This answer depends on a variety of factors, but in summary, the injury-causing accident must be the result of the wrongful act of another person or company. According to the Virginia Contributory Negligence law, in most circumstances if you are at all responsible for the accident or injury, you cannot recover. That being said, you should not necessarily trust the opinion or advice of an insurance company or claims adjuster as to whether or not you are at fault or contributed to the accident, as they may not (and likely do not) have your best interests in mind. Contact an attorney who specializes in personal injury or wrongful death law to make this determination.

Though very common, this is a difficult question to answer at the beginning of a case. Each case is different, involving multiple factors, many of which may be unknown at the time of your injury. In short, these types of cases are designed to compensate you for damages (physical and financial) you have suffered. The amount of compensation depends on factors such as: severity of the injuries and whether they were permanent or disfiguring; if a hospital stay was required; the amount of time (and/or pay) lost from work; the amount of your past and future medical bills; whether or not surgery was required; and/or available insurance coverage. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you determine the relevant specifics of your situation and estimate the potential value of your case.