Rutter mills

Nothing, unless and until we collect money for your injury. We will not ask you for any deposits, retainers or advances until your case is completed. Once we have collected funds on your behalf, we will deduct our fee and any costs incurred at the same time we provide you with the balance. Fees may vary depending on how you were injured and which compensation scheme controls your remedy, but we will agree on these terms in writing before we start to work for you.

Our goal is to conclude every case as quickly as we can. Some of this depends on your injury and how long your treatment lasts. To make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve, we need to be sure your medical treatment is complete or at least that your doctors know what kind of recovery you can expect. Once all of the information about your injury is collected and we know the extent of your losses, we will send the information to the insurance carrier and demand payment. Cases settle when you are offered an amount that you agree to accept as final payment for your loss. This could be within weeks of the demand or at any time up until, during or even after trial. Cases are generally tried in circuit or federal court 6 to 10 months after filing, depending on the court.

No, we are glad to talk to you. We only collect fees from clients whose cases we win, by trial or settlement. If we cannot help you, we will recommend someone who can. If we think this is something you can handle on your own, we will tell you so.

That depends on so many things. Mostly, it depends on the extent of the injury and the amount of the loss—medical expenses, lost income, disability, permanent impairment, suffering—just to name a few. It may also depend on the resources available for compensation, such as insurance or corporate assets. The facts of your case matter too—the who, what, when and why. We are always willing to discuss value with you and to give you our best judgment about what you can expect.

First, you must have suffered an injury to your person or property. Second, you should consider whether your injury was someone else's fault. It is not always necessary to have a physical injury to bring a personal injury lawsuit. Some personal injury claims could be based on a variety of non-physical losses and harms. In the case of an assault, for example, you do not need to show that a person's action caused you actual physical harm, but only that you expected some harm to come to you. You also may have a case if someone has attacked your reputation, invaded your privacy, or inflicted emotional distress upon you.

Every state has certain time limits, called "statutes of limitations," which govern the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. In some states, you may have as little as one year to file a lawsuit arising out of an automobile accident. If you miss the deadline for filing your case, you may lose your legal right to damages for your injury. Consequently, it is important to talk with a personal injury lawyer as soon as you suffer or discover an injury.

No. You can drive a automobile or vehicle without any automobile insurance in Virginia. However, to do this legally you must pay an uninsured motorist fee of several hundred dollars to the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you are in an auto accident and you suffer injuries, individuals who are not insured are less likely to receive compensation for the accident injuries.

We can make sure you know your rights and you receive the compensation the law provides. We will investigate the claim, gather the evidence, explore the compensation sources and options, and explain them to you. We will see to the details, file your claim for you, negotiate your recovery and—if all else fails—file and try your lawsuit in the proper court.

When there is a significant injury, sooner is always better. Witnesses, evidence and recollections may be lost over time. Virginia law requires that a claim be brought within TWO YEARS of the date of injury. There are some exceptions and additional notice requirements that may apply to certain persons and situations such as infancy, competence, municipalities, etc. This is another reason to get early advice.

The odds are against it since fewer than 20 percent of all cases are actually tried to verdict. Cases are settled only when you are offered a sum that you are willing to accept in offer to bring a complete end to your claim. The chances of settlement will improve in proportion to the experience, qualifications and ability of the lawyers you select and their legal team.

Most likely you will be contacted within 24 hours by the insurance company for the driver who caused the accident. Their representative will pretend to be concerned, offer you assurance, ask you to give a recorded statement, sign a medical release form and/or accept a small sum of money to release them from responsibility. All of this is designed to minimize your recovery, deprive you of your legal rights and keep you from contacting an attorney.

You cannot be fired because you filed a workers' compensation claim nor can a witness be fired. You should consult a workers' compensation attorney if you think you were fired for one of these reasons. These actions are brought circuit court.

Yes. The Workers' Compensation Act provides a fixed, time period in which you may file a claim for benefits. If you do not file a claim within that time, you may be risking your right to future benefits. These time limits are called "statutes of limitations."
A worker must file a claim for workers' compensation benefits within 2 years of the date of accident. For most occupational diseases, you must file a claim within two years of the date you were told the disease was caused by your work and within five years of the date you were last exposed at work.

Employees are entitled to receive compensation for an "injury by accident" or an "occupational disease."
In order to be covered, an "accident" must:

1. Occur at work or during a work-related function.
2. Be caused by a specific work activity.
3. Happen suddenly at a specific time. (Injuries incurred gradually or from repetitive trauma are not covered, although certain diseases caused by repetitive trauma are covered.)

In order to be covered, a disease must:

1. Be caused by the work.
2. Not be a disease of the back, neck, or spinal column.

1. Report the Accident: Give verbal or written notice to your employer immediately of any accident at work that causes pain, injury or illness. The notice must include the name and address of the employee, the time and place of the accident, and the nature and cause of the accident and injury.
2. See a Doctor: Get an immediate medical examination to determine the reason for your pain and the extent of your injury or illness. In Virginia, if the employer gives you a panel of doctors, you must choose one from their list; otherwise, you can go to any doctor you select.
3. Do NOT Provide a Recorded Statement: Once the workers' compensation insurance company receives notification of your work injury, they will attempt to contact you in order to get a recorded statement of the events that led to your injury. DO NOT PROVIDE ONE.
4. File a Claim: Every injured employee MUST file a written claim with the Workers' Compensation Commission within TWO YEARS from the date of the accident or any right to benefits may be lost. Claim forms can be obtained from any office of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission or we can file one for you.

The purpose of the Workers' Compensation Act is to provide compensation to employees for loss of the opportunity to engage in work, when this is caused by an accidental injury arising out of their employment. Although the Virginia Workers' Compensation Act is managed by the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, benefits including wage loss and medical payments are made by the employer or their insurance company.

The Virginia Workers' Compensation Act provides compensation only for accidental injuries or occupational diseases. Not every "personal injury" that an employee may sustain at work is compensable.

An Accident must be one of the following in order to qualify:

• Take place at work or during a work-related function
• Be caused by a specific activity
• Happen suddenly at a specific activity

The Federal Longshore & Harbor Workers' Compensation Act provides benefits for cumulative injuries that occur over long periods of time and other diseases not covered by the Virginia Act. Contact us to find out which laws apply to your situation.

Supplemental Security Income is for people who become disabled and have extremely low income. Documentation of your low income must be submitted along with your work history with Social Security Disability. SSI is also federally funded, while Social Security disability is funded by deductions from paychecks.

As long as you are disabled and cannot work a regular paying job, you are able to receive benefits.

In order to qualify for Social Security Disability you must have a physical or mental health problem which keeps you from working in a regular paying job for at least a year. The Social Security Administration takes into account age, abilities, work experience and medical condition.

Maritime law covers legal affairs and dealings between ship owners, crew members, passengers and cargoes on the high seas and other navigable waters. The Jones Act is a federal maritime law that provides benefits to employees who are injured on seagoing vessels on navigable waters.

Workers' compensation laws are passed by the various states and cases typically involve relatively small cash settlements. The Jones Act is a federal law involving very high cash settlements if negligence or unseaworthiness of the vessel is involved.

"Wrongful Death" is when a person is killed due to the negligence or misconduct of another individual, company or entity.