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What To Do Following a Personal Injury In Virginia

Personal injuries are often acquired in one of three ways: automobile accidents, premises injuries or injuries caused directly by the physical act of another person. In many cases, the victim of a personal injury will be entitled to compensation if the person responsible for causing the injury was negligent or failed to use due care when he or she had a duty to do so.

Automobile drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles in a safe manner and avoid colliding with other vehicles on the roadways. Property owners and businesses have a responsibility to ensure that their property does not pose a safety hazard for visitors. Finally, individuals have a responsibility to refrain from physical acts that may cause harm to others. Drivers, property owners and individuals who fail to use caution and care may be held financially liable if their actions cause someone else to become injured.

If you are the victim of a personal injury caused by a car accident, slip and fall or a physical assault, you may be wondering what your options for recourse are. It is likely that you have incurred substantial medical bills that may cause you financial hardship in the future. You may have sustained a debilitating injury that has decreased your quality of life or reduced your future earning potential. These issues may become a source of frustration and confusion for you.

Working with an experienced Virginia personal injury attorney can alleviate many of the worries and concerns that personal injury victims are faced with. By allowing a personal injury lawyer to take care of the legal and financial aspects of your case, you can focus on restoring your body and mind back to health. There are, however, numerous things that you can do immediately following your injury that could have a positive impact on your ability to recover for your injury.

The first thing that you should do following your injury is to take photographs of both your injury and the site where the injury occurred. This is especially important following a car crash or premises injury since the scene of the accident or injury may be changed or cleaned-up shortly after the incident occurred. If you are physically unable to take photographs yourself, you should ask another individual who is present to take photographs on your behalf.

The second thing that you should do immediately following your injury is attempt to get the names and phone numbers of any person who may have witnessed the injury or accident. Witness testimony can be very beneficial for purposes of negotiating settlements with the offending party or in the event that your case goes to trial. You should provide your Virginia personal injury attorney with a list of any names that you were able to collect so that he may use the information to gather additional evidence in support of your case.

Personal injury and car accident victims should never give a statement or other information to the opposing party’s insurance company. Insurance companies may try to persuade you into signing documents or giving a statement. You do not have an obligation to provide any information to another person’s insurance company and it is usually never in your best interests to do so. You may take down the name and phone number of the insurance agent and explain that you will have your personal injury attorney contact them on your behalf.


Michael S. Weisberg, P.C.
112 College Place
Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: (757) 622-7740
Fax: (757) 533-9223
Toll Free: (800) 690-0235
Email: info@weislaw.com
www.weislaw.com