Family Law
Family law is where we find good people in very stressful situations. Our team of attorneys and paralegals have years of experience to help you manage the stress and uncertainty that comes with the breakup of the family unit and address the issues that exist after. We are also well-trained to the specific considerations that come with military divorce. Having practiced our entire careers in Hampton Roads, we have decades of experience handling cases as our foundation and we take consistent steps to stay current with the changing landscape of laws, rules, and regulations as it applies to our military members and their spouses.
We can provide an experienced Virginia family law attorney to help you address your issues. We handle the following areas:
Personal Injury
When injured due to someone else’s acts, you need an experienced trial attorney. Our attorneys have years of experience in all aspects of personal injury law. Our team includes a former defense attorney who, before joining our firm, was hired by the insurance companies to fight personal injury claims. We know the defense playbook to help maximize the chances of winning and maximizing recoveries. Our goal is to carry the burden and stress of our clients so that they can focus on getting healthy.
We handle all of the following areas:
- Car Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Boat Accidents
- Dog Bites
- Bed Bugs
- Wrongful Death
- Brain Injuries
- Slip and Falls (“Premises Liability”)
Medical Malpractice
Unfortunately, it is a reality that sometimes medical professionals make avoidable mistakes that harm people. We call these occurrences “medical malpractice,” which is defined as any act or omission by a physician or medical professional during the treatment of a patient that fails to meet accepted standards of practice in the medical community and results in injury to the patient.
Not every unfavorable outcome of a medical procedure is malpractice. The determination as to what qualifies as malpractice must be made by other medical professionals in the same field of specialty. It is important for any attorney practicing in this area of the law to have extensive experience dealing with these types of cases and with the relevant medical professionals to ensure that qualifying cases are pursued correctly.
Common Types of Medical Malpractice:
- Emergency room errors
- Surgical errors
- Delayed diagnosis
- Misdiagnosis
- Hospital Infections
- Birth injury
- Anesthesia errors
- Medication errors
Criminal Defense
Everyone is entitled to legal representation. Regardless of the offense in question, our country guarantees every citizen the status of innocent until proven guilty. At Parks Zeigler, we are devoted to that creed. Our experienced legal team is well informed on Virginia Criminal Law and will use all of our resources and knowledge to fight for your case. Understanding the contingencies that inform your particular legal case can mean the difference between serving jail time or probation. No matter your situation, we have the knowledge, experience, and resources to defend your case.
DUI/DWI
Driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated is a serious offense in Virginia. The consequences that come with a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) / Driving Under the Influence (DUI) conviction can include jail time, a substantial fine, alcohol, and drug classes, a suspended driver’s license, an ignition interlock, probation, and a substantial increase in your insurance premiums. DWI/DUI offenses are very technical, and you need experienced legal counsel on your side.
Traffic Defense
Traffic violations are a serious matter. They can lead to an increase in insurance rates, fines, points on your driving record, even jail time. Hiring a traffic attorney is not simply about having a ticket dismissed or keeping you out of jail. An experienced attorney will also negotiate small fines (or remove them altogether), keep points off of your driver’s license, or have the ticket stricken. This is accomplished by having an attorney who is familiar with Virginia traffic law and understands how the law works in relation to your situation. Our experienced legal team will apply every resource at their disposal to fight for your legal interests and rights.
We handle all of the following traffic issues:
Wills, Trusts & Estates
Everyone needs a personalized plan for his or her estate. It doesn’t matter your net worth – that just determines what is involved in creating the plan; that you need one is without question. Caryn West, the principal partner in this practice area, has been practicing law for over 15 years, with hands-on experience in a wide-variety of Trusts and Estates matters throughout her career.
The services we provide in this area include:
- Wills
- Trusts
- Estate Administration
- Medical Power of Attorney and Advance Health Care Directive
- Financial Powers of Attorney
- Business Succession Planning
- Trust and Estate Litigation
Civil Law
Civil lawsuits can end up involving a number of various issues, from medical malpractice to defamation; from contract disputes to property disputes. As such, it is crucial that your civil law attorney is familiar with Virginia state law as it applies to the variety of these legal situations. Our attorneys have experience on both sides of civil law, fighting for plaintiffs and defendants. They will guide you through every step of the process, making sure you are fully informed at every point. Our utilization of technology allows our clients to have access to all documents at all times, from where ever they are. This contributes to a more efficient workflow and communication, which leads to more favorable results and fewer costs overall.
Credit Reporting Disputes
Today, more than ever, a good credit report is essential. Unfortunately, wrong information in credit reports is common, whether caused by error or by fraud/identity theft. Taking the proper steps to dispute credit issues is crucial. The Fair Credit Reporting Act, the federal law controlling this area, is complex. Kellam T. Parks, the principal attorney handling this area of the law, has years of experience in this area, having started defending a regional credit reporting agency. He now brings that expertise to representing consumers against credit agencies and creditors to ensure your credit report is accurate. We handle all of the following areas:
- Wrongfully Pulled Credit Reports
- Improper Use of Credit Reports
- Employment Denial Due to Incorrect Reporting
- Tenancy Denial Due to Incorrect Reporting
- Credit Report Errors
- Incorrect Personal Information (e.g. Social Security Number or Name)
- Wrongfully Reported Negative Information (e.g. late payments or debts not yours)
- Fraud
- Identity Theft