The Thomson Law Firm

Broken Bones Are Common Injuries After Car Accidents But Settlements Will Vary Fractured bones often occur after a serious car accident .  If this has happened to you, you are not alone. If you suspect that you have suffered any injury after a car accident you should seek medical attention from a trusted provider. After you have sought medical attention, call a personal injury lawyer or a car accident lawyer for a FREE consultation.  The lawyer will ask you about the accident, your injuries and your future medical treatment. After discussing the details of your case, the lawyer will advise you on whether you need a lawyer to represent you or not. Nine Common Broken Bone Injuries Sustained in Car Accidents Rib Fractures:  Oftentimes, broken ribs are caused by the very devices meant to keep you safe; the seatbelts and or the airbags. Airbags can deploy at rates of 200 mph.  Why so fast, because an airbag must deploy and inflate before your face makes contact with ...

Understanding The Full Impact Of Your Car Accident Injury I have met with several clients over the course of my 29 years of practicing personal injury law.  Many of those meetings have occurred in hospital rooms or living rooms of the injured person.  I often hear accidents described in similar ways, “traumatic”, “such a shock”, “didn’t really know what hit me” as folks tell the story of the tragic event that has changed their entire lives. I’ve represented people who have suffered broken bones,  whiplash, traumatic brain injury, burns, and spinal injuries including permanent paralysis. I’ve met with families still reeling from the loss of their loved one.  And the one thing they all have in common is this, they did not plan for this pain or the huge disruption to their lives. Medical Treatment Should Happen As Soon As Possible After The Accident Getting medical treatment after an accident is your first priority.  Oftentimes, clients will refuse ambulance tra...

How Do I Determine The Value Of My Personal Injury Case? Your personal injury case value is determined by many, many things.   However, just because you were severely injured does not mean that you will automatically receive a large offer or award from an insurance company, judge or jury.  This is because Virginia, unlike nearly every other state in the United States, still recognizes the antiquated defense of contributory negligence.  In Virginia, if you contribute just 1% of negligence, and this negligence was a proximate cause of your injuries, then even if the defendant is 99% at fault, you will collect nothing!  So, if liability is not in your favor, you never get out of the starting gate! Severity of Injuries And How Your Chances Of A Full Recovery Affect Case Value The biggest indicator of your case value (assuming there is clear liability on the defendant) is the severity of your injury and your recovery.  Obviously, if you were left with multipl...

What Do You Mean My Personal Injury Case Has A Lien? You may have heard the word lien. According to Black’s Law Dictionary, a “lien” is a legal right or interest that a creditor has in another’s property, usually until a debt or duty it secures is satisfied. “Liens” can arise in several different ways in your case.  The most common way that we see liens is a health insurance lien.  Although Virginia has a state law that health insurance plans are barred from subrogation, there are exceptions to that.  Those exceptions are Medicaid insurance plans, health plans that are ERISA self-funded plans, Medicare insurance plans (including Medicare Advantage Plans), FEHBA plans and Tricare plans. I Have Medicaid. Will I Have to Pay Medicaid Back After I Get Money From A Personal Claim? Medicaid plans are typically provided to a person based upon their economic need/their income.  The good thing about Medicaid plans is that their reimbursement rates are very low.  By law...

What To Expect When Your Case Goes to Litigation If you read my previous post “ Personal Injury Claim, Here’s What to Expect “, then you have seen the outline of having your claim handled by the insurance adjuster.  This is also called settling your claim pre-litigation.  In this post I want to focus on what to expect during the litigation process. So, in this blog you will need to assume that the insurance company has made a low offer or has denied your claim in its entirety.  If that is the case, then you only have two options- you can file a lawsuit against the defendant in general district court or you can file suit in circuit court (or in federal district court). General District, Federal, or Circuit Court? In general district court (essentially small claims court), there is a small filing fee and service fee.  The monetary jurisdiction of that court is 0-$50,000.  By pursuing that option the costs are significantly lower than the circuit court and you c...

Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer If you have hired a lawyer for your personal injury claim, the attorney will make contact with the liability insurance carrier and let them know that he/she is representing you for your injury claim.  You will need to continue seeking medical help to tend to your injuries.  You will need to keep your attorney updated with the status of your injuries, your recovery process and where you received, and where you are seeking, medical treatment.  When your treatment comes to an end, your attorney will order your official medical records and medical bills.   He/she will review those and decide as to whether he/she needs to seek a meeting with your treating physician or surgeon.  Those meetings can take weeks to set up due to the physician’s schedule and can be very costly.  We have paid up to $1500 for a 30-minute meeting.  The attorney will advance the cost of that on your behalf, and it should only be set up if there are s...

If you or a family member has been seriously injured in an accident caused by a tractor trailer on the I-81 corridor in Virginia, you may be wondering what kind of compensation you can expect. The areas of Abingdon, Christiansburg, Roanoke, and Botetourt County see their fair share of heavy truck traffic, and unfortunately, accidents involving these large vehicles can be devastating. Understanding the types of compensation available and knowing who to turn to for legal help is crucial in these situations. Types of Compensation You Can Expect After A Semi-Truck Accident When it comes to compensation after a serious accident, there are several types of damages you may be entitled to. The primary categories include economic, non-economic, and sometimes punitive damages. Economic Damages: These cover the financial losses directly related to the accident. This includes medical expenses, both current and future, lost wages if you are unable to work, and property damage. For example, i...