Personal Injury Attorney Near Me

Accidents caused by another party can leave you struggling to manage your daily activities and life. Medical expenses, potential loss of mobility, and more can be overwhelming and leave you uncertain about how to move forward. After suffering an accident, it is important to hire a personal injury attorney near me as soon as possible.

At Skinner Accident & Injury Lawyers, we are committed to prioritizing your case when you are facing the aftermath of an accident. We treat you like family and ensure that you are protected and have a voice in the process. Our personal injury firm can negotiate for you and secure the results you need. With offices in Charles Town, WV, Martinsburg, WV, and Winchester, VA, we are ready to help you when you need help after an accident.

How a Personal Injury Accident Can Affect Your Life

When you have suffered an injury resulting from another party’s negligence, you have the right to pursue a personal injury claim. While these types of accidents can be caused by any number of factors, they all have an undercurrent of carelessness. If the party that caused the accident had been more cautious, they would likely have been able to prevent the accident. Such actions risk causing injuries, which can include:

Broken bones
Soft tissue damage
Whiplash
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Neck and spinal injuries
Shoulder injuries
Chest and rib injuries
Hip injuries
Internal injuries
Fire or chemical burns
Bites
Exposure to toxic chemicals
Catastrophic injuries
Death

Regardless of what injuries you have suffered or how minor they may initially appear, medical care after an accident is crucial. It helps ensure that you are safe and receive the treatment you need. It can also detect whether or not you have severe injuries beneath the surface. Additionally, seeking medical attention provides evidence of your injuries and treatment, and will be needed to resolve your case.

Types of Cases Skinner Accident & Injury Lawyers Handles for Our Clients

Personal injury is a broad area of the law that includes a wide array of accident types. While they are all founded on negligence, each type of case contains its own nuances and specific legal considerations. As such, personal injury attorneys must possess an extensive amount of knowledge on various case types, legal requirements, and the court system. This level of experience is one of the many reasons why it is recommended to have a lawyer handle your case for you. At Skinner Accident & Injury Lawyers, we help clients when they have been hurt in the following accidents:

Car accidents: Car accidents happen all too frequently and are a source of injury, damage, and stress. Collisions can range from minor to severe and be caused by several factors. Insurance companies are also likely to exacerbate the stress.
Truck accidents: Trucks have a higher center of gravity, significant height, and carry a lot of weight. This combination can be a deadly mix in the event of an accident, leaving motorists with the brunt of the impact.
Motorcycle accidents: Motorcycles may go unnoticed by other motorists, making them susceptible to accidents and injuries. Their decreased visibility, speed, and limited protective measures leave them vulnerable out on the road.
Bicycle accidents: Bicyclists can easily be injured if they are struck by another vehicle. Parked vehicles can even be a danger if a motorist does not see the bicycle and suddenly opens a door right in front of them, which could send the cyclist flying. They are likely to suffer serious injuries.
Pedestrian accidents: Pedestrians have nothing to protect them from the force of an oncoming vehicle or impact with the road. They are highly susceptible to severe or catastrophic injuries as a result.
Slip and fall accidents: If you slip and fall on another party’s property because of slippery surfaces, uneven pavement, torn carpeting, poorly constructed steps, or unlit areas, you may be able to hold the property owner accountable. Owners are responsible for their properties and can be sued if they had reasonable knowledge of a hazard and did nothing to fix it.
Catastrophic injuries: Catastrophic injuries leave permanent and irreversible damage that affects an individual for the rest of their life. This may include disabilities, paralysis, amputations, TBIs, burns, and more. These injuries may require long-term treatment or constant care.
Wrongful death accidents: Sadly, some accidents end in fatalities. In these tragic cases, surviving family members may have the right to file a wrongful death claim and recover compensation on behalf of their deceased loved one.
Dog bite & animal injuries: Bites from dogs or other animals can cause serious injury and run the risk of infection. Dog and animal bites can also pass on diseases. Owners are generally held liable for the actions of their dog or pet, but legal action depends on the circumstances of the bite.
Work Injuries: Accidents can happen at any time on the job and cause serious harm. Some industries are exposed to more risks than others, and workers in those fields may face catastrophic injuries if an accident occurs. A skilled lawyer can help ensure you recover compensation when you have been hurt at work.
Drunk driving accidents: Accidents caused by drunk drivers can range from minor to fatal. If you have been the victim of an accident involving a drunk motorist, you can hold them accountable through legal action.

Important Actions to Take After a Personal Injury Accident

Your actions after an accident are crucial to the outcome of your case. They can impact your health and how much you can recover through a settlement. These steps can also streamline the claim process by ensuring that the insurance company cannot fault you for anything while resolving your claim. They often look for you to make mistakes so they can blame you and deny your claim. To ensure you have the best chance possible, take the following steps after an accident:

Call 911 and receive medical treatment as soon as possible.
File a police report with local law enforcement and request a copy of the completed report for your records and claim.
Exchange contact and insurance information with the other party present; exchange vehicle information as well if it is a car accident.
Take photos and videos of the scene of the accident, the environment, and your injuries to use as evidence, along with witness statements if possible.
Hire personal injury lawyers to represent you and negotiate with the insurance company and other parties as applicable.
Contact the insurance company to begin the claim process.

How Negligence and State Fault Laws Affect Personal Injury Claims

When resolving a personal injury case, the negligence that occurred must be established before compensation is awarded and the claim is closed. The burden of proof is on you and your lawyer to demonstrate that the other party is responsible for your losses. To do that, your lawyer will first demonstrate the other party’s obligations to keep you from harm. They will then show what actions, or lack of actions, the other party took, and how those led directly to an accident that caused you injury and loss. As such, they can be held liable and must pay for your damages.

Sometimes, more than one party is responsible. In these situations, fault in an accident must be evaluated and assigned to each party according to their contribution. Fault and state laws can impact who may receive damages and how much.

For example, if there is a car accident in Martinsburg, WV, where both parties contributed to the accident, West Virginia’s modified comparative fault law allows both parties to recover damages reduced in proportion to their level of fault. However, if one party caused 50% or more of the accident, they are barred from recovering any compensation.

In contrast, if you get in a car accident in Winchester, VA, you are subject to Virginia’s pure contributory negligence law. This states that an individual can only recover compensation if no fault is found on their part for the accident.

Recover Compensation to Avoid More Losses

Personal injury accidents can cost you a significant amount of money. They can also affect your ability to live your life. To ensure that another party’s negligent actions do not make you suffer more than you already have, compensation provides you with relief so you are equipped with the resources you need to get back on your feet. Some of the losses you can recover through compensation include:

Cost of medical care
Home accommodations
Loss of income or earning capacity
Property damage and repairs
End-of-life, funeral, and burial expenses
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
PTSD
Anxiety and depression
Insomnia
Decreased quality of life
Loss of enjoyment
Loss of companionship

Damages cover a wide variety of your losses, but what you can recover is dependent on the specific losses you have suffered. Every case is different, and each one has different needs and variables that can affect the outcome. Your lawyer will calculate the value of your settlement based on the unique injuries, expenses, and other losses you have sustained.

Do Not Wait to Take Action

To ensure that you can recover compensation, it is important to talk to a lawyer right away. Waiting too long can result in an inability to pursue legal action if the statute of limitations expires. For personal injury cases, the statute of limitations is two years for both West Virginia and Virginia. After two years, you may no longer be able to recover what you have lost in an accident.

A Personal Injury Attorney Improves the Outcome of Your Case

Hiring a personal injury lawyer near you has many benefits, including improving the outcome of your case. With a comprehensive knowledge of personal injury law and negotiation tactics, a lawyer can secure a higher settlement than those who proceed without a lawyer. With their connections, they can also acquire other resources and open up options that might not have been available without their help.

As they work on your case, your lawyer will help you navigate the requirements for your claim, and they will handle the insurance companies so you receive a fair settlement. Your lawyer knows what to look for when investigating your case and gathering evidence, and they will use that information to fight for you and ensure you are not taken advantage of. They will try to resolve your case as quickly as possible so you can move forward with your life.

While most personal injury cases are settled, some do proceed to trial. If your case requires litigation, your lawyer will also guide and help you through the discovery process for a personal injury case. They will ensure all requirements are met and your rights are protected. They will fiercely fight for you so you can get the verdict you are entitled to receive.

Affording a Personal Injury Attorney Near You

Skinner Accident & Injury Lawyers knows that after an accident, you want to avoid as many costs as possible. The good news is that you do not need money to hire Skinner Accident & Injury Lawyers. Our team works on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we win your case. We only collect our fees from the settlement or verdict you receive.

This model ensures that you receive the legal services you need when you need them, and do not have to stress about affordability. Additionally, you will always know that your lawyer has your best interests in mind and is going to seek the maximum results on your behalf.

Get Results With Skinner Accident & Injury Lawyers

Skinner Accident & Injury Lawyers has a proven track record of results and dedication to our clients. No matter what type of accident you are facing, our experienced team provides exceptional service and trusted counsel that will help you feel confident about the future. To pursue compensation and justice after an accident, contact our highly skilled personal injury attorneys in Charles Town, WV, Martinsburg, WV, or Winchester, VA to schedule your free consultation today.