What Damages Can I Sue for After a Life-Changing Injury in a Car Accident?

 Posted on November 26, 2025 in Car & Truck Accidents

When a serious car accident changes your life, it can cause much more than physical pain and property damage. Time away from work, stress, and ongoing medical care can take their toll. In Virginia, the law allows you to seek money for the harm caused by someone else’s negligence. Our Front Royal, VA car accident lawyers can help you understand the value of your claim before you file.

What Counts as a Life-Changing Injury After a Car Accident in Virginia?

A life-changing injury, or catastrophic injury, is one that permanently affects your ability to live as you did before the crash. This could include a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, severe burns, amputations, or major scarring. These injuries often cause lasting pain and require long-term medical treatment or daily care.

Virginia law treats these injuries differently because they have such serious effects. You may need ongoing therapy, special medical equipment, or help with basic tasks. According to Virginia Code § 8.01-243(A), most victims have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Filing your claim early helps protect your right to seek compensation.

What Types of Compensation Can You Seek After a Serious Car Accident?

The money you may recover after a crash is divided into several categories. These payments are meant to help you return to the position you were in before the accident as much as possible. Potentially recoverable damages include:

• Medical bills and hospital stays

• Physical therapy and rehabilitation

• Lost income and reduced ability to earn in the future

• Ongoing care and long-term medical needs

• Pain and suffering

• Emotional distress

• Loss of enjoyment of life

In some rare cases, a court may award punitive damages to punish the at-fault driver for especially reckless or intentional behavior. For example, driving under the influence or engaging in road rage is considered especially reckless. These damages are not meant to compensate you for your losses but to punish the driver and discourage similar conduct in the future. Under Virginia Code § 8.01-38.1, punitive damages are limited to $350,000 in a personal injury case. 

How Do Virginia Courts Calculate Pain and Suffering for a Catastrophic Injury?

Pain and suffering damages are meant to recognize the physical pain, emotional strain, and loss of enjoyment you experience after a serious injury. There is no set formula to calculate this type of compensation. Instead, courts and insurance companies review the details of your case to determine what is fair and reasonable.

They often consider the severity of your injury, the length of your recovery, and how your condition affects your ability to live and work as you did before the crash. Your attorney can strengthen your case by presenting medical records, photographs, and statements from loved ones that show how the injury has changed your everyday life.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Winchester, VA Catastrophic Injury Attorney

The Front Royal, VA car accident lawyers at Parthemos, Curran, Buelow and Polizzi, PLLC provide aggressive, personal representation for each client. We take on complex cases that other firms will not and only accept cases we are ready to fight for in court. With more than 120 years of combined experience, our team knows how to handle serious injury claims from start to finish.

If you or a loved one suffered a catastrophic injury in a Virginia car accident, contact our office at 540-662-4222 today to schedule a free consultation. We will listen to your story and fight to get you the compensation you need to move forward with confidence.