Car Accident Lawyers
Roanoke Car Accident Attorneys
Serving Virginia & West Virginia
A car wreck on I-581 or Williamson Road can change your life in seconds. Medical bills arrive, you miss work, and the other driver’s insurance company calls before you know how badly you’re hurt.
At Brown & Brown Attorneys, you talk directly with an attorney, not a case manager. Our Roanoke car accident lawyers have represented injured people in Virginia courts for more than 26 years. We work from our office at Rosewood Office Park on Brambleton Avenue, minutes from the crash sites we see most often.
Why Roanoke Drivers Choose Brown & Brown
- You work with an attorney from day one. You won’t be passed from staff member to staff member or left wondering about your case.
- Trial experience. Attorney Dan Ashwell has focused on personal injury for more than 17 years and has obtained six-figure jury verdicts and multi-million-dollar settlements. Founding Principal Harry W. Brown has tried hundreds of bench and jury trials.
- Local knowledge. We know the Roanoke City and Roanoke County courts, local medical providers, and the roads where crashes happen.
- Free consultation. Talking with us costs nothing, and you are under no obligation.
Virginia Car Accident Laws That Affect Your Claim
Virginia has some of the harshest car accident laws in the country for injured people. Understanding them early can protect your case.
Contributory Negligence
Virginia is one of the few states that still follows pure contributory negligence. If you are found even slightly at fault for the crash, you can be barred from recovering anything.
Insurance adjusters know this rule well. They often look for any reason to argue you were speeding, distracted, or failed to yield. A careful investigation of the police report, scene photos, witness statements, and vehicle data is often what defeats that argument.
Two-Year Deadline to File
In most Virginia personal injury cases, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. Property damage claims have a separate five-year deadline. Claims against a government entity, such as a city vehicle or a school bus, can require written notice much sooner. Missing a deadline can end your claim, so it’s worth talking with a lawyer early.
Insurance Minimums and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Since January 1, 2025, Virginia drivers must carry at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage, plus $25,000 for property damage. Every Virginia policy also includes uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage at matching limits unless the policyholder rejected it in writing.
Serious injuries often cost far more than $50,000. When the at-fault driver’s coverage runs out, your own UM/UIM coverage may pay the difference. We review every policy that could apply to your crash, including yours, so no source of compensation is missed.
Where Car Accidents Happen in the Roanoke Valley
We handle crashes throughout Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Salem, Vinton, Botetourt County, and Franklin County. Many of our cases come from the same busy corridors:
- I-581 and I-81: high-speed rear-end and merging crashes, especially near the Valley View and Hershberger Road interchanges
- US-220 (Franklin Road and the Roanoke Expressway): heavy commuter traffic and sudden stops
- Williamson Road and Peters Creek Road: frequent intersection and turning crashes near shopping centers
- Brambleton Avenue and US-460 (Orange Avenue): red-light, left-turn, and side-impact collisions
Types of Car Accident Cases We Handle
- Rear-end collisions
- T-bone and intersection crashes
- Head-on collisions
- Distracted driving crashes (Virginia’s hands-free law bans holding a phone while driving)
- Drunk and drugged driving crashes
- Hit-and-run and uninsured driver crashes
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Multi-vehicle pileups
- Crashes with commercial trucks
- Fatal crashes
What to Do After a Car Accident in Roanoke
- Call 911 and get medical care. Some injuries, like concussions and soft-tissue damage, don’t show symptoms right away. Prompt treatment protects your health and documents your injuries.
- Get the police report. Crashes in the city are usually handled by the Roanoke Police Department; crashes on the interstates are often handled by the Virginia State Police. You can also request a crash report through the Virginia DMV.
- Take photos and gather information. Photograph the vehicles, the scene, traffic signals, and your injuries. Get the other driver’s name, insurance, and plate number, and contact information for witnesses.
- Be careful with insurance adjusters. Don’t give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer or accept a quick settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries.
- Keep records. Save medical bills, receipts, and proof of missed work.
- Talk with a Roanoke car accident lawyer. An attorney can preserve evidence such as surveillance and dashcam footage before it’s erased.
Compensation You May Be Able to Recover
Depending on your case, a car accident claim may include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Vehicle repair or replacement
- In some cases involving drunk driving or extreme recklessness, punitive damages
Every case is different. We’ll explain which damages may apply to yours during your free consultation.
Roanoke Car Accident FAQs
How much does a Roanoke car accident lawyer cost?
Brown & Brown offers a free consultation. Car accident cases are usually handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning attorney fees are generally paid from the compensation we recover rather than by the hour. We explain the fee arrangement and any case costs in writing before you hire us.
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Virginia?
In most cases, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit in Virginia. Claims involving a government vehicle or employee may require written notice much sooner, so it’s best to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
What if I was partly at fault for the crash?
Virginia follows contributory negligence, which can bar recovery if you are found even slightly at fault. Insurance companies often use this rule to deny claims. An attorney can investigate the crash and gather evidence to show the other driver was responsible.
Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company?
You should report the crash to your own insurer, but be careful with the other driver’s insurance company. Adjusters may ask for a recorded statement or offer a quick settlement before the full extent of your injuries is known. It’s wise to speak with a lawyer first.
What if the driver who hit me has no insurance or not enough insurance?
Virginia auto policies include uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage unless it was rejected in writing. This coverage on your own policy may pay for your injuries when the at-fault driver is uninsured, flees the scene, or doesn’t have enough coverage.
How long will my car accident case take?
Many cases settle after medical treatment is complete and damages can be fully documented, which often takes several months to a year. Cases that go to trial can take longer. We’ll give you a realistic timeline based on your injuries and the insurance involved.
Do you handle cases outside the City of Roanoke?
Yes. We represent people injured throughout Roanoke County, Salem, Vinton, Botetourt County, Franklin County, and across Virginia and West Virginia.
Talk With a Roanoke Car Accident Attorney Today
The insurance company started working on its side of your case the day of the crash. You deserve someone working on yours.
Call Brown & Brown Attorneys at (540) 345-0200 or [request your free case evaluation]. If your injuries make travel difficult, we can talk by phone or arrange to meet you.
Brown & Brown Attorneys Rosewood Office Park, 4911 Brambleton Ave, Roanoke, VA 24018 (540) 345-0200