Car Accident Lawyer in Harrisonburg
Car accidents and other motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injuries and deaths in Harrisonburg and across the county. Rockingham County had nearly 500 traffic accidents involving injuries in 2017, according to the Virginia Highway Safety Office. Many of those were caused by driver errors.
Injured In A Car Wreck In Harrisonburg?
If you have been seriously injured in a car crash in Harrisonburg, or elsewhere in Rockingham County, you may be unable to work and have a stack of medical bills. With thousands of dollars of unforeseen medical expenses, you may wonder how to get your life back on track. If another driver caused your injuries, then you may be legally entitled to claim compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance for your medical bills and other related expenses. You should not have to bear that load by yourself. An experienced Harrisonburg car accident lawyer at Kendall Law Firm can discuss your legal options during a free consultation.
Why Choose Kendall Law Firm for Your Car Accident Case in Harrisonburg
When you hire a car accident lawyer, you need someone experienced and knowledgeable about the inner workings of personal injury law. Attorney David Kendall practiced personal injury law in the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia for 21 years before establishing Kendall Law Firm in 2009. Our law firm focuses exclusively on personal injury law and never represents insurance companies or large corporations. Instead, we are dedicated to helping injury victims. Our unwavering support has resulted in millions recovered for our clients, including $2.375 million in a brain injury case and $1.5 million in a wrongful death truck case.
While experience is a critical consideration, so is how you feel when working with your attorney. David Kendall served as a Judge Advocate General in the United States Marine Corps. His commitment to service transcends his military career to helping members of the community that he loves. When you have been injured by the wrongdoing of others, Mr. Kendall and his hand-selected team treat you with the respect and dignity that you deserve while pursuing maximum compensation from those responsible for your injuries. We handle every aspect of your case from initial investigation to settlement negotiations.
Here is a heart-warming message from one of our clients:
“I was very pleased with my experience with the Kendall Law Firm. I don’t think of them as a law firm but as folks who are there to help me when I need them. Mr. Kendall came highly recommended by my lawyer and he did not disappoint. He explained how the process worked and was able to shepherd me through a difficult time. I had numerous contacts with Tracy and Elizabeth, who were so friendly, understanding and patient with me. Together, they were a great team, always there to answer any question. Coping with the trauma of my accident and all the unknowns of recovery was unsettling. The Kendall team took the burden of dealing with the insurance companies off my shoulders, which allowed me to concentrate on my recovery, and for that, I am thankful. Truth is, I will never fully recover from my accident. I am reminded of it every day. I do feel fortunate that Mr. Kendall and his team were able to reach a fair settlement for me. I was asked, “How likely are you to recommend the Kendall Law Firm to a friend”? The answer is, I already did.” – Timothy L.
Common Causes Of Car Accidents In Harrisonburg
- Drunk Driving—Thousands of people are arrested each year in the Shenandoah Valley and across Virginia for drunk driving. Alcohol-related crashes caused injuries to 4,430 people and 248 deaths in the Commonwealth in 2017, according to the Virginia Highway Safety Office. Nearly a third of fatal traffic accidents in Virginia are alcohol-related. Most accidents occur on rural roads. A drunk driver may face criminal prosecution for driving while intoxicated and should be held accountable. However, a criminal conviction of the intoxicated driver will not provide any compensation for your hospital and doctors’ bills and other expenses. After a serious accident caused by a drunk driver, you will need to bring a separate civil action against the at-fault driver and his or her insurance company to demand compensation for your accident-related expenses.
- Distracted Driving—Distracted drivers can be as dangerous as drunk drivers. In 2017, more than 15,000 people were injured in accidents in Virginia in which drivers admitted to distracted driving. The number of crashes involving driver distraction continues to increase in Harrisonburg and throughout Virginia. Distracted driving can involve taking your eyes off the road, taking your hands off the steering wheel and talking on a cell phone or texting causing a car accident such as a head-on collision. Virginia reported nearly 600 injury crashes involving drivers using cellphones in 2017. Sending text messages involves multiple types of distraction including taking your eyes off the road and taking your hands off the wheel. If distracted driving is suspected in a serious accident, our Harrisonburg car accident attorney can obtain a driver’s cell phone records to determine whether a driver was using a cell phone at the time a crash occurred. Distracted drivers who cause crashes should be held accountable when they injure others
- Drowsy Driving—While car crashes caused by fatigued drivers can happen at any hour, they most commonly occur between midnight and 6 a.m., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They frequently occur on two-lane roads and involve drivers falling asleep and their cars drifting off the road or crossing into an oncoming lane and causing a head-on collision with no evidence of braking.
- Speeding— Drivers who ignore the posted speed limits pose a danger to themselves and others who share Rockingham County roads. Across Virginia, approximately 2,000 speed-related crashes occur each month. Rockingham County had 270 speed-related crashes in 2017, the most recent year of data available. The speed-related crashes caused 147 injuries and 3 deaths in 2017. Drivers who speed should be held accountable when their disregard for the speed limit causes traffic accidents and injuries or fatalities.
- Aggressive Driving—Tailgating, running red lights and other types of aggressive driving increase the risk of a car accident. Drivers who accelerate to beat red lights and fail to yield the right of the way put in jeopardy everyone on the roadways. Aggressive drivers in Harrisonburg should be held accountable when their disregard for safety causes accidents and injuries.
If you are trying to recover from a serious injury caused by another motorist, take advantage of a courtesy case review by a Harrisonburg accident attorney at Kendall Law Firm. We will address your questions and discuss whether you have a valid personal injury claim and what types of damages you may be entitled to claim.
At Kendall Law Firm, a Harrisonburg car accident attorney will help you with your legal questions, and you should expect thoughtful answers to your questions.
What To Do If You Are In A Car Accident In Harrisonburg
After a car accident in Harrisonburg, the drivers involved are required to stop immediately at the accident scene without blocking traffic as leaving the scene may be considered a hit and run offense. You should check whether you or anyone else is injured and request emergency medical assistance if needed.
Call Harrisonburg police and report the accident and request an ambulance if needed. Virginia law requires that motorists provide reasonable assistance to an injured person.
Motorists are required to exchange driver’s license and vehicle registration information with other motorists involved in the accident.
However, you should not discuss the car accident or your injuries with the other driver. Any comments you make may be used against you later to dispute your injury claim.
Provide the police the facts of what happened and ask how you can get a copy of the accident report. In accidents involving injury or significant vehicle damage, the police will respond and write a report which will create a record of the accident.
You also can file an accident report with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles by submitting an accident report (downloadable at FR200), along with the Information Request Form (CRD-93), by which you can obtain a copy of the police report. The insurance companies will require an official accident report to proceed with the claim, so it is important to make sure the accident is documented.
If the other driver caused the car accident, you may have a right to pursue a car accident claim demanding compensation from the other driver’s auto liability insurance to cover your losses.
You should have a Harrisonburg car crash attorney review the specifics of the accident and discuss whether you have a valid claim.
If we handle your injury claim, our law firm can document your losses including:
- Hospital and doctor bills
- Property damage
- Lost work income
- Pain and suffering.
If the other driver’s insurance company contacts you and offers to settle your claim, you should have an experienced Virginia car accident attorney review the offer before accepting it or signing anything. Insurers’ initial offers are often a fraction of the fair value of the accident claim.
The role of an experienced Harrisonburg car accident lawyer is to assist you in obtaining full and fair compensation after an accident. Let us put our many years of experience to work for you.
Legal Help From a Harrisonburg Car Accident Lawyer
Attorney David Kendall and the team at Kendall Law Firm are ready to review the details of your car accident and explain your legal options. A native of Virginia, David Kendall is a former Judge Advocate General with the U.S. Marine Corps with more than 25 years of experience in injury law. Our law office takes pride in being friendly and approachable.
If you have been seriously injured or lost a loved one in a car accident in Harrisonburg or elsewhere in Rockingham County, a Harrisonburg car accident attorney can negotiate with the insurance companies and demand justice for you. We represent people injured in car crashes caused by others’ negligence on a contingency fee basis. You will not owe any legal fee unless we are successful in obtaining an insurance settlement or jury award for you.
Virginia has a two-year statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit after a car accident, so it is important to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. Contact Kendall Law Firm so we can start to work on your Harrisonburg car accident claim. Our Harrisonburg personal injury lawyer is only a phone call away. We will arrange an appointment at a location convenient to you to discuss your legal options.
Car Accident FAQs
What compensation can I recover after a car accident in Harrisonburg?
Virginia personal injury law allows accident victims to seek compensation for the economic and non-economic damages that they suffered because of the accident. Economic damages cover losses that have a direct economic impact, such as medical bills or lost wages. Non-economic damages cover less tangible losses that negatively affect your quality of life, such as physical pain and suffering and mental anguish.
Can I still file a claim if the accident happened on a rural road in Harrisonburg?
Yes. All drivers are required to follow the rules of the road. If someone else’s carelessness led to your injuries, you have the right to pursue a legal claim against them, regardless of where the accident occurred.
What if the other driver doesn’t have enough insurance?
You may be able to make a claim against your uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. A skilled personal injury lawyer can also investigate if someone else is legally responsible for your injuries, such as the owner of the vehicle (if different from the driver) or an employer (if the at-fault driver was working at the time of the accident).
How is fault proven in a Harrisonburg car accident case?
Fault for motor vehicle accidents is often proven from evidence such as:
- Accident reports
- Videos of the accident from dash cams, traffic cameras, or surveillance cameras
- Photos of the accident scene
- Witness statements
- Property damage reports
- Reports from accident reconstruction experts
Our experienced legal team knows how to identify, preserve, and present evidence to fight for maximum compensation.