Staying safe while on the road is not only a goal; it is every motorist’s responsibility. However, drivers are human, and they can make errors while navigating traffic. Some will drive while distracted or tired, while others will refuse to observe the rules of the road. All of these behaviors put everyone’s safety at risk.
If you are recovering from injuries after a car accident in West Virginia that happened due to someone else’s error, negligence, or recklessness, you might be able to seek compensation for your expenses.
You should not take on the cost of a car accident you did not cause by yourself. If you are considering pursuing legal action to hold those responsible for your accident accountable, Pintas & Mullins Law Firm might be able to help you with your personal injury claim or lawsuit. Call us today at (800) 223-5115 to schedule a free case evaluation and learn how a West Virginia car accident lawyer might be able to help you.
Car Accident Injuries Can Be Severe
Car accidents can be unpredictable, including what happens after they occur and their effects on someone’s life afterward.
Some people end up in a hospital emergency room for care. At the same time, some will need to stay in the hospital or go to a rehabilitation facility for ongoing treatment for weeks or months until they are healed.
Other common injuries that result from car accidents include:
- Scrapes, cuts, burns
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) (concussions, fractured skull, brain bleeds)
- Whiplash (an injury that happens when the neck rapidly jerks back and forth from forceful impact)
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal injuries
- Back injuries
- Chest injuries
- Soft tissue injuries (bruises, swelling, tears, sprains)
Whether you think you have been injured seriously or not, you should receive medical care as soon as you can after an accident or shortly afterward. Do not delay. Wounds, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, can become an issue later.
You can document prompt medical attention with your medical records, receipts, and more, which can help your case later should you choose to pursue one.
If you hire an attorney, be sure to share all accident-related documents with the individual. An attorney can also advise you on other documents you may need to support your case.
Recovering Financially After a Car Accident
An accident can be overwhelming and make recovery difficult, especially when you are going to medical appointments and trying to figure out how your medical bills and household bills will get paid until you can get back to work.
Pursuing compensation for your accident might not be able to make up for the permanent ways life has changed for you or a loved one, but it could help cover some of the costs you had to pay out due to your accident. You could receive payment for the economic damages you have suffered. These are costs you can prove. You could also win awards for noneconomic damages, which are more subjective because they do not have a dollar value, making potentially more challenging to calculate.
A West Virginia car accident lawyer can advise you further in this area. Noneconomic damages can be subject to a cap, and different states have different ways of handling them.
An attorney can also review with you what your economic damages are.
The list may include costs for:
- Emergency care at the accident scene
- Emergency room care at a hospital
- Extended hospital stays
- Surgery
- Ongoing therapies, treatment
- Medical device
- Medications
- Lost income; lost work opportunities
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Car repair or replacement
Non-economic damages may include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Loss of companionship, consortium
Your list could include some or all of these items, and you might have some that are not listed here. Keep all receipts, invoices, records, and other documents that can show how much money and time you have spent on expenses related to your car accident.
If you lost a loved one in the accident, you might be able to be compensated for funeral and burial expenses you paid. Medical costs that you paid during their time recovering before they died might also be recoverable. You can check with an attorney to see if those costs qualify as economic damages.
If you are suffering from car accident injuries or damages to your property and more, you do not have to face the burden of recovery alone. You might have legal recourse to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit. We invite you to explore your legal options today. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to set up a free case review.
For a free legal consultation, call (800) 223-5115
How a West Virginia Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
You will have to prove that the driver who caused your accident breached their duty of care to keep you safe on the road. Your attorney can help you establish who is responsible for the accident by collecting all evidence that supports your position. To determine liability, the lawyer can:
- Investigate the scene of the accident
- Review your medical records
- Review police reports
- Look at photos or videos from the accident
- Interview witnesses’ statements
- Viewing traffic camera footage where the accident took place
Once the investigation ends, the attorney can then present your case and start negotiations for a settlement with the negligent party’s insurer. If they cannot reach a fair settlement, they can opt to argue your case at trial to win a financial award on your behalf.
West Virginia’s Statutes of Limitations
If you are weighing whether to file a personal injury lawsuit, keep in mind that you have a limited time to do so. Per W. Va. Code § 55-2-12, West Virginia allows two years for a person to file a personal injury lawsuit. Under W. Va. Code § 55-7-6(d), a person has two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Once this time limit expires, you may lose your chance to pursue recovery from the party or parties who caused your accident.
A West Virginia car accident lawyer can help you with all necessary paperwork to help ensure your claim or lawsuit meets this deadline.
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Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today
If you have been injured in an accident from a negligent driver who is responsible for the accident, you could have legal recourse that leads you to financial recovery from an accident you did not cause.
A West Virginia accident lawyer could manage the legal process while you focus on other matters, including your physical and mental health and well-being. Call Pintas & Mullins at (800) 223-5115 today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Call or text (800) 223-5115 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form