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Each
year, more than 3 millions people are injured in car
accidents, resulting in billions of dollars in damages. The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported
that 43,005 people died in car accidents in 2002 – the
eighth leading cause of death among people of all ages that
year. However, when broken down by age, car accidents were the
No. 1 cause of death for all people ages 3 to 33.
Marks & Harrison has experience and a record of success
in representing people injured or killed in all types of
vehicle accidents, including car accidents,
tractor trailer
wrecks, ATV
accidents, train accidents,
motorcycle crashes and
alcohol / drug related collisions. Each of these types of cases has its own
particular challenges that require skilled and experienced
trial lawyers.
When an automobile accident occurs, it is imperative that aggressive
action is taken right away to protect the rights of injured
people. Every insurance company employs adjusters,
investigators and attorneys whose job is to minimize the
compensation paid to those injured people. It is in your best
interests to contact
a Richmond car accident attorney at Marks & Harrison who will put your needs
before the insurance company interests. Always consult with a
skilled VA auto accident lawyer before talking with an insurance
representative.
Accident victims should be thoroughly examined by a doctor,
since seemingly minor injuries often develop into major health
problems. Even if you do not have obvious injuries -- broken
bones, cuts, lacerations or bruises – you may have sustained
a connective-tissue or brain injury which, if left untreated,
could cause major health problems in the long term.
If you’re involved in an automobile accident, here’s what you
should do:
- Keep your auto insurance information in the glove
compartment, including a pre-printed form allowing you to
provide the particulars of any accident, including a
sketch of the scene. (Even better, keep a disposable
camera in your car.)
- Stay at the scene of the accident until police have come
and gone, making sure you have the name of the officer(s)
and that they have your version of what happened. Do not
assume a police report will "take you off the
hook" or even that one will be generated in the event
of a minor accident ("minor" may mean no one is
injured even though your car suffers a direct hit).
- Exchange names, addresses, driver's license and
insurance information with the driver of the other car.
- Review your policy to make sure of your coverage. Make a
list of questions and related information you want to
know.
- Report the accident promptly to your insurance company.
This may not seem wise or necessary to you. The accident
may be minor or you may not want to risk seeing your rates
rise. But state laws generally protect you from higher
rates unless an accident was your fault. The point is,
your insurer carrier should be notified.
If you were injured by another person’s carelessness or
recklessness, you may be entitled to recover damages that
include medical costs, property loss, lost wages, and pain and
suffering.
The Richmond car accident lawyers of Marks & Harrison know what experts to
hire and when to hire them to go up against the high-powered
teams of attorneys and experts used by big business and the
insurance companies. We regularly work with forensic engineers
to determine causation and prove fault. We work with
physicians, nurses, vocational rehabilitation specialists, and
forensic economists to prove damages, future medical costs,
past and future lost earnings, impairment and disability, and
loss of earning capacity. We work with psychologists, grief
counselors, and others to testify to emotional loss, pain and
suffering, and loss of companionship.
You are invited to contact our
Richmond automobile accident attorneys for a free, no-obligation, and confidential
consultation. Our lawyers will analyze your case and advise
whether you are entitled to compensation. If we don't think
you need an attorney, we will tell you right away.To review
the experience of our car accident attorneys, please see:
Recent Significant Verdicts
Firm News & Press
For more information on personal injury cases in Virginia,
please review:
Personal Injury
Personal Injury Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs)
Personal Injury Legal
Glossary
Contact us today by calling toll free at 1-800-283-2202.
Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can also submit a Case
Evaluation online.
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