Jessica Burgoyne, leveraging a deep background in research methods and a passion for legal issues, distills complex legal concepts into accessible insights. With over 100 published articles, her work has been featured in Forbes Advisor and other respected publications. Her work, underpinned by rigorous research and a commitment to quality, offers readers trustworthy, actionable information.
Jessica Burgoyne
Jessica Burgoyne, leveraging a deep background in research methods and a passion for legal issues, distills complex legal concepts into accessible insights. With over 100 published articles, her work has been featured in Forbes Advisor and other respected publications. Her work, underpinned by rigorous research and a commitment to quality, offers readers trustworthy, actionable information.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
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Jeffrey Johnson, J.D.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Virginia Beach is a beautiful place to call home. There are amazing beaches that bring in tourists from all around.
However, increased tourism can lead to increased traffic. And increased traffic can lead to car accidents. Who can you turn to for help if you’re been injured in a car accident?
Check out our list of the best car accident lawyers in Virginia Beach.
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Best Car Accident Attorneys in Virginia Beach
Compare Our Top Attorneys
Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Virginia
Virginia has specific laws and statutes that relate to car accidents and personal injury claims, and those laws can affect your ability to recover damages. Here’s what you need to know.
Virginia Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations is the amount of time a person has to bring a lawsuit against someone who has injured them. For injuries caused by car accidents in Virginia, the statute of limitations is two years. If it has been more than two years since your accident, you may not be able to bring a case. However, it’s always a good idea to consult a lawyer who can advise you about the specifics of your case.
Virginia Laws for Car Drivers
- Report car accidents. If you’ve been in a car accident where a person was injured or killed or property was damaged, you’re required to make an accident report.
- Provide the required information. Drivers must report the following information to Virginia state police, local law enforcement, anyone injured in the crash, the driver of any other vehicles that were hit, or the owners of any property that was damaged:
- Name
- Address
- Driver’s license number
- Vehicle identification number
- Wear your seat belt. The driver and any front seat passengers are required to wear seat belts in Virginia, and so is anyone in the car under the age of 18. Adult passengers in the back seat are not required to wear a seat belt. The driver is responsible for ensuring that all front seat passengers and people under 18 are wearing seat belts.
- Put down your phone. Virginia prohibits drivers to hold cell phones or any other handheld devices, except in the case of emergency or when the car is lawfully stopped or parked. Texting while driving is illegal in Virginia.
- Don’t use a radar detector. Radar detectors are illegal to use in Virginia.
Identifying Fault for a Car Crash
Virginia is one of only four states that uses the pure contributory negligence standard to determine who can recover damages after a car accident. This means that the only way you can recover damages is if the other party was 100% at fault for the accident. If the court determines you were even 1% at fault, you cannot collect.
This is a high standard to reach and can be very difficult to prove. It’s highly recommended that you consult a local attorney who can help you make the strongest case possible.
How Can an Attorney Help You?
Because of the pure contributory negligence standard, it’s particularly important to have a lawyer if you’ve been in an accident in Virginia. Here are some other reasons to hire an attorney:
- Your attorney can handle much of the paperwork. There is paperwork involved in a civil lawsuit, regardless of whether you go to court or accept a settlement. Much of this paperwork is written in legalese, which may be confusing. An attorney can help you properly fill out and file this paperwork.
- Your attorney can answer your questions. You’re bound to have questions about your case, and your lawyer will be able to help you find the answers.
- Your attorney can help you get a larger settlement. Many insurance companies lowball the first offer they make to those who have been injured. An attorney will have experience negotiating these settlements and may be able to get you a fairer amount.
- Your attorney can represent you in court. Most personal injury cases end in settlement, but if your case does wind up going to court, you’ll want an experienced personal injury attorney on your side.
How to Find the Best Car Accident Lawyer in Virginia Beach, VA
There’s no such thing as the single best car accident attorney. Every lawyer has their own strengths and weaknesses. However, it’s important to find one that you feel comfortable working with. Here are some tips:
- Ask friends and family. If anyone you know has recently been in an accident, ask them which attorney they used. Do they recommend that attorney or their firm? Why or why not?
- Schedule an initial consultation. Most personal injury attorneys offer a free initial consultation on your case. Use this as an opportunity to evaluate what it would be like to work with that attorney.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s natural to have questions after a car accident. Your attorney should be happy to answer them, or to find the answers. If an attorney acts like you’re bothering them with your questions, they may not be the right fit for you.
Methodology
To come up with the Best Car Accident Lawyers in Virginia Beach in 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical module considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses & certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education & employment background
- Scholarly lectures & writings
- Awards & honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds, but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does Virginia require drivers to carry car insurance?
All drivers in Virginia are required to either carry a car insurance policy or to pay the Department of Motor Vehicles an uninsured motorist fee of $500 per year. Virginia has set minimum standards for insurance, but it’s important to remember that even a minor accident can exceed these limits very quickly. You should consider carrying more than the following minimum requirements.
What is uninsured motorist coverage?
Bodily injury and property damage insurance cover any accidents that you cause. However, uninsured motorist bodily injury and uninsured motorist property damage insurance cover you and your property if you’re in an accident with someone who does not carry insurance. As with any other insurance coverage, consider carrying more than the required amount of this coverage to protect yourself in the event of an accident.
Is Virginia an at-fault or a no-fault state?
Virginia is an at-fault state. This means that the insurance of the person who caused the accident must pay for any injuries caused. If the driver who caused the accident does not have car insurance, the uninsured motorist coverage on your own car insurance policy will cover your damages, up to policy limits. See above for an explanation of uninsured motorist coverage.
