How A Lawyer Can Help You Maximize Your Personal Injury Claim?

An injury due to another party’s negligence can turn one’s life upside down. Between medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, personal injury claims can easily reach tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Navigating the legal system after an accident can be complex, confusing, and risky without proper guidance. This is where an experienced Virginia personal injury lawyer can prove invaluable.

Retaining competent legal counsel maximizes the potential value of a personal injury claim. Statistics show that, on average, self-represented litigants in Virginia recover significantly less than those hiring lawyers. An attorney levels the playing field against big insurance carriers, aggressively fighting for total and fair compensation. They also reduce stress during a difficult time by managing the claims process from start to finish. 

Our team of personal injury attorneys is resourceful, experienced, and knowledgeable regarding your rights. To learn more about how we can help you, call Altizer Law today at 540.345.2000. 

How Can A Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer Help With A Slip And Fall Claim?

Slip and fall cases comprise a considerable percentage of personal injury lawsuits nationwide. Hardwalking surfaces, weather hazards, uneven flooring, poor lighting, and unaddressed spills cause thousands of falls yearly in Virginia alone. Stores, businesses, and property owners are responsible for maintaining safe conditions for those lawfully on their premises. They can be held liable when they fail to do so through negligence, and people get injured.

The experienced slip and fall lawyers at Altizer Law help victims maximize compensation from slip and fall claims in several key ways:

Investigating Liability

Proving personal injury liability is the crux of any Virginia slip-and-fall case. A slip and fall attorney will launch a thorough investigation into fault and negligence immediately after an incident. This includes:

• Inspecting and photographing hazards

• Interviewing witnesses 

• Reviewing video surveillance footage

• Consulting applicable regulations and safety codes

• Determining past complaints or incidents  

Pinpointing exactly what caused the fall and who holds responsibility lays the framework for the entire legal claim. 

Documenting Injuries And Losses

Unlike fender benders or minor collisions, the severity of injuries and damages arising from falls is not always apparent immediately. Sprains, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and even wrongful death can result. A reasonable Virginia personal injury attorney tracks immediate and developing injuries and losses from the incident. These include:

• Medical expenses from hospitalization, surgery, therapy, medication, equipment, etc.

• Physician and expert medical witness review of diagnosis, prognosis, and long-term effects

• Lost income and reduced earnings capacity from missing work     

• Receipts for costs associated with household help, mobility aids, etc.

Thorough documentation continuously builds a victim’s case.

Negotiating With Insurance Carriers

Insurance companies dedicate enormous resources to minimizing claim payouts and maximizing profits. Their first offer notoriously undervalues cases significantly. Skilled negotiators pressure carriers to raise offers based on case merits and a willingness to go to trial over them if necessary. This back and forth with demand letters and improved offers slowly drives up potential settlement values. 

Litigation Prowess 

A tiny fraction of claims ever reach trial, but the threat fuels higher settlements. Altizer Law maintains an aggressive litigation practice, taking strong cases before Virginia judges and juries when carriers refuse reasonable offers. A verdict often reaches multiples above any pretrial number.

Additional Ways A Lawyer Boosts Claim Value

Beyond proving fault and pressing for maximum medical reimbursements and financial compensation, lawyers adeptly maximize cases in other ways through:

Accounting For Pain And Suffering

Unlike quantifiable medical bills or missed wages, putting a dollar figure on human suffering poses challenges. Lawyers leverage verifiable symptoms and testimony to advocate for appropriate pain and suffering coverage as part of “general damages.”

Gathering Supporting Opinions

Third-party expert opinions substantiate the validity of injuries, necessity of treatments, cause of disabilities, etc. Their testimony often persuades insurers to raise settlement offers.

Understanding Legal Complexities  

Each case involves unique legal complexities. Lawyers discern how personal injury laws, regulations, contracts, waivers of liability, and other vital factors interplay to bolster or weaken aspects of claims.

Avoiding Mistakes

Even simple missteps like missing deadlines, responding improperly to insurers, signing away rights, or admitting partial fault can sabotage cases. Lawyers help clients sidestep legal landmines at every turn.

Why Work With A Local Virginia Personal Injury Law Firm?

Retaining a Virginia personal injury lawyer familiar with state negligence laws, local courts, judges, legal precedents, insurance carriers, and defense counsel offers critical advantages. They understand precisely what plays best before Virginia juries should settlement talks fail. This breeds confidence insurers wish to avoid drawn-out courtroom battles.

Don’t leave money on the table by trying to handle a Virginia slip and fall or other personal injury claim alone. Work with a local attorney to maximize rightful compensation. The renowned personal injury attorneys at Altizer Law offer free case evaluations to examine merits, provide a straight talk on options, and discuss paths forward to protect rights and best interests. Call today or reach out online to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Should I Hire A Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer For My Minor Fall Or Small Claim?  

Yes. Even injuries that seem insignificant at first frequently worsen over time, resulting in unforeseen expenses and losses. Small claims also often need to be more adequately-settlement with adept legal advocacy. Work with a local personal injury lawyer right away following any sizeable incident.

2. What Key Steps Will An Attorney Take To Advance My Virginia Slip And Fall Case?

A good lawyer immediately investigates fault, presses premises owners for quick remediation, documents developing injuries/damages negotiates aggressively with insurers, facilitates medical care, calculates real-world losses, and skillfully uses legal tools to maximize potential claim value.   

3. How Much Money Can I Expect From My Virginia Slip And Fall Claim?

Projected settlements or court awards depend entirely on case specifics. Factors include the severity of injuries, the at-fault party’s financial resources, documented losses, legal arguments, witness support, and more. While physical therapy or minimal work loss may dictate smaller settlements, six- and seven-figure recoveries also occur. There are no guarantees, but experienced lawyers zealously pursue full and fair case values.

4. How Much Do Personal Injury Attorneys Charge For Slip And Fall Cases? 

Most local personal injury law firms work on contingency, meaning they only collect fees as a percentage of final settlements or awards. If they recover nothing for clients, they earn nothing themselves. This opens legal services up to anyone, regardless of financial means.

5. Can I Speak To Altizer Law For Free About My Potential Virginia Slip And Fall Claim?

Yes! Altizer Law provides all initial personal injury case evaluations at no obligation. Their experienced team listens to incident details, discusses potential recovery options, and offers honest perspectives on legal merits. Take advantage of their insight by calling today for a case review.

Why Altizer Law is a Wise Choice for Your Personal Injury Attorney 

Suffering an unexpected fall on another’s unsafe property turns lives upside down. Hiring a seasoned Virginia personal injury lawyer levels the playing field against big insurance companies and maximizes claim values. The renowned local attorneys at Altizer Law fight fiercely to recover total and fair compensation for clients. Call today to explore your personal injury claim options in a free consultation with a slip and fall lawyer serving Virginia.

Altizer Law has navigated multiple personal injury claims throughout the years and helped our clients win their settlements. Call our team of experienced and results-driven lawyers today at 540.345.2000 for your free consultation.