Virginia Beach Wrongful Death Lawyers with 35+ Years of Experience — No Win, No Fee
Lost a Loved One? We're Here to Fight for Your Family.
Legal Help Is Just a Call Away
If you’ve been involved in a Wrongful Death accident, The Joel Bieber Firm is ready to help you:
- Navigate the legal system with confidence.
- Handle insurance companies and claim disputes.
- Secure the compensation you deserve.
Find Out If You Have a Case
Get your FREE initial consultation today. Call us or fill out the form below!
Why Work With The Joel Bieber Firm?
Compassionate Guidance When You Need It
Losing a loved one is one of the hardest experiences a family can face, and pursuing a legal claim in the middle of that grief can feel overwhelming. Our attorneys take the time to listen to your family's story and handle every wrongful death case with the sensitivity and care it deserves. You don't have to do this alone.
We Act Before the Evidence Is Gone
No matter how your loved one's death occurred, critical evidence can still disappear quickly. Surveillance footage gets overwritten, records get lost, and witnesses' memories fade. We move immediately to preserve everything your family's case may need.
A Local Team With Deep Roots in Virginia Beach
With over 400 years of combined legal experience and an easy-to-visit office in Virginia Beach, our team, including former lawmakers and medical professionals, understands the local courts and the community we serve.
Pay Nothing Unless We Win
We represent grieving families on a contingency fee basis; our fee comes only from the compensation we recover on your behalf.
Direct Access to the Attorneys on Your Case
From the first phone call through final resolution, your family works directly with the legal team handling your claim.
Trial-Ready From the Start
We prepare every wrongful death case as if it will go before a jury. That preparation strengthens negotiations and ensures we are ready to fight for your family in court if a fair resolution isn't offered.
Our firm doesn’t back down. Strong representation. Because your future deserves nothing less.
Types of Wrongful Death Claims We Handle
No two wrongful death cases are the same, and the circumstances behind your loved one’s death shape how we build your case. We represent Virginia Beach families in wrongful death claims arising from:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents — car, truck, and motorcycle crashes, including those caused by drunk, distracted, or impaired drivers
- Premises Liability — slip and falls, inadequate security, and other unsafe property conditions
- Workplace Accidents — fatal incidents involving a negligent third party, in addition to any Workers’ Compensation death benefits your family may be owed
- Medical Malpractice — surgical errors, misdiagnosis, and hospital negligence
- Defective Products — dangerous vehicles, machinery, or consumer products
- Nursing Home Neglect — abuse or neglect in long-term care facilities
- Acts of Violence or Criminal Acts — assaults, shootings, or other intentional harm caused by a third party
Virginia Wrongful Death Laws That Affect Your Claim
Virginia's Wrongful Death Statute
Under Virginia Code § 8.01-50, a wrongful death claim may be brought when a person’s death results from the wrongful act, neglect, or default of another party. The claim is brought by the personal representative of your loved one’s estate, but the compensation recovered belongs to the statutory beneficiaries, not the estate itself.
Statute of Limitations
Under Virginia Code § 8.01-244, your family generally has two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit when death is a result of their injury. This deadline applies no matter the underlying cause of death, and missing it can permanently bar your claim.
Who Can Recover Compensation
Virginia law establishes a specific order of beneficiaries. Compensation first goes to the surviving spouse, children, and grandchildren of any deceased child. If none of these relatives survive, compensation passes to the deceased’s parents and siblings. If none of those relatives survive either, compensation may pass to other relatives who were dependent on the deceased. Only the personal representative of the estate can file suit, but recovery is distributed to these beneficiaries.
Wrongful Death Claims vs. Survival Actions
Separate from a wrongful death claim, Virginia law allows a survival action to recover damages your loved one could have claimed had they survived, such as pain and suffering endured between the incident and their death. We evaluate whether your family’s case supports pursuing both types of claims together.
How Fault Is Determined
Because wrongful death claims arise from many different circumstances, from car accidents to medical negligence to unsafe properties, how fault is investigated and proven depends entirely on the facts of your loved one’s death. Our attorneys build each case around the specific setting and responsible parties involved, so your family’s claim is handled with the right legal strategy from the start.
Yes, We Come to You
Whether you’re in the hospital or recovering at home, we will come to you.
We Fight for Maximum Compensation
Losing a loved one carries both emotional and financial consequences that can last for years. We pursue full and fair compensation for every category of loss your family has suffered, including:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical expenses incurred before your loved one’s death
- Lost income and financial support your loved one would have provided
- Loss of care, guidance, and training
- Loss of companionship, comfort, and consortium
- Sorrow, mental anguish, and emotional suffering
- Punitive damages, in cases involving willful or wanton conduct
What It's Like to Work With Us
- Free Consultation — We listen to your family’s story, evaluate the facts of your loved one’s death, and provide honest guidance with no pressure and no upfront cost.
- Immediate Investigation — We act quickly to secure records, surveillance footage, incident reports, and witness statements before they are lost.
- Medical and Records Coordination — We work to obtain medical records, autopsy findings, and other documentation needed to establish cause of death and damages.
- Aggressive Negotiation — We push back against lowball settlement offers and fight for the full compensation your family deserves.
- Trial-Ready Representation — If a fair resolution isn’t offered, we are fully prepared to take your case to court and advocate for your family.
We Know Virginia Beach — Because We Serve Here
Wrongful death cases arise throughout Virginia Beach in many different settings — from local hospitals and care facilities to neighborhood streets, job sites, and busy roadways. We represent families across:
- Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital and Sentara Princess Anne Hospital
- Assisted living and skilled nursing facilities throughout Virginia Beach
- Great Neck, Kempsville, and Princess Anne
- The Oceanfront, Town Center, and Atlantic Avenue corridor
- Near Oceana Naval Air Station and surrounding business districts
- I-264, I-64, and Virginia Beach Boulevard
Hear from Virginia Beach Clients
FAQs About Richmond Wrongful Death Cases
How much does a wrongful death attorney cost?
Who can file a wrongful death lawsuit in Virginia?
What is the average payout in a wrongful death suit?
There’s no fixed average, since every settlement depends on the specific losses involved — funeral costs, lost income, loss of companionship, and in some cases punitive damages. See our full guide on wrongful death settlement amounts for how these values are typically calculated, or the range of compensation your family may recover above.
What are my chances of winning a wrongful death lawsuit?
There’s no guaranteed outcome, but strong evidence of negligence, clear documentation, and skilled legal representation can meaningfully improve your chances. Wrongful death claims require proving duty, breach, causation, and damages. Our attorneys can review the facts of your case and give you an honest assessment of where it stands.
Who pays out wrongful death settlements?
In most cases, the at-fault party’s insurance company pays a wrongful death settlement, since liable individuals and businesses typically carry coverage for these claims. If no insurance applies, the responsible party may be personally liable for the damages awarded. Our attorneys work to identify every liable party and pursue compensation from all available sources.
How long do I have to file a wrongful death claim in Virginia?
In most cases, you have two years from the date of your loved one’s death to file a lawsuit under Virginia Code § 8.01-244. This deadline is strict, and missing it can permanently bar your family’s claim. See our full breakdown above.
What's the difference between a survival action and a wrongful death claim?
A wrongful death claim compensates surviving family members for their losses. A survival action recovers damages your loved one could have claimed had they lived, such as pain and suffering before death. See how these two claims work together above, some cases support both.
Will my family's case go to trial?
Many wrongful death cases resolve through negotiation, but we prepare every case as if it will go before a jury. That preparation often produces stronger settlement outcomes and ensures we’re ready to fight in court if necessary. See how we build trial-ready cases above.
Get Help from a Richmond Wrongful Death Lawyer
You don’t have to handle this alone. Reach out today to talk with a member of our legal team.
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Address:
272 Bendix Road, Ste. 350 Virginia Beach, VA 23452
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- Monday–Thursday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Saturday–Sunday: Closed