Richard N. (Rick) Shapiro has practiced as a Virginia Beach personal injury lawyer for over three decades in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States.
A relentless personal injury trial attorney, he was named to the Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2026 and as a 2022 Leader in the Law by Virginia Lawyers Weekly. American inventor and product designer (18 U.S. patents, Radio Flyer patent license). Amazon #1 best-selling thriller author. 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 his trial achievements.
In addition, he and his law firm have secured settlements and verdicts exceeding $100 million. On the successful TN Supreme Court appeal, Shapiro worked tirelessly for seven years to achieve victory for his client. When you consider hiring your personal injury lawyer, reputation, integrity, and track record all matter.
He is a board-certified civil trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited). He has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims.
He has written and lectured on evidence law to the AAJ, VTLA, Georgia TLA, and Virginia lawyers. Rick was elected chair of the Railroad Law section of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) twice (2013-2014 and 2005-2006) and was named President of the Railroad Accident Division of the National Trial Lawyers Association (NTLA 2013-14). He was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (a total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia).
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 nationwide, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board, certifying civil trial attorneys across the U.S.
Rick was also 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.
He has been inducted into the Virginia Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame, Class of 2026 — one of the program’s highest honors, reserved for attorneys who have practiced for 30 or more years and made a lasting impact on the legal profession.
Rick has also been named a member of the Nation’s Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel for 2026. Membership in NADC is awarded only to attorneys who are vetted by a research team, selected by a blue-ribbon panel of attorneys, and reviewed by a judicial review board. According to NADC, only the top one percent of attorneys in the United States receive this distinction, recognizing those who demonstrate the highest standards of legal excellence.
