Richmond Car Accident Attorney
Car accidents happen every day and have become normalized in American culture and society. They’re shown in movies, TV shows, and we pass them on the road while driving ourselves to work. We may get frustrated that there’s a traffic jam ahead of us because of an accident, and then we finally pass the scene of the crash without giving too much thought to the people involved. But when you find yourself or someone you love in the middle of a serious crash, you truly realize the loss, devastation, and harm that a crash can cause. Insurance companies will try to diminish your injuries from the crash and take advantage of you without a lawyer, but Puglielli Injury Law stands up to insurance carriers to level the playing field and empower victims to exercise their rights.
Why hire a Richmond car crash lawyer?
Getting injured in a car accident can easily overwhelm you—getting treatment, trying to work, getting your car paid for, keeping track of medical bills, being a parent, investigating, gathering evidence, and the list goes on. On top of all that, you’re trying to deal with an unreasonable, predatory insurance company that will try to dominate you at every turn. Puglielli Injury Law relieves you of so many of these burdens so that all you have to focus on is recovering your health, trying to work, being with your family, and living your life.
As an experienced car accident lawyer, litigator, and negotiator, Gianni Puglielli will guide you every step of the way to a recovery that’s speedy, cost-effective, and maximizes the amount of money that goes in your pocket.
If you still have questions, you can give Gianni a call to discuss your potential case, but you can also browse some helpful, in-depth FAQs and information below.
While browsing this website, please bear in mind that it is for informational purposes only; none of the information is intended to constitute, nor does it constitute, legal advice. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included on this website without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice based on the facts and circumstances of your situation from an attorney licensed in your state. Additionally, this website is available to the public and does not create an attorney-client relationship with those who visit it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have a car accident case?
Generally, there are three criteria that must be met to have a viable car accident injury claim in Virginia:
Liability. The other driver must have been negligent in causing the crash, and you can’t have been negligent yourself. Negligence means that someone breached a duty while driving their car (for example, we have a duty to obey traffic lights, stop signs, pay attention, avoid texting while driving, etc.), which was the reason the accident happened. But, in Virginia, we have a strict rule called “contributory negligence,” which means that if you’re partially at fault, even slightly, for causing the crash, then you can’t recover any money.
Insurance. There must be an insurance policy (or some other money to pursue). If someone injured you but they have no money to their name or no insurance policy, then that person has will be unable to compensate you, no matter how badly you might have been injured. However, you may have an insurance policy of your own that could cover you depending on the circumstances of your case.
Damages. You must have been physically injured by the crash. There’s more information on damages below, but some core categories of damages include pain and suffering, inconvenience, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and medical bills.
What should I do after I’ve been injured in a car accident?
If you’re able to do so, move yourself to a safe position and call 911. Take pictures of the scene, the vehicles involved, and any visible injuries. Be sure to seek medical attention immediately. When the police arrive, they should provide you with a report or case number and give you the contact and insurance information of the other drivers involved. If they don’t, or the police were never called, ask the other driver(s) for their contact and insurance information yourself.
At your earliest opportunity after the crash, call and open a claim with the other driver’s insurance company and your own insurance company too. You will be provided with a claim number by each company. Depending on what kind of insurance policy the other driver has, if they’re at fault, they should pay you for the damage to your car and provide you with a rental car for a limited time if that’s necessary.
What can I be compensated for in a car accident injury claim?
When you’ve been injured in a car crash, you may have incurred what are known as “damages.” Damages are the legal jargon for a loss or harm caused by someone’s negligence. Broadly speaking, there are two big categories of damages: “economic” and “non-economic.”
Economic damages (also known as “special” damages) are the easy ones to understand because these are damages that already have a dollar sign next to them for their value. For example: $10,000 of medical bills, $1,500 of lost wages. There isn’t a trick to figuring out what the value of $10,000 of medical bills is.
On the other hand, non-economic damages (also known as “general” damages) are harder to imagine. We can consider these the “human” damages that don’t have a dollar sign next to them—we have to assign a value ourselves and it’s what a jury would have the responsibility of doing too. These damages include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, humiliation, embarrassment, and inconvenience. For example, painful broken leg can disrupt someone’s life, but that harm isn’t economic in nature. At a trial, a jury would be tasked with figuring how much that’s worth under the circumstances of the case.
What is Puglielli Injury Law’s process in a car accident case?
That depends on the particular circumstances of the case, but the process generally looks like this:
Initial Consultation and Meeting. Typically, your first communication with Gianni Puglielli will be a phone call to discuss the merits of your case. During this consultation, Gianni will advise you as to whether he can help you and add value to your potential claim. If he doesn’t think you need the help of an attorney, he’ll be transparent with you and give you some tips and information to help resolve your claim on your own. If you’ve retained Gianni for your case, he likes to schedule a meeting with you, typically in person, but it can be a video call if that works better for you. During this initial meeting, Gianni will gather lots of information from you and discuss the next steps for your particular case.
Establishing Liability and Contact with Insurance Companies. Gianni will open claims with the at-fault driver’s insurance company as well as your own insurance carrier because you may have coverage that can help you (known as “MedPay” and “Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage”). After this point, all communications with the insurance company will be through him. Then, evidence from the police—such as a police report, bodycam footage, photos, 911 calls—will be obtained and any witnesses will be interviewed.
Treatment and Maximum Medical Improvement. In most cases, the timeline to resolution depends heavily on how long your injuries take to resolve because a case should settle after you’ve finished treatment and fully (or almost fully) recovered (known as reaching “maximum medical improvement” or “MMI”). If you settle a case before you’ve reached MMI, then you may be undercompensated.
Negotiations and Settlement. Once you’ve reached maximum medical improvement and all evidence of your damages has been gathered, Gianni will put together a demand package to send to the insurance carrier, which will kickstart settlement negotiations. Gianni will work with you to reach a satisfactory settlement and then the insurance company will issue payment, and your claim will close.
Litigation. While the majority of cases settle without a lawsuit, it’ll be necessary if a satisfactory settlement can’t be reached. You can find more information on what litigation entails below.
What does litigation of a car accident case entail?
Litigation means you’re trying to resolve a dispute using the courts. Car accident cases are often litigated when the insurance company refuses to give a reasonable settlement offer to an injury victim, or when a case has complex issues of liability or damages. There are several phases to litigation:
Filing the Complaint. A Complaint is the legal document that essentially starts the lawsuit and states the allegations against the negligent driver (known now as the defendant). The defendant will be served with the lawsuit, and their car insurance company usually assigns them an attorney to defend them. The defendant must admit or deny each allegation in the Complaint.
Discovery. After the defendant has responded to the allegations, the case enters the “discovery phase.” This is the longest phase of a case and often takes 6 months or longer to complete. It includes the exchange of documents from both sides and answers to written questions asked by each side (known as “interrogatories”). Discovery also includes depositions, which are, simply put, formal, recorded interviews of people relevant to the case. Depositions may be taken of the parties, witnesses to the accident, and doctors.
Mediation. After discovery has finished, the parties may decide to mediate the case before trial—some courts require it before scheduling a trial. A mediation is typically done in one long day, and it’s a way to try and resolve a case by using a neutral third-party who facilitates negotiations between the parties. Mediations are often successful, but, when they’re not, the case proceeds to trial.
Trial. A trial is where a jury hears the facts of the case and decides how much compensation to award you for your injuries. It includes opening statements, questioning of witnesses, and arguments. An experienced and skilled car accident lawyer can help you win a jury trial for your car accident.
What are the different causes of car accidents?
Negligence that causes car accidents comes in a variety of forms.
Rear-End Crash. Many people have found
