Car Accident Attorneys in Newport News, Virginia

January 1, 2026 / Comments Off

1. Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death, slip and fall accidents, Uber and Lyft accidents, railroad accidents, premises liability

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, side-impact crashes, multi-vehicle accidents, hit-and-run cases, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle crashes, catastrophic injury cases, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burn injuries

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation and trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering compensation, wrongful death claims, expert witness coordination, life care planning, evidence preservation

Background: Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers is led by founding partner John Cooper, a native Virginian with over three decades of experience in personal injury law. John Cooper holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law (1988) and a B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley (1985) where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He is licensed to practice in Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia. The firm achieved the second-largest car crash verdict in Virginia in 2022 and secured three of Virginia’s top settlements in 2023. John Cooper is recognized by Virginia Super Lawyers (an honor attained by only 5% of Virginia attorneys), holds a 10 out of 10 Avvo rating, and the highest AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He served as Governor At Large of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and chaired the FELA Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice from 2011 to 2017.

Location: 750 McGuire Place, Suite A, Newport News, VA 23601

Contact: (757) 333-3333 | [email protected] | https://cooperhurley.com

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

2. Huffman & Huffman Brothers-in-Law, PLLC

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death, product liability, dog bites, slip and fall accidents, catastrophic injuries, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on crashes, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving crashes, commercial truck collisions, rideshare accidents, hit-and-run cases, speeding accidents, reckless driving cases

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

Background: Huffman & Huffman is a family-owned personal injury law firm founded in 1973 by brothers Charles A. Huffman III and Brad W. Huffman. The firm has served the Newport News and Hampton Roads community for over 50 years. Their legal team has over 150 years of combined experience, having helped tens of thousands of families and recovered millions of dollars for clients. Charles A. Huffman III (now retired) practiced for over 50 years, while Brad W. Huffman has more than 40 years of experience. Keith J. Leonard serves as senior litigation attorney and partner. The firm maintains offices in Newport News and Virginia Beach.

Location: 12284 Warwick Boulevard, Suite 2A, Newport News, VA 23606

Contact: (757) 599-6050 | https://www.huffmanhuffman.com

Consultation: Free consultation available 24 hours a day, contingency fee arrangement (no fee unless recovery is obtained), Spanish-speaking services available

3. Rutter Mills LLP

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, maritime and Jones Act claims, workers’ compensation, social security disability, medical malpractice, defective products

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on crashes, side-impact collisions, multi-vehicle accidents, drunk driving crashes, distracted driving accidents, texting while driving accidents, uninsured motorist claims, pedestrian accidents, fatal car accidents, high-speed collisions, wrong-way driving accidents

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation and trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering compensation, wrongful death claims, evidence investigation and preservation, expert witness coordination

Background: Rutter Mills has served Virginia personal injury victims for over 65 years. The firm is led by Managing Partner C. Arthur “Brother” Rutter III and employs 14 attorneys with a staff of over 100 team members. The firm maintains offices in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Newport News, serving clients throughout Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Rutter Mills handles some of the largest truck accident cases in Virginia and has established a track record of success in complex personal injury litigation.

Location: 4702 Washington Avenue, Newport News, VA 23607

Contact: (757) 777-7777 | [email protected] | https://www.ruttermills.com

Consultation: Free consultation available, contingency fee arrangement (no upfront payment required)

4. Kalfus & Nachman PC

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, bus accidents, pedestrian accidents, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, catastrophic injuries

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on crashes, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle accidents, commercial truck crashes, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving crashes, hit-and-run cases, rideshare accidents, intersection accidents

Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation and trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering compensation, wrongful death claims, future medical cost calculation, permanent disability claims

Background: Kalfus & Nachman PC brings decades of experience to personal injury cases and has fought cases against some of the nation’s largest insurance companies. The firm has achieved significant results including a $10.9 million settlement for a child who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fall, a $10.5 million settlement for a client injured in a truck accident, and a $7 million settlement for a client injured in a bus accident. The firm represents injured victims throughout Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.

Location: 11719 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, VA 23606

Contact: (855) 880-8163 | https://www.kalfusnachman.com

Consultation: Free consultation available, contingency fee arrangement

5. Waterman Law Centers, PLLC

Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, traumatic brain injuries, premises liability

Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on crashes, multi-vehicle accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving crashes, intersection accidents, parking lot accidents, catastrophic injury cases, brain injury cases

Background: Waterman Law Centers is led by Avery T. “Sandy” Waterman, Jr., Esq., who has pioneered legal strategies in Virginia personal injury law. The firm earned Metropolitan Tier 1 Ranking in the 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 editions of U.S. News. Mr. Waterman secured a $6,000,000 jury verdict in Gloucester for a brain injury client using advanced 3.0 Tesla MRI imaging and was reportedly the first lawyer in any Virginia Circuit Court to introduce Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) into evidence at trial for brain injury, obtaining a $3,500,000 jury verdict in Newport News. The firm has established multiple landmark Virginia Supreme Court opinions regarding medical malpractice discovery rights.

Location: 739 Thimble Shoals Boulevard, Suite 105, Newport News, VA 23606

Contact: (757) 244-7000 | https://watermanlawcenters.com

Consultation: Free consultation available, contingency fee arrangement

Car Accident Laws and Regulations in Virginia

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: Virginia Code Section 8.01-243 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from car accidents. The deadline begins on the date of the accident, not when you discover the full extent of your injuries. Missing this deadline by even one day will result in dismissal of your case. Special rules apply to minors (the statute does not begin until they reach age 18) and individuals who become mentally incapacitated due to their injuries.

Statute of Limitations for Property Damage Claims: Virginia allows five years to file a property damage claim arising from a car accident under Va. Code Section 8.01-243.

Fault vs. No-Fault Insurance Status: Virginia is an at-fault (tort) state, not a no-fault state. This means the driver who caused the accident is responsible for damages, and injured parties can pursue claims directly against the at-fault driver’s insurance company or file a lawsuit.

Contributory Negligence Rule: Virginia follows the pure contributory negligence rule, which is one of the strictest negligence standards in the United States. Under this rule, if you are found to be even 1% at fault for causing the accident, you are completely barred from recovering any compensation. Only a handful of states (Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Alabama, and Washington D.C.) still follow this rule. However, for your negligence to bar recovery, it must be a “proximate cause” of the injury with a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements (Effective January 1, 2025): Virginia significantly increased minimum insurance requirements effective January 1, 2025. Licensed drivers must now maintain liability insurance with at least $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury to two or more persons, and $25,000 per accident for property damage (50/100/25). The previous option to pay an uninsured motorist fee and drive without insurance has been eliminated. Uninsured motorists now face steep penalties.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Virginia requires insurance companies to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. While not mandatory, this coverage is strongly recommended given the strict contributory negligence rules and provides protection if you are injured by a driver with no insurance or insufficient coverage.

Damage Caps: Virginia does not impose caps on compensatory damages (economic and non-economic) in car accident cases. However, punitive damages are capped at $350,000 under Virginia Code Section 8.01-38.1.

Wrongful Death Claims: Virginia Code Section 8.01-244 provides a two-year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims, beginning from the date of death rather than the date of the accident. Wrongful death claims must be brought by the personal representative of the deceased’s estate.

Accident Reporting Requirements: Under Virginia law, drivers must report accidents to law enforcement if there is death, injury, or property damage exceeding $1,500. Leaving the scene of an accident can result in criminal charges.

Dram Shop Liability: Virginia has limited dram shop liability. Under Virginia Code Section 4.1-305, establishments that sell alcohol are generally not liable for injuries caused by intoxicated patrons. However, liability may exist if alcohol is served to a minor or to a visibly intoxicated person.

Vicarious Liability: Virginia follows the family purpose doctrine, which holds the owner of a family vehicle liable for accidents caused by family members driving with permission. Employers may also be vicariously liable for accidents caused by employees acting within the scope of employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How does Virginia’s contributory negligence rule affect my car accident claim?

A: Virginia’s contributory negligence rule is exceptionally strict and can completely eliminate your ability to recover compensation. If you are found even 1% at fault for causing the accident, you cannot recover any damages from the other driver. This applies whether your case goes to trial or you are negotiating with an insurance company. Insurance adjusters are trained to find any evidence of your fault to deny claims entirely. However, your negligence must be a “proximate cause” of the injury, meaning it must have a direct cause-and-effect link to your damages. For example, if you were driving slightly over the speed limit when another driver ran a red light and hit you, the speeding likely would not bar your claim because it was not a proximate cause of the collision. Given this harsh rule, it is critical to work with an experienced Virginia car accident attorney who can build a strong case demonstrating the other driver’s complete fault.

Q: What are the new Virginia auto insurance requirements that took effect in 2025?

A: Effective January 1, 2025, Virginia enacted significant changes to auto insurance requirements. The minimum liability coverage increased to $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident for all injury claims, and $25,000 for property damage (50/100/25). This is a substantial increase from the 2022-2024 minimums of 30/60/25 and more than double the pre-2022 minimums of 25/50/5. Additionally, Virginia eliminated the option to pay an uninsured motorist fee and drive without insurance. All drivers must now maintain valid insurance, and uninsured motorists face significant penalties. These changes provide better protection for accident victims but also mean your own coverage should be reviewed to ensure adequate protection.

Q: Can I file a claim against a government vehicle or entity in Newport News?

A: Yes, but claims against government entities in Virginia are subject to special rules and shorter deadlines under the Virginia Tort Claims Act. You must provide written notice of your claim within one year of the incident. Claims against state agencies are typically filed with the Risk Management Division of the Department of the Treasury. Claims against local government entities like the City of Newport News require notice to the specific municipality. Sovereign immunity may limit the types of claims and damages recoverable. The process is more complex than claims against private parties, and strict compliance with procedural requirements is mandatory. Missing any deadline or procedural requirement can permanently bar your claim.

Q: What compensation can I recover in a Virginia car accident case?

A: In Virginia car accident cases, you can recover several categories of damages if you prove the other driver was negligent and you were not contributorily negligent. Economic damages include past and future medical expenses, lost wages and income, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and out-of-pocket expenses. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and inconvenience. Virginia does not cap compensatory damages in car accident cases. In rare cases involving egregious conduct like drunk driving, punitive damages may be available, though Virginia caps these at $350,000. Your attorney can work with medical experts and economists to calculate the full extent of your damages, particularly for serious injuries requiring future medical care.

Q: How long does a car accident case typically take in Newport News courts?

A: The timeline for a car accident case varies significantly based on case complexity, injury severity, and whether settlement is reached or litigation is necessary. Simple cases with clear liability and minor injuries may settle within a few months. Complex cases involving serious injuries, disputed liability, or multiple parties can take one to three years or longer. If your case goes to trial in the Newport News Circuit Court, additional time is needed for discovery, depositions, and trial scheduling. Virginia’s two-year statute of limitations means you must file a lawsuit within two years of the accident date, but this deadline does not mean your case must be resolved within that time. Many cases settle during litigation. Insurance companies sometimes use delay tactics knowing the statute of limitations deadline, which is why consulting an attorney early helps protect your rights and preserve evidence.