Injured by a Drunk Driver? We’re Here to Help.
The holiday season is unfortunately also drunk driving season. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign on Dec. 14, and it runs through Jan. 1, 2023. This campaign is designed to increase awareness of the dangers of drunk and impaired driving nationwide.
According to the NHTSA, drunk driving killed nearly 1,000 people in America in Dec. 2020 alone. The month of December can be dangerous for all road users, as alcohol-filled holiday parties and family get-togethers are held throughout the month, including on week nights. That means more people may be intoxicated behind the wheel on more days than normal, putting themselves and others at risk.
At Skolrood Law Firm, we work hard to hold negligent drivers liable for any injuries and damages they cause to innocent motorists and their passengers. There’s never an excuse to get behind the wheel while intoxicated or impaired, and when drunk drivers cause crashes, they should face the consequences of their decisions.
While out driving this holiday season, be extra cautious and vigilant. If you notice a vehicle swerving or moving erratically, there’s a chance the driver may be intoxicated. Keep your distance and consider reporting the driver to police or the Virginia State Police by dialing 911 when stopped and telling the operator the vehicle’s make, model, location, and direction of travel.
If you’re hurt in a crash caused by a drunk driver, know that our Roanoke car accident lawyers are here to help. We have decades of experience building successful car accident claims, and we know how to win. Contact us anytime for a free consultation.
Offered a Settlement After a Crash? Our Lawyers Can Review It to Make Sure It’s Fair.
Insurance companies do everything in their power to protect their profits. That often means paying victims far less than they deserve after accidents and injuries. A surprising tactic that insurance companies use to protect their profits is to offer victims settlements right away after accidents and injuries.
When victims receive these settlement offers, they often feel lucky to have avoided the lengthy negotiation process that injury claims can entail. But what they don’t realize is that the settlement offer they received is far less money than they’re actually owed, and that the insurance company only offered it to get out of paying a full settlement.
At Skolrood Law Firm, it’s our goal to help injured victims get full and fair compensation. In our decades of experience, we know that virtually all unprompted and fast settlement offers are “lowball offers.” They’re designed to take advantage of injured victims who need money right away and who haven’t calculated exactly how much their injuries will cost them both today and years in the future.
Another advantage for insurance companies with these offers is that once victims accept them, they can’t ask for more money later. Getting signatures on these offers releases the at-fault parties and their insurance companies from any future liability and payouts. In the case of many accidents, that’s a bargain in the eyes of insurance adjusters!
Don’t lose out on the money you’re truly owed. Contact our Roanoke car accident lawyers right away after an injury or if you receive a settlement offer and you’re unsure if it’s enough money for you and your family.
3 Common Mistakes to Avoid After a Crash
After a car crash, most victims are in pain and in shock. It can be hard for them to think straight or focus on anything except the pain they’re experiencing and the worry they have for their loved ones in the vehicle with them, and any other victims. Unfortunately, the actions (or lack thereof) that victims take in the minutes and hours after crashes can affect their ability to get compensation.
The three most common mistakes car accident victims make after crashes are:
- Admitting fault: It’s important to never admit fault after a crash or even insinuate that you might be partially at fault. Virginia is a contributory negligence state, and it means that if you’re even 1% at fault for a crash, you can’t get compensation. Going on record to the other driver, police, or insurance company that you caused or contributed to the crash can make you ineligible for damages.
- Not getting immediate medical attention: While you don’t have to go to the hospital directly from the crash scene in an ambulance, you do need to get medical treatment ASAP. The longer you wait, the more skeptical the insurance company will be of your injuries and whether they were caused by the crash.
- Waiting too long to file a claim: Virginia’s statute of limitations for injury claims is two years from the date they occurred. But waiting even several days to file a claim can make it more difficult to win. That’s because evidence can disappear, witnesses can be harder to locate, and the insurance company will become more skeptical of your story.
At Skolrood Law Firm, we can help with every aspect of your car accident claim. Contact our Roanoke car accident lawyers today for a free consultation.
