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Key Takeaways
Virginia’s strict contributory negligence rule means being found even 1% at fault for the crash can bar you from recovering any compensation, giving insurers a strong incentive to shift blame onto you.
You generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a car accident lawsuit in Virginia, though exceptions apply in wrongful death claims or cases involving minors or government vehicles.
A Newport News car accident claim may include compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, disability, emotional trauma, disfigurement, and wrongful death losses.
Liability isn’t always limited to the other driver. Employers, vehicle or parts manufacturers, and government entities responsible for unsafe road design may also be held responsible.
Huffman & Huffman handles car accident claims on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay attorney fees unless the firm wins your case.
EXPERIENCED NEWPORT NEWS CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS
THOUSANDS OF CLIENTS SERVED SUCCESSFULLY
A car accident in Newport News can leave you facing injuries, mounting bills, and an insurance company that doesn’t have your best interests in mind. Our attorneys have spent decades helping injured drivers throughout Newport News get the compensation they deserve, and we know how to build a strong case even when liability is disputed. If someone else’s negligence caused your crash, you shouldn’t have to navigate the aftermath alone.
Our car accident attorneys in Newport News believe that if you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated. If you’re ready to get back on your feet, contact Huffman & Huffman Brothers-in-Law for help.
Why Choose Huffman & Huffman After a Car Accident in Newport News?
There are hundreds of personal injury firms in Virginia, but finding the best auto accident lawyer for your case can often be a challenge. You’ll not only want to hire a Newport News personal injury lawyer who has significant experience in motor vehicle accident cases, but you’ll also need a firm that works locally and is familiar with the nuances of local traffic laws and how they might apply to your case.
We opened our Newport News car accident law firm over 50 years ago, and since then, we’ve handled thousands of car crash cases, successfully securing millions on behalf of our clients to address their injuries or the wrongful death of their loved ones.
As members of the community, we’re committed to providing you with the communication and support you’d expect from a trusted neighbor. But being here hasn’t just allowed us to develop close relationships with our clients; it’s also allowed us to build close connections with local experts who can support your case and recovery, and a much deeper understanding of the local courts than out-of-town firms.
How Our Newport News Car Accident Attorneys Can Help
Our car crash lawyers are skilled investigators and prolific negotiators with over 150 years of combined experience in car accident cases. We understand that being involved in a car accident is often one of the most traumatic times in a person’s life, and that it can often be difficult for the average person to know how to start developing a case.
During your consultation, our team will walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have about your case. Then, once you’ve hired us on, we’ll help you pursue compensation for your losses by:
- Investigating your case: Our team can hire local professionals and experts to investigate the fine details of your accident by obtaining witness statements, reviewing traffic and medical records, and visiting the crash site to determine what exactly occurred and identify the liable parties.
- Collecting evidence and documentation: While accident victims can and should gather evidence at the crash site, such as photos and videos, our team can collect a much wider range of vital evidence, such as dash cam footage from other vehicles or security footage from nearby businesses.
- Communicating with the involved parties: One of the more stressful aspects of settling a car accident case is having to communicate with insurance companies, who often aim to minimize or deny your rightfully owed settlement. But hiring our Newport News auto accident lawyers means that you won’t be required to talk to insurance representatives, the other driver, or witnesses on your own. This protects your case and strengthens your chances of receiving a higher settlement amount.
- Negotiating your settlement: In addition to investigating the details of your accident, we’ll also calculate how much you’re potentially owed and use the evidence and reports we’ve collected to advocate for the maximum amount you are eligible to recover.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Newport News Car Accident?
Another common challenge that many people face when settling a traffic collision case is calculating the damages. It can be very easy to underestimate the value of a claim without the help of a professional. Our car accident lawyers in Newport News have helped our clients recover millions of dollars that they otherwise might not have been awarded. Some of the most common damages we pursue for injury victims include:
- Medical expenses, including treatment, rehabilitation, and medication
- Lost income for the time you were unable to work
- Compensation for chronic pain, disability, emotional trauma, or disfigurement
- Funeral and burial expenses in the case of a tragic death due to a motor vehicle accident
How Much Is My Car Accident Claim Worth?
Generally speaking, if your accident was particularly severe and there is strong evidence to prove the negligence of the other driver, the chances for a larger settlement are higher. Here is a complete list of factors that may indicate that your auto accident case may be worth a large amount:
- Your injuries are significant: The primary goal of a personal injury case is to receive compensation for your injuries. Thus, if your injuries result in large medical bills, you’re more likely to receive a higher settlement to compensate you. The same goes for individuals who have suffered significant emotional trauma, have lost a loved one, or have extended recovery periods, making them unable to work or care for themselves.
- You’ve communicated wisely with the involved parties: One of the reasons why hiring a lawyer as soon as possible is essential is that it can be very easy to say the wrong thing and damage your case. Insurance companies will often try to get you to admit fault in order to disqualify you from receiving your settlement. Throughout the process, it’s essential that you only answer questions that you’re required to answer. When in doubt, always contact your lawyer for help.
- There is strong evidence supporting your claim: The more clearly the evidence shows how the crash happened, who caused it, and how your injuries have affected your life, the stronger your claim may be. Photos and videos, witness statements, medical records, police reports, and other documentation can all help establish both liability and the extent of your damages. This is especially important in Virginia because its contributory negligence rule can prevent an injured person from recovering compensation if they share responsibility for causing the crash.
Understanding Virginia’s Contributory Negligence Rule
Virginia follows a strict contributory negligence rule. This means that if you are found even 1% at fault for causing the crash, you may be barred from recovering compensation.
That is much harsher than the rules in most states, where an injured person can often still recover compensation even if they share some responsibility for the accident. In Virginia, this gives insurance companies a strong incentive to look for ways to place some of the blame on you.
An insurer may argue that you were speeding, following too closely, distracted, or could have done more to avoid the crash. Our attorneys can investigate what happened, gather evidence, and challenge attempts to unfairly shift responsibility onto you.
Types of Newport News Car Accident Cases We Handle
Our traffic accident lawyers in Newport News have experience handling a wide variety of incidents, including:
- Drunk Driving Accidents
- Head-On Collisions
- Highway Accidents
- Multivehicle Accidents
- Rollover Accidents
- Rear-End Accidents
- Texting Accidents
- Uber/Lyft Accidents
Not every crash on Newport News roads involves two passenger vehicles. Our Newport News truck accident lawyers handle collisions caused by tractor-trailers and other large commercial vehicles, where liability may extend to the driver’s employer. And if your crash involved a jackknifed trailer, our Newport News jackknife accident attorneys can review what happened.
How Safe Are Newport News Drivers? What the Data Shows
Newport News drivers face a higher risk of collisions than drivers nationwide, and the numbers back that up from more than one source. In 2025, the city recorded 3,426 car crashes, resulting in nearly 2,700 injuries, according to the Virginia Highway Safety Office. Many of these collisions were the result of aggressive or negligent driving.
That risk shows up in national comparisons too. In Allstate’s 2026 America’s Best Drivers Report, Newport News ranked 95th out of the 200 largest U.S. cities for driving safety. Allstate found that local drivers go an average of 9.42 years between collisions, compared with 10.86 years for the average U.S. driver, meaning drivers in Newport News are 15.3% more likely to experience a collision than the national average.
Together, the local crash data and the national ranking point to the same conclusion: driving in Newport News carries real risk, and negligent drivers are frequently the cause.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Newport News
Car accidents can occur for a variety of reasons. Many accidents, unfortunately, happen at the hands of a negligent driver. Car accidents can be caused by:
- Distracted driving: This is the most common cause of car accidents, resulting in more crashes than drunk driving and speeding. Distracted driving can include using a cell phone while driving, eating or drinking, or dozing off.
- Speeding: Speeding is one of the most common causes of accidents specific to Newport News, contributing to over 600 accidents in 2024, over half of which resulted in injury or death. This is illegal behavior that increases the possibility of losing control of the wheel and causing an accident. Also, the faster the vehicle travels, the more potential there is for serious injuries to occur.
- Reckless driving: This includes everything from tailgating other drivers and ignoring road signs to speeding and changing lanes without signaling or looking.
- Drunk driving: When people drive while intoxicated, they can behave recklessly and take longer to react, leading to devastating and even deadly accidents. Newport News saw nearly 200 drunk driving accidents in 2024, which resulted in 122 injuries and 8 deaths.
Driver errors are the cause of most accidents; however, there may also be some cases in which vehicle malfunctions or poor road design and maintenance can be contributing factors. Our experienced attorneys can help you identify all at-fault parties so that you can pursue maximum compensation.
Drivers and passengers aren’t the only people injured by negligence on these roads. Our Newport News motorcycle accident lawyers represent riders hurt in these same collisions. If you were struck while walking, our Newport News pedestrian accident firm can take your case. The same goes for cyclists, who can turn to our Newport News bicycle accident lawyers.
Common Injuries From Auto Accidents in Newport News
Car accidents can cause catastrophic injuries to virtually any part of the body, depending on the type of impact and speed at which it occurs, among other factors.
Some common car accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Burns
- Back injuries
- Internal injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Wrist and hand injuries
- Bruises and lacerations
- Knee injuries
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Scars and facial injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Foot and ankle injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
Sometimes, car accidents can even result in the loss of limbs, rendering victims permanently disabled. You deserve to be properly compensated for what you’ve had to go through. Our Newport News car accident lawyers are compassionate and devoted to taking care of our clients’ needs first.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Newport News
Right after a car accident occurs, you may be in a state of shock and don’t know how to proceed. It’s important to know what to do in order to prevent the situation from getting worse.
First, stay at the scene of the accident—leaving can be considered a crime. Make sure you’re off the road and your car is in park and turned off. Check yourself for injuries—if your injuries aren’t serious, exchange insurance information with the other driver(s). Even if there are no apparent injuries, note that you may still be required to report the accident to the police, and we recommend that you always do so in order to be on the safe side.
If possible, you should try to obtain the following information at the accident scene:
- The names and contact information of drivers and passengers
- The other vehicle’s make, model, and year, as well as license plate number
- Photos of damage to your car and the other driver’s car
- The name of the other driver’s insurance company and their policy number
- The location of the accident
- The responding police officer’s name and badge number, if they’re at the scene
If you have been injured, it’s important to get to a hospital immediately to be evaluated. Once you’ve been treated, you should contact a lawyer to determine whether you have a personal injury case on your hands. Our car accident lawyers in Virginia offer consultations and can help you consider your next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions About Newport News Car Accident Claims
Who may be liable for a car accident in Newport News?
The at-fault driver is often responsible, but other parties may also be liable depending on how the crash happened. These can include an employer whose employee caused a collision while working, a vehicle or parts manufacturer, or a government entity responsible for unsafe road design or maintenance. Some crashes involve more than one liable party.
How long do you have to file a car accident lawsuit in Newport News?
Generally speaking, you have two years from the date of the accident to file. However, there are some exceptions, such as in wrongful death claims or if the accident involved minors or government vehicles. This is why it’s always important to hire a personal injury attorney with experience in car accident cases as soon as possible.
How much does a car accident lawyer in Newport News cost?
Huffman & Huffman handles injury claims on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay attorney fees until we win. Our firm receives an agreed-upon percentage of the compensation recovered for you.
How long will my Newport News car accident case take?
The timeline depends on factors such as the severity of your injuries, how long treatment takes, whether fault is disputed, and whether the insurance company offers a fair settlement. Some claims resolve in a few months, while more complicated cases can take a year or longer, especially if a lawsuit becomes necessary.
Will I need to go to court for my car accident case?
Most car accident claims are resolved through a settlement without going to trial. However, if the insurance company disputes fault or refuses to offer fair compensation, filing a lawsuit may be necessary. Even then, many cases settle before trial. Your attorney can advise you on whether taking your case to court makes sense.
Is Virginia a no-fault state?
Virginia is a fault-based state, meaning that the person who caused the accident is held liable for the total amount of the damages. However, you will still be required to prove the other driver was at fault, and because Virginia is also a “pure” contributory negligence state, if you are found partially responsible, you will likely lose your chance at a settlement.
Do I need an attorney for a minor car crash?
If you suffered no injuries and only minor property damage, then you may be able to handle a car accident claim on your own. However, if you suffered even minor injuries, you should consult a personal injury lawyer. These injuries can still affect your day-to-day life, and insurance companies often try to minimize payouts. A lawyer can build a strong claim that gives you the best chance to receive fair compensation.
Can I still file a claim for a car accident caused by a hit-and-run driver?
Virginia requires all drivers to carry uninsured motorist insurance, which means that so long as you hold this policy, you will usually be able to recover damages, even if the other driver is not identified. However, if your insurance company denies your uninsured motorist claim or fails to offer a fair settlement, you may still be able to file a claim against the insurance company to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Do you have a car accident lawyer near me in Newport News?
Yes. Our office in Newport News is located at 12284 Warwick Boulevard, near Christopher Newport University. Our team looks forward to meeting with you and discussing your case.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Newport News Car Accident Law Firm
As a personal injury law firm with over 50 years of experience in car accident cases, Huffman & Huffman has seen firsthand just how devastating they can be for survivors. You don’t have to go through the legal process alone. Our car accident attorneys have over 150 years of combined experience and understand the many traffic laws and procedural steps unique to the local Newport News and Virginia legal system, giving you the best chance of recovering compensation that accurately reflects the effects the accident has had on your life. Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation and learn about your legal options.
