Virginia Auto Accident Attorneys
Virginia traffic accident victims face unique challenges, seen in very few states, making the need for an experienced traffic accident lawyer even greater. Virginia is one of very few states that still adheres to contributory negligence, a legal doctrine that bars accident victims from recovering compensation if they share even the slightest amount of blame for their injuries. To learn more about how you can protect your right to compensation, please talk to one of the Virginia auto accident lawyers listed in this directory.
Virginia Traffic Accident Facts
According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), in 2014 there were 120,282 traffic accidents injuring 63,384 people and killing 700.
- Of those killed, 492 were drivers, 118 were passengers and 90 were pedestrians
- Of those injured, 47,399 were drivers, 14.345 were passengers and 1,640 were pedestrians
- Alcohol-related crashes injured 5,003 people and cost 251 people their lives
- 13,378 people were injured in speed-related crashes, 300 were killed
- 174 people were injured and nearly 2 people died each day as a result of traffic crashes
Understanding Contributory Negligence
Most states have abandoned contributory negligence because it is unreasonably harsh and denies so many accident victims the chance to recover fair compensation for their injuries. Under contributory negligence, you lose your right to compensation if you were even the slightest bit at fault, even just 1%. In the real world, perfect drivers are rare to non-existent.
In a traffic accident lawsuit, the defense is always looking for a way to get out of paying. Virginia makes it easy for them. Convincing a jury that an accident victim did some small thing wrong is not hard to do, even if it is not true. An experienced Virginia traffic accident attorney can help you avoid making mistakes that give the defense ammunition against you.
There is an exception to contributory negligence that can be used to protect your claim in some cases. It is called the “last clear chance” doctrine. You need a highly skilled and experienced Virginia auto accident attorney who is willing to thoroughly investigate your accident and who has an in-depth understanding of the law to make this work.
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a traffic accident in Virginia, please browse our directory to speak to one of the experienced Virginia auto accident lawyers near you.