July 31, 2026
Cravens & Noll Named One of The Best Law Firms in Harrisonburg for 2026
We’re honored to share that Cravens & Noll has been named one of the Best Law Firms in Harrisonburg for 2026, as voted by readers in the Daily News Record’s Best of the Valley poll.
This recognition comes on the heels of being voted one of the Best Law Firms and Best Attorneys in Richmond by the Richmond Times-Dispatch last year, and it means just as much to us here in the Shenandoah Valley.
For over four decades, more than 30,000 Virginians have trusted our team with the moments that matter most: personal injury, family law, criminal defense, estate planning, and more. Whether you’re along I-81 in Harrisonburg or I-95 in Richmond, our promise stays the same. We’re not just your lawyer for one case. We’re your lawyers for life.
We would like to extend a well-deserved thank you to the paper and staff for sponsoring the “Best of the Valley” competition and the gala at Bluestone Vineyards. What a beautiful place to hold the event. Our staff had a wonderful time and enjoyed the food and the refreshments immensely. It was a special evening of revelry and meeting and making new friends. It was, simply put, a privilege to be there. This was something none of us will soon forget. The staff who organized the event deserve high praise indeed.
Thank you to the Harrisonburg community for this incredible honor. We couldn’t do what we do without you.
If you or a loved one needs legal guidance, our Harrisonburg team is ready to help. Reach out to Cravens & Noll today and let us be your lawyers for life.
Joe Thompson Cravens Is the President of Cravens & Noll, P.C. in Richmond where he practices in the areas of personal injury, criminal law, domestic relations and military law. Mr. Cravens received his B.A. degree from the University of Virginia and his J.D. degree from the College of William & Mary. Commissioned an officer in the United States Army, 1984, Commissioned a United States Army Judge Advocate (JAG) 1987. Veteran of “Operation Just Cause”, Panama, December 1989-February 1990. “Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm”, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait, August 1990 – May 1991.
He is a past adjunct professor at Nova University and has spoken on law of war to service members, pre-deployment and reservists. Mr. Cravens is a member of the Virginia State Bar, and the bars of the U.S. Court of Claims, the U.S. Court of Military Review, the U.S. Court of Military Appeals, the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, The American Association for Justice, the Richmond, Chesterfield/Colonial Heights, Henrico County, and American Bar Associations.
Mr. Cravens is a Life Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which is an organization of attorneys who have received verdicts or settlements in excess of $1,000,000.00. Less than 1% of all trial lawyers in America qualify for membership.
In 2023, Mr. Cravens was once again selected as a Top 100 National Trial Lawyer in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
May 14, 2026
Injured in a Truck or Car Accident on I-81 Near Harrisonburg? Here Is What You Need to Know
By Bethany Rishell Attorney | Cravens & Noll, P.C.
If you live in or around Harrisonburg, you already know that Interstate 81 is not just a highway. It is part of your daily life. Whether you are commuting to work, heading to campus at JMU, or running errands in Rockingham County, chances are you are merging onto I-81 on a regular basis.
But I-81 isn’t like most highways. It carries an unusually heavy volume of tractor-trailers, far more than many other roads in Virginia, and that constant mix of passenger vehicles and freight traffic changes how it feels to drive. Add in the hills, curves, and congestion, and it’s no surprise that crashes, especially involving large trucks, are something many local drivers have seen firsthand. As a personal injury attorney in Harrisonburg who has handled accident cases across the Shenandoah Valley for years, I want to share a few things I wish more people understood before they ever call a lawyer.
Why I-81 Accidents Are Different
Here is something that surprises a lot of people: roughly 41% of all trucking traffic in Virginia travels on I-81 according to VDOT. That is more than I-95 through Northern Virginia and more than I-66. The highway was designed in the 1950s for far less traffic, and the rolling terrain of the Shenandoah Valley makes it even harder for semi-trucks to maintain consistent speeds on the hills between Staunton and Harrisonburg.
The result is a fatal accident rate on I-81 that is nearly double that of other Virginia interstates. We see multi-vehicle pileups, rear-end collisions at exit ramps, and jackknife trucks in bad weather far too often. When a fully loaded tractor-trailer hits a passenger vehicle, the injuries are almost always severe.
If you or a family member has been hurt in a truck accident or car accident near Harrisonburg, the legal situation is more complicated than a typical fender bender. Trucking companies have their own lawyers and insurance teams working the moment a wreck happens. You should have someone in your corner just as quickly.
The Insurance Company Is Not Looking Out for You
I cannot tell you how many times a new client has come into our Harrisonburg office after already receiving a settlement offer in the mail. Usually, it arrives within days of the accident, before the person even knows the full extent of their injuries. It looks like help. It feels like a relief. But it is almost always the bare minimum the insurance company thinks they can get away with.
Insurance adjusters are trained to sound sympathetic, but remember, their job is to close your file quickly and cheaply. Once you accept that check, it is final. Even if new injuries surface weeks later, your physical therapy stretches on longer than expected, or you find out you cannot return to work at all. That signed agreement does not reopen.
Our approach at Cravens & Noll is simple. We help our clients slow down, get the full picture, and make sure nothing is left on the table. We look beyond the accident report. We dig into what this injury means for your life, your ability to work, your family, and your long-term health. And we handle communication with the insurance company so you are not pressured into a decision before you are ready.
What to Do After an Accident on I-81
If you are involved in a crash on I-81 or anywhere in the Harrisonburg area, here are the steps that matter most in the days that follow.
- Get medical care right away, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline can mask pain for hours or even days. Some of the most serious injuries from vehicle accidents, including soft tissue damage, concussions, and internal bleeding, do not show symptoms immediately. A medical record from that first visit also becomes important evidence later.
- Document everything. Photos of vehicles, the road, your injuries. Names of witnesses. Notes on how you feel each day. These details fade fast, and they matter when building a personal injury claim.
- Be careful with insurance statements. You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Anything you say can and will be used to reduce your compensation. Talk to an accident attorney in Harrisonburg before you talk to them.
And remember, Virginia’s statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is two years. That may sound like a long time, but building a strong case takes time, and waiting too long can cost you.
Why a Local Personal Injury Law Firm Matters in Harrisonburg
Truck accident litigation in Harrisonburg is not the same as handling a case in Richmond or Northern Virginia. The courts are different. The judges are different. The roads are different. I-81 through the Shenandoah Valley has specific hazards, from steep grades near Staunton to congested merges around Route 33 and Exit 247, that someone unfamiliar with this area simply will not understand the way a local attorney does.
At Cravens & Noll, we have been part of the Harrisonburg community for years. Our firm was founded in 1995, and we have been serving the people of the Shenandoah Valley for years. We know the local courts. We know the roads. And we know what it takes to stand up to large trucking companies and their insurance teams on behalf of Valley families.
If you have been hurt in a vehicle accident on I-81 or anywhere in the Harrisonburg area, we are here to help.
Questions? Schedule Your Consultation with Bethany Rishell, Today! Phone: 540-246-0684
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.
