At Tronfeld West & Durrett, we help victims of personal injury cases seek justice for negligent conduct. With decades of experience handling personal injury cases in Norfolk, our personal injury lawyers never back down when it comes to recovering damages and holding responsible parties accountable.
Many types of personal injury accidents cause physical, emotional, and financial damage to victims every year in Norfolk, while those who were negligent are not always being held accountable. If this is your case and you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you can take legal action to demand compensation for your damages and injuries.
Which Cases Can Our Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers Help With?
Year after year, a staggering number of people across the city of Norfolk face the life-altering consequences of accidents—whether they are motor accidents, medical negligence, or many other cases. With decades of experience serving the community, we have assisted victims who went through life-altering consequences that tremendously affected their lives and their loved ones. This includes:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Other types of motor vehicle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Premises liability cases (like slip-and-falls)
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Product liability
- Dog bites
- Wrongful death
- Catastrophic injuries
- Truck accidents
We know the consequences of an accident with injuries could last for weeks, months, or even a lifetime. And when you have suffered injury from an accident that was the result of the negligence of another person or entity, you may not know what are your rights and options to claim compensation.
Our personal injury attorneys are here to help you figure out the best path toward justice, determining who is responsible for demanding accountability.
For answers to your questions with a Personal Injury serving Norfolk, call:
800-321-6741
Negligence Causes of Personal Injury
Proving negligence is essential to build a strong case on your behalf and hold the responsible parties accountable. In this context, negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm to another person. It occurs when someone fails to assure the level of care that a reasonably prudent person would under similar circumstances.
If a driver speeds through a red light or your doctor prescribes the wrong medication, that can be classified as negligence, and you deserve to be compensated for the damages suffered.
Some examples of negligence we often hear at our law firm in Norfolk include:
- Failure to maintain property free from known hazards (also known as premises liability)
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Medical malpractice
- Defective products (also known as product liability)
If unfortunately, this is your case, it’s important to analyze the specific circumstances surrounding your case to hold responsible parties accountable.
Who is at Fault?
In many personal injury cases, determining the party at fault is not straightforward. For instance, while a driver might be primarily responsible for a car crash, factors such as a malfunctioning traffic light or an improperly marked construction zone can implicate multiple parties in the equation.
In some instances, even the injured party may also share some responsibility. Nevertheless, according to Virginia’s doctrine of pure contributory negligence (as outlined in the Virginia Code § 8.01-58), if the plaintiff is found even slightly at fault, they may not be able to recover any damages.
This makes it even more necessary to have a personal injury lawyer by your side to fight for your right to compensation.
To build a strong claim and prove negligence, a personal injury lawyer at Tronfeld West & Durrett, will investigate your case and collect compelling evidence to determine who is at fault.
Types of Damages You Can Recover After Personal Injury in Norfolk, Virginia
Even when the consequences of an accident may feel tangible and impactful for victims, calculating the damages properly can be challenging. Overall, there are two types of damages we can help you recover after a personal injury case: economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages
These damages cover all tangible, out-of-pocket expenses. They include financial losses that can be easily quantified, such as:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Property damage
Your lawyer will help you calculate the full extent of the economic damages you have suffered, to ensure you don’t settle for less compensation than you deserve.
Non-Economic Damages
On the other hand, non-economic damages include intangible losses, which often have also economic consequences for victims and their families. These might include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of consortium
Although non-economic damages are more difficult to quantify, claiming compensation for them is just as important, because of the significant strain they can pose on victims’ lives.
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How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You Get the Justice You Deserve
If you decide to claim justice after suffering from an injury, our team of personal injury lawyers in Norfolk can hear your story, analyze your case, and recommend the best course of action.
Investigating the Case
From collecting evidence to interviewing witnesses, a thorough investigation lays the groundwork for a solid case. At this stage, your attorney will thoroughly investigate your case to determine who is at fault and gather evidence to support your claim. Often, we also consult with medical experts (or other types of industry experts) to understand the full extent of the damages.
Negotiating a Settlement
Typically, resolving personal injury claims doesn’t need to involve taking the case to court. Your attorney will negotiate a fair settlement with the opposing party, saving you time, stress, and resources.
However, this is not always the case. If a settlement cannot be reached, it may be necessary to take the case to court, where a personal injury lawyer can represent you making strong arguments on your behalf.
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How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
Many elements, including how severe the injury is, who is clearly at fault, and the life impact on the victim, determine the value of a personal injury case. At Tronfeld West & Durrett, we’ve championed the rights of countless injured individuals, securing substantial settlements that reflect the full extent of damages.
Here are some of the most significant settlements we’ve achieved, as you can see in our case results:
- In a landmark case, we secured a $1.3 million settlement for a client who suffered a traumatic brain injury following an accident in a store.
- Our legal prowess was further demonstrated with a $10 million verdict in a case of negligent medical care. This verdict not only provided our client with the compensation they deserved but also set a strong precedent.
- We achieved a $19,450,000 settlement for a client involved in an auto accident due to another driver running a red light. This settlement represents one of the highest in Virginia for such cases, proving our ability to secure fair compensation for our clients.
If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, we’re here to help you navigate the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Steps to Take After a Personal Injury
Following a personal injury, it’s crucial to understand your legal options to make informed decisions. At our law firm, we guide our clients through the complexities of building a strong case and navigating personal injury lawsuits in Virginia.
Each case is unique for us. No matter the size of the case, we offer a free initial consultation with an expert attorney to help you determine which legal option is best. Overall, these are the steps we recommend you to follow to protect your rights:
- Seek medical attention: Even if your injuries seem minor, it’s essential to have a medical professional evaluate you. All the medical documentation you can add will help you support a personal injury case.
- Document everything: Keep detailed records of medical visits, expenses related to your injury, and any lost wages.
- Consult with a personal injury lawyer at Tronfeld West & Durrett: Before navigating insurance claims or settlements, consult with a lawyer to understand your rights and the best course of action. We will help you ensure you are not negatively affecting your case by reporting to insurance companies.
- Report the incident: Whether it’s a car accident or an injury on someone’s property, ensure the incident is officially reported.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
Dealing with insurance companies post-injury is a critical phase where strategic communication can define the outcome of your claim. At Tronfeld West & Durrett, we specialize in transforming this often adversarial negotiation into an opportunity for rightful compensation.
Understand Your Coverage and the Insurer’s Motivations
Insurance companies operate on a profit model, which inherently motivates them to settle claims for as little as possible. Recognizing this, our approach is to meticulously review policy details, identifying all potential options for compensation. This enables us to anticipate the insurer’s strategies and prepare counterarguments that align with your best interests.
Accurate and Comprehensive Documentation
The cornerstone of a strong insurance claim is irrefutable evidence. We guide our clients in gathering comprehensive documentation, including medical records, expert testimonies, and proof of income loss. This paperwork not only corroborates the claim but also assesses the extent of fiscal, physical, and emotional damage endured.
Strategic Communication
Communicating with insurance adjusters is fraught with nuances that can significantly impact the outcome of your claim. Our legal team advises clients on the dos and don’ts of interacting with insurers, helping them report an accident to the insurance company correctly. We often take the lead in these discussions, ensuring that your statements are accurately represented and that your rights are protected throughout the process.
Evaluating Settlement Offers
Insurance companies frequently extend initial settlement offers that fall short of covering the full spectrum of the claimant’s losses. We employ a rigorous evaluation process to assess these offers, comparing them against the long-term financial needs and the emotional toll on the injured party. Our expertise in Virginia’s personal injury law positions us to successfully negotiate for a settlement that fully compensates our clients for their injuries.
While we strive to secure fair settlements out of court, our preparation is comprehensive, always keeping the possibility of litigation in mind. This readiness to escalate to trial, if necessary, positions us strongly in negotiations, signaling to insurance companies our commitment to achieving justice.
Our Attorneys Can Help You Maximize Your Recovery for Personal Injury in Norfolk
Filing a personal injury claim after being injured is a process that includes several stages—from collecting evidence to negotiating with insurance companies and potentially going to trial. We know this is often a hard process if you are dealing with the consequences of the accident. But also, we can testify how essential it is to get a fair amount of compensation that covers all your damages.
If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence in Norfolk, Virginia, we can help you throughout this process. Tronfeld West & Durrett team has assisted thousands of injured clients since 1972, and we can help you get the justice you deserve. Don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation to review the details of your case and talk about your legal options.
Call or text 800-321-6741 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form