Call Us: 757.229.8284 Request a Consultation Home About Us Practice Areas Attorneys Contact Us Personal Injury Have you or a loved one been injured in an accident due to someone else’s negligence? The attorneys at Montgomery, Kelley, & Dennett specialize in cases such as these: Car Accident Truck Accident Boat Accident Motorcycle Accident Drunk Driver Death / Injury Faulty or Unsafe Products Malpractice Wrongful Death Slip and Fall Premises Liability Workplace Accident Dog Bites and more… Pat Kelley has been providing intelligent, aggressive representation for individuals who have been injured through no fault of their own since 1996. Montgomery, Kelley, & Dennett, P.L.C. handles wrongful death, auto/truck/cycle accidents, unsafe products, and injuries caused by drunk drivers. Many attorneys claim to handle personal injury cases – A quick look through the yellow pages will reveal the names of hundreds of attorneys who maintain they have the knowledge and skill to represent people who have been injured in accidents. However, how many of these attorneys actually have the expertise required to do it successfully? The sad truth about this is that anyone who has passed the Virginia State Bar can place an ad stating they handle personal injury claims. Pat Kelley has been providing intelligent, aggressive representation for individuals who have been injured through no fault of their own since 1996. He has successfully handled hundreds of personal injury cases – some of them by settlement, but many of them by jury trial. The key to his success is his experience and preparation. A good personal injury attorney must be able to distinguish between a good case and bad. Pat will be the first to tell you that he turns down more cases than he accepts. In evaluating cases, there are always 3 major issues to consider: liability, damages, and coverage – what Pat’s former boss Jeff Breit refers to as the “3-legged stool”. If all 3 issues are in the plaintiff’s favor, then there is an excellent chance of a significant recovery. 1. Liability Liability is always the first issue to evaluate. This is particularly true in Virginia as we still adhere to the Common Law doctrine of Contributory Negligence. Essentially what this doctrine means is that one seeking to recover monetary damages for injuries received in an automobile accident must be totally without fault in the accident. This issue frequently arises in intersection accidents. For instance, Pat recently represented a young man who suffered serious injuries when he was struck by a defendant who clearly ran a red light. The insurance company attempted to maintain that his client was speeding and therefore not entitled to any recovery whatsoever. In a similar situation, the insurance company claimed that another client could not recover because, although she clearly had the right of way, she should have seen their speeding client who was about to run a red light. In both of these cases, Pat was able to secure a significant recovery for his client because he recognized the issue in time for the client to be prepared to answer questions appropriately at their deposition. These two cases clearly illustrate Pat’s experience and preparation in handling personal injury cases. 2. Damages Or Injuries The second issue that must always be addressed is damages, or injuries. This seems to be obvious – surely no one would call an attorney unless they were actually injured? Unfortunately, this is not true. Many people involved in motor vehicle accidents call an attorney before they even see a doctor! Pat Kelley has the experience to realize that these are the types of claims are doomed from the beginning. Another type of claim that he usually will not get involved in is where the client, although injured, calls looking for a particular doctor. Finally there are some clients who do have minor injuries, but it simply makes no economic sense to retain an attorney to handle the claim. Pat has on many occasions provided a free consultation to these individuals and advised them how to resolve their claim without incurring a fee. Pat simply has the knowledge and experience to recognize clients who have suffered serious injuries and deserve to be compensated. 3. Insurance Coverage The final issue that must be evaluated, and the one that is least understood, is that of insurance coverage. A plaintiff can be severely injured in an accident in which they are totally without fault, yet they may not receive the recovery they deserve unless there is adequate insurance coverage available to pay the claim. Virginia only requires the owner of an automobile to maintain $25,000 in liability coverage to pay for injuries they (or the driver of their cause) may cause in an accident. Individuals who maintain such a low amount of coverage generally do not have assets available to satisfy a claim should they cause injuries in excess of $25,000. This can lead to absurd results – plaintiffs only receiving $25,000 for devastating injuries. Pat Kelley has received extensive training and understands how to locate additional sources of coverage. This is called “Underinsurance” and is the coverage that many people have on their own insurance policies. Often he is able to find this coverage and help his clients receive an adequate recovery on their claim. There are many other issues that can arise in the context of a personal injury case – such as liens, med pay claims, pre-existing injuries, etc.If you have been injured in an accident, contact Pat Kelleyand let him put his years of experience to work in helping you receive the monetary recovery you deserve. Office Hours Phone: 757-229-8284 Fax: 757-229-7537 Williamsburg Address: 5520 Foundation Street Williamsburg, VA 23188 Monday – Thursday 8:30AM – 5:00PM Friday 8:30AM – 4:00PM Request a Consultation Fields marked with an * are required Name * Email * Phone * Select * Family Law Criminal Law Bankruptcy Personal Injury Corporations DUI/ Traffic Estate Planning Comments * Recaptcha Here at Montgomery, Kelley & Dennett we pride ourselves on providing world class legal services each and every client we serve. We look forward to serving you and all your legal needs in the Williamsburg, James City, New Kent, Yorktown & Hampton areas. 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