Virginia Workers' Compensation Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced Virginia workers' comp attorneys who handle claims before the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission.

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Matched with a Virginia attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Virginia workers' compensation case review

A Virginia attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

How we match your Virginia workers' compensation case

When you submit a Virginia workers' compensation matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A workers' compensation matter needs someone who handles workers' compensation work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Virginia law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Virginia who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with a workers' compensation claim in Virginia

Day 0
You’re hurt at work.
Report it to your employer in writing and get medical care. In Virginia, the report and the first medical visit are the two things every comp claim is built on.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Virginia workers' compensation attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Weeks 1–4
The claim is filed and documented.
Incident report, medical records, wage history, and the insurer’s acceptance or denial. Your attorney handles the forms and the follow-ups.
Months 1–6
Benefits, and pushback.
Wage-loss and medical benefits should start; insurers routinely dispute treatment or ratings. Your attorney contests denials and independent medical exams.
Before the 2-year deadline
Hearing or petition if needed.
Virginia gives 2 years from the date it happened. Filing keeps your leverage; missing it ends the claim.
Resolution
Award or settlement.
You pay nothing along the way. The fee — typically 25% — comes only out of what’s recovered. If nothing is recovered, you owe nothing.

Governing Statute: Workers' Comp Act
Virginia Workers' Compensation Act, Va. Code § 65.2-100 et seq.
Agency: Workers' Compensation
Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission
Notice of Injury: 30 days
30 days to notify the employer (Va. Code § 65.2-600)
Statute of Limitations: 2 years
2 years from injury (Va. Code § 65.2-601)
Attorney Fee Cap: 25%
25% of recovery, subject to Commission approval (Va. Code § 65.2-714)
Typical attorney fee: 25%
25% contingency — no fee unless you win

Virginia's Workers' Compensation Act (Va. Code § 65.2-100 et seq.) is administered by the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission. TTD pays 66 2/3% of AWW under Va. Code § 65.2-500. The employer provides a panel of three physicians from which the worker selects the treating physician under § 65.2-603. Attorney fees are capped at 25% of recovery under Va. Code § 65.2-714, subject to Commission approval. Virginia's 'positional risk' rule and its strict 'arising out of employment' analysis under § 65.2-101 create unique causation challenges — particularly for slip-and-fall and assault cases. Newport News Shipbuilding workers fall under federal LHWCA. Northern Virginia federal-contractor work often invokes the Defense Base Act (DBA, 42 U.S.C. § 1651) and FECA. Coal-mining in southwest Virginia includes pneumoconiosis claims. An experienced Virginia attorney secures the right classification, navigates the panel-of-three, and preserves third-party claims.

Exhibit B

When to call a workers' compensation attorney in Virginia

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

Exhibit C

Workers' Compensation cases we take in Virginia

Which one is closest to yours?

Shipbuilding and shipyard injuries

Newport News Shipbuilding (HII) workers typically fall under federal LHWCA. Welding, fall, and crush injuries with federal benefits substantially higher than state comp.

Sound like yours? A Virginia attorney reviews it free — no fee unless they win.

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Exhibit D

How much do Virginia workers' compensation attorneys cost?

Sample settlement statement

Virginia · Workers' Compensation

Recovery$100,000

Attorney fee · 25%− $25,000

Case costs (advanced by firm)repaid at the end

To you$75,000

Due today$0

Try a different recovery$100,000

$5,000$3,000,000

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Most Virginia workers' compensation attorneys work on contingency: the fee is a share of what they recover, and nothing if they don’t.

Virginia caps workers' comp attorney fees at 25% of recovery under Va. Code § 65.2-714, subject to Commission approval. LHWCA fees on Newport News Shipbuilding claims and DBA fees on federal-contractor claims may be employer-paid. Third-party tort claims (motor vehicle, product liability, contractor) run outside the comp system on standard 33%–40% personal-injury contingency.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your Virginia workers' compensation compensation can include

A Virginia workers' compensation recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Medical Benefits

Reasonable and necessary medical treatment under Va. Code § 65.2-603, including lifetime medical for the compensable injury.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

Virginia workers' compensation questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Virginia attorney will review it for free.

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Notice within 30 days under Va. Code § 65.2-600. The Claim for Benefits must be filed within 2 years of injury under § 65.2-601. Occupational disease has separate timing rules under § 65.2-406.

The employer provides a panel of three physicians under Va. Code § 65.2-603, from which the worker selects the treating physician. Going outside the panel without authorization typically means the bills aren't covered.

Virginia caps workers' comp attorney fees at 25% of recovery under Va. Code § 65.2-714, subject to Commission approval. Third-party tort claims run on standard 33%–40% contingency outside the comp system.

Generally no — exclusive remedy under Va. Code § 65.2-307. Narrow intentional-injury exception. Third-party claims against non-employers (equipment makers, contractors, negligent drivers) are not barred.

Newport News Shipbuilding and Hampton Roads harbor workers fall under federal LHWCA. Defense Base Act covers contractors on US military bases overseas — including many Northern Virginia–based contractors. Federal employees fall under FECA. Classification is critical because federal benefits substantially exceed state comp.

Virginia applies a stricter 'arising out of and in the course of employment' analysis under Va. Code § 65.2-101 than many states — particularly hostile to 'idiopathic' falls and unexplained accidents. The employer's defense often hinges on this analysis.

Medical treatment, TTD at 66 2/3% of AWW (capped), permanent partial disability under § 65.2-503 (scheduled benefits), permanent total disability under § 65.2-500(C), and death benefits — with a 500-week aggregate cap on most weekly compensation.

Workers' Compensation attorneys by city in Virginia

Same Virginia rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.

Other case types in Virginia

All Virginia practice areas →

Animal Incident attorneysVirginia follows the "one-bite" rule — and contributory negligence can bar recovery if you’re found to have provoked the animal at all.

Business Dispute attorneysVirginia enforces reasonable non-competes — though state law restricts enforcement against low-wage workers, and everyone else gets a reasonableness test.

Car Accident attorneysVA’s pure contributory negligence rule can bar your claim if you’re even 1% at fault — arguing the other side had the "last clear chance" to avoid the accident is one of the few workarounds.

Consumer Protection attorneysThe VA Consumer Protection Act covers a list of prohibited practices and allows triple damages plus attorney fees for willful violations.

Criminal Defense attorneysVirginia’s 2020–2021 reforms ended mandatory minimums for many drug offenses, restored parole for some inmates, and adjusted marijuana law — counsel knows what changed.

Defective Product attorneysVirginia doesn’t recognize strict products liability — claims proceed under negligence, breach of warranty, or misrepresentation theories.

Employment attorneysVirginia is right-to-work and at-will — but the 2020 Virginia Values Act added meaningful state-law discrimination protections.

Family Law attorneysVirginia is an equitable-distribution state — and a 6-month or 1-year separation period (depending on whether you have children) gates no-fault divorce.

Immigration attorneysVirginia has immigration courts in Arlington and Sterling — Arlington handles one of the highest case volumes in the country.

Lemon Law attorneysVirginia’s lemon law covers new vehicles within 18 months — and the manufacturer pays your attorney fees if you win.

Medical Malpractice attorneysVirginia caps med-mal damages on a sliding scale — the cap rises every year and is one of the few total-damages caps in the country.

Personal Injury attorneysA two-year filing deadline plus pure contributory negligence bars many VA injury claims that would survive in the comparative-fault states next door.

Slip and Fall attorneysVA premises liability is plaintiff-unfriendly — contributory negligence and "open and obvious" defenses bar a wide range of claims.

Social Security Disability attorneysVA disability hearing offices in Roanoke, Norfolk, and Falls Church process moderate volumes — Fourth Circuit federal precedent shapes review.

Virginia Workers' Compensation Attorneys

How we match your Virginia workers' compensation case

Case type

Size and complexity

Jurisdiction and licensing

Capacity and fit

What happens with a workers' compensation claim in Virginia

You’re hurt at work.

Tell us what happened.

The claim is filed and documented.

Benefits, and pushback.

Hearing or petition if needed.

Award or settlement.

When to call a workers' compensation attorney in Virginia

Workers' Compensation cases we take in Virginia

Shipbuilding and shipyard injuries

Federal contractor and DBA injuries

Federal employee injuries (FECA)

Coal mining and pneumoconiosis injuries

Construction site injuries

Trucking and transportation injuries

Logistics and warehouse injuries

Healthcare worker injuries

Manufacturing injuries

Slip-and-fall on the job

Back and spine injuries

Third-party injury claims

How much do Virginia workers' compensation attorneys cost?

What your Virginia workers' compensation compensation can include

Medical Benefits

Temporary Total Disability (TTD)

Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)

Permanent Total Disability (PTD)

Death Benefits

Vocational Rehabilitation

Virginia workers' compensation questions, answered

Workers' Compensation attorneys by city in Virginia

Other case types in Virginia

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