What Factors Affect a Car Accident Claim?

Rutter Mills Law Firm

What Factors Affect a Car Accident Claim?

Car Accident Info

If you have been injured in a car accident, the success of your claim will depend on evidence of fault, the extent of your injuries, and financial losses.

Claimants represented by an experienced car accident attorney tend to recover the greatest compensation. Lawyers with expertise in this area understand how to prove the relevant factors and advocate for full compensation. Before settling any accident claim, speak with a legal professional to make sure your losses are accounted for.

Factors related to fault

When evidence of fault is clear, your claim will be easier to negotiate with an insurance company or prove to a jury. For example, if you were rear-ended, there will be a presumption that you were not to blame, but the other driver may be able to present facts that overcome this. If there were eyewitnesses who blame the other driver, your job would be easier.

In many states, a party can recover compensation for a car accident even if they were partly to blame. Unfortunately, this is not true in Virginia. Under the contributory negligence law, if a jury finds that you were even slightly to blame, you cannot receive compensation. Most cases settle without going to trial unless evidence of your fault is overwhelming. Your car accident lawyer may be able to secure a settlement despite the other party’s allegations that you were negligent.

Factors related to your injury

The seriousness of injuries and how closely they are tied to the accident have an impact on the settlement or verdict.

  • Seriousness of injuries – Both physical and mental injuries may be eligible for compensation. The monetary value of an injury may be measured in part by the medical bills. These provide a baseline for the value of a claim. To arrive at an amount for pain and suffering, this amount is often multiplied by a number. This is based on how severe and long-lasting your injury is expected to be.
  • Relationship to the accident – Medical history and physician notes are crucial evidence to tie your injuries to the accident. If you experienced the same or similar injuries before the accident, it would be more challenging to prove you deserve compensation because the other driver is not liable for pre-existing injuries– but is responsible for the worsening of your condition.
  • Other losses – In addition to medical bills, financial damages like lost wages, out-of-pocket costs for services like home health care, and medical supplies all factor into a claim.

Contact us at Rutter Mills today for a free consultation

If you have been injured in a car accident in Chesapeake, Newport News, or Suffolk, call Rutter Mills today to speak with our team of car accident lawyers for free. We will consider these all of these factors to provide an informed analysis of your case.

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Dave Put His Trust in Us

Don’t Fall For The Insurance Company’s Games

Dave suffered serious injuries in a car accident. The defendant’s insurance company tried to offer him a low amount so Dave called Rutter Mills. We took over dealing with the insurance and got Dave the money he needed to get back on his feet.

They enabled me to be happy in life again.

Get Back On Track

Protecting Your Future

Glenn’s car accident changed his life, but not permanently thanks to the help of his Rutter Mills attorney. When the insurance companies wouldn’t help him, our team fought back and won.

I knew I needed Rutter Mills.

Fighting For What's Right

Getting Justice

On his way home from work at the shipyard, Dan was involved in an accident. He tried to file a claim on his own, but the insurance company wouldn’t give him the money he needed to put his life back on track. Dan knew he needed to call Rutter Mills.

They actually won my case 3 times!

Larena's Win

After her car accident, Larena asked her father, a local stevedore, for his advice on who to call. He recommended Rutter Mills. Her team of car accident experts at Rutter Mills fought back when the insurance companies tried to deny her the money she needed to recuperate from her injuries. We took her case to trial – and won. When the insurance company filed their appeals, we beat them again – two more times! Larena got the money she needed and the justice she deserved.

We’re going to immediately call Rutter Mills. That’s the people I trust with my baby girl.

Who Do You Trust With Your Family?

After a car accident, Jamaree’s first call was to her mom. She was shaken up and scared. Mom told her “We’re calling Rutter Mills. Her next was to Rutter Mills. Her Rutter Mills car accident team helped her get compensation “above & beyond” what she was expecting.

They lifted allot of stress off my shoulders. I recommend them to anybody because they WILL fight for you.

Who Can You Turn To?

Referrals From Friends and Family

After John was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, he turned to the person he trusts most for a recommendation. His wife, a paralegal of 30 years, told him to call Rutter Mills on the advice of the lawyer she worked for.

They really care for you as a person. Words cannot describe what Rutter Mills did for me and for my case.

When You Need Someone In Your Corner

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When the insurance company tried to get Carol to sign paperwork after her car accident, she knew she needed a lawyer. Carol knew she needed Rutter Mills.

When I called Rutter Mills, I knew it was the right fit. They’re so interested in helping you get justice.

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When Mom Needs Strength

Taryn was in a car accident while she was pregnant. She knew she needed someone in her corner to protect her rights and her family’s future.

There’s attorneys, then there’s Rutter Mills.

We're Here When The Unexpected Happens

Priorities

A devasting accident changed Levon’s life forever. The physical and emotional toll left him scared and in pain. When the insurance company for the defendant contacted the family, they made an offer that did not even cover the cost of the medication, much less doctors’ bills, and physical therapy. They knew they needed to talk to a serious lawyer. Rutter Mills took care of the negotiation so Levon could focus on healing.

When you’ve got a serious injury, you need a serious lawyer. That’s why we chose Rutter Mills.

Motorcycle Accidents Change Everything

When Ed was injured in a motorcycle crash, he knew he needed a serious lawyer to protect his rights. The insurance companies were fighting him every step of the way. Rutter Mills helped prove Ed’s case and get him the money he needed to get on the road to recovery.

With the seriousness of the accident, I knew that we needed a serious lawyer. I needed Rutter Mills.

Carol & Levon's Story

They knew they needed a serious lawyer when Carol and her son were seriously injured. After the other party’s insurance company tried to get her to settle for less than she needed, Carol called Rutter Mills for help. We took on the insurance company so she could focus on healing.

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