Accidents

Virginia Car Accident & Injury Lawyers With Over 60 Years of Experience

Virginia traffic fatalities have actually been trending downward; recent data shows roughly 825 deaths on Virginia roads. The death rate per mile driven still tells a sobering story: in Virginia, for every 100 million miles driven, nearly one person dies in a collision.

While the Virginia Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have worked over the years to create safer roads through regulations and education, car accidents remain a fact of life on Virginia’s roads. With a catastrophic car accident come unexpected and difficult injuries that permanently affect the lives of victims. These injuries can lead to life-long disabilities, astronomical medical bills, extensive surgeries and treatment, and difficulty with maintaining employment and caring for loved ones.

If you have been involved in a car accident, you have a right to seek compensation for your injuries. The Stellute Law Firm has over 60 years of combined experience litigating personal injury cases and is eager and prepared to fight for your interests. Our attorneys can review your accident, discuss any potential claims you may have, and assist you with pursuing a civil case for damages.

If you would like to schedule a free consultation at our Hampton Roads office, call The Stellute Law Firm now at 757-722-2815.

Car Accidents

The most common type of accident claim that The Stellute Law Firm handles is the car accident case. In fact, car accidents account for the vast majority of personal injury claims in the civil legal system today. Drivers on roads and highways owe a legal duty of care to drive safely and follow traffic rules and regulations. When a driver is negligent and causes a car accident, that driver will be responsible for any ensuing damages. For serious accidents, especially those involving physical injuries, you need an experienced car accident lawyer to guide you through the process of pursuing compensation for your injuries.

Car accidents can lead to a wide range of injuries, and the type of injury often shapes the type of claim. Common injuries we see include:

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists, in addition to following the same rules of the road as car drivers, must also adhere to additional standards, such as seeking special licenses that authorize operation of a motorcycle. If you have either been involved in an accident with a motorcycle or if you were the victim riding the motorcycle, you know how disastrous the injuries can be. A motorcycle accident attorney can help you to evaluate fault, assess your damages, and pursue a civil claim against the party responsible for the accident.

Bicycle Accidents

As Virginia and the Hampton Roads community seek to encourage bicycle commuting in order to reduce vehicle congestion on roadways and reduce pollution, more safety measures for bicyclists, including bicycle lanes, are being implemented statewide. However, bicycling remains a very risky activity given the large number of negligent drivers on the road. Bicycling has turned into a defensive sport for cyclists, and severe accidents have sadly become the norm. If you have been harmed in a bicycle accident due to another driver’s negligence, you should seek the guidance of an accomplished bicycle accident lawyer from The Stellute Law Firm for assistance with pursuing a personal injury claim.

Airplane Accidents

Each year, millions of U.S. citizens fly on planes for business and pleasure, and while the incident rate is low, accidents do happen. In fact, according to NTSB data, U.S.-registered civil aircraft were involved in roughly 1,201 accidents and 321 deaths in a recent year — and notably, none of those fatalities occurred on a scheduled U.S. airline flight. The risk sits almost entirely in general aviation: private planes, charter flights, flight training, and other non-commercial flying, the kinds of accidents that don’t make national headlines but devastate families just the same. Airplane accidents can occur due to crashes, malfunctions on the tarmac, or even negligence of flight attendants, pilots, or tarmac personnel. While strict airline regulations govern flight patterns, flight loads, maintenance of planes, and training of airline employees, accidents still happen — on commercial airlines and private charters alike. Depending on what caused the crash, the airline, the airplane manufacturer, and/or the airline employee may be liable for damages. If you have been involved in an airplane accident, you need a lawyer you can trust and rely on. The Stellute Law Firm is known as “The One to Know” because we have the trial experience to assist you with your airplane accident claim.

Truck Accidents

Tractor-trailers account for a disproportionate share of Virginia’s most serious crashes every year. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s, (NHTSA’s) most recent Traffic Safety Facts report found that 5,340 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks in a single recent year — and notably, 70 percent of those killed were occupants of the other vehicle, not the truck itself. That’s the reality of a truck accident: because of the sheer size and weight difference, it’s almost always the smaller vehicle, and the people inside it, who bear the worst of it.

Semi-truck drivers receive special training to handle high-weight vehicles with numerous axles, but these trucks are still difficult to maneuver, especially in poor weather conditions common to Hampton Roads. Whether you were driving the truck, riding in it, or in another vehicle involved in the crash, if you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to seek legal recourse.

Train Accidents

A large lattice of railroads crisscrosses the Virginia countryside and the Hampton Roads area — in fact, regional transportation planners have identified 617 total rail crossings across Hampton Roads, 472 of them at-grade crossings where roads and tracks meet directly, operated primarily by CSX and Norfolk Southern. Nationally, the Federal Railroad Administration reports roughly 2,250 vehicle-train collisions and 270 fatalities at highway-rail grade crossings in a single recent year.

Train accidents can happen for a range of reasons — malfunctioning crossing signals, obstructed sightlines, track conditions, or split-second decisions made under pressure. When a train accident occurs, the individuals on the train are not the only ones affected. Serious injuries can also extend to nearby residents and their surrounding property. If you’ve been involved in a train accident of any kind, The Stellute Law Firm can help you understand your options and pursue the compensation you deserve.

What to Do After an Accident

The steps you take in the hours after a crash can directly affect your claim:

  • Seek medical attention immediately, even if injuries seem minor at first
  • Call the police and request an official accident report
  • Photograph the scene, the vehicles, and any visible injuries — solid evidence is one of the best ways to protect your injury claim
  • Get contact and insurance information from all parties and witnesses
  • Avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney

The Stellute Law Firm Is “The One to Know”

If you have been injured in an accident, you want a tenacious and aggressive yet compassionate lawyer by your side, guiding you on how to pursue your personal injury claim. With the experienced accident lawyers at The Stellute Law Firm in your arsenal, you have access to skilled and accomplished lawyers who have represented thousands of clients over the past 60 years.

To schedule a free consultation to discuss your potential accident claims, call The Stellute Law Firm today at 757-722-2815.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Virginia?

Generally two years from the date of the accident under Virginia Code § 8.01-243(A).

What if I was partly at fault for my accident?

Virginia follows pure contributory negligence, meaning that if you’re found even minimally at fault, an insurance company can attempt to deny your claim entirely. It’s important to have an attorney manage all communication with insurers from the start.

Do I need a lawyer for a minor accident?

Some injuries don’t fully present until days or weeks later. An attorney can help make sure you don’t settle before you understand the full extent of your injuries.

How much does it cost to hire The Stellute Law Firm?

Nothing upfront. We handle accident cases on contingency — there’s no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

What if the other driver didn’t have insurance?

You may still be able to recover through your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. See our Uninsured Motorist page for details.

To schedule a free consultation to discuss your potential accident claims, call The Stellute Law Firm today at 757-722-2815, or contact us online.

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