The Law Offices of Chaikin and Sherman, P.C.
Toll Free - 800.229.8384
Phone - 202.659.8600
Fax - 202.659.8680
Virginia Law Summary
Maryland, Virginia, & Washington, D.C.
The state of Virginia has established the following laws regarding auto and truck accidents:
Insurance Requirements
All drivers in Virginia are required to carry an auto insurance policy that contains the following minimum coverage values:
- Bodily injury coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
- Property damage coverage of $20,000 per accident
- Uninsured motorist coverage
These minimum requirements are doubled if you have been convicted of a DUI.
Contributory Negligence
The state of Virginia is one of the rare states that still use the doctrine of contributory negligence in auto accident claims. This is a harsh law that makes it very difficult for many accident victims to receive the compensation they deserve.
Under contributory negligence, if the victim is even slightly at fault for the accident, he will be unable to collect any money for his injuries. Even when the defendant is 99% negligent, the 1% fault attributed to the victim will prevent him from winning the case.
The attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. have been handling auto accident claims for years. We will analyze the specifics of your case in great detail before filing your claim. When you are represented by our law firm, you can be confident that a defense attorney will have great difficulty in successfully using contributory negligence against you.
Statute of Limitations
In Virginia, you must file a claim within two years from the date of your accident. Some important exceptions to this statute of limitations include:
- If you are a minor, you have two years from the date you turn 18 to file your claim.
- If you are under a disability, as defined under the law, the statute of limitations is delayed an additional period of time until after the disability, as defined by the law, ends.
When represented by Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., you can be confident that your claim will be filed within the two year time period. We make it a practice to file all claims within one year of the date of the accident whenever possible.
Joint and Several Liability
In circumstances where more than one party caused your accident, each party found negligent may be required to pay up to the entire amount of the judgment, regardless of his individual liability. Therefore, if one party cannot pay his portion of the damages, one or more of the other parties will be required to make up the difference.
Seatbelt and Helmet Laws
In Virginia, all drivers and front-seat passengers over the age of 15 must wear a seatbelt. State motorcycle laws require all motorcycle riders to wear a helmet.
The attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. have been aggressively fighting for the rights of Virginia auto accident victims for years and strive to provide the highest quality representation to all clients. Please contact our auto accident attorneys today to schedule a consultation at one of our Virginia, Washington, D.C. or Maryland offices.
