Peter S. Everett

Principal

PEverett@bklawva.com

o. 703-691-1235
f. 703-691-3913

Peter S. Everett

Peter Everett is a trial lawyer who devotes his practice to representing persons injured by the reckless or careless acts of others. His practice includes four broad areas. First, Mr. Everett represents clients seriously injured as a result of motor vehicle collisions, with special emphasis on tractor-trailer collisions. He is a member of and has served on the Executive Committee of AAJ's Interstate Trucking Litigation Group. He has represented victims of commercial motor vehicle collisions arising from collisions in California, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and Maryland, as well as in state and federal court in Virginia.

Second, Peter represents individuals who have suffered traumatic brain injuries ("TBI") resulting from tractor-trailer crashes, defective products, motor vehicle collisions, bicycle accidents and other circumstances. Mr. Everett is a member of the Brain Injury Association of Virginia and co-authored Counsel's Role in Recognizing the Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury and Assisting Medical Professionals in its Evaluation, VTLA Journal. In 2005 he lectured at a national conference on brain injury to health care and other professionals, and at September 2008 and 2015 retreats of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, he spoke on the use of learned treatises in TBI cases, and on trial tactics in TBI cases.

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Third, he represents victims of violent crimes in child care center and inadequate security cases against child care facilities, shopping malls, hotels, apartment buildings and other commercial buildings. He has testified before Congress on legislation designed to regulate the security guard industry and has addressed victim's rights issues on CNN's Larry King Live, ABC's 20-20 and The Oprah Winfrey Show. He has published several works in this area, including articles entitled "Establishing the Standard of Care in Inadequate Security Cases," published in the Journal of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, Establishing a Duty, Reaching the Promised Land, "Direct Examination of Security Experts" and "Violence Comes to the Mall," published in Trial magazine. Mr. Everett served for ten years as a member of the Executive Committee of the Inadequate Security Litigation Group of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) and co-chaired that national litigation group for four years. He has assisted in the representation of clients in inadequate security matters in Arizona, California, Florida, New York, the District of Columbia, Maryland and West Virginia, as well as in federal and state courts in Virginia.

Finally, Peter litigates on behalf of persons injured by defective conditions in buildings or real estate such as defective roadways, balcony railings and recreational trails, with a special emphasis on representing injured children.

Credentials

Education
  • University of Virginia (B.A., 1975)
  • University of Virginia (J.D., 1979)

Professional Honors & Activities

  • Named "Lifetime Lawyer" by the Washingtonian magazine
  • Washingtonian Magazine, Washington, DC's Best Lawyers (2020-2024)
  • U.S. News Best Lawyers, Personal Injury Litigation, Plaintiff (1999-2025) and Lawyer of the Year, Personal Injury Litigation, Plaintiff (2018)
  • Super Lawyers, Personal Injury General: Plaintiff, Washington, DC & Virginia (2019-2024)
  • Virginia Lawyers Weekly, Personal Injury (2020)
  • Northern Virginia Magazine, Top Lawyer, Personal Injury, Plaintiff (2022-2023)
  • Arlington Magazine, Top Attorneys, Personal Injury (2019)
  • AV rated

Representative Cases

  • Obtained a $9,000,000 settlement for the families of three students who tragically lost their lives and two survivors of the November 2022 University of Virginia shooting, working alongside co-counsel to achieve justice and advocate for reforms to improve campus safety and prevent future gun violence.
  • Obtained a $14,000,000 settlement for nine children who were sexually assaulted by a teacher’s aide at a large regional child care center.
  • Secured a $4.2 million settlement for the family of a college student who died from alcohol-related hazing at a fraternity event. A portion of the settlement supports the family’s foundation, which promotes anti-hazing education and awareness initiatives nationwide.
  • Achieved a $2,325,000 settlement for a woman who suffered permanent leg injuries and life-altering consequences in a broadside collision, highlighting the importance of thorough case preparation, including a "day in the life" video and a life care plan.
  • Achieved a $550,000 settlement for a 4-year-old child assaulted by her daycare teacher, resulting in physical injuries and long-term PTSD that required ongoing support, including an IEP/504 plan for trauma-based anxiety.
  • Secured a $1,100,00 settlement for an 8-year-old child permanently injured after being struck by a package delivery driver who veered to the wrong side of the street, causing significant damage to the child's knee and long-term physical and emotional challenges.
  • Secured a $1,475,000 settlement for a client with rheumatoid arthritis who fractured his elbow after tripping over a displaced cement slab in an outdoor retail courtyard, a condition found to violate the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

Community Service

  • Member, Board of Directors, FACETS (2010-present)