Robert E. Byrne, Jr.

Taking a leave-no-stone-unturned approach to his civil trial practice, Robert E. Byrne, Jr. is an AV-rated Virginia Truck Accident Lawyer and Charlottesville Personal Injury attorney who focuses on catastrophic personal injury cases, truck accident cases, traumatic brain injury claims, and wrongful death cases. Bob primarily represents individuals who have been injured, whether from a car accident, a tractor trailer accident, or a dangerous product. With trial experience in both state and federal courts, Bob is passionate about representing his clients through all levels of a case, from thoroughly researching and briefing complex issues of law to arguing motions and presenting cases at trial to a jury.

Bob is board certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.* As of 2024, Bob is the only attorney in Virginia who has satisfied the rigorous experience and peer-review requirements of becoming board certified in Truck Accident Law.

Drawing upon his own experiences with profound loss, Bob is uniquely qualified to represent families in wrongful death cases. Bob has helped numerous families deal with the crushing weight of grief, and he considers his work on wrongful death cases to be the most important and personal work he does.

Bob has been repeatedly recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine and has also been named by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the “Top 100” Trial Lawyers in Virginia. Bob has earned an AV-rating of Preeminent by the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell attorney rating system, and Bob has repeatedly been named one of Virginia’s “Top Rated Lawyers” by The American Lawyer magazine. In 2010, Bob was named the Virginia State Bar’s Young Lawyer of the Year out of approximately 9,000 eligible attorneys.

In addition to serving as the Managing Attorney and President of MartinWren, P.C., Bob has also volunteered in a number of capacities with the Virginia State Bar and the Charlottesville Albemarle Bar Association.  Locally, Bob is a board member for New City Counseling, has served on committees for a water sanitation fundraising project to benefit communities in Africa, and has performed pro-bono work as a volunteer attorney with the Legal Aid Justice Center in Charlottesville. Bob also served on the Board of Directors of Computers 4 Kids and the Blue Ridge Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Bob’s wife, Lauren, is a licensed attorney and serves as Bob's co-counsel in trial. Lauren formerly served as a prosecutor for the City of Norfolk and as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable D. Arthur Kelsey. Bob and Lauren live in Keswick with their five children, including twins.  Bob and Lauren are active members of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville where Bob also serves as an Elder, and they’ve been honored to assist with several ministries through the church, including Jobs for Life, Grief Share, and Mothers of Preschoolers.

Charlottesville Personal Injury Attorney

As a Charlottesville Personal Injury Lawyer, Bob has represented injured clients in a wide variety of litigation matters including traumatic brain injury litigation, truck accidents, serious car accidents, child sexual abuse, medical malpractice, workplace injury litigation and industrial accidents, workplace torts, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, trucking litigation and tractor trailer accidents.  Bob has experience representing numerous victims of traumatic brain injury, including several TBI victims who were injured in collisions with tractor trailers.

Virginia Truck Accident Lawyer

As a board certified Virginia Truck Accident Lawyer, Bob has handled numerous dump truck and tractor trailer crash cases throughout Virginia involving sudden medical emergency, death cases, wheel-off cases, fatigued drivers, high-speed collisions, and a number of other scenarios.  Bob is skilled at investigating these cases, working with experts to secure critical information, and devising insightful strategies using Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to establish liability. These cases oftentimes involve traumatic brain injuries, and Bob has worked closely with some of the top neurologists and physiatrists in the county to learn and apply this medicine in his cases.

Sample Representations

Personal Injury Litigation

• Obtained $4,000,000 settlement in truck accident case involving polytrauma injuries, including traumatic brain injury and orthopedic injuries, for war refugee who was injured when a box truck exited its lane of travel, entered the median, and crashed into his tractor trailer.
• Part of team that obtained $5,000,000 settlement in a pedestrian crash against the City of Charlottesville where the client sustained a mild traumatic brain injury with a number of complications.
• Obtained settlement of $3,357,234.10 for injured plaintiff who suffered myelopathy despite severe pre-existing spine injuries. This result entailed a full policy limits settlement plus a personal contribution from the lone, individual defendant in the amount of $362,500.00).
• Part of litigation team that obtained $3,500,000 verdict in a tractor trailer crash case that caused client to sustain a mild traumatic brain injury, venue was the Roanoke Division of the federal Western District of Virginia.
• Co-counsel with Lauren Byrne in medical malpractice case in Fairfax Circuit Court resulting in $2,500,000 verdict (ZERO pretrial offer) for mother who sustained pain and suffering and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after she underwent an emergency cesarean section without adequate anesthesia when anesthesiologist failed to timely appear when called for emergency procedure.
• Obtained $1,750,000 verdict (plus prejudgment interest to give total verdict of $2.22 million), for mother who sustained a mild traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following collision with commercial dump truck on interstate 64 ($125,000 pretrial offer).
• Obtained $1,500,000 settlement for pedestrian in Fairfax who was struck by a vehicle while running and sustained a complicated mild traumatic brain injury and orthopedic injuries
• Represented several TBI victims in automobile and tractor trailer accidents who have suffered a variety of symptoms, including severe headaches, loss of balance, tinnitus, lost of smell, vision damage, psychiatric injuries including PTSD and bipolar disorder, and a number of other cognitive and behavior issues
• Jury verdict for young man with torn shoulder labrum, in the amount of approximately $256,000, where highest pre-trial offer was $26,000
• Jury verdict for sexual abuse victim against the abuser's spouse, in the total amount of $275,000, plus pre-judgment interest of approximately $90,000
• Part of litigation team that obtained confidential $1,750,000 settlement in wrongful death medical malpractice claim
• Part of litigation team that obtained confidential $1,140,000 settlement in cerebral palsy birth injury case
• Part of litigation team that received $850,000 jury verdict in federal court in tractor trailer accident that resulted in traumatic brain injury
• Obtained confidential $750,000 settlement against resort for traumatic brain injury sustained in resort activity
• Obtained confidential $750,000 settlement in tractor trailer crash case in bad weather, which caused the death of our client
• Obtained $695,000 settlement in tractor trailer case when client injured in a wheel-off incident where a loose tire caused a serious crash
• Confidential $700,000 settlement in trucking case that caused client to suffer a combined labyrinthine (vestibular) and cerebral concussion
• Obtained $400,000 settlement in traumatic brain injury case where client suffered brain injury as a child, his family indicated he was normal within months, but he developed psychiatric issues several years later
• Obtained $250,000 settlement for driver in low-speed automobile crash who developed traumatic cervical dystonia as a result of the crash
• Jury verdict in the amount of $125,000 in rural Virginia county where plaintiff had multiple felony convictions and jury awarded $100,000 in punitive damages against a drunk driver ($55,000 pretrial offer)
• Successfully represented plaintiffs suffering disc herniations, spondylolisthesis, spondylolylis, and other lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine injuries sustained in automobile accidents
• Successfully represented driver in automobile products liability claim when her airbag failed to discharge in an accident, leading to facial fractures and a closed head injury
• Represented child in civil suit against neighbor who committed multiple acts of child sexual abuse
• Represented client injured in ATV (4 wheeler) accident due to improper loading of ATV into a truck
• Represented driver who sustained a moderate traumatic brain injury due to defective airbag, against major automotive manufacturer
• Represented plaintiff in medical malpractice action involving retained surgical sponge
• Represented plaintiffs who sustained traumatic brain injuries, including post-concussive syndrome and subdural hematomas, and who have faced a variety of physical and psychological injuries
• Represented minor plaintiff with facial scars sustained in car accident
• Represented plaintiff in products liability action who was injured by defective trailer that fell and caused bone fracture
• Represented numerous plaintiffs who were injured by drunk drivers
• Represented clients suffering serious injuries ranging from closed head brain injuries, burn injuries, nerve injuries, scarring, broken bones, ligament damage, and other serious injuries

Press

• As seen on USA Today - Fact check: Court guidelines allow video, photos of Johnny Depp trial, unlike Ghislaine Maxwell case.
• As seen in Daily Progress -- Grief Support Group Begins Wednesday

SPEECHES AND LECTURES

Bob is frequently asked to speak to other attorneys around the country about litigation and trial strategies. Recent speeches and lectures include the following:

• 2024: American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group, Ponte Vedra, FL, "Why Every Truck Case May Become a Products Case" (focusing on product liability claims involving collision avoidance and collision mitigation technology in trucking telematics systems).
• 2024: Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Small Business Retreat, "Family and Friends Firm: Best Firm Ever?"
• 2024: Trial Lawyers University Speech, Las Vegas, NV, "Three Settlement Techniques to Obtain -- or Exceed -- Policy Limits"
• 2024: Trial Lawyers University Speech, Huntington Beach, CA, "Try Your FRKN Case"
• 2024: Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Convention, Washington, D.C., "Trends of the Defense"
• 2023:  Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Sources of Coverage Seminar, Richmond, VA, "Tractor Trailer Insurance Coverages"
• 2023: Trial Lawyers University Webinar, Discussing $2,500,000 Medical Malpractice Verdict in Anesthesia Case
• 2023: Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention, Greenbrier Resort, WV, "Taking a Fresh Look at Negligent Entrustment Claims in Virginia."
• 2023:  American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group, Nashville, TN, "How to Handle Hazardous Conditions Trucking Cases."
• 2022:  Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Tractor Trailer Retreat, Williamsburg, VA, "How to Handle Bad Weather Trucking Cases in Virginia."
• 2021:  Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Richmond, VA, "The Glories and Pitfalls of Virtual Lawyering."
• 2021:  Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Advanced Automobile Retreat, Wintergreen, VA, "Lost Earning Capacity Claims."

To learn more about Bob’s services as a Christian personal injury attorney, Virginia Truck Accident Lawyer, Virginia Tractor Trailer Crash Lawyer, or a Virginia Wrongful Death Attorney, please call Bob at 434-817-3100.

*The Supreme Court of Virginia does not grant or recognize specialties or certification of specialties in the practice of law and a certificate, award, or recognition is not a requirement to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia.