Charlottesville Car Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in Charlottesville, VA, you could be left with painful injuries, expensive medical and repair bills, and lost income from time missed at work. However, if someone else was responsible for causing the accident, they could owe you compensation for these losses and more.

At Lichtenstein Law Group PLC, our attorneys have nearly a century of combined legal experience helping Virginians like you get the money they need from the people who hurt them. Let us put this experience to work for you. Contact us today for a free consultation with a compassionate Charlottesville car accident attorney and find out how we can help you pursue accountability and justice from the at-fault driver.

What Are the Top Causes of Car Accidents?

According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, nearly 900 people are killed and roughly 62,000 more are injured in car accidents statewide every year. Some of the most common causes of these car accidents include:

Distracted driving – Drivers who are absorbed in text messages, phone calls, or other distractions behind the wheel are far more likely to crash due to overlooked road hazards or changes in traffic.
Driving under the influence – The effects of alcohol, recreational drugs, and even some prescription or over-the-counter medications can seriously impair critical driving abilities like depth perception and reaction time.
Driver fatigue – According to the Centers for Disease Control, the cognitive impact of 24 hours of sleep deprivation is equivalent to the effects of a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit.
Reckless driving – When drivers engage in reckless behaviors such as speeding, tailgating, and lane weaving, they have less time and space to react to sudden changes in traffic flow.
Driving errors – Drivers who are inexperienced, forgetful, or traveling through unfamiliar areas are more likely to confuse the right of way, make abrupt maneuvers, or travel in the wrong direction down one-way streets.
Defective car parts – When critical components such as brakes or tires are poorly manufactured or maintained, their sudden failure can lead to accidents.
Poor road conditions – Large potholes, inadequate drainage, or missing road signs can lead to loss of control or driver confusion, which may contribute to devastating traffic collisions.

What Are Some Common Types of Car Accidents in Charlottesville?

No two accidents are alike, but many share certain characteristics that allow us to group them by type, such as:

Head-on collisions – A head-on collision occurs when two vehicles crash into the front of each other. While rare, these collisions tend to have catastrophic consequences.
Rear-end collisions – A rear-end collision occurs when the front end of one car crashes into the rear end of the vehicle in front of it. Rear-end crashes are among the most common car accidents and are frequently the result of distraction, impairment, or other forms of driver negligence.
T-bone accidents – A T-bone accident occurs when the front end of one vehicle crashes into the side of another. Many T-bone crashes happen when drivers confuse or ignore the right of way at intersections.
Sideswipe accidents – A sideswipe accident occurs when the side of one vehicle collides or swipes against the side of another vehicle. They are commonly caused by failure to check blind spots and unsafe lane changes.

What Are the Most Common Injuries from a Charlottesville Car Accident?

Any car accident can result in severe, life-threatening injuries due to the extreme forces involved. Some of the most common crash-related injuries include:

Injuries to the head, including facial injury and traumatic brain injury
Dental injuries
Neck, back, and spinal cord injuries, which can result in paralysis
Injuries to muscles, ligaments, or joints in the arms and legs
Dislocated or broken bones
Amputation/loss of limb
Abdominal injuries and internal bleeding
Psychological or emotional injury, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

What Should You Do If You Are Hurt in a Charlottesville Car Accident?

If you were injured in a Charlottesville car accident, you can take the following steps to protect your legal rights and strengthen your case for compensation:

Gather evidence such as photos and witness statements from the crash scene.
Seek prompt medical care to have your injuries diagnosed, treated, and recorded.
Follow your doctor’s care plan and attend all follow-up appointments.
Keep track of medical bills, bank records, and other crash-related documentation.
Watch what you say to others or post online while your injury claim is still pending.
Contact a trusted car accident attorney in Charlottesville as soon as possible.

How Do You Determine Fault in a Car Accident?

Determining fault for a car accident involves establishing the chain of events that led to the crash, who contributed to them, and to what degree. To do this, insurance adjusters and other investigators will look at evidence like:

Statements and observations in police crash reports
Photos and videos from the accident scene
The location where the vehicles collided
Statements from third-party witnesses who saw the crash
Testimony from experts like accident reconstruction specialists

What Sort of Compensation Is Available for a Car Accident Claim?

Depending on the circumstances, you could be entitled to compensation for the following types of crash-related losses in a car accident claim:

Past and future medical costs for crash-related injuries

Incidental costs such as mileage for medical appointments

Lost wages or benefits from missed time at work

Projected losses in future earning capacity

Intangible costs like pain, suffering, and lost quality of life

Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Car Accident Injury Lawsuit?

Yes. Virginia’s statute of limitations gives you just two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you wait to file your lawsuit until after the two-year deadline has passed, the court can dismiss your case, effectively preventing you from seeking compensation through the courts.

Contact a Charlottesville Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you were injured in a car accident in Charlottesville, Lichtenstein Law Group PLC is here to help. Contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced, compassionate Charlottesville car accident lawyer.