J. David Douthit

A graduate of Richmond Community High School and Virginia Commonwealth University, Dave was born in Richmond and returned here to live and practice law after he graduated from The University of Virginia School of Law.

One of Dave's primary areas of practice is car accident litigation. He appears in the courtroom frequently trying cases before both judges and juries and winning substantial verdicts for his clients. When it serves a client’s best interests, he explores ways to resolve cases through arbitration and mediation.

Before he joined the Allen Law Firm, Dave worked as in house legal counsel for a major automobile liability insurance company. He represented insurance company policyholders who had been sued by plaintiffs injured in motor vehicle accidents. This experience has given Dave insight into how auto liability insurance company adjusters, managers, and lawyers think and work, how they handle and evaluate claims and how they defend the policyholder during litigation.

Dave understands that liability insurance companies believe the plaintiff’s deposition is the single most important event that takes place before trial. For this reason, he takes special care to prepare his clients well for the questions a defense lawyer may ask during depositions. Dave also recognizes the “red flags” or weaknesses in a defendant’s case, especially those that may worry insurance adjusters and encourage them to settle cases before trial.

Dave has great respect for the criminal and civil justice system established by the Constitution. He believes young people who learn more about our legal system will become better citizens. Working with teachers at both James River and Hermitage High Schools, Dave has helped organize mock trials where students undertake the roles of judges, lawyers, witnesses and jurors. He has taught business and legal classes at Hermitage Tech with an emphasis on career opportunities in the field of law and law enforcement.

Continuing legal education is vital for lawyers and others in law enforcement. In June, 2008, the Richmond Police Training Academy invited Dave to participate in training basic recruits to recognize the signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication and impairment for training purposes. In 2007, he was a featured speaker at the Virginia CLE Seminar for lawyers, “Small Firm, Big Insurer: How the Little Guy Hits the Big Time”.