Motorcyclist Received $800,000 After Crash With Virginia Beach School Bus

Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to the carelessness of other drivers on the highways of Virginia. Unlike cars, motorcycles offer little protection against any potential impact in an accident. As a personal injury attorney, I know that the injuries resulting from wrecks involving motorcycle accidents are often catastrophic.

In January 2014, a man was riding his motorcycle at 7 a.m. in Virginia Beach when a school bus attempted to make a left turn at the intersection of Upton Drive and Old Dam Neck Road. The bus driver did not see the man approaching the intersection on his motorcycle and entered the intersection. The man was unable to avoid the large bus and struck its back end, getting thrown from the motorcycle in the process. Time and time again we see accidents in which motorcyclists are injured by other vehicles when the drivers are making a left turn. It’s bad enough when the at-fault driver is in a car. If a motorcyclist hits a heavy school bus, the consequences are likely to be very serious for the rider.

After the impact, the man was taken via ambulance to Norfolk’s Sentara Hospital, as reported by Virginia Lawyers Weekly. He was treated for multiple finger dislocations, separation of the abdominal wall fascia, multiple rib fractures, pneumothorax, bruising, and road rash. He underwent one surgery for the dislocation of his fingers and two surgeries to repair his abdominal wall. The man’s aggregate medical expenses totaled $233,400.

The bus driver initially claimed that the motorcyclist was speeding and that he was not visible as he was coming around a curve, but there was video evidence that contradicted these claims. Congratulations to the motorcyclist’s attorney, Gregory Sandler of Virginia Beach, for uncovering evidence to successfully disprove the bus driver’s claims. All cases are different and we cannot guarantee the same result in any given case, but the motorcyclist’s lawyer was able to reach a settlement of $800,000 in this case.

Drivers should always be on the lookout for motorcycles. Our firm has shared some helpful tips regarding motorcycle safety to make the roads safer for all vehicles.

Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers has also written a book titled What You Need to Know About Motorcycle Accidents in Virginia. We offer this book free of charge to anyone who is interested in learning more about the topic. To receive your free copy, please call us or visit our Virginia Beach injury lawyers’ free books page and we would be happy to send one to you.

If you have been injured in an accident, please do not hesitate to contact us at (757) 333-3333 for a free, no obligation consultation. We will fight to get you compensated for your injuries.