Peter S. Everett
Peter Everett is a trial lawyer who represents individuals and families whose lives have been upended by violent crime, reckless drivers, dangerous property conditions, and catastrophic injuries. His practice focuses on helping people, often children and other vulnerable victims, hold businesses, property owners, and institutions accountable when preventable harm occurs.
A significant part of Peter’s practice involves representing victims of violent crimes in matters involving childcare centers, private schools, apartment complexes, hotels, shopping centers, and other commercial properties. His work in this area has included national advocacy on issues affecting crime victims, including testimony before Congress on legislation regulating the private security industry, as well as appearances discussing victims’ rights on national television programs. He places particular emphasis on ensuring that child care centers are held responsible for sexual assaults upon young children by childcare center employees—a horrific crime that must be prevented at all costs.
He also represents individuals and families in serious motor vehicle and trucking cases, including wrongful death and catastrophic injury matters. He has extensive experience handling cases involving commercial vehicles and tractor-trailers and has worked with families facing sudden, life-altering loss because of preventable roadway crashes.
In addition, Peter has long represented clients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries in a wide range of contexts, including vehicle collisions, defective products, bicycle crashes, and other traumatic events. He has written and lectured on brain injury litigation and trial strategy, with a focus on recognizing symptoms, working effectively with medical professionals, and presenting complex medical issues clearly and responsibly to juries.
Peter also litigates cases involving dangerous conditions on real property, including unsafe construction sites, defective railings, roadways, and recreational areas.
Throughout his career, Peter has focused on earning his clients’ trust during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. He is known for his empathy, creativity, relentless advocacy and deep commitment to his clients, guiding families through complex and emotionally charged cases, while pursuing accountability for those harmed by reckless disregard of others’ safety.
Practice Areas
Credentials
- 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 (1999-2026) and selected as a Lawyer of the Year, Washington, DC Personal Injury Litigation, Plaintiff (2018)
- Super Lawyers, Personal Injury General: Plaintiff, Washington, DC & Virginia (2019-2025)
- Northern Virginia Magazine, Top Lawyer, Personal Injury, Plaintiff (2022-2025)
- Arlington Magazine, Top Attorneys, Personal Injury (2019)
- Martindale-Hubbell AV rated
Community Service
- Member, Board of Directors, FACETS (2010-2016) and continuing volunteer service
Representative Cases
Personal Injury
- Secured $14 Million Settlement for Child Care Center Victims of Sexual Assault with Blankingship & Keith Teaming with Seven Law Firms
- Secured $9 Million Settlement in UVa Shooting Cases with Integral Role by Blankingship & Keith
- $6,000,000 Settlement Secured in Highway Construction Injury Case
- Secured $5.4 Million Settlement in a Wrongful Death Case Arising from a High-speed Crash
- Secured $5,200,000 Settlement for Family in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Involving Hazing Incident
- Obtained a $2.325 Settlement for a Woman Injured in Broadside Crash
- Obtained $2.85M Settlement for Pressure Cooker Explosion Injuries
- Obtained a $1.1 Million Settlement for a Child Injured by a Package Delivery Driver
- $125,000 Jury Verdict for Shoulder Injury in Car Accident
- Obtained a $550,000 Settlement for a Child Assaulted by a Day Care Teacher
- $2.75M Settlement – Airport Black Ice (Mild TBI)