Licensed in Washington, DC, Maryland, & Virginia

Personal injury lawyer Joseph Cammarata is a dual board-certified civil trial attorney, nationally known for his tenacity and perseverance in zealously representing clients in all stages of litigation. With more than four decades of experience, Mr. Cammarata’s practice is concentrated in the areas of serious personal injury, brain injury, wrongful death, sexual assault, medical malpractice, car accidents, truck accidents, bus accidents, motorcycle accidents, and bicycle accidents.

A Champion for Victim’s Rights

Mr. Cammarata successfully champions the rights of victims of discrimination and civil rights abuses. He has litigated against insurance companies, governmental entities, and even the President of the United States, winning several high-profile cases and securing tens of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for his clients.

Throughout his career, Mr. Cammarata has represented women who were sexually assaulted by powerful public figures, families who lost loved ones to negligence, individuals rendered catastrophically injured by medical malpractice and motor vehicle collisions, and children harmed by those entrusted with their care. His advocacy has driven systemic reforms — from changes in school board policies to legislation protecting youth athletes from concussion, to the creation of permanent memorials honoring victims of institutional neglect.

“I enjoy developing creative solutions to tough problems. I believe in getting results.”– Joseph Cammarata

Landmark Verdicts and Record-Setting Results (Published)

• $35.6 million — Medical malpractice verdict, second largest in Virginia (2019)
• $18.8 million — Motor vehicle collision verdict, catastrophic injury (2024)
• $4.5 million — Pedestrian accident verdict, third largest in Virginia (2015)

Mr. Cammarata has distinguished himself by winning a unanimous decision from the United States Supreme Court guaranteeing all individuals the right to equal access to justice, even against formidable, powerful opponents such as the President of the United States. The landmark case, Clinton v. Jones, 520 U.S. 681 (1997), is studied in law schools across the country and remains a cornerstone of American civil rights jurisprudence. Mr. Cammarata is currently leading the effort to reform Virginia’s medical malpractice cap, following a jury verdict that far exceeded the cap and exposed the need for legislative change.

Continuing a History of Excellence

Among his many accolades, Joseph Cammarata has earned the following recognition:

• Selected as a 2026 Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame Honoree by Virginia Lawyers Weekly
• Named 2025 Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
• Top 100 Super Lawyers in Washington, D.C. (2012–2024)
• “Super Lawyer” of the Washington, D.C. area (every year since 2007)
• Named one of metropolitan Washington, D.C.’s top attorneys by Washingtonian Magazine in every survey year since 1997
• U.S. News – Best Lawyers® (every year since 2019)
• Martindale-Hubbell AV “Preeminent” Rating (1999–present)
• Marquis Who’s Who: Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award (2021)
• Outstanding Attorney Award, U.S. Department of Justice (1989)
• Who’s Who in American Law · Who’s Who in America · Who’s Who in the World

Professional Leadership

Mr. Cammarata served as President of the Trial Lawyers’ Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., and is past Chairman of the Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice. He currently serves as President of the Virginia Chapter of the National Medical Malpractice Advocacy Association. He is dual board-certified in Civil Trial Advocacy and Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

An articulate and accomplished public speaker, Mr. Cammarata has made numerous appearances on national and international network and cable television programs and national radio shows, and has been quoted extensively in national and international newspapers and magazines. He is a contributing author to Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, a book edited by CNN’s Larry King, in which he advocated for full, prompt access to justice for all Americans as a fundamental right.

Giving Back to the Community

Mr. Cammarata’s dedication to justice extends well beyond the courtroom. He is an active member of the Local Access to Justice Committee and serves as a conciliator in the Fairfax County Circuit Court’s Early Conciliation Program.

Mr. Cammarata is a co-founder and past president of the Brain Injury Association of D.C., Inc., a not-for-profit organization devoted to assisting persons suffering from a brain injury through prevention, research, education, and advocacy. He authored the Athletic Concussion Protection Act of 2011 — at the time, the most comprehensive legislation of its kind enacted in the nation — designed to protect youth athletes from the known risks of concussion.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of Fairfax Water, Virginia’s largest water utility, serving approximately two million residents. Mr. Cammarata was appointed as a Commissioner to the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission in Fairfax County, Virginia, and served on its Use of Force Subcommittee, engaging the community in recommending changes to maintain a safe community, ensure a culture of public trust, and provide for the fair and timely resolution of police-involved incidents.

Mr. Cammarata was Chairman of the Criminal Justice Advisory Board and the Community Initiative to Reduce Youth Violence, each based in Fairfax County, Virginia. His leadership on reducing youth violence led to the creation of the Fairfax Partnership for Youth, an independent nonprofit dedicated to positive youth development. He was Chairman of the Public Safety Committee of the Visioning Task Force of Mount Vernon, Virginia, and a member of the Mount Vernon Area Plan Review Task Force. He is a past Chairman of the Alexandria Red Cross Waterfront Festival, formerly the largest outdoor fundraising event of the American Red Cross.

Education & Credentials

Mr. Cammarata is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and earned his Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law. He holds a Masters of Law in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center. Mr. Cammarata is also a certified public accountant. He is licensed to practice law in Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and New York.

As part of Mr. Cammarata’s effort to modify the medical malpractice cap in Virginia, read his op-ed on the issue as to why malpractice caps should be eliminated.