Bailey Gifford

Senior Associate Attorney

Bailey Gifford joined Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers as an associate in late 2020 and became a senior associate in 2024. Bailey specializes in catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, trucking, railroad, and complex premises liability cases. Born in Nebraska and raised in Kentucky, she graduated with honors from Central Hardin High School. After high school, Bailey graduated magna cum laude from Morehead State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with an emphasis in Business in 2016. Bailey went on to the Appalachian School of Law, in Grundy, VA, where she obtained her J.D. in 2020. During her time there, she served as president of the Student Bar Association. Bailey also served as a Student Ambassador and participated as a member of both the Mock Trial and Moot Court teams. During law school, Bailey clerked for The Honorable Elizabeth A. McClanahan, formerly of the Supreme Court of Virginia. Bailey is an avid reader and enjoys exploring the Hampton Roads area with her husband, Kaleb, and her son, Killian.

I’m so grateful for the team at Cooper Hurley! They really went above and beyond to make a terrible time as confortable as it could be and took time to check on me regularly and make sure I was getting the help I needed to heal from my accident. During our medication process, I felt understood by my lawyers and was impressed for help with how John Cooper stuck up for me. Thank you, John, Bailey, and Jenny! I would recommend this firm to anyone looking for help with compensation after an accident.

Rebecca Wilson

My experience was great! Absolutely, wonderful! Thank you to Jenny, Kate, Bailey and everyone at Cooper Hurley for helping me with my case.

Chris W.

John, Bailey and Jenny are amazing. They fought so hard for us. We couldn’t have find any better attorney

Charlotte S.

The most professional Law Firm I’ve had dealings with. I highly recommend any railroader or person of injury to this firm. They’re the BEST!!!! John, Bailey, Stephanie THANK U GUYS FOR SUCH A GREAT RESULT….

Tony B.

Settlement for Veteran Paralyzed after fall

$6M

Settlement in premises liability case involving severe burns

$5M

Settlement for victim in trucking wreck

$2.5M

Education

J.D., Appalachian School of Law
B.S., Morehead State University

Honors

Virginia Business Legal Elite, 2022-2025
National Trial Lawyers, 40 under 40, 2023
Super Lawyers Rising Star 2024
Virginia Lawyers Weekly Up & Coming Lawyer 2025

Bar Admissions

Virginia
United States District Court – Eastern District of Virginia
United States District Court Western District of Virginia

Continued Legal Education

Preparing for Trial as Second or Third Chair, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, August 6, 2025
Virginia Injury Practice Today – Recent Insurance Law Changes Regarding Auto Accidents and Injury Law Ethics, Virginia Beach Bar Association, June 11, 202
Railroad Accidents: Injuries to Workers (FELA), Passengers, and More, Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, January 31, 2024
Litigating Catastrophic Injury Cases, October 25, 2024
Personal Injury Practice: How to Have a Successful Mediation, October 6, 2023.
Defense Doctor Pitfalls: Using Lombard/Groves Effectively, VTLA Advanced Auto Retreat, July 28, 2023
Working With a Ton of Information in Your Virginia Injury Practice, VTLA Advanced Auto Retreat, July 29, 2022

Professional Organizations

Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (ATAA)
Virginia State Bar
Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys
American Association for Justice, Railroad Section Chair-Elect
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, CLE Committee, Insurance Committee
Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association, Mock Trial Committee Chair
Virginia Beach Bar Association
Virginia Bar Association
Virginia State Bar (VSB) Special Committee on Lawyer Referral (SCLR)

Practice Areas

car accidents
truck accidents
premises liability
wrongful death
railroad accidents
catastrophic injuries
bicycle accidents
motorcycle accidents
Camp Lejeune
Pedestrian Injuries

Publications

The Value (and Fun) of Site Inspections to Bolster Expert Opinions, The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Volume 30 Number 3, 2024
Navigating GDC: Your Roadmap to Injury Litigation Success, Virgina Lawyers Weekly, May 29, 2025
Managing Client Relationships, AAJ Trial Magazine, July 2025
Litigating Catastrophic Injury Cases, Virginia Lawyers Weekly, September 25, 2025

Bailey Gifford

Featured Cases