Yvonne Theus Griffin’s Answers

In Virginia, you generally have two years to file suit after an injury. When a county is involved, you may have other notice requirements. Some cities and counties require notice of claim within six months of the date of injury. If the proper notice is not given, you could lose your rights. Either a federal claim or a state claim can be made in such cases. I recommend that you speak with a civil rights attorney or a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. He/she will be able to give...

If your insurance company paid for the damage to the car, you should not be sued for the property damage. If your insurance company paid for any personal injuries sustained in the accident, you should not be sued UNLESS you did not have sufficient insurance to cover all the bills. Even if this is the case, most companies will not settle a case unless the policyholder (you) is released from further liability. Call your insurance company to find out what is going on.

One of the required elements of a medical malpractice case is causation. You must be able to prove that the medical malpractice caused or led to the death. Without an autopsy you will have a hard time proving the cause of the death was medical malpractice. Medical malpractice cases are very expensive to prove. Even with good proof, doctors win much more often in Virginia than do the injured patients. You may have suspicions about the cause of your mother's death, but trying to go the...

Absolutely not! It is a smart thing to do. The process of a personal injury case is painful enough without having an attorney you trust, someone who will listen to you and answer your questions, talk to you instead of down to you. I always tell people that hiring an attorney is like buying a tomato. You want to feel around until you get the one that feels right.

If the car is drivable, your husband just needs to go get it. If it is not drivable, he can hire a tow to go get it. If the shop will not release the car to him, your husband should seek the advice of an attorney about filing a warrant in detinue. This is a procedure for you to recover your personal property. If your husband goes to get the car or sends a tow truck, he must not create a situation that will lead to a fight or injuries. If he cannot peaceably collect the car, he needs to...

Your father's estate should be located in the city or county where he resided at the time of his death. The clerk of the circuit court in that city or county can let you know who is handling the estate. Check with an attorney who specializes in wills and estates for a more specific answer.

If your facts are correct, you may have a case. As the previous answer stated, you may not have any damages. If you have no damages, suing is probably not economically reasonable as you will have to pay the costs of the case to pursue it. If the doctor did think you were not competent that can have a TRO (temporary restraining order) issued to hold you for a short period of time. Your facts do not sound like that was done, though.

Your mother should immediately seek the advice of a personal injury attorney in the Virginia Beach area. Statutes of limitations apply to personal injury and medical malpractice cases, so she should not delay. The Virginia State Bar has a lawyer referral service 800-552-7977.

While you are waiting to hear if the at-fault driver's insurance will handle your claim, you may have coverage that allows your own policy to pay for the repairs. The at-fault driver's insurance will then pay your company back. Check your policy to see if you have comprehensive and collision coverage. If you do, your company will step up and get the repairs made. You may have to pay a deductible, but it will be paid back to you when the at-fault driver's insurance pays.

Speak with a lawyer who handles veterans' cases. Some organizations also do pro bono (free) legal work for veterans. You may be able to find them on the internet.