Anyone who drives around Hampton Roads, Virginia has probably crossed the high rise bridge on Interstate 64 (I-64) near the intersection of the highway with Route 17, Deep Creek/Portsmouth exit. Traffic often backs up on this part of the highway for commuters coming from Suffolk toward Virginia Beach or people headed from Norfolk to Route 58 toward Emporia or 460 toward Petersburg. The two lanes in each direction go over this steep bridge crossing the Elizabeth River which is a little tight and scary under the best of circumstances.
One time I had a family road trip starting and was headed across the high rise bridge in my Jeep when my tire went flat. This was on the backend of the bridge. Luckily, I was able to steer the vehicle for the rest of the span and get over into a shoulder area safely, although it was a bumpy ride. However, happily, no one was injured or killed. Only the family road trip got delayed. Whenever I cross the high rise bridge, though, I do think of the accident that almost was.
Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And 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.
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