Personal Injury Lawyer

By car insurance industry estimates, over the course of a typical driving lifetime, a person will have three to four accidents, approximately one every 18 years. We can’t prevent you from being in a car accident, but we can help put your life back together.

If you have been in an auto accident caused by someone else's negligence, contact a Richmond personal injury attorney at Merrick Brock for a free consultation. We would like the opportunity to meet you, to hear the circumstances of your case, and to convince you why Merrick Brock is the right choice.

When an auto accident involves a bus or a truck, particular issues come into play that can have significant consequences on the outcome of your case. The operation of these types of vehicles is governed by various state and federal laws that may impact the driver’s liability or determine the types of information available to you in discovery. Did the vehicle have on-board surveillance cameras or a data recorder, such as an Electronic Control Module (i.e., a black box)? If so, this information needs to be promptly extracted by a qualified expert before critical evidence is lost or destroyed.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truck driver fatigue is a contributing factor in fatal truck crashes. Many truck drivers are required by law to keep detailed logs showing how many hours they have been on the road. You want to hire a Richmond personal injury attorney experienced in handling these types of cases who knows what type of information to look for and where to find it.

Vehicles are required to share the road with bicyclists and pedestrians, but the playing field isn't equal. An accident involving a bicyclist or pedestrian can easily turn catastrophic. There are specific laws that apply to how bicyclists and pedestrians share the road, and just because a vehicle hits you does not mean it is the driver’s fault. In Virginia, an injured person who is just 1% at fault for an accident can be completely barred from recovery due to the state’s pure contributory negligence rule. You need an attorney who understands the laws specific to bicyclists and pedestrians and can advise you of your rights and whether you have a claim.

Intentional torts in Richmond include assault, battery, defamation, false imprisonment, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress, malicious prosecution, trespass, and more. These types of torts are particularly difficult to prosecute, since most require an element of intent that must be proved. Where separate criminal proceedings arise from the same act, the cases can be especially confrontational. Merrick Brock is knowledgeable and experienced in handling these types of cases, and we are sensitive to the emotional impact these types of torts can have on the victim.

Assault, battery, defamation, false imprisonment, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress, malicious prosecution, trespass, etc. These types of torts are particularly difficult to prosecute, since most of them require an element of intent that must be proved. Where separate criminal proceedings arise from the same act, the cases can be especially confrontational. Merrick Brock is knowledgeable and experienced in handling these types of cases and we are sensitive to the emotional impact these types of torts can have on the victim.

When you seek treatment from a medical provider, the last thing you expect is to be made worse. Proving medical malpractice, however, can be intricate and complex and requires both medical and legal acumen. It requires a trained eye and an understanding of medical procedures, literature, and standards. In Virginia, medical malpractice claims differ from other tort claims in that a trained medical expert must hold the opinion that malpractice occurred before a lawsuit is even filed. We can help you find medical experts necessary to evaluate your claim and determine liability, and we will work together with those experts at every stage of the case.

The elderly and the infirm are among the most vulnerable in our society, and they deserve our greater protection than most. Nursing homes are supposed to be safe and clean facilities, where nurses and caregivers provide our loved ones with the treatment and care they would hope to receive themselves. Nursing homes in Richmond serve an important function in our society, and typically provide excellent care for those who need it most. Unfortunately, some nursing homes lose sight of their critical mission an focus more on their business profits. When nursing homes put profits over people, are understaffed, or hire the wrong people, the end result can be catastrophic.

Common signs of potential abuse and neglect are falls and broken bones, bed sores and pressure ulcers, malnutrition, unexplained bruising, unexplained weight loss or gain, poor hygiene, unexpected or wrongful death, medication errors, dropping a resident during a transfer, and more. When those entrusted with the elderly or the infirm are derelict in their duties, causing harm and disrespect to you or a family member, you need a Richmond personal injury attorney experienced in nursing home law. If you know or suspect that a family member has been a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, we are here to help you.

Premises liability encompasses far more than the common “slip and fall” Injuries arising from building code violations, defective construction, deck collapses, misplaced (or missing handrails), improper risers on steps, poor lighting conditions, protruding objects, uneven floors, and holes in the ground are all examples of potential premises liability cases.

Premises liability cases can be quite complex. While all Richmond property owners have a duty to maintain their premises, different standards apply to different types of establishments, such as grocery stores, shopping centers, hotels, a private residence, and office buildings. Standards also differ depending on the age of the building and whether it is grandfathered into prior building codes. It is often difficult to determine whether the property owner violated his duty under a particular set of facts, and proving that the property owner had notice of a dangerous condition is often key to success in a premises liability claim.

If you are injured by a dangerous or defective condition on someone else's property, you may have a claim against the property owner, property manager, a tenant, or a third-party maintenance contractor. However, it is imperative that you retain an attorney who understands the nuances of premises liability law and who will thoroughly investigate and evaluate the facts and issues in your case.

Good and safe products make our lives easier, and often safer. However, some products are simply not safe. A product may be unsafe if it is defectively assembled or manufactured, unreasonably dangerous by design, or accompanied by inadequate warnings. Unfortunately, maximizing corporate profits often comes at the expense of consumer safety. If you are injured by a defective or unreasonably dangerous product, you may have a claim against the manufacturer, distributor, or seller of that product.

As you might expect, corporations rarely like to admit their product is dangerous for fear of hurting their corporate image or encouraging additional claims. Big corporations have high-priced attorneys and a seemingly endless budget to fight your claim. You need an experienced premises liability attorney unafraid to take on these large corporations in court.

Product liability actions can be complex. Proving the nature of the defect and that the defect violates legal or industry standards is a central issue.

Traumatic Brain Injuries or TBI’s are a type of personal injury, but they fall into a category of their own because of the complex nature of the case. Oftentimes, a person will suffer a TBI and either ignore the signs and symptoms or simply not appreciate the seriousness of injury. Identifying TBI’s and getting the right treatment is critical for the best possible physical and mental recovery. Hiring the right attorney is critical to achieving the best possible financial recovery.

Unfortunately, TBI’s often require extensive and expensive treatment, on top of missing large amounts of work. Usually, a person who suffers from a TBI in an accident has other physical injuries as well. These cases can present difficult and complex issues requiring the help of experienced Richmond personal injury attorneys. They can be difficult to prove, particularly in the absence of serious trauma to the head. These cases require qualified medical experts to offer their opinions and make compelling witnesses at trial. A good lawyer knows how to prove these difficult cases in a simple and concise manner, and a good lawyer can persuade any skeptical jurors about the reality and legitimacy of these injuries. If you or someone you know has experienced a TBI in an accident, we are here to help.

Any type of accident can result in death. However, when death ensues from an accident, a host of different laws come into play that affect how the case must be pursued and the damages that may be recovered. A failure to fully appreciate the intricacies of these laws can have a disastrous impact on your case. If you have a claim for the wrongful death of a family member, you need an attorney who is capable of maximizing the value of your case to the full extent of the wrongful death statutes.