Posted on April 07, 2025 in Criminal Defense

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) in Virginia, you may suffer significant consequences for your driving privileges. your license could be suspended or even permanently revoked depending on the circumstances. An experienced Virginia DUI defense attorney, like those at Whitlock Law, can help protect your best interests and explore all possible strategies to help minimize the impact on your license and driving privileges.  

License Penalties

Virginia penalizes intoxicated drivers harshly, and both a DUI arrest and conviction will result in separate license suspension.  

Virginia Code sections 18.2-271 and 46.2-391.2 sets forth the driver’s license suspension requirements under the law for each type of offense. To summarize: 

• First Offense: Arrest: 7 days / Conviction: 12 months

• Second offense: Arrest: 60 days / Conviction: 3 years

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 Posted on March 31, 2025 in Car Accidents

A new law that came into effect in January 2025 increased the mandatory minimum for auto insurance in Virginia. All drivers are now required to carry at least $50,000 of insurance coverage to cover bodily injuries or death to one person, $100,000 for two people or more, and $25,000 for any damage to property.

These minimum insurance amounts are intended to protect car accident victims from financial hardship. But what happens when the minimum amount of coverage is simply not enough for your damages? Worse, what if the other driver has no insurance at all? At Whitlock Law, our Virginia car accident lawyers can fight for your right to fair, full compensation through an uninsured or underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) claim.

When To File a UM/UIM Claim

If you have been struck by a driver whose insurance policy does not meet the new mandatory minimums of $50,000 for injuries and $25,000 for property damage, you can file an underinsured motorist claim through your own insurance policy. Even if the driver does meet the minimum amount, you may still be able to file a UIM claim for additional compensation.

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 Posted on March 23, 2025 in Personal Injury

Have you been struck and injured in a car accident? If so, you may have grounds to file a claim for compensation against the other driver. Filing a claim can be quite complicated, and if you do not know your rights, you risk stumbling into common pitfalls. A Maryland car accident lawyer can walk you through the steps of taking legal action.

At Whitlock Law, we have the resources and experience to support clients who have been injured in car accidents. When you work with our firm, you can rest assured that we will not take an easy settlement for less than what your claim is worth.

Get The Other Driver’s Insurance Information

After a crash, you may be left reeling from shock and pain. However, the actions you take after a collision are arguably some of the most important parts of the process of filing a claim.

If it is safe to do so, you should make contact with the other driver and pull over somewhere away from traffic. Though it may be a natural reflex, do not apologize to the other driver or say anything that could be interpreted as an admission of guilt. At this point, you can exchange insurance information and call the police to get a written report of the accident. If the other driver does not have a valid insurance policy or flees from the scene of the accident, you may have to file an uninsured motorist claim through your own insurance policy.

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 Posted on March 11, 2025 in Criminal Defense

If you have been arrested and charged with a crime in Virginia, you might be under a great deal of stress. Law enforcement may pressure you into admitting your guilt, claiming that they are trying to help you out. Do not forget that you have the right to an attorney. With skilled legal representation, you can fight the charges against you in court.

At Whitlock Law, our Virginia criminal defense lawyers can support you through a difficult time. We will work to get the best possible outcome in your case through a combination of aggressive advocacy and smart negotiation.

Legal Advice

Most people are unfamiliar with the inner workings of the justice system. If you do not know your rights while in police custody, you could end up incriminating yourself by complete accident. This is why most attorneys will advise you to call them as soon as possible after an arrest. Law enforcement may pressure you into admitting your guilt, claiming that they are trying to help you out.

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 Posted on February 28, 2025 in Car Accidents

Dashboard-mounted cameras or "dash cams" can serve as vital evidence for documenting a car accident claim. While other forms of evidence can be disputed, dash cam footage can be hard to deny if it clearly shows how the accident happened. If you were injured in a car accident, a Maryland personal injury lawyer can make good use of your dashcam footage in your claim for compensation.

At Whitlock Law, we are here to protect your rights after a car wreck, using all available evidence to push for full compensation. We offer a small-firm experience, giving clients our individual attention with tenacious advocacy and sound counsel.

Why Negligence Matters

Only a few states, including Virginia and Maryland, use contributory negligence in car accidents. What this means is that if you are found to be even one percent at fault for a crash, you could be denied compensation by an insurance company.

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 Posted on February 28, 2025 in Español

Las cámaras montadas en el tablero o "dash cams" pueden server como evidencia vital para documentar un reclamo por accidente automovilístico. Aunque haigan otras formas de cuestionar evidencia, la imágenes de la cámara del tablero pueden ser dificiles de ngar si muestran claramente cómo ocurrió el accidente. Si resultó lesionado en un accidente automovilístico, un abogado de lesiones personales de Maryland puede hacer un buen uso de las imágenes de su cámara de tablero en su reclamo de compensación.

En Whitlock Law, estamos aquí para proteger sus derechos después de un accidente automovilístico, utilizando toda la evidencia disponible para exigir una compensación completa. Ofrecemos una experiencia de firma pequeña, brindando atención individual a los clientes con una defensa tenaz y un asesoramiento sólido.

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 Posted on February 20, 2025 in Car Accidents

If you have been injured in a car accident in Virginia, time is of the essence when it comes to getting compensation. You may only have a limited window to take legal action against the driver who caused you injury, and once that window is up, you might be out of luck. A Loudoun County, VA car accident attorney can help file a claim on your behalf and make sure all the paperwork is done correctly.

At Whitlock Law, we are highly familiar with personal injury law as it relates to car accidents. When you work with us, we will keep the statute of limitations in mind as we endeavor toward an efficient solution.

What Is The Statute of Limitations?

The statute of limitations is a time limit that restricts how long you have to take legal action against another person or entity. In Virginia, all car accident claims have a two-year statute of limitations. If you do not file a claim against the driver at fault before the statute of limitations runs out, you will not be able to pursue compensation for your damages.

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 Posted on February 12, 2025 in Criminal Defense

Virginia law is tough on users and distributors of illegal substances. Convictions can result in prison sentences, hefty fines, and license suspensions. Additionally, drug-related convictions can impact employment or job opportunities, eligibility for public benefits, housing, and other areas of your life.  

At Whitlock Law, we will take the unique facts and circumstances of your case into account so that we can put up a strong defense on your behalf. Our Virginia criminal defense lawyers can help you strategize and negotiate for the best possible outcome in your case.

First Offense Drug Possession

If you have never been charged with drug possession before in Virginia, you may be eligible for deferred disposition under Va. Code 18.2-251. The Commonwealth’s "251" disposition can help you avoid a conviction as long as you obey the terms of probation. As part of these terms, you may be required to attend drug counseling or perform mandatory community service.

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 Posted on January 30, 2025 in Car Accidents

Every state has its own interpretation of negligence in car accident lawsuits. Most states use a model of comparative negligence, in which a plaintiff can get a portion of compensation even if he or she was partially at fault.

Virginia has an all-or-nothing approach to car accident lawsuits, known as contributory negligence. This law is very strict and it could be used to deny you compensation if you were injured in a car wreck. At Whitlock Law, our Fairfax, VA personal injury attorneys can give you legal advice after a car accident and represent you in negotiations with insurance companies. When you work with us, you will receive individual attention from our small firm, getting the benefit of our advocacy and representation until your case is resolved.

Defining Contributory Negligence

In Virginia, contributory negligence applies to all personal injury claims, including car accident damages. Under contributory negligence, you cannot collect any compensation for a car accident if you shared fault for the crash.

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 Posted on January 16, 2025 in Criminal Defense

A drunk driving offense is many people’s first brush with law enforcement. If you have maintained a clean record up until a DUI arrest, you might be terrified at the thought of a prison sentence after a conviction. Whether or not you will go to jail for DUI is highly dependent on the circumstances of your arrest.

If you have been charged with DUI in Northern Virginia, the smartest thing you can do is to get in contact with a Virginia criminal defense attorney who can try to work out a strategy to have your charges reduced or dropped in court. At Whitlock Law, our lawyers are ready to safeguard your freedom with personalized representation and counsel.

First Offenses vs. Repeat Offenses

In Virginia, whether or not you are sentenced to jail on a first offense usually depends on whether you have an elevated blood alcohol content (BAC) or there are aggravating factors, such as a car accident with injuries.

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