General Information
Year founded:
1985
This is the year the firm (or its earliest predecessor entity) was founded.
Overview
Content is provided by the firm.
Our law firm is comprised of personal injury lawyers in Virginia Beach, Virginia and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The firm is dedicated to representing injured victims who had their lives turned upside down because of the carelessness and reckless actions of others. Our Virginia Beach personal injury lawyers have represented victims involved in on-the-job railroad accident, car accidents, truck wrecks, motorcycle accidents, faulty product injuries, medical malpractice and related wrongful death claims.
Our focus on becoming the very best Virginia personal injury lawyers possible is one of the reasons we were able to secure a record-setting jury verdict in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In October of 2000, our firm, with the assistance of co-counsel, obtained a record verdict for a brain injured victim in Virginia (60 million dollars, including interest). In January of 2012, the firm obtained a 21 Million Dollar structured settlement for a brain injured child who sustained her injury in a tractor trailer accident.
The attorneys with our Virginia Beach personal injury law firm possess the prestigious "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell lawyer rating service. In addition, the personal injury lawyers with our firm have been recognized as Virginia "Super Lawyers" (since 2010).
There are a small number of injury law firms that have actually been involved in car, truck, and motorcycle injury litigation in nearly every state along the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic U.S.A. We are part of that small number of highly experienced firm. For example, the firm has handled cases in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Washington D.C., South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Maryland, Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and beyond.
Our attorneys not only actively handle injury trials, but are active in national lawyer's organizations, such as the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and several other national and state organizations, which are a vital source of legal networking information for injury lawyers. The firm has offices throughout the Tidewater region of Virginia (including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk) and an office in the Outer Banks region of North Carolina (specifically Kitty Hawk). Our lawyers are licensed to practice law in multiple states, including VA, NC, SC, WV, FL, DC, and KY.
Our focus on becoming the very best Virginia personal injury lawyers possible is one of the reasons we were able to secure a record-setting jury verdict in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In October of 2000, our firm, with the assistance of co-counsel, obtained a record verdict for a brain injured victim in Virginia (60 million dollars, including interest). In January of 2012, the firm obtained a 21 Million Dollar structured settlement for a brain injured child who sustained her injury in a tractor trailer accident.
The attorneys with our Virginia Beach personal injury law firm possess the prestigious "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell lawyer rating service. In addition, the personal injury lawyers with our firm have been recognized as Virginia "Super Lawyers" (since 2010).
There are a small number of injury law firms that have actually been involved in car, truck, and motorcycle injury litigation in nearly every state along the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic U.S.A. We are part of that small number of highly experienced firm. For example, the firm has handled cases in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Washington D.C., South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Maryland, Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and beyond.
Our attorneys not only actively handle injury trials, but are active in national lawyer's organizations, such as the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and several other national and state organizations, which are a vital source of legal networking information for injury lawyers. The firm has offices throughout the Tidewater region of Virginia (including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk) and an office in the Outer Banks region of North Carolina (specifically Kitty Hawk). Our lawyers are licensed to practice law in multiple states, including VA, NC, SC, WV, FL, DC, and KY.
Rankings
Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, P.C. is metro ranked in 2 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.
Read how Best Law Firms ranks firmsMetro Rankings
Norfolk
Tier 1 for Railroad Law
Tier 2 for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
About Our Clients
Below are testimonials provided by some of our clients. To view more client feedback, take a look at this page on our firm's site.
"Our worst nightmare evolved when my father began having chest pains....Finally, the surgeon told us he had mesothelioma, a mean cruel cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. They also told us there were no survivors of this type of cancer.... My father had worked on the Railroad for over 36 years...I then asked a friend of mine if this was his father, what attorney would he use and he immediately said Rick Shapiro. He called Rick on his cell phone and explained our situation and handed me the phone. That connection to the law firm of Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton began a relationship of trust and a sense of confidence that we had not experienced before. Over the life of the case, which extended almost 5 years, Rick visited our home; he wanted to develop a personal relationship with the family so he could better understand our needs and where our strengths were. His continued drive and positive attitude kept us from ever getting to the point where we just gave up and decided to take whatever deal the railroad laid on the table. Never did I send an email or left a message in Rick's office that we did not get a speedy answer. The courtesy he extended to our family was unmatched by anyone in his profession."
-Name Omitted for Privacy
"I was injured in a car accident and needed legal representation. My stepfather recommended the Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton law firm and I am so glad he did. I met with attorney Randy Appleton and he was a professional throughout the process. My phone calls were returned promptly and Randy was always proactive about my case. Everyone at the firm, including Randy's legal assistant Becky, were so helpful.I truly appreciate the quality of legal representation I received from this firm. I would recommend them to friends and family who are in need of representation in their time of need after an accident."
-Sheree
"Emily and Jim worked tirelessly on my case. There were many difficulties with my case because the defendant driver could not be found. Despite those issues, Emily and Jim were able to settle my case for $225k. I would highly recommend family and friends to Emily or Jim."
Jane S.
"I worked with both Randy Appleton and Emily Brannon in my case. They were both very helpful. Emily was quick to respond to any and all questions that I had throughout my case. She stayed on top of things to get my case settled."
-Stacey M.
"Our worst nightmare evolved when my father began having chest pains....Finally, the surgeon told us he had mesothelioma, a mean cruel cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. They also told us there were no survivors of this type of cancer.... My father had worked on the Railroad for over 36 years...I then asked a friend of mine if this was his father, what attorney would he use and he immediately said Rick Shapiro. He called Rick on his cell phone and explained our situation and handed me the phone. That connection to the law firm of Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton began a relationship of trust and a sense of confidence that we had not experienced before. Over the life of the case, which extended almost 5 years, Rick visited our home; he wanted to develop a personal relationship with the family so he could better understand our needs and where our strengths were. His continued drive and positive attitude kept us from ever getting to the point where we just gave up and decided to take whatever deal the railroad laid on the table. Never did I send an email or left a message in Rick's office that we did not get a speedy answer. The courtesy he extended to our family was unmatched by anyone in his profession."
-Name Omitted for Privacy
"I was injured in a car accident and needed legal representation. My stepfather recommended the Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton law firm and I am so glad he did. I met with attorney Randy Appleton and he was a professional throughout the process. My phone calls were returned promptly and Randy was always proactive about my case. Everyone at the firm, including Randy's legal assistant Becky, were so helpful.I truly appreciate the quality of legal representation I received from this firm. I would recommend them to friends and family who are in need of representation in their time of need after an accident."
-Sheree
"Emily and Jim worked tirelessly on my case. There were many difficulties with my case because the defendant driver could not be found. Despite those issues, Emily and Jim were able to settle my case for $225k. I would highly recommend family and friends to Emily or Jim."
Jane S.
"I worked with both Randy Appleton and Emily Brannon in my case. They were both very helpful. Emily was quick to respond to any and all questions that I had throughout my case. She stayed on top of things to get my case settled."
-Stacey M.
Rankings
Regional Rankings
Norfolk
Tier 1 for Railroad Law
Tier 2 for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Practice Areas
The below are areas of legal specialty volunteered by the firm and do not designate a specialty in which a Best Law Firms ranking is held.
- Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
- Railroad Law
Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, P.C. has 2 lawyers recognized for individual performance in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in
America®.
By receiving this Best Lawyers recognition from their peers for their professional excellence, these lawyers made Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, P.C. eligible for evaluation for Best Law Firms rankings.
For almost two decades, Best Lawyers has awarded these singular accolades, making them the foundation of our Best Law Firms awards.
Read more about our Best Lawyers process here.
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Client Comments
All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
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Awards
Awards are self-reported by firms and are not verified by the Best Law Firms rankings.
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In 2001, one of the firm's attorneys (along with co-counsel) obtained a record-setting $46 million jury verdict in Manassas, Virginia Circuit Court against Norfolk Southern in a railroad derailment, brain injury to plaintiff case.
- In 2010, Rick Shapiro and co-counsel obtained an $8.6 million verdict in a Tennessee state court. A new trial on damages was ordered during 2015. The case was settled for a confidential sum.
- In 2012, firm attorney Randy Appleton negotiated a tractor trailer claim involving brain injury to a young girl that resulted in a $21 million annuity payout settlement, with a 5.5 M present value settlement.
- In 2015, firm attorney Rick Shapiro and co-counsel obtained a $2.5 million verdict in Norfolk Federal Court for a wrongful death claim of a man who burned to death while using a ride-on lawnmower. The verdict was affirmed on appeal.
- Virginia "Super Lawyers"
Main Location
Virginia Beach,
VA
4705 Columbus Street, Suite 304
Virginia Beach, VA 23464
United States
757-460-7776
Call our Virginia Beach, VA location at 757-460-7776
Get Directions
Get directions to our Virginia Beach, VA location