Legal

The law affects every part of daily life. Our legal section offers clear, practical explanations of new laws, court rulings, and local and national legal developments. Whether you’re following a major lawsuit or seeking to understand how a new law impacts you, this section keeps readers informed about what’s happening in Virginia’s courts and legislature.

How Do I Prove Lost Wages After a Car Accident?

Car accidents have different effects on the lives of their victims. You may discover that the nature and scope of your injuries combined with the emotional trauma you experience prevent you from returning to work. Whether you have to exhaust your personal days and sick days or…

By Richard Shapiro

/ 12 Dec 2023

How Do I Prove Lost Wages After a Car Accident?

What Are My Rights After a Spinal Cord Injury?

Even a minor spinal cord injury can be a life-changing experience accompanied by adverse physical, financial, and emotional impacts. Although spinal cord injuries can occur in almost any type of accident, they are much more common in some than others. For example, data published by…

By Kevin D. Sharp

/ 4 Dec 2023

What Are My Rights After a Spinal Cord Injury?

What Is the Statute of Limitations in a Car Accident Claim?

When you’re involved in a car accident in Virginia, the statute of limitations is one of the critical factors that can impact your ability to seek compensation. The statute of limitations is a legal time limit within which you must file a lawsuit to pursue…

By Richard Shapiro

/ 3 Dec 2023

What Is the Statute of Limitations in a Car Accident Claim?

Who is Liable for My Hampton Slip-and-Fall Accident Caused by Winter Weather?

Although slip-and-fall accidents take place every day, a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that reports of these accidents increase significantly during winter months due to snow, rain, sleet, and freezing temperatures. These weather conditions can turn regular

By Richard Shapiro

/ 28 Nov 2023

Who is Liable for My Hampton Slip-and-Fall Accident Caused by Winter Weather?

Who is Liable When a Roadway Defect Causes a Virginia Beach Car Accident?

In Virginia, those who own private and public roadways are responsible for their maintenance. If the entity or agency tasked with upkeeping a roadway fails to do so properly, they can be held liable for a car accident caused by a road defect. Pursuing financial…

By Eric Washburn

/ 20 Nov 2023

Who is Liable When a Roadway Defect Causes a Virginia Beach Car Accident?

How Do I Get a Copy of My Virginia Beach Car Accident Report?

When a car accident takes place in Virginia Beach, a car accident report, exchange of information form, or some other type of documentation will be filed by either one of the parties involved or the responding police officer. Although you are not legally required to…

By Eric Washburn

/ 13 Nov 2023

How Do I Get a Copy of My Virginia Beach Car Accident Report?

Burn Injuries and Car Accidents: Causes, Types, and Damages

When you think of a serious car accident, burn injuries are probably not the first thing that springs to mind. Unfortunately, burn injuries caused by car accidents can cause serious damage and they happen more often than most people realize. A report published by the…

By Richard Shapiro

/ 7 Nov 2023

Burn Injuries and Car Accidents: Causes, Types, and Damages

Should My First Call After a Virginia Beach Car Accident be to an Attorney or the Insurance Company?

Following a serious Virginia Beach car accident, most victims contact their auto insurance company before they even think about contacting a personal injury attorney. While it is still possible for them to recover financial compensation for their injuries and other damages, the information they prov

By Richard Shapiro

/ 23 Oct 2023

Should My First Call After a Virginia Beach Car Accident be to an Attorney or the Insurance Company?

What is a Never Event?

As their name implies, a never event is a medical event that is never supposed to happen. The most egregious of patient safety violations, never events are measurable and identifiable, result in serious disability or death, and are usually avoidable. They often highlight a systemic…

By Kevin D. Sharp

/ 17 Oct 2023

Rick Shapiro Selected as a 2023 President’s Award Winner by the National Board of Trial Advocacy

The personal injury law firm of Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp is proud to announce that Richard N. (Rick) Shapiro has been selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country,…

By Richard Shapiro

/ 12 Oct 2023

Rick Shapiro Selected as a 2023 President’s Award Winner by the National Board of Trial Advocacy

Virginia Personal Injury Cases and the Reasonable Person Standard

In personal injury cases, the “reasonable person standard” is used to establish if negligence occurred and whether or not that negligence was related to the accident and subsequent damages. Successfully proving that negligence existed using this standard can be challenging without experienced legal

By Richard Shapiro

/ 9 Oct 2023

Virginia Personal Injury Cases and the Reasonable Person Standard

Understanding the Burden of Proof in a Virginia Personal Injury Case

Most of us have seen a dramatic movie scene where an attorney utters the phrase “beyond a reasonable doubt”. Although this is a valid standard of proof, it does not apply to every single case. What is the burden of proof in a Virginia civil…

By Kevin D. Sharp

/ 3 Oct 2023

Understanding the Burden of Proof in a Virginia Personal Injury Case