Fighting for the Injured Across Hampton Roads Since 1985
A car crash can upend your life in seconds. One moment you are on your way home; the next you’re in the emergency room, facing a totaled car, missed work, and an insurance company already looking for reasons to pay you less.
We can take that weight off your shoulders. As Virginia Beach car accident lawyers, we have won more than $100 million for injured people across Hampton Roads in the four decades since our firm was founded. We handle the investigation, medical records, paperwork, and insurance companies so you can focus on getting better.
Call 757-321-3983 for a free, confidential consultation. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We work on a contingency fee basis, and you owe us nothing unless we recover for you.
Car Accident Case Results
Results matter more than promises. Here are some of the recoveries our car accident lawyers have obtained for injured clients:
- $2.3 Million – Settlement for a woman who suffered a traumatic brain injury and multiple fractures when an SUV veered off the road and struck her.
- $1 Million – Settlement for a client who suffered permanent injuries to his feet, ankles, and legs when a turning driver struck him.
- $930,000 – Settlement for a client who suffered neck and other serious injuries when a driver failed to yield.
- $675,000 – Settlement for a driver rear-ended on an I-64 exit ramp, where the crash activated a dormant spinal condition and caused permanent nerve damage.
- $600,000 – Settlement for a Norfolk woman struck by a car crossing the median and then by a tractor-trailer, resulting in a serious brain injury.
- $525,000 – Settlement for a sales manager struck at an intersection by a delivery driver, causing a brain injury along with shoulder and spinal injuries.
Click here to see more case results.
Please note: Every case is different, and past results are never a guarantee or prediction of the outcome of any other case. The recoveries above reflect the specific facts of those cases, including the injuries, the available insurance coverage, and the strength of the evidence.
Ready to talk through your case? Call our Virginia Beach car accident lawyers at 757-321-3983 to schedule your free consultation.
High-Traffic Areas and Common Causes of Hampton Roads Crashes
Virginia Beach is a busy coastal city with a mix of year-round residents, military families, college students, and the millions of tourists who fill the Oceanfront every summer. Add a dense network of highways and crowded surface streets, and it is consistently among the highest-crash localities in the Commonwealth. In a typical year, Virginia Beach alone reports more than 5,000 crashes, and thousands of these accidents cause injuries.
Some of the corridors we see crashes on most often include Virginia Beach Boulevard, Independence Boulevard, Princess Anne Road, Holland Road, General Booth Boulevard, Rosemont Road, and the heavily traveled ramps and interchanges along I-264 and I-64. A single careless driver on any of them can change someone’s life in seconds.
Most crashes trace back to the same handful of driver choices:
Distracted Driving
Anything that pulls a driver’s attention from the road, whether that is texting, checking a map app, eating, or turning to talk to a passenger, can be a distraction. It remains one of the deadliest habits on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports more than 3,000 distraction-related deaths nationwide each year. When a distracted driver injures someone we represent, we move quickly to preserve cell phone records, text logs, and app activity, which can be the difference between a denied claim and a strong one.
Speeding
The faster a driver is going, the less time they have to react and the harder they hit. Speeding shows up constantly in serious crashes on I-264, I-64, and the wide arterials across the city. In these cases, the data stored in a vehicle’s black box can show how fast a driver was going and whether they ever hit the brakes.
Drowsy Driving
Driving while exhausted dulls reaction time and judgment much like alcohol does, and a driver who nods off can drift across lanes or run off the road entirely. It is also a common factor in commercial truck crashes, where drivers push to meet tight schedules.
Tailgating
Following too closely leaves no room to stop when traffic slows suddenly. It is why so many rear-end crashes on I-264 and I-64 leave the front driver with neck and back injuries or a concussion.
Reckless and Aggressive Driving
Weaving through traffic, running red lights, passing on the shoulder, and road rage all put everyone nearby at risk. A reckless driving conviction can also become strong evidence in a related injury claim.
Why Acting Quickly After a Crash Protects Your Claim
What you do in the hours and days after a crash can affect your case for a long time afterward. The following few steps can significantly impact your case.
Do Not Admit Fault at the Scene
It is natural to say “I’m sorry” out of politeness, but in Virginia, even a small remark like that can be used to argue you were partly to blame, and as explained below, partial blame can cost you your entire claim. Stick to exchanging information and let the investigation sort out fault.
Call 911 If You Are Able To
Virginia law requires that crashes involving injuries be reported, and the police report becomes an important record in your case. The report typically captures collision details, witness information, and the responding officer’s observations.
Do Not Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Adjuster
They are not calling to help you settle faster. They are trained to get a statement, usually recorded, that can later be used to deny or reduce your claim, which carries even more weight under Virginia’s fault rule. You can simply tell them you have a lawyer, or intend to get one, and end the call.
Stay Off Social Media About the Crash
Always assume the defense can see anything you post. A photo or an offhand comment can be pulled out of context and used against you.
Call a Car Accident Lawyer So the Investigation Can Start
Gathering evidence has a short window. Surveillance and traffic-camera footage gets overwritten, damaged vehicles get sent to salvage yards, skid marks wash away, and roadway damage gets repaired. The sooner someone is preserving that evidence, the stronger your claim tends to be.
Black Box and Vehicle Data
Most modern vehicles record data in an event recorder: speed, braking, throttle, seatbelt use, and other inputs in the seconds before impact. It is some of the most powerful evidence available in a crash case. The problem is that the at-fault driver’s insurer often wants the vehicle sent to a salvage yard quickly, and once it is gone, so is the data. When we take a case early, we can send a preservation demand requiring the vehicle to be held and, if necessary, ask a court to order it preserved.
Scene and Video Evidence
We pull the police report and any 911 audio, locate and interview witnesses ourselves, photograph and inspect the scene, and track down traffic-camera, doorbell, or business surveillance footage that may have caught the crash. When fault is disputed, we bring in accident reconstruction professionals while the physical evidence is still there to examine.
Once you hire an attorney, the insurance calls stop. We deal directly with the at-fault driver’s insurer, so no one can pressure you into a recorded statement or get you to say something that hurts your claim. Your job is just to get better.
Got in a car accident, didn’t know how to handle the situation while after having surgery. Came across , Andrew Stover with the help of my mother. Andrew explained all my options. He explained each step along the way, With all the questions I had for him. he would answer to the best of his abilities and very patient when giving me information to complete the process. I would highly recommend Andrew Stover!! Overall, Andrew had a great personality and fun to talk with Thanks agin man for all the help!! Even though my year got ruined, you helped tremendously!! – Mr. N.
How Virginia’s Fault Rule Affects Your Car Accident Claim
Virginia follows one of the strictest fault rules in the country, and it comes up in nearly every car accident case. Under the state’s pure contributory negligence rule, if you are found to have contributed to the cause of your injuries in any material way, even slightly, you can be barred from recovering anything. (You can read a fuller explanation of Virginia’s contributory negligence rule on our main personal injury page.)
This rule is exactly why the other side works so hard to pin at least some of the blame on you. If any of that blame sticks, they may owe you nothing. It is also why we tell every client the same thing: never admit fault at the scene. A quick “I’m sorry,” or an offhand comment in a recorded statement is exactly what an insurer will use to argue you share the blame.
Most cases never reach the point of a jury “assessing contributory negligence issues. The vast majority settle, and in a settlement no formal fault finding is made, and the insurer simply agrees to pay. Our job is to build the evidence so thoroughly that the at-fault driver’s responsibility is clear, leaving the insurance company little room to argue you were to blame.
What If the Other Driver Was Uninsured or Underinsured?
One of the hardest moments in a serious crash case comes when you find out the at-fault driver has little or no insurance, or none at all. The good news is that Virginia law gives you options, and you often have more coverage available than you realize.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Virginia requires every auto policy to include uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage. UM coverage pays when the at-fault driver has no insurance. UIM coverage pays when the driver has insurance, but not enough to cover your losses. This coverage often pays the bills after a serious crash because even the state’s minimum limits can fall well short of the cost of surgery, lost income, and long-term care.
In Virginia, UIM coverage adds to the at-fault driver’s liability coverage rather than reducing it. For example, if the at-fault driver carries $50,000 in liability and you carry $100,000 in UIM, you may have access to up to $150,000 in combined coverage.
In most situations, underinsured motorist coverage may be available under your car insurance policy, even if you are not situated in one of your cars, so it is important to consult a skilled personal injury attorney to analyze which underinsured motorist coverages may apply.
Hit-and-Run and “Phantom” Drivers
If a driver caused your crash and fled, or ran you off the road without ever making contact, you may still recover through your own UM coverage. Virginia allows claims in these cases, though a no-contact “phantom vehicle” claim generally needs some corroborating evidence beyond your own account, such as a police report, a witness, or dashcam footage. Reporting the crash to police right away and getting medical care promptly both help protect this kind of claim.
More Coverage May Apply Than You Think
Part of our job is finding every policy that could apply to your case, including the at-fault driver’s liability coverage, your own UM/UIM coverage, coverage under a family member’s policy you may be eligible for, and any umbrella policy in play. Identifying and stacking all the available coverage is often the key to a full recovery after a serious crash.
If you were hit by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver, call 757-321-3983. We will review every policy that might apply to your case at no cost.
What’s Different About a Car Accident Claim
Every injury case is different, but a few things set car crashes apart.
You May Have to Deal with Your Own Insurer, Not Just the Other Driver’s
After a crash, you generally have to report it to your own insurance company, even when the other driver was at fault. Most policies require prompt notice, and failing to give it can be grounds to deny coverage you paid for. You do not, however, have to give a recorded statement or accept any settlement before talking to a car accident lawyer. You can report the basic facts to your insurer, but let us take it from there.
Virginia’s Insurance Minimums Are Often Too Low to Cover a Serious Crash
Every vehicle in Virginia must carry liability insurance, with minimum limits of $50,000 for injury to one person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage, plus matching uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. In a serious crash, those minimums often fall short of actual medical bills and lost income, which is why the UM/UIM coverage described above can make such a difference in what you recover.
If a Passenger Was Hurt, the Claim Works a Little Differently
A passenger generally has a claim against any driver whose negligence caused the crash, including the driver of the car they were riding in. That can feel uncomfortable when the driver is a friend or family member, but in practice the driver’s insurance company pays the claim, not the driver out of pocket. We handle these situations carefully, working directly with the insurer to resolve the claim while protecting the relationship as much as possible.
If a Commercial Truck Was Involved, the Rules Change
Crashes with semi-trucks and tractor-trailers are governed by federal regulations in addition to Virginia law, and they often involve more than one liable party, including the driver, the trucking company, and others. If you were involved in a wreck with a large commercial truck or any commercial type of truck, those cases are handled differently, and you can learn more on our truck accident page.
How to Get Your Crash Report (Accident Report)
Your crash report is one of the most important pieces of evidence in a car accident claim. It records the details of the collision, the drivers and witnesses involved, and the responding officer’s observations. It is worth getting a copy early, since reports sometimes contain errors that are easier to fix soon after the crash than months later.
In Virginia, police file crash reports on a form called the FR300P. The agency that responded to your crash keeps the report, and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles also maintains the official copy of every reportable crash in the state, so requesting it from the DMV is a reliable option no matter which department handled your crash. If you were involved in the crash, you or your attorney can request the report.
Where you get your report depends on who responded:
Virginia Beach: You can request crashes handled by the Virginia Beach Police Department through the department’s online portal. VBPD headquarters is at 2509 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, 757-385-4141.
Norfolk: The Norfolk Police Department releases crash reports through the City of Norfolk’s records request process. You can obtain records through their online portal, by email at foia@norfolk.gov, or by mailing your request to FOIA Request, Norfolk City Hall, 810 Union Street, Suite 409, Norfolk, VA 23510, 757-664-3277.
Hampton: The Hampton Police Department’s Central Records Unit handles accident report requests at 40 Lincoln Street, Hampton, VA 23669, in person or by mail. You can reach the department at 757-727-6540.
Portsmouth: The Portsmouth Police Department Records Unit is located at Police Headquarters, 700 Port Centre Parkway, Portsmouth, VA 23704, and can be reached by phone at 757-393-8814.
Suffolk: Requests for reports from the Suffolk Police Department can be made through their online portal. The department is located at 111 Henley Place, Suffolk, VA 23434. Their phone number is 757-923-2350.
The Virginia State Police typically handle crashes on interstates and major highways, including I-264, I-64, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. You can also access those reports through the DMV.
Wherever your crash happened, we can obtain the report for you as part of building your case. If you are not sure where to start, call 757-321-3983, and we will help you track it down.
Awards and Recognition
A long track record of million-dollar settlements and verdicts is important, but also knowing that other members of the legal profession have recognized our track record is also important. Clients and the legal profession have both taken notice of our work. Clients and the legal profession have both taken notice of our work. Our firm has earned more than 100 five-star Google reviews, along with strong reviews on Avvo, and our attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® and Super Lawyers®. Virginia Lawyers Weekly has also named members of the firm to its Hall of Fame and as a “Leader in the Law.”
Click this link to learn more about our dedicated attorneys.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I accept the insurance company’s first settlement offer?
Usually not. Insurance companies often make a quick, low offer early, before they know the full extent of your injuries, hoping you will take it and close the claim. Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, the case is over, and you cannot reopen it later if your injuries turn out to be worse than expected or you need more treatment. Before you accept any offer, it is worth having a car accident lawyer in Virginia Beach review it so you know whether it actually covers your medical bills, lost income, and future costs.
Can I still recover if I wasn’t wearing a seatbelt?
Yes. Under Virginia law (Va. Code § 46.2-1094), the fact that you were not wearing a seatbelt cannot be used against you in a car accident injury claim. It cannot be treated as negligence, used to reduce your compensation, or even mentioned by the other side’s lawyer at trial. The insurance company may still try to raise it informally, but the law is clear that your recovery does not depend on whether you were buckled up.
Do I have to give the other driver’s insurance company a recorded statement?
No. The at-fault driver’s insurer will often ask for a recorded statement soon after the crash, framed as a routine step. You are not required to give one, and it is usually a mistake to do so before talking to a car accident attorney. Adjusters are trained to ask questions in ways that can produce answers used later to shift blame onto you, which carries real weight under Virginia’s fault rule. You can decline, tell them you have counsel, and let your lawyer handle communication.
How long will my car accident case take?
It depends on the case. A case with clear fault and less serious injuries can sometimes settle in a few months to a year. Cases involving serious injuries, disputed fault, or the need to file suit can take a year or more. A good lawyer will not rush to close your case before your long-term medical picture is clear, because settling too early can leave real costs uncovered.
My brother was hit by a car and working with Richard Shapiro and his paralegal, Paula, made things so much easier for me. They helped me navigate some complexities and settled my brother’s claim quickly. I am so appreciative of their support and highly recommend them. – A.L.
Contact Our Virginia Beach Car Accident Lawyers
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a car accident in Virginia Beach or anywhere in Hampton Roads, we are ready to help. We handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis; we advance the costs of building your case, and you owe us nothing unless we recover for you.
Deadlines in Virginia are strict, and evidence disappears quickly, so the sooner we get started, the more we can do to protect your claim. With offices in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, we serve injured people across Hampton Roads, VA, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina (NC).
Call 757-321-3983 for a free, confidential case evaluation. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.