SERVING THE INJURED IN VIRGINIA

Since 1972

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ABOUT OUR PERSONAL INJURY FIRM

Each and every year hundreds of thousands of Americans are involved in a work injury, a slip and fall in a public place, a car collision with resulting injuries, medical malpractice injuries or injuries which result from a dangerous drug or a clearly defective medical product or device. Most of those injured are completely unfamiliar with the legal system as well as woefully unprepared for the amount of paperwork required and deadlines which must be met when a personal injury lawsuit is filed.

Perhaps you have suffered injuries from an accident which have subsequently affected your health, your work, your future, and your loved ones. The effects of an accident with injuries could last for weeks, months, or—in the case of catastrophic injuries—years, or even a lifetime. When you have suffered injury from an accident which was the result of the negligence of another person or entity, you may not know where to turn for help.

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EXPERIENCED PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST

The attorneys and staff at Tronfeld, West & Durrett work hard for their clients, with a goal of ensuring every victim of such an accident is properly compensated for the negligence of another. Our attorneys are dedicated to pursuing our clients’ claims and obtaining results, whether through settlement or trial. We have represented thousands of injured clients since 1972 in every aspect of personal injury law, practicing in both state and federal courts.

Our highly knowledgeable attorneys are well-versed in the statutes of limitations, ensuring your claim is filed in a timely manner, and are equally experienced in gathering evidence, consulting witnesses and expert witnesses, and dealing with insurance companies. If you have been injured in an accident and are doing your best to heal your body and spirit while getting back to your everyday life, you may feel overwhelmed and stressed.

Additional Stresses of a Catastrophic Injury

In the case of a catastrophic injury, the emotional, physical and financial aftermath can be particularly devastating. Catastrophic injuries are generally considered to be those which will require multiple surgical procedures, a high level of supervision, and ongoing rehabilitation and assistance for the remainder of the victim’s life. Severe burn injuries, back and spinal cord injuries, brain trauma, neck injuries, internal organ injuries and paraplegia or quadriplegia are all considered catastrophic injuries. Because the victim of a catastrophic injury may never regain the ability to work—or even handle such simple tasks as bathing, eating and dressing—it is essential that financial compensation from the negligent party is sufficient for the future.

Your Window of Opportunity

Because injury victims have a narrow window of opportunity to seek recovery for their injuries, having an experienced Tronfeld, West & Durrett attorney by your side from start to finish can truly make a difference in the outcome. Insurance companies typically attempt to settle a case quickly—before it is even known how many years the victim may require medical care and assistance. Having a personal injury attorney who has the tenacity and commitment necessary to ensure you receive the compensation you need and deserve can truly make a difference in your current life and to your future.

The Tronfeld, West & Durrett personal injury law firm is located in Richmond, Virginia, serving the communities in the surrounding metro and tri-city areas, with offices located in Richmond, Chesterfield, Petersburg, and Mechanicsville. Our practice is limited to helping those injured in an accident—we do not represent insurance companies. We are proud of the fact that our attorneys possess vast litigation experience, distinguished academic degrees and always zealously represent the interests of our clients.

Meet The Team

The law firm of Tronfeld, West & Durrett has eight attorneys—five shareholders and three associates—all of whom have the knowledge to provide clients with experienced legal representation. Jay Tronfeld is the founding shareholder of the firm, representing thousands of victims of personal injury and wrongful death claims, trying cases in both Federal and State Courts throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Obtaining significant verdicts and settlements in auto accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice claims and wrongful death claims, Mr. Tronfeld is a sought-after speaker at continuing legal education programs and was recognized as a top personal injury attorney in Virginia by Virginia Super Lawyers.

Jay Tronfeld

Jay Tronfeld is the founding shareholder of our firm. Since 1972, Jay Tronfeld has represented thousands of victims of personal injury and wrongful death claims. He has tried cases throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, in Federal and State Courts from Norfolk to Northern Virginia and from Richmond to Roanoke. These cases have involved individuals with all types of injuries from connective tissue to fractures and amputations; and, from post-traumatic stress disorder to traumatic brain injury.

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Elizabeth West

Elizabeth West is one of the shareholders of our firm. She dedicates 100% of her practice to litigation of personal injury, medical malpractice and product liability and vehicular accidents of all kinds. When not competing in the courtroom on behalf of her clients, Mrs. West enjoys competing on the tennis court and is a member of numerous USTA tennis teams. She is married with two sons and enjoys travelling with her family, biking, and skiing. She has served as a youth mentor and donates her time and talents to various local organizations. Mrs. West is often involved in the firm’s most complex cases. She enjoys the challenges that these cases present and the satisfaction of helping clients who have been seriously injured. During her legal career she has lectured to various legal organizations throughout Virginia on issues involving trial advocacy.

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David Durrett

David Durrett is one of the shareholders of our law firm. He dedicates 100% of his practice to litigation of personal injury, medical malpractice and product liability cases. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the Virginia Trial Layers Associates, the Virginia Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the Richmond Bar Association, and the Hanover Bar Association. Mr. Durrett is a former City of Richmond Senior Public Defender, where he represented clients in criminal cases for seven (7) years. Mr. Durrett chairs the firm’s trucking litigation section. Mr. Durrett lives in Hanover County with his wife. He has two adult children. When not at work, he enjoys spending time with his family, boating, and fishing. Mr. Durrett is a long time supporter of JMU sports.

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Kelly Martin

Kelly Martin is a shareholder with our firm. Mr. Martin dedicates his practice to personal injury litigation including automobile accidents, medical malpractice, products liability, and premises liability. Mr. Martin chairs the firm’s Governmental Liability section.

When he’s not at a JMU football game, Mr. Martin enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife Sarah and their children.

 

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John Newby

John Newby is a shareholder and the managing partner for the Chesterfield office. John began working in the field of personal injury law in 2001 after graduating from the Washington and Lee University School of Law. He has dedicated his entire professional career to helping injured people and their families.

John has handled thousands of cases from the preparation stage through settlement or verdict. His experience includes auto accidents, wrongful deaths, premises liability, and many other types of personal injury cases. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, the Richmond Bar Association and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Prior to college and law school, John served in the United States Army and was stationed at N.A.T.O. headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. He continued his military service with the Virginia Army National Guard until 2003. John continues to be an avid supporter of the armed forces.

John lives in Powhatan with his wife and daughter. When not working, he enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling with his family, and watching football.

The National Trial Lawyers

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Jen Mattingley

Jen Mattingley is an associate with our firm.  Ms. Mattingley focuses her practice on personal injury litigation, including automobile accidents, medical malpractice, and premises liability.  Prior to coming to Tronfeld West & Durrett, Ms. Mattingley worked at another personal injury firm for about ten years.  Ms. Mattingley grew up on the eastern shore of Maryland.  In her spare time, she enjoys running and traveling.

Ms. Mattingley graduated cum laude from Boston University. She earned her master’s degree at Claremont Graduate University and her law degree at Duquesne University.

Ms. Mattingley is a member of the Virginia State Bar, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Association for Justice.

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Joseph Robertson

Joseph Z. Robertson is an associate with our firm. He moved to Virginia when he was just ten years old. Growing up, he was passionate about being a team leader and striving for success, whether it be on the football field or volunteering in the community. Today, he still shares that same passion and strives to make a positive impact in the lives of others which is what lead him to choose this career. In his spare time, he enjoys playing frisbee golf with his wife and going on hikes with their Shih Tzu, Leo.

Mr. Robertson graduated summa cum laude from Longwood University and was a member of the Universities Lectures Community, Phi Kappa Phi, and Alpha Phi Sigma. He earned his Juris Doctorate at Liberty University School of Law and finished in the top twenty-fifth percentile of his class.

Mr. Robertson is a member of the Virginia Bar Association and Virginia Trial Lawyers Association.

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Attorney Elizabeth West

Elizabeth West is a shareholder who dedicates her entire practice to personal injury, product liability, auto accidents and medical malpractice and is often involved in the firm’s most complex cases. As a graduate of the University of Richmond’s T.C. Williams School of Law, Mrs. West serves as chair to the firm’s medical malpractice section and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Attorney David Durrett

David Durrett is a shareholder of the firm who also dedicates 100 percent of his practice to personal injury litigation, product liability cases and medical malpractice claims. As a former Senior Public Defender, Mr. Durrett chairs the firm’s trucking litigation section, and is a member of the American Association for Justice, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, the Virginia, Richmond, and Hanover Bar Associations and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Mr. Durrett was selected as one of the top 100 Trial Lawyers in 2013.

Attorney John Newby

John Newby is a shareholder in the firm who focuses exclusively on personal injury law and chairs the firm’s products liability section. As a member of the Virginia State Bar, the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Richmond Bar Association, Mr. Newby currently serves on the Virginia Trial Lawyer’s Association Tort Law Legislative Subcommittee. Mr. Newby was recognized as a top personal injury lawyer in Virginia in 2015-2016 by Virginia Super Lawyers Magazine and has successfully argued cases before the Virginia Supreme Court.

Attorney Kelly Martin

Kelly Martin is a shareholder in the firm whose practice is dedicated to personal injury litigation, including auto accidents, products liability, medical malpractice and premises liability. As the chair for the firm’s Governmental Liability section, Mr. Martin graduated cum laude from the George Mason University Law School and was named a Rising Star by the Virginia Super Lawyers magazine in 2014, 2015 and 2016. In 2014, Mr. Martin obtained the ninth largest jury verdict for a client injured by a work truck.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Call the Police After My Accident?

You should always call the police following a Virginia auto accident. Under Virginia law, you are required to call the police if there are any injuries, a death, or if the property damage is more than $1,000. Even following a minor fender bender, the damage to the vehicles is likely to be more than $1,000, simply because the bodywork is so expensive. It is almost always a good idea to contact the police following a car accident so you will have a police report to give to your insurance company. Particularly when the accident was clearly the fault of the other driver, you will want that information in a police report to avoid the driver saying later the accident was not his or her fault.

Should I Accept An Offer from the Insurance Company?

It is almost never a good idea to accept the first offer from an insurance company. Despite the many commercials we see on television which shows insurance companies as our friends, the goal of all insurance companies is to pay out as little as possible on a claim—in other words, their financial bottom line is what they will be thinking about, rather than your injuries and your future. Insurance adjusters are trained negotiators. This means no matter how “helpful” your insurance adjuster may seem, his or her job is to protect the interests of the insurance company by minimizing the amount of money paid on each claim. Particularly when the other driver is at fault in your car accident and you are attempting to file a claim against his or her insurance company, that insurance company is not obligated to treat you fairly.

What Determines the Value of My Personal Injury Claim?

Calculating the dollar value of a personal injury claim can be difficult. Since the circumstances of each case are different, there is no set formula attorneys can use for every case. However, our attorneys always consider certain factors when determining the value of a personal injury case.

Tronfeld West & Durrett Practice Areas

The law firm of Tronfeld, West & Durrett focuses in the following personal injury cases:

Auto Accident Attorneys Serving Virginia

Any auto accident injuries which cause serious injury and are directly tied to the carelessness of another deserve a highly skilled personal injury attorney from Tronfeld, West & Durrett. Of course, no one anticipates being involved in an auto, pedestrian, bus, truck or motorcycle accident, yet such accidents are far too common. The aftermath from such an accident can truly be devastating as you attempt to deal with disabling injuries, physical pain, rehabilitative therapy sessions, time away from work, and mental anguish. Your medical expenses may be mounting alarmingly—even if you have health insurance—and dealing with an insurance company can be a frustrating and cumbersome process. If you are forced to take time off from work, your regular bills may go unpaid due to your injuries—and through no fault of your own. While most of us have seen the warm and fuzzy insurance commercials on television which imply a representative will be by our side immediately with only our best interests at heart, this is rarely a reality. In the end, every person who attempts to get a fair settlement from an insurance company without benefit of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney by their side is only adding to the end-of-year profits the insurance company enjoys.

Head and Brain Injury Lawyers

Brain injuries are often the result of an accident—an auto accident, a fall, or a sports injury. Medical malpractice can also result in brain injury or brain trauma any time there is a deviation in the accepted standards of medical practice. Perhaps you received a brain injury after being involved in an auto accident with another car, truck or bus, or perhaps you were a pedestrian, bicyclists or motorcyclist who was struck by a vehicle, causing brain trauma. Brain trauma can result in very lengthy recovery times, often causing the victim to be away from work for an extended length of time. The medical expenses associated with a brain injury can range from the thousands to the hundreds of thousands. A severe brain injury can result in physical changes in the victim as well as emotional and personality changes and can literally change a life forever. Having an experienced Tronfeld, West and Durrett attorney by your side after a brain injury can ensure you receive compensation to help you deal with an uncertain future.

Central Virginia Product Liability Team

Product liability law is meant to provide compensation to those injured by a dangerous or defective product. Product liability cases can be extremely complex, due to the number of parties who may be held liable for resulting injuries. Product defects could include design defects, defects which occur during the manufacturing process or defects which occur during product marketing. If you have suffered injury due to a defective product, whether that product is an automobile or automobile part, or any other product, getting legal help as quickly as possible is crucial to ensure your claim is filed correctly and in a timely manner.

Medical Malpractice Lawyers

A significant number of patients suffer serious harm from any number of negligent medical practices, dangerous drugs or medical devices. Of the hundreds of thousands of patients injured from the health care system each year, few of them actually bring suit, and those who do generally have a much bigger motive than financial gain. In fact, most patients simply want to know what went wrong, while ensuring the same thing does not happen to another innocent patient. Patients who have suffered harm by a member of the medical profession can be anxious, confused and frightened, needing experienced, reputable legal help. The Tronfeld, West and Durrett attorneys have a thorough understanding of accepted medical practices and will always staunchly advocate for your rights when medical malpractice occurs.

Premises Liability Attorneys Serving You

When an accident or injury occurs on the property of another, the owner of that property may be legally responsible for the injuries should negligence be a factor in the accident. If you suffer an accident due to this type of negligence, you could be eligible for reimbursement of lost wages and medical expenses as well as other forms of pain and suffering reimbursement. Property injuries can include:

  • Dog bite injuries
  • Slip and fall accident injuries
  • Injuries due to elevators, escalators or stairs
  • Injuries die to negligent security
  • Injuries resulting from toxic or hazardous substances
  • Injuries occuring on rental properties

Like medical malpractice cases, premises liability cases can be complex, requiring a seasoned, reputable premises liability attorney.

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Firm

Unfortunately, nursing home neglect and abuse is far more common than most people realize, however proving such abuse can be difficult, complicated by the failing memories of the elderly patients as well as less-than-cooperative staff. Elderly persons may be physically frail, less able to stand up to abusive behavior or even tell another person about the abuse. Because the hearing, sight, physical strength and ability to think clearly may be diminished, unscrupulous people may take advantage of this very vulnerable group. Abuse can be physical (hitting, shoving, placing restraints on an elderly person or confining the person to his or her room) or can be emotional intimidation, accomplished through threats, yelling, humiliation or ridicule. In some cases, the elderly person is isolated from friends and family and denied enjoyed activities, while in others, the person may be ignored altogether (about half of all elder abuse cases involve the failure to provide a person’s basic necessities such as food, water, clean clothing and baths). If you suspect nursing home abuse or neglect, it is imperative that you contact a knowledgeable Tronfeld, West & Durrett attorney as quickly as possible.

How Our Virginia Firm Can Help You

If you have suffered any type of personal injury, whether an auto accident, a product or premises liability injury, you are the victim of medical malpractice, or you have a loved one who is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, contact Tronfeld, West & Durrett. Our attorneys truly care about your injuries and have the experience necessary to work toward the right outcome. Having a Tronfeld, West & Durrett attorney by your side will help you successfully navigate the legal process while providing compassion and reputable, knowledgeable legal representation. Contact Tronfeld, West & Durrett today by calling (804) 358-6741.

What Our Clients Say

Extremely great people very kind and sincere. Never lose contact nor do they stop checking on you and your injuries. I will recommend them to any and everyone

-Stephan

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Are you a high school or college student in the greater Richmond or Petersburg areas with big dreams and the determination to bring them to fruition? If so, we want to help. Tronfeld West & Durrett will be soon awarding five (5) students with $1,500 scholarships to help on their journey to success.

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In 2017, Richmond had 5,487 automobile accidents with 21 fatalities and 2,649 injuries. With 143,769 licensed drivers in Richmond, there was a 0.15 death rate per 1000 drivers in Richmond.