attorney. A lawyer can help you in numerous ways. When you call our attorneys, we will:
- Gather all evidence to determine who is at fault for your accident. We seek out evidence that may not be available anywhere else.
- Build a strong claim for you, documenting your injuries and losses. We extensively document each loss so you can fully recover financially from this accident.
- Negotiate with the insurance companies to hold them accountable. We do not let them get away with mistreating you or not providing you with the compensation you are owed.
As passionate, dedicated professionals, you can expect our legal team to remain on your side throughout your case. Expect us to provide you with transparent legal insight and support. You can expect MartinWren, P.C. to provide consistent guidance even at the worst times.
For a legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer, call 434-817-3100
Our Fredericksburg Car Accident Attorney Fights for You
Once you contact our attorneys, we begin to work on your case for you, providing you with legal insight and guidance. One of the first things you will notice is that you no longer have to face the insurance company yourself.
We talk to them and handle all of their questions. This often leads to faster resolutions and less risk of making a statement that puts your case on the line.
You will also notice that our attorneys will help you determine all parties at fault. Many times, more than one person is responsible for your injuries and losses. It may include the other driver, the employer of that vehicle driven by a commercial driver, or the government contractor that failed to maintain or properly design roadways. Extending fault under the law allows our attorneys to maximize your claim.
Most of our cases settle out of court. If that does not happen and the insurance company refuses to be fair, expect us to go to trial for you. That helps eliminate your risk of settling for less money than you are owed. With a Fredericksburg wrongful death lawyer, we navigate the tough cases by providing careful insight into your rights.
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 are considering contacting a car accident lawyer in Fredericksburg, 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 residents trust can attest. Fatigued drivers are not able to focus 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 them less focused. In the last reporting year, drinking and driving led to an average of 19 accidents every day.
- Speeding: Nearly every lawyer has also dealt with car accidents caused by speeding. Whether they are in a hurry to get somewhere or did not 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, distracted driving 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 lawyer can confirm. For example, if a driver has not serviced the brakes on a vehicle, brake failure can occur and cause an accident.
If you were in a car accident and believe any of these factors contributed to your injuries and losses, hire a car accident lawyer in Fredericksburg from our firm for guidance.
Expect our attorneys to work tirelessly to help prove what happened to you and who is to blame. Set up a free consultation for support right now with a Fredericksburg traumatic brain injury lawyer.
Fredericksburg Car Accident Lawyer Near Me 434-817-3100
What to Do After a Car Accident – And What Not to Do
After a car accident, focus on getting medical care and reporting the accident to the police. Under no circumstances should you ever let the other driver go, even if you think the damage to both vehicles was minimal.
Gather Contact Information
Before you leave the scene, you must gather the following information and then share it with your Fredericksburg car accident attorney:
- 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
Some people may not call the police after a car accident, believing they have not been injured. 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 are not able to move as they normally do. Instead, get police to the scene to document the accident and medical professionals to care for your needs.
Take Photos of the Accident When Possible
Unless you were ushered to the emergency room right after the accident, you must have taken the time to photograph or video the scene. Important elements to document include the damage to your car and the damage to the other driver’s car, street signs, debris on the ground, broken windshields, visible injuries, tire marks on the ground, etc.
If you do not 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.
Never Say “I’m Sorry”
You might think it is respectful to say “I’m sorry” after a car accident, but it can open up a world of problems for your potential claim.
As innocent as this statement might seem, it can derail your claim because the opposing counsel could say that you admitted fault by saying, “I’m sorry.” Avoid saying anything that can end your quest for compensation before it even starts.
Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit with a Fredericksburg Car Accident Lawyer
If you wish to file a car accident lawsuit, you should do so sooner rather than later. Virginia’s statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is two years.
There may be additional notice periods that are even shorter that must be followed or else a claim is lost. It is important to consult an experienced car accident attorney in Fredericksburg as soon as possible to discuss your case and legal options.
A 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 would like to ask, do not hesitate to voice them in the meeting.
If you were recently in an accident, then we strongly advise getting support from a lawyer like the legal team at MartinWren, P.C. We are prepared to help you and advocate for you so you can receive the financial award you need to overcome injuries and other losses.
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Key Evidence for Car Accidents
If you were in a car accident, you must build the best case 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. Unless you have emergency injuries, it is essential that you act promptly. 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 the 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 do not 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 so you can reach out to them later. 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 police report number. These reports are public records 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. They can be obtained from the public records office of the Fredericksburg Police Department or, if applicable, from the Virginia State Police.
After the car accident, you probably felt shocked and disoriented. You may have had to sit down and get 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.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Fredericksburg Car Accident Lawyers Now
Protect your future by hiring an attorney. If you are looking for a respected Fredericksburg car accident lawyer, contact MartinWren, P.C., for a free consultation.
We have represented thousands of victims just like you who have suffered various types of injuries in all kinds of car accidents throughout Virginia.
Call 434-817-3100 or complete a Case Evaluation form
