Car Accident Attorneys in Virginia Beach, Virginia

1. Huffman & Huffman Brothers-in-Law, P.L.C.

Practice Focus: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death from auto accidents, hit and run accidents, drunk driving accidents

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury cases, uninsured motorist claims

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident investigation, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims

Background: Huffman & Huffman has served Virginia Beach residents since 1973, providing over 50 years of legal representation. The firm is family-owned with more than 150 years of combined experience among their attorneys. The firm has represented tens of thousands of families in the community. They handle cases throughout the Hampton Roads area.

Location: 4780 Euclid Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Contact: https://www.huffmanhuffman.com/areas-we-serve/virginia-beach-personal-injury/car-accident-lawyer/

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee (no payment until they win)

2. Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers

Practice Focus: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death from auto accidents, maritime injuries, premises liability

Background: The firm’s attorneys have been recognized as Super Lawyers, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Lawyers of Distinction, and Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia. Cooper Hurley focuses exclusively on personal injury cases and does not represent insurance companies. The firm has achieved multiple seven-figure results in settlements and jury awards. They serve Virginia Beach and the greater Hampton Roads region.

Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Contact: https://cooperhurley.com/virginia-beach-injury/

Consultation: Free consultation, offers free guide “7 Secrets To Getting Better Results in Your Car Accident Case”

3. Tronfeld West & Durrett

Practice Focus: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death from auto accidents, medical malpractice

Background: The firm serves Virginia Beach and surrounding areas including Kempsville, Oceanfront, and Princess Anne. Their attorneys have extensive trial experience in Virginia courts. According to their case evaluations, settlements range from $21,000-$42,000 for minor injuries (Level I), $59,000-$160,000 for moderate injuries (Level II), and $198,000-$525,000 for severe injuries (Level III).

Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Contact: https://twdinjurylaw.com/virginia-beach/car-accident-lawyer/

Consultation: Free consultation, no legal fees unless compensation is recovered

4. Rutter Mills Injury Lawyers

Practice Focus: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death from auto accidents, maritime injuries, workers’ compensation, daycare injuries

Background: Rutter Mills has served Virginia for over 60 years and has been recognized locally and nationally by clients, peers, and media. The firm is based in Norfolk and Newport News with attorneys who serve clients throughout Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina. Their team includes more than a dozen lawyers with comprehensive experience in Virginia personal injury law. They have particular expertise in maritime and water-related injuries due to their Hampton Roads location.

Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia (offices in Norfolk and Newport News)

Contact: (757) 777-7777 | https://www.ruttermills.com/virginia-beach/

Consultation: Free consultation available 24/7

5. Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

Practice Focus: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death from auto accidents, medical malpractice, railroad injuries (FELA), brain injuries

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, 18-wheeler accidents, catastrophic injury cases, traumatic brain injuries

Background: The firm was established in 1985 and focuses exclusively on injury law (“All we do is injury law” is their slogan). Their attorneys have decades of experience in personal injury law and maintain numerous 5-star Google reviews. They handle railroad accidents under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) for railroad workers injured in the eastern United States.

Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia (serving Virginia and North Carolina)

Contact: https://www.hsinjurylaw.com/

Consultation: Free consultation, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery is obtained)

Insurance Minimums, Underinsured Motorist Coverage and Wrongful Death Claims for Virginia Beach Car Crashes

A Virginia Beach car crash claim can turn on which liability minimums applied to the other driver’s policy, what the injured driver’s own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays, and, when a crash is fatal, what the family recovers and how it is shared. Virginia also limits how a seat belt violation can be used in court.

Liability Minimums by Policy Date

Under Virginia Code 46.2-472, owner’s policies effective from January 1, 2022 to before January 1, 2025 carried at least $30,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person, $60,000 for two or more persons and $20,000 for property damage, and policies effective on or after January 1, 2025 must carry at least $50,000, $100,000 and $25,000.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Under Virginia Code 38.2-2206(A), a motor vehicle liability policy must include uninsured motorist coverage equal to the policy’s liability limits unless any one named insured rejects the additional coverage, and underinsured motorist coverage at the same limits, paid without credit for the at-fault driver’s liability coverage unless the named insured elects a reduction.

When a Crash Is Fatal

Under Virginia Code 8.01-52, damages may include sorrow, mental anguish and solace, the reasonably expected loss of income and services, care and treatment expenses, reasonable funeral expenses, and punitive damages for willful or wanton conduct or recklessness showing conscious disregard for others’ safety. Under 8.01-53(A), the award goes to the surviving spouse, children and children of a deceased child, with parents included if, within 12 months before the death, they regularly received support or services from the decedent for necessaries, and otherwise to parents, siblings and dependent household relatives.

Seat Belt Violations in Court

Under Virginia Code 46.2-1094(D), a seat belt violation is not negligence, is not considered in mitigation of damages, is not admissible in evidence and may not be the subject of comment by counsel in any action for damages arising from the operation of a motor vehicle.

Virginia Beach Car Accident Questions

What if the other driver says I was partly at fault?

That defense can defeat the whole claim in Virginia. The Supreme Court of Virginia, in O’Neill v. Windshire-Copeland Associates (2004), answered in the affirmative whether a plaintiff’s contributory negligence is available to the defendant as a complete defense, and held the defense available even when the defendant’s code violation was negligence per se. Ask counsel how the facts of the crash bear on it; the opinion also noted that children under 14 are presumed incapable of contributory negligence.

How long do I have to sue?

Two years after the cause of action accrues for personal injury under Virginia Code 8.01-243(A), five years for injury to property under 8.01-243(B), and two years after the death for a wrongful death action by the personal representative under 8.01-244(B). When a City of Virginia Beach vehicle or road is involved, Virginia Code 15.2-209 adds a six-month step: a written statement of the negligence claim, with the time and place of the injury, must reach the city attorney, chief executive or mayor within six months after accrual, unless one of them or the city’s insurer had actual knowledge of the claim within that time.

Is there a cap on punitive damages?

Yes. Under Virginia Code 8.01-38.1, total punitive damages against all defendants may not exceed $350,000, and the judge reduces a larger verdict to that amount.

What must the other driver do at the scene?

Under Virginia Code 46.2-894, stop as close to the scene as possible, report name, address, driver’s license number and vehicle registration number to the police and to the persons involved, and render reasonable assistance; a violation is a Class 5 felony when the accident causes injury or death.