Tag: Auto Accident Attorney Richmond

By David Noll, Managing Attorney, Cravens & Noll, P.C.

After a car accident in Virginia, most people assume the insurance process is straightforward. You file a claim, the insurance company reviews it, and you get paid what you deserve.

If only it worked that way.

The truth is, understanding what coverage is actually available to you is one of the most important things you can do before you sign anything or accept a single dollar. Virginia’s insurance laws have changed significantly in recent years, and the rules are not always in your favor.

Our team at Cravens & Noll has handled thousands of personal injury cases across Richmond, the Tri-Cities, and the Shenandoah Valley, and we have seen firsthand what happens when injured people navigate this process alone.

Here is what you need to know about the types of insurance coverage available for personal injury claims in Virginia, and why having an experienced accident attorney in your corner matters more than ever.

Virginia Now Requires Every Driver to Carry Insurance

For years, Virginia had a unique and frankly frustrating loophole: drivers could pay a $500 fee to the DMV and legally operate an uninsured vehicle. That option is gone. As of July 1, 2024, Virginia joined almost every other state in the country by requiring all registered vehicle owners to carry auto liability insurance. If you are caught driving without it, you face a $600 noncompliance fine, potential license suspension, and a requirement to carry an SR-22 certificate for three years.

This change is good news for accident victims, but it does not mean every driver on the road carries enough coverage to fully compensate you after a serious crash. That is where understanding the layers of available coverage becomes critical.

Required Coverage in Virginia: Updated 2025 Minimums

Virginia raised its minimum liability coverage requirements effective January 1, 2025. These are now the legal minimums every insured driver must carry:

• Bodily Injury (BI): $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident. This coverage, carried by the at-fault driver, pays for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages up to the policy limit. The old minimum was $25,000 per person, which is woefully inadequate for serious injuries. The new limits are a step in the right direction, but they still may not cover everything after a catastrophic crash.
• Property Damage (PD): $25,000 per accident. This covers damage to your vehicle and other property caused by the at-fault driver.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UM/UIMBI): Minimum limits of $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident, matching your BI limits. This coverage activates when the at-fault driver either has no insurance or does not have enough to cover your losses. Importantly, Virginia law changed the way UIM is calculated: it now pays in addition to the at-fault driver’s coverage rather than being reduced by it. That means more money available to seriously injured victims.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Property Damage (UM/UIMPD): Minimum limit of $25,000 per accident. This is the property damage equivalent of your UM/UIMBI coverage.

Keep in mind: these are floors, not ceilings. Many drivers still carry only the bare minimum, and medical bills from a serious accident in Virginia can easily exceed these numbers. The stronger your own uninsured/underinsured coverage, the better protected you are.

FR-44 Policies: Higher Requirements After a DUI Conviction

Drivers convicted of a DUI in Virginia are required to carry an FR-44 policy for a minimum of three years. These policies require double the standard minimum limits: $100,000 per person and $200,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $50,000 for property damage. If you were injured by a drunk driver, it is possible the at-fault driver carries higher limits than you might expect, which can affect how much compensation is ultimately available.

Optional Coverage That Can Make a Real Difference

Virginia law does not require drivers to carry every type of coverage. But the optional coverages below can be the difference between full recovery and a financial crisis after a serious accident:

• Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay): This pays your medical expenses regardless of fault, which means it applies even if you caused the accident. Limits typically range from $500 to $10,000. It can also cover funeral expenses in the event of a fatality. If you have MedPay on your own policy, you should access it, but do not let a hospital redirect the billing to your auto insurance in a way that drains these funds prematurely. Our team can help you protect these benefits.
• Comprehensive and Collision Coverage: These cover damage to your own vehicle, whether from a crash, theft, or another event. Both come with deductibles. If the at-fault driver’s property damage coverage is insufficient to cover your vehicle loss, your own collision coverage can step in after you pay your deductible.

What the Insurance Company Is Not Telling You

Here is something that does not appear in any insurance brochure: the adjuster calling to take your statement is not working for you. Their goal is to settle your claim quickly, at the lowest possible number, before you know the full cost of your injuries.

That check they offer early in the process looks appealing when bills are piling up. But once you sign a release, that is final, even if your condition worsens, even if you need surgery six months from now, even if you cannot return to work. The insurance company knows this. They are counting on you not knowing it.

Our job at Cravens & Noll is to slow that process down, get the complete picture, and make sure nothing is left behind. We calculate the real cost of your accident: not just the emergency room bill, but follow-up care, physical therapy, lost income, and the long-term impact on your life. Then we fight for that number, and the insurance companies know we are ready to take it to trial if negotiations fall short.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney in Richmond Before You Sign Anything

You do not have to figure out which coverage applies, which adjuster to call, or whether an offer is fair, all on your own. That is exactly what our team at Cravens & Noll is here for. We have spent decades in Virginia personal injury law, we know how these claims work, and we know when an insurance company is not being straight with you.

If you have been injured in an accident on I-95, in the Tri-Cities area, or anywhere in Central Virginia, contact our team for a free consultation. You will speak directly with an attorney, no intake coordinators, no runaround. There is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

At Cravens & Noll, we will be your lawyers for life.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the minimum auto insurance requirements in Virginia in 2025?

As of January 1, 2025, Virginia requires all drivers to carry at least $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage must match those limits. Virginia also eliminated the option to drive uninsured by paying a DMV fee, effective July 1, 2024.

What does uninsured motorist coverage pay for in Virginia?

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage pays for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages when the at-fault driver has no insurance. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage applies when the at-fault driver has insurance but not enough to cover the full cost of your injuries. Under Virginia’s updated law, UIM now pays in addition to whatever the at-fault driver’s policy covers.

Should I use MedPay or my health insurance after a car accident?

If you are hospitalized after a car accident, always use your health insurance first. Medical providers may ask you to assign your auto insurance benefits to them, but doing so can reduce the funds available for your overall personal injury recovery. Your MedPay benefits should remain accessible to you directly. Talk to an attorney before filling out any assignment of benefits forms at the hospital.

How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Virginia?

Virginia’s statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is two years from the date of the accident. Missing this deadline generally means losing your right to sue. It is important to contact an accident attorney well before that deadline, because building a strong case takes time.

Do I need a lawyer if the insurance company already made me an offer?

Yes, especially if you have significant injuries. An early settlement offer from an insurance company is almost always the minimum they believe they can settle for, not the full value of your claim. Once you accept and sign, the case is closed. A personal injury attorney can evaluate whether the offer is fair based on the true cost of your injuries, and negotiate for full compensation before anything is signed.

Cravens & Noll

At Cravens & Noll, an experienced Virginia law firm, we are Your Lawyers For Life and have protected and served the rights of over 30,000 people just like you throughout Virginia across 4 Decades in Business. This is why we have been voted one of The Best Law Firms and The Best Attorney in Richmond by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

We know that every legal case is always…personal. No matter what you are facing right now our attorneys will provide the solutions you need, at a reasonable price. Whether divorce, personal injury, criminal charges, or bankruptcy. We work hard to be your lawyers for life. That means giving your individual case the one-on-one attention and care it deserves.

Our team of trusted and local lawyers will never give false expectations about the potential outcome of your case. You can count on a realistic assessment of your case, in order for you to make a sound decision.

With offices in Richmond and Harrisonburg, we will assist you with dedicated and professional legal advice. In times like this, you need answers, stability, and confidence. Our calculated approach quickly evaluates and stabilizes your situation immediately to prepare you for the legal matters ahead. Our goal as your attorney is that you feel immediate relief from the moment you contact us. We can meet with you face-to-face, by video, by telephone, or together in our office.

Contact our Virginia attorneys today for a consultation. At your appointment, we will ease the burden on your shoulders and provide you with options on how to proceed.  Before taking a case, Cravens and Noll lawyers provide an initial consultation for clients.