What is personal injury in Virginia?

A Virginia personal injury case is a type of insurance claim or lawsuit brought by an injured person against another person or business (or their insurance company). If a person or business acts with negligence that results in injuries to another claim for payment for damages can be made in many instances.

Can I file an injury lawsuit myself?

Virginia does not prohibit a person from filing a personal injury lawsuit on their own behalf without a lawyer. A person who does this is commonly referred to as a “pro se plaintiff.” With that said, an unrepresented plaintiff will be held to the same court rules, rules of evidence, and laws as a plaintiff who has the assistance of a lawyer. It can be very challenging to represent yourself in a personal injury lawsuit if you lack the necessary legal training and is therefore unadvisable.

What Types of Damages Can a Chesapeake Injury Lawyer Help Me Recover?

While some exceptions exist—like cases involving workers’ compensation or wrongful death—there are typically two types of compensation available in Chesapeake personal injury cases: compensatory and punitive. Compensatory Damages Punitive Damages

What must be true for a Chesapeake, Virginia, personal injury case to succeed?

A Chesapeake personal injury case is a type of insurance claim or lawsuit brought by an injured person against another person or business (or their insurance company). If a person or business acts with negligence that results in injuries to another, a claim for damages can be made in many instances. To have a successful Chesapeake personal injury claim, the following elements must be present: The person or business that caused the injury must have a duty of care owed to another person. The person or business negligently violated that duty of care. That violation of the duty of care resulted in personal injuries, harm, and other losses. In Virginia, as the victim, you have the burden of proving negligence by a preponderance of the evidence. A jury has to find that your side of the story is more likely true than not. Our Chesapeake personal injury attorneys have represented hundreds of clients in negligence actions across the state. We know how to investigate your case, obtain the necessary evidence, and build an argument that sets you up for your best shot at a successful financial recovery . Contact our law office in Chesapeake, Virginia, to learn more about how you can benefit from our extensive experience.

How much does it cost to hire a Chesapeake personal injury lawyer?

Hiring the Chesapeake personal injury attorneys at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers has no out-of-pocket cost. We represent accident victims in Chesapeake on a contingency fee basis. We are so confident that we will win your personal injury case that you don’t pay us unless we do. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. End of story. When we negotiate a settlement or win a jury verdict in your favor, our fee comes out of your financial award.

Can I recover compensation if I’m partly to blame for an accident in Chesapeake, Virginia?

In most cases, no. Virginia is one of a handful of states to adopt a pure contributory fault system. If an injured person shares any fault, even merely 1 percent, he is barred from recovery in most circumstances in Virginia. This is why a prompt and thorough investigation is important. However, limited exceptions apply, like some cases involving railroad workers.

Chesapeake Injury Lawyer

Name: LegalService
Brand: Cooper Hurley
Rating: 4.9 (167 reviews)

Home » Chesapeake Injury Lawyer

Last Updated: 24 Dec, 2025

Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers has led personal injury litigation in Chesapeake and the surrounding cities in Hampton Roads and coastal Virginia since 2011. With over 120+ years of combined legal experience, our award-winning attorneys have the resources and experience needed to take on large insurance companies and get the justice you deserve.

If you’re hurt in Chesapeake, a Chesapeake personal injury lawyer can step in quickly—gathering evidence, dealing with insurers, and protecting your claim while you focus on healing. Call our office today at (757) 333-3333 for a free case evaluation.

Find Out What Your Case is Worth

Why Choose Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers?
Our Personal Injury Practice Areas in Chesapeake
What Damages Can a Chesapeake Injury Lawyer Help Me Recover?
How Can a Chesapeake Personal Injury Attorney Help Me?
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Chesapeake Personal Injury Lawyers Will Fight for the Compensation You Deserve

Why Choose Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers?

At Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, we focus exclusively on personal injury—and never represent insurance companies—so your case gets a dedicated team with proven results.

Here is why you want our Chesapeake personal injury lawyers to represent you:

We have won tens of millions of dollars in our clients’ jury verdicts and private settlements.
Our law firm obtained the largest single reported car accident recovery ($6.5 million) of 2020.
Collectively, our top-rated Virginia trial attorneys have 128 years of experience.
Founding partners John Cooper and Jim Hurley have been recognized as Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia in 2023.
Our team has achieved some of the most respected designations in the legal field, including Super Lawyers, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and Lawyers of Distinction for work in Personal Injury Law.

You deserve to work with a law firm dedicated to your case and committed to getting a favorable outcome. That’s why Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers should be your first call.

Cara & Lauren have been working on me and my wife cases since our accident. Since hired they have made our accident stress free. They both had been amazing and communicative throughout the process. We are soooo thankful to have hired them. Thank you so much for everything yall have done. Most definitely would hire them again

Ly T.

Cooper Hurley was an amazing law firm to work with they were very attentive to my needs and empathetic. They were patient when talking to me. I would recommend them to anyone!

Shondre M.

Hey everyone I would highly recommend cooper Hurley. From the beginning to the end they had my interest in line. They even to a reduced pay to get me more money. Epic job guys thank

Patrick D.

Our Personal Injury Practice Areas in Chesapeake

No matter how your injuries happened, our Chesapeake team has handled a case like yours—and we’re ready to help. Our practice areas include:

Always seek prompt medical treatment after an accident in Chesapeake, Virginia. This ensures injuries are properly diagnosed and helps strengthen a future damage claim. Once stable, contact our Chesapeake personal injury lawyers to discuss your legal rights.

How Much Does Hiring a Chesapeake Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

Hiring our Chesapeake personal injury attorneys has no out-of-pocket cost. Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers represents accident victims in Chesapeake on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t pay us unless we win, which we’re confident in. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. Our fee is deducted from your financial award when we settle or win a jury verdict in your favor.

What Damages Can a Chesapeake Injury Lawyer Help Me Recover?

After an accident, victims can recover economic and non-monetary damages, and potentially punitive damages.

Economic damages: The financial losses related to your case, including past and future medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and decreased earning capacity.
Non-economic damages: Damages to cover the changes and trauma related to your accident, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, reduced quality of life, disfigurement, scarring, post-traumatic stress disorder, and loss of limbs. Our Chesapeake personal injury attorneys work with experts to understand how you’ve been affected and to calculate your case’s value, including non-monetary factors.
Punitive damages: Punitive awards serve to punish the defendant and show that bad behavior won’t be tolerated. In Virginia, punitive damages are only available in personal injury or wrongful death cases under specific conditions, such as demonstrating a “conscious disregard for the rights of others.” For instance, punitive damages might be awarded in cases involving drunk drivers. Virginia law limits punitive damages to a maximum of $350,000.

$275,000

for Hampton Roads mom injured in Chesapeake

How Can a Chesapeake Personal Injury Attorney Help Me?

An accident can leave you in serious pain, wondering who to turn to and what to do next. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone—hiring a personal injury attorney can provide much-needed relief, improving your chances of a successful case and a higher payout.

Here’s how having an attorney on your side can make all the difference:

Insurance companies protect their bottom line—not yours.
A lawyer levels the playing field, countering victim-blaming tactics and handling every communication on your behalf.
Your attorney brings investigative resources, expert insight, and legal strategy to uncover the truth and prevent insurers from controlling the narrative—so you can focus on recovery.

The Importance of Proving Liability

You have a good chance of being blamed for your accident without an attorney to help defend your claims. Your attorney can anticipate these victim-blaming tactics brought on by insurance companies and work to disprove these claims. Proving liability is extremely important in your case, as Virginia’s contributory negligence law will prevent you from recovering damages if you were at fault.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’re not alone—these quick answers cover the questions we hear most. For more specific guidance, speak with one of our experienced attorneys today.

What Do I Need to Prove to Win a Personal Injury Case in Chesapeake?

The person or business that caused the injury had a duty of care owed to another person.
The person or business violated that duty of care.
That violation resulted in personal injuries, harm, and other losses.

Our Chesapeake personal injury attorneys have represented hundreds of clients in negligence actions across the state. We know how to investigate your case, obtain the necessary evidence, and build an argument that sets you up for your best shot at a successful financial recovery.

What is the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Cases in Virginia?

You typically have two years to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in Virginia. The statute of limitations can vary in certain cases, giving you more or less time to take action. Once the deadline passes, you lose the chance to pursue your legal rights and recover the compensation you deserve. It is important to promptly consult with an experienced Chesapeake personal injury attorney to determine which deadlines may apply to your circumstances.

Our Chesapeake Personal Injury Lawyers Will Fight for the Compensation You Deserve

If you’ve suffered injuries, paralysis, or lost a loved one in an accident caused by negligence, you may qualify for compensation. With Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, our experienced Chesapeake personal injury attorneys can handle the legal process for you—including communicating with insurance companies, hospitals, or employers on your behalf so that you can focus on healing.