Virginia Beach Motorcycle Accidents Lawyer

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

Virginia Motorcycle Laws

• 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.

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Virginia

• 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.

Injuries Related To Motorcycle Accidents in Virginia

• 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.

Motorcycle Safety to Avoid Being Injured in An Accident in Virginia

• 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

• 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