Catastrophic Injuries Law Firm Virginia | Correll Law Firm

Correll Law Firm represents people seriously hurt in car and commercial truck crashes, and families in wrongful death cases. The firm is a catastrophic injuries law firm Virginia residents can reach from its offices in Winchester and Harrisonburg.

What the Firm Handles in Catastrophic Injury Cases

The firm handles serious injury and death matters from car accidents, truck accidents and other commercial vehicle crashes. Its focus is catastrophic injuries, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and wrongful death. The firm does not handle matters outside these areas.

A catastrophic injury is a severe injury that can change a person’s life for a long time. Work, family roles and daily tasks may all be affected.

Crashes involving commercial vehicles can involve more than one party, such as the driver and the company that operates the vehicle. Each matter turns on its own facts, including how the crash happened, what injuries resulted and who was involved.

This page is written for two groups. The first is injured Virginians hurt in a crash. The second is families who lost a loved one in one. The firm serves people in the Shenandoah Valley, Warren County, Richmond and Henrico County.

Types of Serious Injuries and Crashes the Firm Reviews

The firm reviews brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and serious crashes involving cars, trucks and other commercial vehicles.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury happens when a blow or jolt to the head damages the brain. Symptoms can vary widely from person to person, and they can change over time.

Spinal Cord Injury

A spinal cord injury damages the bundle of nerves that carries signals between the brain and the body. The location and severity of the injury shape what a person experiences.

Car and Commercial Truck Crashes

Car crashes and commercial truck crashes can both cause serious harm. Crash causes differ. Inadequate tire maintenance can contribute to tire blowouts, according to NHTSA tire safety information. The Virginia DMV USDOT guidance covers motor carrier topics, including the USDOT number.

Wrongful Death

When a crash kills a family member, the family may have a claim. The filing rules are explained below.

What Happens During a Free Case Evaluation

The process has four basic steps.

1. First contact. You share basic facts by phone or online: what happened, where, when, and what injuries or losses resulted.
2. Confidential review. The firm reviews your facts and your questions about possible next steps.
3. Documents. Helpful items include the police crash report, medical records, bills, photos, employment records, and the names and addresses of witnesses.
4. Plain explanation. The firm explains whether it handles this type of matter and what you may choose to do next.

You do not need every document before you ask questions. Write down your questions before the meeting. A short list keeps the review focused on what matters most to you. Expect the firm to ask about your medical care and your work.

Virginia Rules That Affect Serious Injury and Death Claims

Virginia generally allows two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (Va. Code § 8.01-243(A)); the clock runs from the date of injury, not the date of discovery, with narrow exceptions. Subsection A of Va. Code § 8.01-243 provides that, unless otherwise provided in that section or by other statute, every action for personal injuries, whatever the theory of recovery, shall be brought within two years after the cause of action accrues.

That two-year rule applies unless that section or another statute provides otherwise, and some claims carry notice rules under other statutes that run out sooner. Under Va. Code § 15.2-209, a written statement of a claim against a county, city or town for negligence, giving the time and place of the injury, must be filed within six months after the claim accrues, or the claim is forever barred unless the locality’s attorney, chief executive or mayor, or an insurer or entity covering the claim, had actual knowledge of the claim within that six months; if the claimant was under a disability when the claim accrued, the tolling provisions of § 8.01-229 apply.

Virginia requires a driver involved in a crash with injury or death to stop and report it to police immediately (Va. Code §§ 46.2-371, 46.2-894). The two-year period is the deadline to file a lawsuit, not to report a crash. The driver’s duties are set out in Va. Code § 46.2-894.

Wrongful death claims follow their own rules. A Virginia wrongful death action is filed by the decedent’s personal representative within two years of the death (Va. Code §§ 8.01-50(C), 8.01-244(B)), on behalf of the family members the statute protects. Subsection B of Va. Code § 8.01-244 provides that every action under Va. Code § 8.01-50 shall be brought by the personal representative of the decedent within two years after the death of the injured person.

Fault matters too. Virginia follows contributory negligence: if you are found even partly at fault, you may be barred from recovering, with limited exceptions. Talk to a lawyer about your facts.

Serving Injured Virginians and Their Families

The firm’s offices are in Winchester and Harrisonburg, and it serves people across the Shenandoah Valley. The firm also serves people in Warren County, Richmond and Henrico County.

Its work centers on catastrophic injury, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, wrongful death, and serious car and truck crash matters. Matters in these areas often involve detailed records, including crash reports, medical files and employment information. Keeping those records organized is a practical first step.

Support staff help with scheduling and answering questions. That gives you a clear point of contact for day-to-day details as your matter moves forward.

Common Questions About Catastrophic Injury Claims in Virginia

Do I need a lawyer to bring a claim?

The decision is yours. You may wish to speak with a lawyer about your facts before you decide.

Can I get a free case evaluation while I’m still in treatment?

Follow your doctors’ advice first.

How is the value of a claim decided?

No one can predict the outcome or value of a claim. Each matter depends on its own facts.

Who files a wrongful death claim?

The personal representative files it, as the rule quoted above explains.

Does a commercial vehicle crash raise different issues?

Commercial vehicle cases can involve more parties and more records, such as company files and maintenance records.

Next Steps After a Serious Crash or Loss in the Family

The most useful steps are to keep records, write down the facts and list your questions.

• Keep a copy of any police crash report.
• Save medical records, bills and letters from providers.
• Photograph the scene, the vehicles and your injuries as soon as it is safe.
• Write down names and addresses of witnesses while memories are fresh.
• Keep a simple log of symptoms, appointments and missed work.

You may wish to speak with a lawyer about your facts, given the Virginia deadlines described above. Organized records can make that conversation more useful.