Norfolk, VA Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
- Last Updated: 19 May. 2025
Residents and tourists alike enjoy walking around Norfolk, even on high-traffic roads like Granby Street and East Virginia Beach Boulevard, where pedestrian accidents often happen. If you’ve been injured due to a negligent driver, our Norfolk pedestrian accident lawyers are here to help.
At Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, our Norfolk personal injury attorneys can evaluate your case, explain your legal options, and work to secure the compensation you deserve. We’ll handle the investigation and gather crucial evidence to support your claim.
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On This Page
- Why Trust Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers With Your Pedestrian Accident Case
- Compensation After a Pedestrian Accident
- Right of Way Regulations
- When a Driver May Be Held Liable for a Pedestrian Accident
- The Effect of the Contributory Negligence Rule
- Time Limits for Filing a Claim
- Speak With a Norfolk Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Why Trust Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers With Your Pedestrian Accident Case
Pedestrians have little protection on the road, so accidents often result in severe injuries or death. While dealing with the impacts of your accident, you and your family don’t need the additional burden of worrying about the process of an insurance claim or a lawsuit.
Our Norfolk pedestrian accident attorneys will handle all aspects of your case so you can focus on healing and moving forward. We have over 120 years of combined experience and have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our deserving clients. Our case results include the second-highest car crash verdict in Virginia in 2022 and the fifth-highest settlement in the state in 2023.
We handle all types of pedestrian accidents, including those occurring in parking lots or involving rideshare drivers, delivery vehicles, tourists, and military personnel. We know what evidence you need for a strong claim and have a successful history of working with experts and negotiating with insurance companies to secure fair compensation.
We offer free case evaluations and take our pedestrian accident cases on a contingency basis. You owe us nothing unless we win.
Compensation After a Pedestrian Accident
If you were injured in a pedestrian accident in Virginia, you may be entitled to compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover your financial losses, such as medical expenses and lost income, while non-economic damages compensate for the emotional toll of your injuries, including pain and suffering.
The value of your claim depends on several factors, including the severity of injuries, liability, available insurance coverage, and the strength of your evidence. Based on these factors and others, you may be entitled to compensation for various damages, including:
- Medical bills and future medical costs
- Lost wages and future earning potential
- Nursing or other home care
- Rehabilitation costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma, such as PTSD
- Funeral and burial expenses, loss of future benefits, and other damages in a wrongful death claim
Our Norfolk pedestrian accident lawyers have significant experience in claims related to car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and truck accidents, so we know how to calculate full damages and pursue fair compensation regardless of the type of vehicle involved in your case.
Right of Way Regulations
Norfolk Code of Ordinances §25-627 requires drivers entering, crossing, or turning into an intersection to change course, slow down, or come to a complete stop to let pedestrians cross safely. Drivers must also yield the right of way to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks or in any intersection on streets where the speed limit is 35 mph or less.
While pedestrians have right-of-way protections, they also have legal responsibilities on the road. They cannot enter or cross an intersection with disregard to approaching traffic. Virginia courts and Civil Model Jury Instructions No. 14.000 clarify that pedestrians must use “ordinary care” on the road by:
- Watching for motor vehicles
- Crossing only if a reasonable person would do so under the same circumstances given approaching traffic
- Stepping back from danger if they are in danger of being hit
If a pedestrian steps into traffic without looking or attempts to cross when unsafe, an attorney or insurer could argue that they are at fault because they did not use ordinary care. If a pedestrian is found to be at fault, it could prevent them from recovering compensation.
Our pedestrian accident attorneys in Norfolk know the laws and court rules that apply to these cases, and we will fight unfair attempts to blame you for your injuries.
When a Driver May Be Held Liable for a Pedestrian Accident
Drivers owe a certain duty of care to others on the road, including pedestrians. Part of that duty is to pay attention to the surroundings and follow the rules of the road. When drivers fail to fulfill their duty of care and harm results, they may be held liable for that harm under the tort theory of negligence.
For instance, if a driver exceeds the speed limit or texts while driving, these practices could be considered negligent as a violation of the law and a failure to exercise reasonable care. So, if you get hurt in an accident caused by someone speeding or texting behind the wheel, you could make a good case that the driver in question should be held liable for the consequences of their negligent actions. Our Norfolk lawyers could help prepare a claim following a pedestrian accident.
The Effect of the Contributory Negligence Rule
Virginia’s contributory negligence law is strict—if you’re found even slightly at fault for your accident, you can’t recover compensation. For example, if you were crossing outside a crosswalk on Monticello Avenue, an insurance company might argue that your actions contributed to the crash, preventing you from getting the compensation you deserve.
Insurance adjusters and defense lawyers will look for any way to shift the blame onto you. Partner with our knowledgeable Norfolk pedestrian accident attorneys to fight back. We have a long history of positive case results, showing that we fight and win negligence arguments against our clients. If you have questions about contributory negligence and other accident types, visit our FAQs page.
Time Limits for Filing a Claim
The Virginia personal injury statute of limitations is two years from your accident date. While there are limited exceptions, you will likely lose your right to pursue compensation if you don’t file your claim on time. If your loved one died in a pedestrian accident, you have two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim.
Some pedestrian accidents involve government vehicles. Under the Virginia Tort Claims Act, you must file an initial personal injury claim against the state within one year of your accident. If your case doesn’t settle, you have 18 months from the filing of your claim or two years from your accident date to file a lawsuit. If you are suing a county, city, or town, you must file an initial notice within six months.
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Speak With a Norfolk Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Pedestrian accidents can involve severe injuries and complicated laws. Our qualified attorneys can gather evidence to prove another party’s fault and pursue compensation on your behalf. Learn more about your legal options by speaking with one of our skilled Norfolk pedestrian accident lawyers today.
We’re standing by to help so you can focus on healing. Get your free case evaluation from The Car Crash Experts at Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers by calling (757) 333-3333 or using our online contact form to get started.
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