Virginia car accident lawyers
Standing by your side after a car accident in Virginia
The actions you take at the scene of an accident can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. For accidents with major injuries, you need a knowledgeable attorney with car accident experience to protect your interests.
Attorney John Singleton has worked for a large insurance defense law firm and has an in-depth understanding of how insurance companies operate. He uses this knowledge to your advantage when dealing with insurance companies about a personal injury claim. As a former Federal Prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C, attorney Ken Gibson also has the legal experience needed to get you the best possible result.
Car accidents, including bike accidents and pedestrian accidents, can cause serious injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, insurance hassles, and lost wages. GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys is committed to resolving your case efficiently and pursuing the highest possible settlement for you.
We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, which means we receive no compensation until we get compensation for you. If you have been involved in a serious car accident, call us at (804) 413-6777 or toll-free at (855) 781-6777 to schedule a free consultation.
Client Testimonial
"Ken & John are amazing lawyers! I highly recommend them to anyone needing help after a wreck. They are the best, and they really care about you.."
- Anonymous
Why do I need experienced advocates on my side after a car wreck?
Car accidents are a leading cause of death and injury in the United States. In Virginia alone, over 1,000 people were killed, and close to 60,000 were injured in traffic crashes in 2022 . This includes motorcycle accidents, collisions involving large commercial trucks, and passenger vehicle wrecks. Alcohol-related crashes were responsible for more than 270 of these fatalities and over 4,000 injuries.
Many factors contribute to car accidents, but most are the result of driver negligence or wrongdoing. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident caused by another driver, GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys can help you make informed decisions.
How should I file auto insurance and car accident claims?
Virginia is an “at-fault” state when it comes to auto insurance, which means that the at-fault driver is responsible for injuries caused in an accident.
You have several options if you are involved in an accident caused by another driver:
- File a claim with your own insurance company.
- File a third-party claim with the other driver’s insurance company.
- File a lawsuit in court to pursue compensation for all costs.
Please remember, you should NEVER make a statement to the other driver’s insurance company without speaking with a lawyer and discussing your options. An unintentional misspoken word or phrase could harm your case.
Even your own insurance company may not want to pay what you deserve. A skilled Virginia car accident attorney like the ones at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys will help you pursue those benefits.
What causes automobile accidents?
Most automobile collisions could be prevented if everyone took sensible precautions and followed the law. But even if you drive safely, it’s impossible to anticipate what a careless driver might do. Unsafe driving habits that cause serious accidents include:
- DUI. Alcohol impairs judgment, so intoxicated drivers are much more likely to make bad decisions. Drinking beyond the legal limit also negatively impacts essential driving skills such as coordination, depth perception, reflexes, and reaction time.
- Distracted driving. Virginia law prohibits holding a phone or other wireless communication device unless the driver’s car is parked or legally stopped. Unfortunately, a lot of people continue to use cell phones for talking, texting, checking social media, and even playing video games while they are driving, despite the fact that it only takes a moment of distraction to cause a devastating accident.
- Speeding. There is no excuse for speeding. The roadway is not a private racetrack, and drivers who go too fast are needlessly endangering the lives of pedestrians, cyclists, motorcycle riders, other motorists, and their own passengers.
- Tailgating. When drivers fail to leave a sufficient amount of space in front of their vehicle, it increases the chances of rear-end accidents that often result in serious injuries. A vehicle doesn’t have to be traveling fast to cause debilitating whiplash injuries.
- Ignoring traffic laws. When careless drivers run stop signs and traffic signals, make illegal turns, change lanes without signaling, or perform other dangerous maneuvers, people who share the road are caught completely off guard and can be seriously hurt.
- Weather conditions. Virginia law requires drivers to turn on their headlights in the daytime when rain, fog, snow, and other types of inclement weather prevent vehicles from being discernible at a distance of 500 feet. Drivers must never drive faster than is safe for current weather conditions, even if that means going slower than the posted speed limit.
What should I do after a car wreck?
A car crash can turn your whole world upside down. Nobody goes out expecting to be hit by another vehicle, but if you are, try to keep your wits about you. Following these steps will help your recovery and make it easier for your car accident lawyer to file a successful claim or lawsuit on your behalf.
- Move to the side of the road.
- Check to see if you or your passengers have injuries that require first aid.
- Call 911.
- If you feel up to it, use your cell phone to snap pictures of the accident scene. Documenting skid marks and vehicle damage will help determine how fast a driver was traveling.
- See a doctor right away and tell the doctor about any symptoms you are experiencing.
- Contact GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys.
- Don’t reveal accident details to friends or on social media.
- Don’t sign any agreements or make any statements to an insurance company agent.
- Save records and receipts for all medical care.
What types of compensation are available after a car accident in Virginia?
After our investigation is complete, GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys will file a claim or a lawsuit against anyone whose negligence contributed to your injuries, seeking the following types of damages:
- Medical bills
- Ambulance transport
- Pain and suffering
- Surgeries
- Occupational therapy
- Disfigurement
- Medical devices
- In-home nursing care
- Reduced quality of life
- Lost income
- Wheelchair access for your home
- Wrongful death
How do I get my car repaired or replaced?
Collision coverage on auto insurance policies helps pay for the repair or replacement costs of your vehicle. If the driver who caused your accident is insured, his collision coverage will pay for your “property claim” or the repair or replacement of your vehicle. If the other driver is uninsured, then your car is repaired or replaced through your own auto insurance collision coverage.
Many car insurance companies assign one claims adjuster to handle a personal/bodily injury claim and a different claims adjuster for the “property claim” to deal with arranging the repair of your vehicle or reimbursing you for the value of your car if it’s totaled during the wreck.
Am I entitled to a rental car while my car is being repaired?
Yes, Virginia law requires that an insurance company pay for a comparable rental car during the time that your car is being repaired, as well as during the time it takes the insurance company to provide you an offer for the total loss of his car. For example, if you were driving a Ford F-150 when the wreck happened, don’t let the insurance company try to put you in a compact car. They are required to put you in a rental car that is comparable to your now-damaged vehicle.
Vehicle owners in Virginia are not required to carry car insurance if they pay a $500 uninsured motor vehicle fee to the DMV. Accordingly, Virginia requires that every car insurance policy include uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in an amount equal to the policy’s liability coverage limits unless the policyholder requests lower limits in writing.
If you are involved in an accident caused by a driver with no insurance or insufficient insurance to cover your losses, you can file for compensation under the uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of your own auto insurance policy. This coverage should also apply if you are involved in an accident caused by a hit-and-run driver.
What are some common types of car accidents?
Sometimes, it can be difficult to prove liability after an accident, and insurance companies may try to muddy the waters by blaming you for an accident caused by their client.
GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys will investigate the accident by interviewing witnesses, collecting surveillance camera video, examining physical evidence, and reviewing the police report. If it’s a hit-and-run accident, we can use dashcam footage and other methods to locate the driver who fled the scene.
Types of car accidents we handle include:
- Rear-end collisions
- T-bone accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Multi-vehicle accidents
- Sideswipes
- Rollovers
- Hit-and-run accidents
Our investigators have experience with all types of accidents, and we’ll find out who’s liable for your injury no matter what kind of accident it was.
Were you injured by a careless driver in Virginia? Call us today.
At GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys, we consider our work to be our calling.
We treat all our clients like neighbors because that’s what you are.
One of our mottoes is “big city experience, small town care.” Both of our partners, John Singleton and Ken Gibson, have been injured in senseless accidents, so we can truly empathize with what you’re going through.
Reach out to us at (804) 413-6777 or toll-free at (855) 781-6777 to learn more today.
Recent Auto Accident Case Results
DISCLAIMER. Each case is handled based on the individual facts and circumstances of the case. These results are NOT indicative of the outcome of any potential case. All case results depend upon a variety of factors unique to each case, and these case results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case undertaken by our firm.
- $725,000 Compensation - Man suffered serious injuries after another driver ran a stop sign and crashed into his vehicle.
- $600,000 Compensation - Man was killed in a drunk driving crash and wife sustained injuries in the accident.
- $525,000 Compensation - Man's' pickup truck was hit from behind by a reckless driver.
See more case results here.
Additional Information
- Vehicle stopping distances and the dangerous urge to tailgate
- How to drive safely during Virginia’s winter weather
- What medical tests could I need after a car accident?
- Virginia news: Two new laws expand “Move Over” and ban blue headlights
- Why do so many cars drive around at night without their headlights on?
Download and print the PDFs below to keep in your vehicle, so that you will know what to do if you are ever in an accident. Click on the image to download them.
Call our Eastern Virginia office today for a free consultation
at (804) 413-6777 or toll free (855) 781-6777.
It costs you nothing for our firm to represent you. We only get paid when you do. Learn more
Prevention, empathy, and diligence are hallmarks of everything we do at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys. Our community can see these ideals lived out in our work to prevent personal injuries from happening.
- Safety Education
GibsonSingleton launches “Texts=Wrecks” campaign to reduce the number of people injured or killed by distracted drivers. - Annual Coat Drive
During the fall, our team works to distribute coats to people in need in our community. - Hands-on Service
John and Ken join the Gloucester Point Rotary Club in cleaning up the community. - Supporting Local Schools
The Gibson family participates in Gloucester’s Botetourt Elementary Shuffle fundraiser.