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Phone: 1-757-460-7776

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TOLL FREE: 800-752-0042

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Virginia Injury Lawyers Advice: Small-Town, Rural Injury Lawyer or Big-City Injury Lawyer?

Richard N. Shapiro
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Rick is a Virginia injury attorney who handles car accidents, medical malpractice, FELA, wrongful death, etc.

I have had the privilege to represent folks from the smallest towns in the western part of Virginia (VA), the hollows of West Virginia (WV) and many other small towns across the southeastern United States. These experiences have taught me that many clients in search for a Virginia or Carolina personal injury lawyer wonder whether there are advantages in hiring a plaintiff's attorney based in a fairly large city like Virginia Beach or Norfolk, VA. The answer to that question can be fairly complex, so I'll take this opportunity to outline a number of the important variables to consider when you're a prospective client who needs to decide whether and which personal injury lawyer to hire to represent you.

How Essential Is Handling Large Cases and Obtaining Solid Jury Verdicts?

Statistically, there are probably more, and larger, multimillion dollar verdicts won in significant cities like Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and other metropolitan areas than are secured in small town like Marian, VA, or communities on the Outer Banks of North Carolina (NC) and in the hollows of West Virginia. However, that doesn't mean there aren't major, multimillion dollar cases decided in small towns. It just seems like attorneys representing victims often find a way to file a city such as Richmond, Petersburg or Roanoke.

Are the Best Personal Injury Attorneys in the Bigger Cities?

If you look around Virginia, North Carolina or West Virginia, you will find that there are more substantial, experienced personal injury attorneys in the state capitals and major metropolitan areas. However, some of the finest injury trial attorneys have solo practices in small towns. The reason these lawyers may not get all the publicity and fanfare their big-city counterparts do is because their client base is smaller. On balance, an injury attorney based in a big city doesn't automatically get to make a claim to being a better personal injury lawyer.

Does Experience Matter More Than Location?

All the personal injury attorneys with our firm practice only personal injury law. Our clients come primarily from the Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Chesapeake Suffolk and Newport News area of VA, but we have also taken plaintiffs' case from all over Virginia and the southeastern United States. Because we practice in several states -- VA, NC, WV, South Carolina (SC), Florida (FL) and Washington, DC -- and teaming with other injury attorneys outside of our home base in Virginia, we are prepared to handle the issues that arise in major personal injury cases regardless of physical location. We also know how to prepare medical experts and experts in various areas of the law that may be pertinent to the personal injury or wrongful death case we are handling.

What Towns Have Your Clients Called Home?

I have had clients in virtually every small town in the western part of Virginia, including Big Stone Gap, Grundy, Marion and Abingdon, as well all the towns within an hour's drive from Virginia Beach, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Suffolk and Chesapeake.

My colleagues and I also routinely represent clients across the North Carolina border, including people living in Elizabeth City, Halifax, Roanoke Rapids, Raleigh, Durham, the towns of the Outer Banks and every other town you can think to name in the northern region of North Carolina.

In conclusion, then, it's probably most important that your personal injury attorney have actual experience, especially experience in the court room, even if that Virginia and Carolina injury attorney is from a small town.


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Best Virginia Injury Attorneys Virginia Super Lawyers   

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia (VA) injury law firm whose attorneys focus exclusively on personal injury and accident law. We have a proven track record in the court room, and you can review our case results to see for yourself. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in VA if you've been seriously hurt by the carelessness of another person or company.

Virginia injury lawyers Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been recognized as among the 
Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Shapiro and Lewis have
 also been selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. Rick, Jim and Randy have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law (Jim since '06, Rick since '10, and Randy since '12). This is a prestigious recognition that only 5 percent of lawyers receive.

We were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our Virginia Beach accident injury firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill. 


We also 
offer free special reports and edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard blog sites as a public information service.

Our attorneys have deep roots in Virginia and handle cases throughout the commonwealth including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton and Suffolk, VA. 


While no
t every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential consultations, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to the high call volume, please leave a voicemail and we will get back to you shortly. 

 Virginia injury lawyer    Best Lawyers in Virginia