Richmond · Personal Injury Guide
Virginia is one of only a handful of states where being even one percent at fault can end your case entirely, so choosing a Richmond personal injury lawyer starts with the state bar record and the rule that decides if you have a claim at all, not with who advertises hardest. We compared three personal injury attorneys serving Richmond on their Virginia State Bar standing, the case types they actually list, published fee terms, and verified client reviews, then set out who each one fits and where each one falls short.
DJA Editorial · Legal Directory Research
Checked against state bar licensee records, court sources and public review platforms · Last updated September 2026
The short answer
Three firms, each built for a different kind of Richmond injury claim. This is a shortlist rather than a ranking, and the firm in the featured slot is not the one with the largest review base.
1
Wind Injury Law, LLCFeatured
Best for a catastrophic injury or wrongful death claim
2
Latham & Martin Accident and Injury Attorneys
Best for a bilingual client who wants the attorney on the phone
3
Silverman Law Firm LC
Best for a medical malpractice or nursing home claim
At a glance: Personal Injury Attorneys in Richmond, compared
| Firm |
Best for |
Focus |
Bar record |
Fees |
Rating |
| Wind Injury Law, LLC |
Best for a catastrophic injury or wrongful death claim |
Car, truck, wrongful death, catastrophic injury |
Ryan E. Wind, Virginia 2009 |
Contingency, free consultation |
5.0 · 265 Google Reviews |
| Latham & Martin Accident and Injury Attorneys |
Best for a bilingual client who wants the attorney on the phone |
Car, truck, motorcycle, catastrophic injury |
Wiley J. Latham IV, Virginia 2011 |
Contingency, free consultation |
4.9 · 182 Google Reviews |
| Silverman Law Firm LC |
Best for a medical malpractice or nursing home claim |
Medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, auto injury |
Joshua D. Silverman, Virginia 1998 |
Contingency, free case review |
4.8 · 55 Google Reviews |
Personal Injury in Richmond: the local picture
33% to 40%
What representation costs here
Virginia does not cap contingency fees. The common structure among Richmond injury firms is about a third of any recovery if the case settles before a lawsuit is filed, rising to around 40% once litigation starts, with case costs such as medical records and filing fees deducted separately. None of the three firms below publishes its percentage, so get both numbers, and the cost policy, in writing before signing.
2 years, and any fault at all
The rule that decides if you have a case
You generally have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit in Virginia, or the case is barred. Virginia also follows pure contributory negligence: if you are found even slightly at fault, you can recover nothing at all, unlike most neighboring states that only reduce your award. That makes what you say to an insurance adjuster in the first phone call matter more here than almost anywhere else.
$5,000
If you cannot afford any firm on this page
All three firms below work on contingency, so cost is not why a Richmond resident goes without a personal injury lawyer. For a minor claim, Virginia’s small claims division handles disputes up to $5,000 with no attorney required, and a fee waiver, Form CC-1414, is available for those who qualify. Central Virginia Legal Aid Society does not take injury cases at all, since a private attorney can already take them on contingency, and the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service offers a $35, thirty minute consultation with a different attorney for a second opinion.
What clients in Richmond say: Reading the visible reviews across all three firms, the praise rarely mentions courtroom strategy. It centers on whether someone called back and kept the client informed, with reviewers naming attorneys and staff directly rather than praising a firm in the abstract. None of the three carries a substantial negative review on the platforms we could read this run, though the readable text behind each firm’s aggregate rating is thin relative to the total review count, so treat each average as a starting point rather than the full picture.
How we chose these Personal Injury Attorneys in Richmond
We looked at firms handling personal injury claims for Richmond clients, then compared them on things a reader can check independently: the Virginia State Bar standing of the named attorney, the practice areas the firm actually lists rather than the ones it advertises most, whether it publishes its fee structure, the offices it staffs in the Richmond area, and the visible client reviews on Google and Facebook.
Firm details come from each firm’s own site, cross-checked against Avvo and Birdeye aggregated review data. This run could not reach the Virginia State Bar’s own member lookup directly, so the bar admission years below come from Avvo’s attorney profiles, which state they draw on bar records, and are flagged for the reader to reconfirm directly with the Virginia State Bar before hiring. No case result or recovery figure appears here unless the firm publishes it itself, in which case it is labeled as the firm’s own figure.
1. Wind Injury Law, LLCFeatured
Best for a catastrophic injury or wrongful death claim
★★★★★ 5.0 / 5 · Google, aggregated via Birdeye · 265 reviews
The firm to call if the case could turn into one of the larger claims on this list. Founder Ryan Wind practiced for more than a decade at other firms before opening Wind Injury Law, LLC in 2023, and the firm now runs seven Virginia offices reaching well past Richmond, from Roanoke to the Northern Neck. If you are looking for a Richmond personal injury lawyer prepared for a catastrophic injury or wrongful death claim that could require serious trial resources, this is the firm on the list built around that kind of case, though it is worth asking which office and attorney would actually handle your file day to day.
Identity and footprint
Richmond office5400-D Glenside Dr, Richmond, VA 23228, United States
Phone(804) 773-3815
Founder and managing partnerRyan E. Wind
Other named attorneyKevin T. Hadden
Other Virginia officesRoanoke, Tappahannock, Mechanicsville, South Hill, Farmville, and Southampton, seven offices in all
Practice and scope
Core workPersonal injury including car, truck, motorcycle, and bicycle accidents, slip and fall, premises liability, construction accidents, and wrongful death
Firm historyRyan Wind practiced at other firms for over a decade before founding Wind Injury Law in 2023
Published resultsThe firm states over $100 million recovered for clients, including an $8.25 million premises liability verdict, a $5 million medical malpractice result, and a $3.75 million wrongful death result. These are the firm’s own figures.
Credentials and licensing
Bar admissionRyan E. Wind, Virginia, admitted 2009
Law schoolUniversity of Richmond School of Law, J.D. 2009, magna cum laude
Federal court admissionU.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia
Bar associationsVirginia Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice, Southern Trial Lawyers Association, Richmond Bar Association, and three other regional bar associations
Public disciplineAvvo lists no misconduct found; not independently confirmed against the Virginia State Bar this run
Fees and consultation
StructureContingency, the firm states no upfront fees or out of pocket costs
ConsultationFree initial consultation
What clients say
✓ Patient and professional guidance
✓ Returning, repeat client
· Large review count, little visible detail
The one fully readable review describes Wind and his team as patient, kind, and professional through a second case for the same family, calling out attentiveness beyond a typical transaction. With 286 reviews aggregated on Birdeye but only that one visible in full this run, the five star average is real but largely unreadable, so this theme rests on a small sample of visible text rather than the full base.
Why they fit Richmond: The clearest fit here for a catastrophic injury or wrongful death claim that could go the distance, backed by the firm’s largest reported figures and the deepest visible review count of the three. The honest trade off is reach versus locality: seven offices spread from Roanoke to the Northern Neck means Richmond is one stop among several, and the site does not say which attorney handles which office’s caseload, so ask directly who would be assigned to you and where they are actually based.
2. Latham & Martin Accident and Injury Attorneys
Best for a bilingual client who wants the attorney on the phone
★★★★½ 4.9 / 5 · Google, aggregated via Birdeye · 182 reviews
The pick for a bilingual household or anyone who wants the attorney rather than a case manager on the phone. Latham & Martin runs English and Spanish service across its Richmond, Chester, and Ashland offices, and the firm says clients deal directly with an attorney rather than being routed through paralegals. Wiley Latham has argued before the Virginia Supreme Court, and the firm reports fifteen years of combined injury practice among its three named attorneys. As a Richmond car accident attorney option, it fits a client who wants direct contact and Spanish language service, though the firm’s largest verdict claims are its own account and were not independently confirmed against a public court record this run.
Identity and footprint
Richmond office100 W Franklin St., Suite 401, Richmond, VA 23220
Phone(804) 821-0090
Other Virginia officesChester, by appointment, and Ashland
Named attorneysWiley Latham, Kelly Martin, and Eric Speer
LanguagesEnglish and Spanish (firm site)
Practice and scope
Core workCar, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, bicycle, boat, and bus accidents, catastrophic injury, child injury, dog bites, negligent security, premises liability, product liability, slip and fall, workplace injury, and wrongful death
Client accessThe firm states clients have direct access to attorneys rather than being routed through paralegals
Published resultsThe firm states over $90 million recovered since 2010, with its attorneys reporting fifteen or more combined years of personal injury practice. These are the firm’s own figures.
Credentials and licensing
Bar admissionWiley J. Latham IV, Virginia, admitted 2011
Law schoolRegent University School of Law
RecognitionVirginia Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2016 to 2021, and the firm’s site describes Latham as co-counsel on what it calls Virginia’s largest trial verdict in 2020
Bar associationsVirginia Trial Lawyers Association, Richmond Bar Association, Henrico County Bar Association, Hill Tucker Bar Association, American Association for Justice, and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Fees and consultation
StructureContingency, the firm states no fee if there is no recovery
ConsultationFree, no obligation consultation
What clients say
✓ Attorney described as hands on and aggressive
✓ Direct attorney access noted by name
· Large review count, little visible detail
The one fully readable review credits Wiley Latham personally, calling him smart and aggressive and someone who works tirelessly for results, consistent with the firm’s direct access claim. As with the other high volume listings here, only a small slice of the 182 aggregated reviews is readable in full this run, so this reflects one strong account rather than a pattern we could verify across the whole base.
Why they fit Richmond: The strongest option for a bilingual client or anyone who wants an attorney, not a case manager, as the regular point of contact, helped by three named attorneys spread across three area offices. The caveat is that the firm’s largest claimed results, including its account of co-counseling Virginia’s largest trial verdict of 2020, are the firm’s own account, and this run could not independently verify them against a public court record, so ask for the case citation if that history matters to your decision.
3. Silverman Law Firm LC
Best for a medical malpractice or nursing home claim
★★★★½ 4.8 / 5 · Facebook and Google, aggregated via Birdeye · 76 reviews
The firm to call when the injury came from a hospital, a nursing home, or a pharmacy rather than a crash. Joshua Silverman has practiced in Richmond since 1998 and sits on the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association’s Board of Governors, and Silverman Law Firm is the only one of the three that lists medical malpractice, pharmacy malpractice, and nursing home abuse as standing practice areas rather than folding them into a general injury page. As a Richmond medical malpractice and injury attorney choice, it is the narrowest and most experienced practice on this list, though it also carries the smallest visible review count of the three, so read the individual reviews rather than the average.
Identity and footprint
Richmond office3415 Floyd Ave, Richmond, VA 23221
Phone(804) 325-4992
FounderJoshua D. Silverman
Other named attorneysTatiana Bailey, and Tom Williamson as of counsel
Practice and scope
Core workPersonal injury concentrated in medical malpractice, including surgical errors, medication errors, and misdiagnosis, plus pharmacy malpractice, nursing home abuse, auto and truck accidents, product liability, bicycle and motorcycle accidents, premises liability, and wrongful death
Practice concentrationThe only one of the three firms on this page that lists medical malpractice and nursing home abuse as standing practice areas rather than a subset of general injury work
Published resultsThe firm states a $1.35 million wrongful death settlement, an $800,000 auto accident settlement, a $200,000 auto accident settlement, and a $125,000 hit and run settlement. These are the firm’s own figures.
Credentials and licensing
Bar admissionJoshua D. Silverman, Virginia, admitted 1998
Law schoolCase Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D. 1998 (Avvo, firm site)
RecognitionVirginia Super Lawyer every year since 2013, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a 10.0 Avvo rating, and Pro Bono Honor Roll membership for 2023 to 2024
Bar associationsVirginia Trial Lawyers Association Board of Governors since 2004, the American Association for Justice Nursing Home Litigation Group, and the American Bar Association
Public disciplineAvvo lists no misconduct found; not independently confirmed against the Virginia State Bar this run
Fees and consultation
StructureContingency, the firm states clients pay nothing unless it wins
ConsultationFree initial case review
What clients say
✓ Clients kept informed throughout the case
✓ Attorney personally available
· Smallest review count of the three firms
Across the handful of reviews we could read on Facebook, the recurring point is communication: clients name Silverman and staff directly and describe being kept informed rather than left to wonder about their case, with one account of a settlement that came in above expectations. At 76 aggregated reviews, the base is real but noticeably smaller than the other two firms on this page, worth factoring in alongside the rating itself.
Why they fit Richmond: The right call when the claim involves a hospital, a pharmacy, or a nursing home rather than a straightforward crash, given Joshua Silverman’s concentration, built over more than two decades, in medical malpractice and nursing home litigation specifically. The trade off is scale: with three attorneys total and the smallest aggregated review count of the three firms on this page, ask directly who would staff a case that turns out to need heavy litigation rather than a quick settlement.
What to check before hiring a Personal Injury Attorney in Richmond
✓ Look up the bar record yourself
None of these three firms publishes bar numbers on its own site. This run relied on Avvo’s attorney profiles for admission years because the Virginia State Bar’s own member lookup could not be reached directly, so treat those years as a starting point and confirm bar number, status, and any discipline yourself before hiring.
✓ Get both contingency percentages in writing
The common range among Richmond injury firms is about a third of any recovery before a lawsuit is filed and around 40% once one is filed. None of the three firms here publishes its percentage, so ask for both numbers, whether the rate rises again at trial, and whether it is calculated before or after case costs come out.
✓ Ask who advances case costs and what you owe if you lose
Filing fees, medical records, and outside opinions from doctors or investigators are separate from the attorney’s percentage and are usually advanced by the firm and reimbursed from the settlement. Ask what happens to those advanced costs if there is no recovery, since firms answer this differently and it is rarely on the website.
✓ Understand contributory negligence before you talk to an insurer
Virginia is one of a small number of states where being found even slightly at fault bars you from recovering anything. Do not speculate about fault, sign a recorded statement, or guess at how the crash happened when an adjuster calls, and let your attorney handle that conversation instead.
✓ Confirm which office and attorney would actually handle your file
Two of the three firms here run multiple Virginia offices. Ask by name which attorney would be assigned to your case, where that attorney is based, and who takes over if the case has to go to trial rather than settle.
✓ Know the two-year deadline and what can change it
Most Virginia personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the crash. Minors, periods of legal incapacity, and time the at-fault party spends outside Virginia can affect that clock, and a claim against a government vehicle or employee carries a much shorter notice deadline, so raise this at the first call.
Personal Injury Attorneys in Richmond: frequently asked questions
How much does a personal injury attorney cost in Richmond, Virginia?
Nothing upfront. All three firms on this page work on contingency, and Virginia does not cap the percentage. The common structure is about a third of the recovery if the case settles before a lawsuit and around 40% once one is filed, with case costs deducted separately. None of the three publishes its percentage, so ask for both figures and the cost policy in writing.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Virginia?
Generally two years from the date of the crash for most personal injury claims. Minors and people under a legal incapacity can get more time, and a claim against a government vehicle or employee follows a much shorter notice deadline than the ordinary two years, so confirm yours early rather than assuming the general rule applies.
What if I was partly at fault for the accident?
Virginia follows pure contributory negligence, one of only a few states left that use it. If you are found even one percent at fault, you can recover nothing from the other driver, regardless of how much more at fault they were. The defendant has to prove your fault caused the injury, and a few narrow exceptions exist, but the practical lesson is to be careful what you say to any insurance adjuster before you have talked to an attorney.
Is my claim too small to need a lawyer?
Possibly. Virginia’s small claims division handles disputes up to $5,000 with no attorney required and a simplified process. Filing fees vary by court, and Form CC-1414 lets a qualifying filer ask the court to waive them. On a clear, minor property damage claim, that route may cost less than hiring a contingency attorney would.
Can I get help if I cannot afford any of the firms on this page?
All three already work on contingency, so cost by itself should not keep you from hiring one. Central Virginia Legal Aid Society does not take personal injury cases at all, since a private attorney can already take them for free upfront through a contingency fee. For a second opinion, the Virginia Lawyer Referral Service connects callers with a different panel attorney for a $35, thirty minute consultation.
DJA Editorial
Legal Directory Research
Compiles Distinguished Justice Advocates city guides from state bar licensee records, court and statute sources, and publicly visible client reviews. Firms appear as a shortlist rather than a ranking. Figures a firm publishes about itself are labeled as such, and anything that could not be verified is flagged on the page rather than estimated.
