Richard Neal Shapiro

Top-Rated Personal Injury Lawyer Serving Clients in Virginia, North Carolina

40 years of experience

District of Columbia, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia

Richard Neal (Rick) Shapiro takes great pride in his work as a trial attorney and has practiced Plaintiff’s personal injury law for over three decades in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States.
He has dedicated his career to standing up for the “little guy” against big corporations, insurance companies, and government entities that attempt to use their vast resources and trove of defense lawyers to deny or fight legitimate claims.

Rick Shapiro has more than 38 years total experience, and only handles personal injury law. He was named a 2022 Leader in the Law by Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly, and he has won client appeals before the VA, NC, SC, WV & TN Supreme Courts, and 3 times in the US Court of Appeals.

In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements & verdicts in excess of 100 million dollars. Board Certified in Civil Trials (NBTA).

He has been invited to write scholarly articles on various legal issues at the request of the AAJ, VTLA, Georgia TLA, as well as to Virginia lawyers, and has been an invited speaker at national trial attorney seminars. Rick was elected chair of the Railroad Law section of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) twice (2013-2014 and 2005-2006).

In September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S.

Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.

Rick is also an American inventor and product designer (18 U.S. patents) and an Amazon best-selling thriller author.

To see Google reviews and client testimonials, click over to our law firm website.

Personal Injury
Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
Medical Malpractice
Birth Injury, Medical Misdiagnosis, Pharmacy Errors, Surgical Errors
Products Liability
Drugs & Medical Devices, Motor Vehicle Defects, Toxic Torts
Asbestos & Mesothelioma

Video Conferencing FaceTime Skype Zoom WebEx
Fees
  • Free Consultation
  • Contingent Fees
District of Columbia
Since 1996
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Languages

  • English:
    Spoken, Written

Shareholder
Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp
1993 –

Current

Boutique law firm focused exclusively on plaintiff’s personal injury law.
Secretary and Newsletter Editor
Railroad Law Section of the American Association of Justice
2011 –

2012

George Mason University School of Law
J.D. | Law
1981


1984

Honors: Graduated with Distinction
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One of the Best Lawyers in America for Railroad Worker Injury (FELA) Law
Best Lawyers in America
2022
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. The process is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
Virginia “Super Lawyer” for Personal Injury Law
Law & Politics Magazine
2022
Prestigious accolade that less than five percent of practicing attorneys ever attain.
“AV” Preeminent Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
2022
10.0 Superb Rating
Avvo
2022
The Avvo rating is calculated using information collected from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals, along with peer reviews and client reviews.
Lawyer of the Year
U.S. News & World Report
2019
Rick was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area). This is a highly prestigious accolade that is based on independent, peer review ratings.

Named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Virginia
Association of Trial Lawyers in America
2015
Who’s Who in American Law
Marquis Who’s Who In American Law
2009

Legal Examiner

Contributor
2008 –
Current
Activities: Write and edit in-depth articles and blogs concerning legal issues related to personal injury and wrongful death law.
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Virginia Trial Lawyers Association

Member
1998 –
Current
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American Association for Justice

Member & Formar Chair of the Railroad Section
1997 –
Current
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West Virginia State Bar

Member
1996 –
Current
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Virginia State Bar

Member
1984 –
Current
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Articles & Publications
Do’s & Don’ts When Injured at a Railroad – Your FELA Rights
The Law Firm of Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis, & Appleton, P.C.
Eyes on the Road: Common Factors Leading to Distracted Driving
The Law Firm of Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis, & Appleton, P.C.
Railroad Health & Safety; a Litigator’s Guide
72 Am. Jur. Trials, p.1 (West)
Preserving Survival Damages – When Your Case Morphs Into a Wrongful Death Action,
The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
2019
Using Medical Evidence to Maximize Personal Injury Case Damages
The Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
2009
Websites & Blogs

Website
Website
Blog
Virginia Beach Personal Injury Lawyer

Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp
Virginia Beach, VA Office
4705 Columbus Street
Suite 304
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
US
Toll-Free: (833) 997-1774
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours (Today)
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp
Norfolk, VA Office
440 Monticello Ave
Suite 1800-1
Norfolk, VA 23510
US
Toll-Free: (833) 997-1774
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours (Today)
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp
Hampton, VA Office
101 Eaton Street
Suite A
Hampton, VA 23669
US
Toll-Free: (833) 997-1774
Telephone: (757) 304-6565
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours (Today)
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp
Suffolk, VA Office
434 North Main Street
Suite A
Suffolk, VA 23434
US
Toll-Free: (833) 997-1774
Telephone: (757) 304-6648
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours (Today)
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp
Portsmouth, VA Office
355 Crawford Street
Seventh Floor
Portsmouth, VA 23704
US
Toll-Free: (833) 997-1774
Telephone: (757) 304-6639
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours (Today)
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp
Kitty Hawk, NC
8 Juniper Trail
Suite 7
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
US
Toll-Free: (252) 263-3438
Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours (Today)
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Free Consultation
Richard Neal Shapiro

(833) 997-1774