The holidays are approaching, and for Thanksgiving and Christmas and other holidays, a lot of people will be driving all over the country. It’s a great time to be with family and friends, but a lot of people don’t give too much thought about their route and how they are getting to their destination. If you are driving through the Commonwealth of Virginia and want to try to avoid needing to call an Alexandria, VA car accident lawyer, there are some things that you should know, because Virginia is not like wherever you are from!
Beautiful Scenery, But Different Laws
When you are driving through Virginia, leaves will change, and you will have some beautiful scenery to view, but the laws are very different. This is never more shocking to people than when out-of-state visitors are hurt in car accidents and expect the accident to be handled the same way it was back home (wherever home may be!).
Understanding Contributory Negligence
You see, Virginia is one of only five states that practices a very old legal concept known as contributory negligence. You may have never heard of this, but we call it the 1% rule. It means that a person who is even 1% responsible for the happening of an accident cannot recover. This is probably very different from where you are from, where the legal standard is often known as comparative negligence. Even if you haven’t heard this term, you may have heard people saying things like “an insurance company found me 25% at fault.” In a comparative negligence state, this number is important because that is how much a judgment or settlement award is reduced by.
How Virginia’s Law Differs
In Virginia, it’s not like that at all. If an insurance company can argue that you are even 1% responsible for how a car accident or truck accident happens, then you can lose your case entirely! It may sound harsh, and indeed it is, but it’s the law of the land.
Why You Need A Virginia Car Accident Lawyer
This high bar is why it is so important to contact an experienced Virginia car accident lawyer as soon as possible after your crash. You may have had a chance to work with the best car accident lawyer in Michigan, Los Angeles, or Spokane on a previous accident, but they may not understand the vagaries and uphill battle that exist in Virginia cases.
Taking Immediate Action After A Crash
If you have been hurt in a car accident in Virginia, for example on I-81 or I-95, then you need to contact a Virginia car accident lawyer right away. Don’t wait until treatment is done, and don’t wait until after you’ve spoken to an insurance company! You need an experienced lawyer right away who can investigate the facts and get to work immediately protecting you and preventing the insurance company from making that argument that you were somehow responsible for the crash. An experienced Virginia car accident lawyer is going to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and most of all, stop insurance companies from talking to you! Never forget that what you say can and will be used against you by insurance companies!
Get The Right Legal Help
If you have been hurt in a car accident that was not your fault, even if you don’t live in Virginia, call a Virginia lawyer right away! Don’t be afraid to call your current lawyer, because they may be able to put you in touch with the right lawyer for your case, who can fight hard in the confusing set of laws that exist here in Virginia, and get you the compensation that you deserve.
Blaszkow Legal, PLLC has been serving injured clients since 1981. We offer free consultations, are available 24/7, and work on a contingency basis. Reach out to us anytime.