If you were hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s carelessness, your first call should be to a trusted Hampton Roads personal injury lawyer who knows this region and its courts.
Virginia law gives injured people the right to pursue financial compensation when another person or company causes harm through negligence or misconduct. A successful personal injury claim can recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses tied to your injury.
The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, PC has been representing injured clients across Hampton Roads for decades. From our downtown Norfolk office, we serve residents and visitors throughout the region including Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Portsmouth, and Suffolk. No matter which city your accident occurred in, our team is here to help.
Our Hampton Roads Personal Injury Lawyers
Attorney Richard J. Serpe has devoted nearly 40 years to fighting for injury victims. Recognized every year by Best Lawyers in America (2005–present) and Super Lawyers (2006–present), Richard brings decades of courtroom and negotiation experience to every case he takes on.
Known throughout Hampton Roads for his relentless advocacy and commitment to his clients, Richard has built a reputation for taking on complex injury cases and pursuing the results families need to move forward.
Attorney Ashley E. Strandjord is known for her meticulous preparation and clear, consistent communication with clients. Ashley approaches every file with the kind of focused attention that makes a real difference in outcomes.
Clients regularly describe her as a steady, reassuring presence during one of the most difficult periods of their lives; always accessible, always prepared, and always working in their corner.
What distinguishes the Serpe Firm from larger, high-volume operations is our deliberate commitment to limiting our caseload. Every client we accept receives meaningful attorney time, thorough case development, and a legal strategy built around their specific situation. When you turn to our Hampton Roads personal injury team, you can expect:
- Decades of experience handling Virginia injury claims
- Personalized attention and responsive communication
- Comprehensive accident investigation and evidence gathering
- No attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you
Hampton Roads Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Car Accidents
We represent people injured in all types of car accidents including rear-end collisions, T-bone accidents at busy intersections, sideswipe crashes on crowded highways, and head-on collisions on two-lane roads. We also handle drunk driving injury cases and crashes caused by distracted or reckless drivers.
Common accident locations we see across the region include the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, I-64, I-264, I-664, Military Highway, Battlefield Boulevard, Jefferson Avenue, Mercury Boulevard, Warwick Boulevard, and other heavily traveled roads throughout the region. If you were hurt in a car accident anywhere in Hampton Roads, we can help you understand your options and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Dog Attacks
Our firm has a long track record of securing meaningful settlements for clients bitten or attacked by dogs throughout Hampton Roads and the state. We represent adults, children, postal workers, delivery drivers, and anyone else who has suffered physical injury from a dog attack.
Virginia’s dog bite laws have important nuances that many general practice attorneys simply don’t know. Previous bite history, owner knowledge, and how the attack occurred all affect the strength of your claim. If you’ve been attacked, let us review your situation.
Truck Accidents
Commercial trucks are a constant presence in Hampton Roads, serving the Port of Virginia and traveling the busy highways, bridges, and tunnels that connect the region. When a tractor-trailer, delivery truck, or other large commercial vehicle is involved in a crash, the injuries are often catastrophic. The size and weight of these vehicles means that even relatively low-speed collisions can cause serious, life-altering injuries.
Truck accident cases are also significantly more complex than standard car accident claims. They often involve multiple liable parties like the driver, the trucking company, a cargo loader, or a maintenance contractor, as well as federal safety regulations, electronic logging data, and complicated commercial insurance policies. Our attorneys know how to investigate these cases thoroughly and pursue every available source of recovery.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists face some of the greatest risks on our roads. Without the structural protection of a passenger vehicle, a collision that might leave a car driver shaken can leave a motorcyclist with broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, back injuries, or worse. Unfortunately, insurance companies often try to shift blame onto motorcyclists to minimize payouts.
We represent injured riders throughout Hampton Roads, investigating every aspect of the crash to build the strongest possible case. If someone else’s negligence put you on the ground, we’ll fight to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents tend to produce severe injuries. When a person on foot is struck by a vehicle, the physical consequences like broken bones, spinal injuries, head trauma, internal damage are rarely minor. The physical, financial, and emotional toll can follow a victim for years or the rest of their lives.
We handle pedestrian accident cases throughout Hampton Roads, representing people struck in crosswalks, parking lots, residential neighborhoods, and along busy roads. Drivers who fail to yield, run red lights, speed through school zones, or drive while distracted or impaired put pedestrians at serious risk. We will investigate your accident, document your injuries, and fight to make sure you are not left bearing the cost of someone else’s negligence.
Bicycle Accidents
Cycling is increasingly popular throughout Hampton Roads, both for recreation and daily commuting. But cyclists share roads with vehicles that outweigh them by thousands of pounds, and a single moment of driver inattention can cause serious harm.
Dooring accidents, failure-to-yield crashes, and sideswipes by passing vehicles are among the most common causes of serious bicycle injuries in the region. If a driver’s negligence caused your bicycle accident injuries, we will work to recover compensation for your medical treatment, lost income, and the pain and suffering you’ve endured.
Recreational Boating Accidents
The Chesapeake Bay, the James River, the Elizabeth River, and the many creeks and inlets throughout Hampton Roads draw thousands of recreational boaters every year. That volume of waterway traffic combined with alcohol use, inexperienced operators, and equipment failures leads to a meaningful number of serious boating accidents each season. Collisions between vessels, falls overboard, propeller injuries, and accidents involving jet skis and personal watercraft can all cause life-threatening harm.
Depending on where and how the accident occurred, boating injury claims may involve general maritime laws that are different from state personal injury law. Our attorneys are well-versed in this area and can help injured passengers, swimmers, and other boaters pursue compensation from negligent operators and vessel owners.
Maritime Accidents
Hampton Roads is home to the Port of Virginia, Naval Station Norfolk, and one of the largest concentrations of commercial maritime activity on the Eastern Seaboard. That means a significant number of workers including seamen, longshoremen, merchant mariners, tugboat crews, shipyard employees, and others are exposed to serious injury risks everyday.
Attorney Richard J. Serpe holds an advanced law degree (LL.M.) in Maritime Law, a specialized credential that most Virginia personal injury lawyers don’t have. We handle Jones Act claims for injured seamen, injury claims arising from the unseaworthiness of a vessel, wrongful death, and other maritime injury matters caused by employer negligence. If you were hurt while working on or near the water in Hampton Roads, you need an attorney who understands federal maritime laws.
Wrongful Death
When a loved one is killed because of someone else’s negligence, the grief can feel all-consuming. On top of that loss, families are often left managing medical bills, funeral costs, and the sudden absence of a wage earner all while trying to process an unimaginable tragedy. Virginia’s Wrongful Death Statute allows certain family members to bring a claim against the party responsible for their loved one’s death.
We handle wrongful death cases throughout Hampton Roads with genuine compassion, pursuing accountability for families who deserve justice. Recoverable compensation can include medical and funeral expenses, lost income and benefits the deceased would have provided, and compensation for the grief, loss of companionship, and emotional suffering the family has endured.
What Compensation Can Injury Victims Recover?
Every case is different, and settlement values depend on multiple factors like the nature and severity of your injuries, the strength of the evidence, and the insurance coverage available from the at-fault party. Depending on the facts of your case, you may be entitled to recover:
- Medical expenses: Emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and future medical costs related to your injury can all be factored into your claim.
- Lost income and earning capacity: If your injuries kept you out of work, temporarily or permanently, that lost income belongs in your settlement. Reduced earning capacity going forward can also be compensated.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life caused by your injuries.
- Wrongful death damages: Surviving family members may recover funeral costs, medical expenses incurred prior to death, lost financial support, and compensation for their grief and loss of companionship.
Hampton Roads Personal Injury Settlements
Past settlements don’t predict future outcomes, but they speak to the effort and skill we bring to every case:
- $3.5 Million — Maritime accident on the James River
- $2.5 Million — Wrongful deaths in Portsmouth
- $1.6 Million — Drunk driving accident on the Eastern Shore
- $300 Thousand — Rear-end collision in Virginia Beach
- $175 Thousand – Dog attack in Newport News
- $100 Thousand — Mail carrier attacked by dog in Norfolk
Our Clients Say it Best
“It was a pleasure to hire Richard as our attorney to help with my mom’s case. Richard was incredibly kind and patient throughout the whole process. He and his team kept us updated every step of the way to ensure we understood everything and were well-prepared. The result is very satisfied and more than we expected. My family highly recommends Richard’s firm if you need any assistance.” – Google Review
“Richard along with a great team recently settled a very difficult lawsuit in my favor, throughout the whole process Mr. Serpe and his colleagues have become more then lawyers they are my family because they genuinely care for each and every client. Richard will go above and beyond for any of his clients. He still even checks on me now that my case is settled and I’m forever grateful and glad I chose his law firm to assist me. I am now able to move on with my life in a better financially stable place.” – Yelp Review
What Are the Steps in a Hampton Roads Personal Injury Case?
Personal injury cases don’t resolve overnight. Timelines depend on the complexity of the injuries, how the insurance company responds, and whether a lawsuit becomes necessary. Here’s a general outline of how the process works:
- Free consultation: You tell us what happened and together we decide whether working together makes sense. If you want to move forward, we’ll get an agreement signed so we can get to work on your behalf.
- Investigation: Our team digs into the details, reviewing police reports, gathering photos and surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses, and consulting experts when needed to reconstruct how the accident occurred.
- Medical documentation: We work alongside your healthcare providers to compile a thorough record of your injuries, your treatment, and the costs associated with your recovery. This documentation forms the foundation of your financial claim.
- Demand and negotiation: Once we have a complete picture of your situation, we submit a demand package to the insurance company. Many cases reach a resolution at this stage, though negotiations can take time. If the insurer won’t offer a fair settlement, we may need to file a lawsuit and go to court.
- Resolution: If a lawsuit is filed, your case enters the court system, where deadlines is largely controlled by the court’s calendar. Even after filing, settlement discussions often continue through mediation or direct negotiation giving both sides a chance to resolve things before trial.
Statue of Limitations (Legal Deadlines)
Virginia imposes strict deadlines on personal injury claims. In most cases, the statute of limitations gives injured people two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Miss that window, and you lose the right to pursue compensation regardless of how strong your case might otherwise be.
Two years can pass faster than you expect, especially when you’re focused on recovering and managing the immediate aftermath of a serious injury. Don’t wait to get legal advice. The earlier our team can begin working on your case, the better positioned you’ll be.
Serving Injury Victims Across Hampton Roads
For decades, The Law Offices of Richard J. Serpe, PC has fought for injured clients throughout Hampton Roads. Whether your accident happened in Norfolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News, Portsmouth, Suffolk, or anywhere else in the region, our team is ready to listen and ready to fight for you.
We know that financial stress is often one of the hardest parts of recovering from an injury. That’s why we handle every Hampton Roads personal injury case on a contingency fee basis meaning you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. No upfront costs, no hourly billing, and no out-of-pocket legal fees. If we don’t win, you don’t pay.
If you or someone you love has been injured because of another person’s or company’s negligence, reach out today for a free, no-obligation consultation. There’s no cost to speak with us, and no pressure to move forward until you’re comfortable.