The Devastating Accident on a Spotsylvania County Roadway
In an incident in Spotsylvania County, VA, our client, a passenger in an SUV, was involved in a head-on collision on one of the county’s busy roads, Route 3, also known as Plank Road.
The defendant lost control of the vehicle, initially veering off to the right side of the road. After overcorrecting, he crossed the double-yellow line and crashed directly into our client’s SUV. The liability for the accident was clear and unquestioned due to the defendant’s reckless driving behavior.
Injuries and Medical Recovery
The impact of the collision was severe, causing our client to sustain intraabdominal hemorrhaging (a medical condition involving bleeding that occurs within the abdominal cavity, potentially caused by trauma, ruptured blood vessels, or complications from medical conditions or surgeries) from tears in both her colon and small intestine.
She underwent major abdominal surgery, which involved repairs to the colon in two places and the small intestine in three places. Alongside her abdominal injuries, she suffered significant additional trauma, including a ten-centimeter laceration on her left knee, a five-centimeter laceration to her eyebrow, a compression fracture to her L2 vertebrae, and four fractured ribs.
Our client was hospitalized for nine days to recover from her surgeries. Despite the successful medical interventions, she has been left with permanent scarring on her abdomen and knee, which are constant reminders of the traumatic event.
Settlement and Insurance Coverage
The case concluded with a settlement that represented the full amount available from both the defendant’s liability insurance carrier and our client’s personal underinsured motorist coverage. This comprehensive settlement was crucial in covering the extensive medical costs and compensating for the physical and emotional damages sustained.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Under Virginia law, underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) is an optional addition to an auto insurance policy that provides protection to the insured when they are involved in an accident with another driver who has insufficient insurance coverage to pay for the full extent of the damages incurred. UIM coverage steps in to cover the difference between what the at-fault driver’s insurance will pay and what is actually needed to compensate for the injuries and damages, up to the limits of the policyholder’s UIM coverage.
This type of coverage is crucial because it ensures that victims of car accidents receive adequate compensation for their losses, even when the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance to cover those losses fully. For example, if the at-fault driver’s liability limits are less than the total damages suffered by the injured party, the injured party’s UIM coverage can cover the shortfall, provided that the injured party’s UIM limits are higher than the at-fault driver’s liability limits.
Virginia law requires that insurers offer UIM coverage as part of any auto insurance policy, but policyholders can choose to decline this coverage in writing. It’s generally advisable to carry UIM coverage in Virginia to provide additional financial protection in case of significant injuries or damages caused by underinsured drivers.
Finding BenGlassLaw
Our client found BenGlassLaw by searching experienced personal injury attorney in Spotsylvania County, VA on Google. This search led her to our website, BenGlassLaw.com, where she could easily access information about our expertise in handling similar personal injury cases. The extensive resources available on our website, along with positive testimonials from previous clients, solidified her decision to entrust us with her case.
At BenGlassLaw, we are committed to providing relentless legal representation to victims of severe traffic accidents. Our goal is to secure the best possible outcomes for our clients, ensuring they receive the compensation they need to facilitate their recovery and move forward in life. If you have been involved in a car accident and need legal advice, contact us at BenGlassLaw.com to see how we can help.
Brian Glass leads the personal injury division of BenGlassLaw.