If someone hits me while I'm traveling through an intersection on a green light, is it automatically entirely their fault?

A: It may surprise you to find out that the answer to this question is no, and this is especially important considering that Virginia has strict rules of contributory negligence meaning that you cannot make a recovery if you are in the slightest bit responsible for the accident. The law can be explained as follows:

"A driver facing a green light shall move in the direction of the signal, except he has a duty to yield to other vehicles and pedestrians lawfully within the intersection. In proceeding through the intersection, he has a duty to exercise ordinary care. If a driver fails to perform [violates] either of these duties, then he is negligent."

-Virginia Model Jury Instructions

The Virginia Supreme Court has determined that a green light is not an automatic, unqualified command that a driver proceed through the intersection under any circumstances, but is a command to do so while exercising due care.

Mr. Warren accepts clients from cities and counties across Virginia, including:
Charlottesville, Albemarle, Waynesboro, Afton Mountain, Madison, Staunton, Harrisonburg, Farmville, Fluvanna, Louisa, Orange, Greene, Augusta, Nelson, Buckingham, Prince Edward