Virginia Beach Motorcycle Accidents Lawyer

Need A Motorcycle Accident Attorney In Virginia Beach?

If you ride a motorcycle, you already know how much fun it is and how exciting it can be. The exhilaration of the open road and the challenge of keeping the motorcycle balanced are thrilling, but riding a motorcycle can also be very dangerous. Accidents can happen at any time and if a motorcycle is involved, the results can be deadly. Motorcycle accidents have a higher rate of fatality and injury in the United States than crashes involving passenger cars. Being in a car accident itself is scary, but it’s even scarier if you’re on a motorcycle when the crash occurs. Unlike a car accident where the drivers have some protection provided by the vehicle they’re driving in, motorcyclists have little to no protection at all.  Motorcyclists can be thrown off their motorcycle in a crash and suffer serious injuries. If you’ve been seriously injured in a motorcycle crash in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, Portsmouth, Hampton, Suffolk, or  Chesapeake that wasn’t your fault, you are going to need a motorcycle accident lawyer that is going to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries and losses. Our team of motorcycle accident attorneys at Virginia Beach Injury Law are here for you and will fight by your side to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us for a free consultation today to discuss your motorcycle accident and start a personal injury claim.

When Is The Right Time To Call A Motorcycle Accident Attorney?

After being involved in a motorcycle accident in Virginia, there are two things you need to do right away. First, seek medical attention. Some injuries are not obvious to the naked eye but with medical help, internal injuries can be revealed. Other injuries may not show up until the day after the accident. Right after you seek medical attention for your injuries, you need to call a motorcycle crash attorney in Virginia Beach to make sure that your victim’s rights are protected from the start. Insurance companies have teams of lawyers on their side to protect their interests.  You should have someone who knows and understands the laws pertaining to motorcycle accidents in Virginia Beach so that you are protected too. At Virginia Beach Injury Law, our motorcycle accident lawyers will answer any questions that you may have about your accident and help you get the compensation you deserve while you focus on recovery. Contact us to explore the legal options that are available to you today.

Virginia Motorcycle Laws

Motorcycle laws vary from state to state and knowing the laws and what is required is the responsibility of the rider.  If you are visiting Virginia, you need to be aware of the state’s motorcycle laws.  The motorcycle laws in Virginia state include:
  • Eye protection is required for a motorcycle operator unless the motorcycle is equipped with a windscreen
  • It is unlawful to operate a motorcycle with no muffler or sound-dissipating device
  • There is no minimum age restriction for passengers, but all motorcycles must have a seat and a footrest if they are carrying a passenger
  • Operable radar detectors are prohibited on any motor vehicle, including motorcycles
  • Two motorcycles may share a lane by traveling side by side
  • DOT approved helmets must be worn at all times by motorcycle operators and passengers while traveling on roadways. Helmets may exceed regulations
  • All motor vehicles, including motorcycles, are required to be equipped with at least one mirror which reflects a view of the highway, for no less than 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle.
Abiding by each state’s laws is extremely important when operating a motorcycle for the safety of the rider and the drivers who share the roadways with them. But not all drivers follow state regulations. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle crash and it wasn’t your fault, contact our team of knowledgeable motorcycle crash attorneys at Virginia Beach Injury Law for a free, no-obligation, and confidential consultation today.

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Virginia

The majority of motorcycle crashes in Virginia Beach are not the motorcycle operator’s fault. In 40% of the accidents in the United States that involved motorcycles, the motorcycle operator was not at fault. Inclement weather is usually not a major factor either. In 97% of reported motorcycle accidents, the weather was clear or cloudy. The most common causes of motorcycle crashes in Virginia Beach include:
  • Drivers Fail To See Motorcycles- Motorcycles are much smaller than passenger cars and most drivers don’t think to look for them. Accidents involving motorcycles commonly occur when drivers of passenger cars make left-hand turns in front of oncoming motorcycles, or out of driveways, parking lots, or directly onto the streets into the paths of motorcycles.
  • Drunk Driving- Driving while intoxicated is extremely dangerous not only to drivers but to motorcyclists as well. It has been shown that in 2013, alcohol was a factor in 1,296 fatal motorcycle crashes nationwide.
  • Drivers Follow Motorcycles Too Closely- Motorcycles can stop much faster than a passenger car. When drivers follow a motorcycle too closely, the chances of a rear-end collision greatly increases.
  • Distracted Driving- Drivers who are distracted from the important task of paying attention to the road by anything are an extreme danger to those they share the road with, especially motorcyclists. Texting while driving requires cognitive, manual, and visual attention from the driver, which is extremely dangerous to everyone else on the road.
  • Drivers Misjudge The Speed Of Motorcycles- Because motorcycles are smaller than passenger cars, SUVs, or pickup trucks, it’s common for drivers to misjudge the speed at which motorcycles are traveling, pull out in front of them, or change lanes into a motorcycle.
  • Hazardous Road Conditions- Potholes, cracks, wet roads, loose gravel, and other road defects may cause accidents for motorcycles easier than other types of motor vehicles.
  • Mechanical Or Equipment Problems- Flawed design or defective parts can make the motorcycle itself a danger to the rider.
  • Drivers Fail To Do Head Checks For Blind Spots- Motorcycles can easily disappear in the blind spots of other vehicles. Drivers failing to do a head check before changing lanes might cut a motorcycle off.
If you’re a victim of a motorcycle accident in Virginia Beach, the results can be devastating.  You’re going to need to find an experienced legal team to talk to you about your case, examine police reports, speak to witnesses, and ensure that your case is trial-ready. Contact one of our skilled motorcycle crash attorneys at Virginia Beach Injury Law, we are here for you and can answer any questions you may have about your motorcycle accident.

Injuries Related To Motorcycle Accidents in Virginia

Because motorcycles offer virtually no protection for their riders, accidents involving motorcycles can result in serious injuries or even death to the rider. The most common injuries that result from motorcycle accidents are:
  • Burns- Muffler burns are very common in motorcycle crashes. These burns can range from first-degree, where the skin is reddened and looks like a bad sunburn, to third-degree, where the skin is either blackened or white and slightly charred. And even though they seem painless, third-degree burns affect the full thickness of the skin and medical attention should be sought out immediately.
  • Broken Bones- Broken bones are excruciatingly painful, no matter where the broken bone is. In a motorcycle accident, the most common bones broken for motorcyclists are in the feet and legs.
  • Amputation Of Limbs- This explains itself. Because motorcycles are much smaller than other vehicles and offer little to no protection for the rider, amputated limbs are not uncommon in motorcycle accidents. In most amputee cases, there is no hope for the limb to be returned to the body, and even if it’s possible, the limb will never be fully functional.
  • Severe Skin Abrasions (Road Rash)- As the saying goes, dress for the slide, not the ride. Not being properly dressed for a motorcycle ride can result in road rash in a crash. The wounds, if properly taken care of, can heal in as little as 2 weeks, but sometimes they affect multiple layers of the skin and require surgery. This type of road rash can take months and sometimes years to completely heal.
  • Facial Fractures And Disfigurement- Some states require that motorcycle riders wear a full-face helmet. This is because if your face hits the concrete in an accident, you’re likely to sustain facial fractures or a serious TBI. Sometimes these fractures are minor, but other times, they result in facial disfigurement. Reconstructive surgery along with counseling for the victim who has lost their self-confidence from the injuries goes hand in hand when it comes to facial disfigurement.
  • Spinal Cord Injuries- Spinal cord injuries are divided into two types: incomplete and complete. Incomplete spinal cord injuries are the most common type of spinal cord injury, and the injured person still has functional body parts below the injured body part. Complete spinal cord injuries are less common but are more severe. In these cases, the injured party cannot move anything below the injured body part, known as paralysis.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)- Traumatic brain injuries are not only life-threatening, but they are impairing. Traumatic brain injuries can be caused by a bump or blow to the head, when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue, or when the head suddenly and violently hits an object. These injuries can include brain hemorrhage, edema, or brain cell damage. Some people never fully recover, while others take months to years of rehabilitation and treatment.
Being seriously injured in a motorcycle crash is scary and stressful. Losing income from having to miss work due to your injuries makes things even harder as the medical bills pile up. If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, Portsmouth, Hampton, Suffolk, or Chesapeake, our team of motorcycle accident lawyers at Virginia Beach Injury Law can answer any questions that you have about your accident. We know how stressful and confusing these types of accidents can be. Give us a call today for your free consultation to talk about your motorcycle accident related injuries. Our attorneys will ensure that you get the maximum compensation for your motorcycle injuries and losses.

Motorcycle Safety to Avoid Being Injured in An Accident in Virginia

Safe motorcycling takes balance, coordination, and good judgment.  Follow the state regulations for motorcycle laws and these general safety tips to help ensure that your ride goes as smoothly as possible:
  • Make sure you are properly licensed to operate a motorcycle
  • Wear a helmet
  • Check your tire pressure, tread depth, breaks, headlights, turn signals, and fluid levels before you ride
  • Wear proper body protection. Remember, dress for the slide, not the ride.
  • Ride responsibly
  • Be alcohol and drug-free while riding
  • If you aren’t experienced with a certain type of motorcycle, practice riding the motorcycle first before taking it out on the road
Not only is it the driver’s responsibility to do these things to ensure that the ride goes smooth, but motorcycle passengers also have a responsibility to make sure the ride stays as safe as possible. Safety tips for passengers include:
  • Hang On- Passengers need to be aware of what’s going on and brace for braking and acceleration by hanging on to the driver’s waist or the sidebars.
  • Where You Keep Your Feet- Many passengers think that they’re helping the driver support the bike by putting their feet down at stops, but it’s more dangerous because it can upset the driver’s balance. Keeping your feet on the pegs at all times is overall safer for both you and the driver
  • Lean With The Driver- Many new motorcycle passengers freak out and accidentally counter a driver’s steering efforts by sitting straight up in a corner. Passengers need to lean with the driver and look to their inside shoulder to avoid counter-leaning problems.

Talk To A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer In Virginia Beach

Being seriously injured in a motorcycle crash is a scary and confusing time. Losing wages from having to miss work due to injuries, medical bills, and dealing with insurance companies are added stress that you don’t deserve to endure alone. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, Portsmouth, Hampton, Suffolk, or  Chesapeake that wasn’t your fault, contact a dedicated Virginia motorcycle crash attorney at Virginia Beach Injury Law at (757)-802-4662 or visit us at vabeachlaw.com to explore your legal rights as a victim and start your motorcycle crash injury claim today.

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