Virginia Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Our Virginia Beach motorcycle accident lawyers can help you stand up to the insurance company and work toward a meaningful financial recovery after a wreck. We’ve recovered millions in compensation for our clients and are ready to fight for you today. No fee unless we win.
On This Page
- Why choose Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers after your motorcycle accident in Virginia Beach?
- What types of damages can I recover if I file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Virginia Beach?
- Why should I hire a motorcycle accident lawyer after a Virginia Beach crash?
- What are common motorcycle accident injuries?
- What causes most motorcycle accidents in Virginia Beach?
- Who could be liable for my motorcycle accident injuries?
- What Virginia motorcycle laws could affect my case?
- How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Virginia?
- Let Our Experienced Virginia Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Fight For You
Did you recently suffer injuries in a motorcycle accident in Virginia Beach You could be entitled to a substantial monetary award to cover the costs of medical bills, disability, lost wages, and emotional suffering. Our experienced Virginia Beach motorcycle accident lawyers will fight to get you maximum compensation after your wreck.
Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers is a fierce advocate for motorcycle crash victims and grieving families across Virginia Beach. Our nationally-acclaimed trial attorneys have a reputation for going above and beyond for our clients, securing top results time and time again for our biker clients.
Show the insurance company and negligent parties that you’re serious about winning your motorcycle accident case. Call our Virginia Beach, VA, law office and put a team with 120+ years of experience in your corner. We offer a free consultation, and there’s no fee unless we win your case, so contact us today to get started.
Why choose Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers after your motorcycle accident in Virginia Beach?
Hiring an experienced Virginia Beach personal injury lawyer is one of the best things you can do to help yourself after an unexpected motorcycle accident.
You’re more likely to win your case when you hire an attorney. You’re also more likely to walk away with a higher settlement or jury award.
However, your choice of attorney matters. It could be the difference between a nominal settlement and a life-changing award.
Here’s why you should choose Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers after your Virginia Beach motorcycle collision:
- Our law firm has won tens of millions of dollars on behalf of clients like you. Recently, attorneys Griffin O’Hanlon and John Baker secured a $7 million dollar settlement for a motorcycle accident victim who suffered a traumatic amputation of their foot.
- Founding partner John Cooper has 30+ years of experience litigating complex motorcycle injury cases.
- Our team has been recognized as Top Lawyers by Coastal Virginia Magazine, Super Lawyers, members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Virginia.
- Client satisfaction and an impeccable reputation have earned our attorneys Superb ratings on Avvo and AV ratings by Martindale-Hubbell.
Our clients are the heartbeat of our law firm. We genuinely care about each and every person we represent. Our attorneys will take the time to listen to your story and understand what you’ve been through. Your story will drive us and help us build a strong claim that sets you up for the meaningful financial victory you deserve.
What types of damages can I recover if I file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Virginia Beach?
Typically, injured motorcyclists in Virginia Beach can file a claim or lawsuit seeking compensatory damages.
Compensatory damages include:
- Economic damages, which are awarded to compensate for financial and economic losses related to a motorcycle accident
- Non-economic damages, which compensate motorcycle accident victims for trauma and life changes that are sometimes difficult to value
Our Virginia Beach motorcycle accident attorneys will work hard to recover money for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Therapy and rehabilitation
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
- Disfigurement
- Scarring
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Funeral and burial expenses if a Virginia Beach motorcycle accident is fatal
At Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers, we know that the insurance company will want to control the valuation process and dictate what your motorcycle accident case is worth. Our attorneys won’t let that happen. We work closely with experts, including accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, and vocational rehabilitation specialists. We can rely on their expertise and incorporate their testimony to build a strong claim that forces the insurer (and other parties) to offer a settlement that really represents the full scope and extent of your injuries and suffering.
Why should I hire a motorcycle accident lawyer after a Virginia Beach crash?
Regardless of how your motorcycle accident happened or who’s at fault, you’re probably going to be dealing with an insurance company when you pursue compensation.
Insurance companies will have an advantage during this process from the very beginning. After all, they deal with claims like yours every day. They’ll be represented by skilled insurance adjusters and defense attorneys. They’ll have considerable resources at their disposal.
Hiring a skilled personal injury lawyer puts a skilled legal advocate in your corner and strips the insurance company of these advantages.
When you choose Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers to handle your Virginia Beach motorcycle accident claim, we will:
- Carefully investigate your motorcycle crash to determine how it happened, why, and who’s at fault.
- Gather critical pieces of evidence, such as police reports, toxicology reports, video recordings, driver cell phone records, witness statements, medical records, and damage to physical property and vehicles.
- Build a compelling legal claim that proves that another party’s negligence caused your motorcycle crash and injuries.
- Defend you against any efforts to shift blame and derail your fight for compensation.
- Negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf, which prevents them from manipulating you or pressuring you to accept a deal that’s worth less than you deserve.
- File a lawsuit and bring your motorcycle accident case to trial if you don’t receive a fair settlement offer.
You need and deserve time to recover from your catastrophic motorcycle accident injuries. That’s tough to do when you’re trying to navigate an insurance claim or lawsuit. Let our accomplished motorcycle accident attorneys in Virginia Beach take the lead on your case so that you can focus on getting better.
What are common motorcycle accident injuries?
Motorcycle accidents can be catastrophic, even when a rider is wearing a helmet and other motorcycle safety gear.
While motorcycle helmets reduce the risk of wrongful death and severe traumatic brain injuries in a collision, riders still commonly sustain:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Sprains, strains, and other soft tissue injuries
- Nerve damage
- Burns
- Road rash
- Concussion
- Facial injury
- Partial or complete amputation
- Spinal cord injury
- Back injury
- Chest injury
- Crush injury
- Neck injury
- Knee injury
- Cuts and abrasions
Get to the closest hospital in Virginia Beach as soon as you can after a serious motorcycle accident. Immediate medical attention can prevent complications and ensure that all of your injuries are diagnosed early on. Your injuries will also be documented in your medical record, which can be used to establish an important causal link between the crash and your trauma.
What causes most motorcycle accidents in Virginia Beach?
Most motorcycle accidents in Virginia Beach happen because someone, often the driver of another vehicle, is negligent.
Negligence reflects a failure to exercise reasonable care under the circumstances, which might include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Drowsy driving and falling asleep at the wheel
- Failing to leave adequate space between a vehicle and a motorcycle when passing
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Rolling stops
- Illegal turns
- Failing to keep a proper lookout
Road defects, construction zones, hazardous weather conditions, vehicle defects, and limited visibility can also contribute to motorcycle accidents in Virginia Beach.
Who could be liable for my motorcycle accident injuries?
ASK THE CAR CRASH EXPERTS
Bill O'Mara, Personal Injury Lawyer
“In an accident involving a motorcycle, the person liable is the one who acted with negligence and caused the accident. This could be either the person on the motorcycle or the non-motorcycle rider, such as when driving another type of motor vehicle like a car, tractor-trailer, or some other truck.”
Virginia law provides that anyone who shares responsibility for causing a motorcycle accident can be liable for resulting damages.
In most cases, this will include anyone whose negligence was a contributing factor to the crash, such as:
- Driver of a passenger vehicle
- Truck driver
- Another motorcyclist
- Bicyclist
- Bus driver
- Employer of a negligent party
- Property owner
- Government agency (e.g., those responsible for road design and maintenance)
What Virginia motorcycle laws could affect my case?
Virginia has laws that apply specifically to motorcyclists and motorists in general. It’s important to understand these laws because they could potentially affect your ability to recover compensation if you get into a motorcycle accident in Virginia Beach.
Motorcycle Licensing Requirements
You must have a valid motorcycle license or endorsement to ride a motorcycle in the state of Virginia.
The state issues three types of motorcycle licenses:
- M: Permits operation of any motorcycle
- M2: Permits operation of two-wheeled motorcycles only
- M3: Permits operation of three-wheeled motorcycles only
You can also add one of these endorsements to your existing Virginia driver’s license. To get a license or endorsement, you must pass a vision screening, pass motorcycle knowledge and practical skills tests, and have a motorcycle permit for at least 30 days.
You can still pursue a personal injury case after a motorcycle accident even if you were not properly licensed at the time of the wreck. As long as you were not negligent in the operation of the motorcycle and contributed to the wreck. If your lack of license had nothing to do with the collision then you may still have a case.
Virginia Motorcycle Helmet and Eye Protection Requirements
You, as well as any passengers on your bike, are legally required to wear a motorcycle helmet when you ride in the state of Virginia. Helmets must satisfy minimum safety recommendations by the American National Standards Institute, Inc., Department of Transportation, or Snell Memorial Foundation.
Virginia state law also requires riders to wear eye protection, such as safety goggles, when their motorcycle does not have a windshield or windscreen.
Your failure to wear a helmet, however, will not prevent you from making a personal injury claim. Even if you violated Virginia law in failing to wear a helmet, Virginia personal injury laws still allow you to pursue an injury claim against the insurance company and even in court.
Lane Splitting is Illegal in Virginia
Lane splitting, the practice of riding a motorcycle between two lanes of traffic, is currently illegal in the state of Virginia. However, a bill introduced in 2022 could permit motorcyclists to “filter” between lanes in certain situations.
If lane filtering is permitted, riders split lanes to pass other vehicles when traffic is at a complete stop or moving less than 10 mph. However, there must be at least two lanes of traffic in the same direction, and riders would not be permitted to exceed 20 mph.
As of right now, however, the practice of lane splitting is still unlawful. Splitting lanes could be considered negligent, which could impact your right to compensation after a crash.
Virginia Is an At-Fault State
Virginia has fault-based insurance rules, which means that you’ll be able to pursue compensation from the party who is responsible for causing your motorcycle accident. More specifically, you’ll file a claim against their insurance company and seek payment from their policy.
As a motorcyclist, you’re legally required to carry an insurance policy that satisfies the state minimum requirements. Coverage must include at least $30,000/$60,000 for bodily injury per person/accident, $20,000 for property damage. For all motorcycle insurance policies effective after January 1, 2025, at least $50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury per person/accident, $25,000 for property damage.
To understand more about Virginia’s laws and answer commonly-asked questions, see our frequently asked questions regarding motorcycle wrecks.
Contributory Negligence or Shared Fault Could Bar a Financial Recovery
Virginia has adopted the strict standard of pure contributory negligence, which means that sharing any responsibility for a motorcycle accident, no matter how slight, will bar a financial recovery for resulting damages.
In other words, you’ll be unable to recover compensation if you share any blame for your motorcycle accident.
It’s important to be aware of this because the insurance company will look for an opportunity to blame you for your Virginia Beach motorcycle accident. This is why it can be risky to talk to an insurance company about your motorcycle accident before consulting with an experienced Virginia Beach motorcycle accident lawyer. If you don’t fight back and challenge these claims, you could watch your ability to recover much-needed compensation disappear.
You should be aware of the laws and procedures that affect you as a motorcyclist in Virginia Beach. However, it’s in your best interest to let our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys handle any challenges or issues you might face after a wreck. We understand how Virginia law might impact your case and have the experience and skills needed to help you work toward the best outcome.
Contact our Virginia Beach car accident lawyers to discuss the specifics of your motorcycle injury claim today.
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Virginia?
Most motorcycle personal injury accident claims in Virginia are subject to a two-year statute of limitations.
This generally gives you until the second anniversary of the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. Generally, if a motorcycle accident result in death, the personal representative of the biker’s estate must file a Virginia wrongful death lawsuit within two years of death resulting from an accident. There are some exceptions which is why it is important to consult with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer.
It’s important to file your claim before the statute of limitations expires. Once the deadline passes, you will forfeit the opportunity to demand compensation for your motorcycle accident injuries. Protect yourself by calling Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers and asking our motorcycle and truck accident attorneys for help right away.
Let Our Experienced Virginia Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Fight For You
You shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden of your motorcycle accident on your own. After all, the accident happened because someone else was careless. They should be held accountable, and that’s precisely what our Virginia Beach motorcycle accident lawyers are prepared to do.
We’ll take on the insurance company and at-fault parties on your behalf while you focus on getting better. We have the extensive experience, resources, and in-depth knowledge of Virginia motorcycle law that’s needed to achieve top results.
Benefit from an award-winning team of Virginia litigators by contacting our Virginia Beach, VA, law office today. We’re here to set up a free consultation 24 hours a day.
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