A car accident can upend your life in seconds — leaving you injured, out of work, and facing insurance companies that would rather pay as little as possible. Virginia law makes these claims especially unforgiving, and the right car accident lawyers know how to protect your case from day one. For more than 60 years, Decker Law has represented injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians across Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and all of Hampton Roads. Call 757-622-3317 for a free consultation, available 24/7.
Rear End Collisions
T-Bone Accidents
Sideswipe Accidents
Distracted Driving Accidents
Drunk Driving Accidents
Uninsured Motorists
Personal Injury
AFTER A HAMPTON ROADS CAR ACCIDENT
In the days after a crash, the calls start — from adjusters who sound helpful but work for the other side. What you say early can shape what your claim is worth. A car accident lawyer steps between you and the insurers, gathers the evidence while it’s still fresh, and builds the case for the full cost of your injuries: medical bills, lost wages, and the pain the crash put you through.
Virginia makes that guidance especially important. The Commonwealth is one of only a handful of states that still follows pure contributory negligence — meaning if the insurance company can pin even the smallest share of fault on you, it can try to deny your claim entirely. And you generally have just two years from the date of the crash to file suit. Those two rules alone are why going it alone in Virginia is risky, and why experienced local counsel matters.
REAR-END COLLISION LAWYERS
Often written off as “minor,” rear-end crashes cause whiplash, disc, and spine injuries that surface days later. The rear driver is usually at fault, but insurers still fight the value. We document the injury and press the claim.
Side-impact crashes at intersections leave little between you and the other vehicle, so injuries are often severe. Fault turns on who had the right of way — we reconstruct the intersection to prove it.
A lane-change or blind-spot sideswipe can send a car out of control into something far worse. We sort out who drifted, pull the evidence, and hold the responsible driver accountable.
Texting and distraction cause a large share of Virginia crashes. We obtain phone records and other proof to show the other driver wasn’t paying attention when it counted.
When a drunk driver injures you, you may have civil claims beyond the criminal case — including punitive damages. We coordinate both tracks to maximize your recovery.
Hit by a driver with no insurance, or one who fled? Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may pay — and we know how to pursue it when your insurer drags its feet.
Evidence disappears: skid marks fade, camera footage is overwritten, memories blur. We move quickly to preserve what proves your case.
We handle the insurers
You focus on healing while we take the adjusters’ calls and push back on the lowball offers and the blame-shifting.
We know Virginia’s rules
Contributory negligence and tight deadlines sink unrepresented claims. We know the terrain and protect your case from the start.
CRASHES ARE PART OF LIFE HERE — YOUR RECOVERY SHOULDN’T BE A FIGHT
60,000+
people injured on Virginia roads each year
60+
years Decker Law has fought for the injured in Hampton Roads
125,000+
traffic crashes across Virginia each year
CAR ACCIDENT QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
What should I do right after a car accident?
Get to safety and call 911. Document the scene, get names and insurance details, and seek medical care even if you feel okay — some injuries surface later. Avoid giving the other driver’s insurer a recorded statement before you speak with a lawyer.
How long do I have to file a claim in Virginia?
Generally two years from the date of the crash (Va. Code § 8.01-243). Miss that window and your claim is usually barred, so it’s best not to wait.
The crash was partly my fault. Can I still recover?
Virginia follows pure contributory negligence: if you’re found even slightly at fault, the insurer may try to deny your claim entirely. That’s exactly why how fault gets framed matters — and where a lawyer helps most.
What if the other driver had no insurance?
Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may cover your injuries. We help you pursue it, including when your own insurer resists paying.
Do I have to talk to the insurance company?
You must notify your own insurer, but you are not required to give the other side a recorded statement. It’s usually best to let your lawyer handle those conversations.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Cole Roberts
A Norfolk native and former Public Defender, Cole Roberts represents clients in criminal defense and traffic matters, from reckless driving and DUI to serious felonies. He has tried numerous jury cases across the seven Hampton Roads cities.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Martin Thomas
Martin Thomas is the firm’s president and managing attorney, concentrating on personal injury, criminal, and traffic law. He handles multimillion-dollar injury cases throughout Virginia and has been named to Super Lawyers for personal injury.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Jeffrey Partington
A Virginia Beach native, Jeffrey Partington serves clients in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and business law, and has worked both sides of the aisle. He practices in the courts of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News, Portsmouth, Hampton, and Suffolk.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Martin Thomas, Jr.
Martin Thomas, Jr. focuses on personal injury, criminal, and traffic law, along with contract law and civil litigation. He tries cases in the courts of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake, and serves on Norfolk City Council.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
George Neskis
George Neskis represents clients charged with criminal and traffic offenses — from DUI and reckless driving to felony matters — and also handles personal injury. A former Norfolk Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, he practices across all seven Hampton Roads cities and has been named to Super Lawyers for criminal defense.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Peter Decker, III
Peter Decker, III focuses his practice on criminal, traffic, and personal injury. He regularly practices in the General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations, and Circuit Courts of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Suffolk and Newport News.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Michelle Parker
Michelle Parker concentrates on personal injury, elder law, wills, trusts and estates, litigation, corporate law, and criminal defense. She handles civil, probate, and traffic cases throughout the seven cities of Greater Hampton Roads.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Joseph Rigney
A Chesapeake native and former prosecutor, Joseph Rigney focuses on personal injury and criminal defense, including traffic law. He tries both civil and criminal cases in the courts of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, and Newport News.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Joel Weintraub
Joel Weintraub has been practicing law for over 40 years and focuses his practice on civil litigation involving disputes between individuals and corporations. Joel’s recent cases involve corporate litigation, personal injury, business law, will and trust contests and interpretation, shareholder rights, and estate administration.
If you’ve been hurt in a crash anywhere in Hampton Roads, the sooner we start, the more we can do — evidence is fresher and the deadline isn’t looming. Reach us by text, chat, phone, or email — or call right now at 757-622-3317.
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