A written notice of claim under Virginia Code § 15.2-209 usually must reach the Richmond City Attorney within 6 months of the crash if you are claiming against the City of Richmond. If that deadline is missed, the city can ask the court to throw the case out before you ever get to damages.

The next question you should be asking is: who exactly owned the truck and the road crew? That answer changes everything.

If it was truly a City of Richmond vehicle or employee, late notice is a major problem. Your regular Virginia injury deadline is still generally 2 years, but that longer statute of limitations does not save a city claim if the separate notice rule was missed.

If it was a state vehicle instead, different rules apply under the Virginia Tort Claims Act. That usually means written notice within 1 year to the Division of Risk Management or the Attorney General, not the city.

If it was a private contractor clearing storm debris on Broad Street, Hull Street Road, or an evacuation route during hurricane season, the 6-month city notice rule may not apply at all. Then the normal 2-year personal injury deadline may control.

This matters fast because Virginia also has contributory negligence. If the city or its insurer can argue you were even 1% at fault for hydroplaning, swerving around floodwater, or riding around barricades, they will use that plus a missed notice deadline to try to end the claim completely.

Your written notice should identify the date, place, and circumstances of the crash and the injury. If you have not sent it yet, do not wait for the police report, medical records, or a repair estimate. The clock for notice is much shorter than most Richmond families expect.