Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Richmond

The lure of the open road has drawn many people to the freedom motorcycles offer. You can find more motorcycles on U.S. roads today than ever before, as evidenced by steadily increasing motorcycle registrations. During the most recent 10-year span, the number of registered motorcycles in our country rose by 962,278, or an increase of 12 percent, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Today, nearly 9 million registered motorcycles are on our roads.

Fortunately, in Virginia, statistics indicate that the increase in motorcycle riders has not led to an increase in accidents, injuries, or deaths.

The Virginia Highway Safety Office motorcycle accident reports that in one recent year:

• 1,792 crashes in Virginia involved motorcycles (down 15 percent from the prior year)
• 87 of those crashes resulted in fatalities (a 19 percent decrease)
• 1,404 caused injuries (a 16 percent drop).

However, due to the negligence of others, the fact remains that motorcycle riding can be a dangerous activity in Richmond.

If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle wreck through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact our Richmond motorcycle accident lawyers at Marks & Harrison today for a free, no-obligation, and confidential consultation, or submit a case evaluation request online. In addition to our Richmond location, we have offices throughout Virginia, including Chesterfield, Harrisonburg, Hopewell, Petersburg, Charlottesville, Tappahannock, Louisa, Staunton, Fredericksburg, and Alexandria.

What Should You Do Immediately After a Richmond Motorcycle Accident?

What you do in the immediate aftermath of a motorcycle accident can seriously affect your health, your safety, and your ability to pursue fair compensation from the at-fault motorist.

Try to take as many of the following steps as possible after a motorcycle accident:

• Seek medical attention even if your injuries seem minor, as some symptoms may not appear right away.
• Call 911 and request a police response so the accident is properly documented.
• Take photos and videos of the scene, vehicle damage, road conditions, injuries, and any relevant traffic signs or signals.
• Gather contact and insurance information from all involved parties and obtain names and contact information for any witnesses.
• Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer for help pursuing your claim for compensation.

How Do You Prove Who Was at Fault in My Motorcycle Accident Case?

It will likely take significant evidence to prove that someone else caused the motorcycle accident that injured you. Depending on the circumstances, the evidence required might include the following examples:

• Police report citing the driver for a moving violation
• Eyewitness statements confirming the other driver’s actions caused the collision
• Photographs of the accident scene
• Traffic camera, dash cam, helmet cam, or surveillance footage capturing the accident
• Accident reconstruction analysis linking the other driver’s conduct to the crash
• Cell phone records or toxicology results demonstrating distraction, impairment, or other negligent behavior

How Could My Case Be Affected if I Did Not Wear a Helmet?

Virginia state law requires everyone operating or riding on a motorcycle to wear a helmet. Insurance companies will often try to use the helmet law against an injured motorcyclist who was not wearing a helmet at the time of a crash, arguing that the lack of protection worsened the rider’s injuries and that they should not have to pay for the additional treatment.

However, the same law specifically states that “failure to wear … protective helmets shall not constitute negligence per se in any civil proceeding.” In other words, an at-fault driver or their insurer cannot use a motorcyclist’s failure to wear a helmet as a way to limit the compensation they are owed.

Contact Marks & Harrison immediately if an insurance company tries to tell you that you are not entitled to compensation because you were not wearing a helmet.

What Are Virginia’s Insurance Requirements for Motorcyclists?

Virginia requires all motorcyclists to carry liability insurance that covers at least:

• $50,000 for injuries or death to one person
• $100,000 for injuries or death to two or more people
• $25,000 for property damage

Note that liability coverage applies to injuries and property damage the policyholder causes to others. It does not provide first-party coverage to the policyholder. A motorcyclist who has been injured in an accident someone else caused can pursue an insurance claim against that person’s liability policy.

Is There a Deadline for Filing a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Virginia?

In most cases, Virginia’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. While certain circumstances can change the deadline, you can best protect your rights to fair compensation by getting started on your case right away.

Why Should You Hire Marks & Harrison After Your Richmond Motorcycle Accident?

You have many options when it comes to motorcycle accident lawyers in Richmond. But when results matter, so does your choice in legal representation.

Here are just a few of the many reasons to choose Marks & Harrison:

• Our history of success – Marks & Harrison has been fighting hard for injury victims since 1911. We have recovered more than $1 billion for people in situations like yours, providing them with the resources they need to rebuild their lives after devastating accidents.
• Our award-winning service – The successes we have achieved for our clients have earned us acclaim and recognition, including being named to the Daily News-Record’s Best of the Valley list for 2026 and the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s The Best list from 2015 through 2026. Best Lawyers named us among the Best Law Firms in the United States in 2026.
• Our commitment to our clients – We abide by a Client Bill of Rights to help us provide compassionate, respectful, and diligent advocacy. Our attorneys live and work in the communities we serve, and our bilingual staff helps us serve as many of our friends and neighbors as possible.
• Our considerable resources – Our highly skilled team includes 34 lawyers and more than 130 support personnel. We have a team of in-house investigators and research attorneys who help us build our cases. We have the resources to see even the most complex, hard-fought cases through to a resolution.
• Our insider perspective – Many of our attorneys used to work for insurance companies, which means we know how they build cases to minimize payouts. More importantly, we know how to spot weak points in a defense and how to exploit them.
• Our skill during negotiations – We are forceful negotiators during settlement talks and will seek maximum compensation as efficiently as possible. We want you to get paid fairly without the drawn-out uncertainty of a trial if at all possible.
• Our willingness to go to trial – However, we are also ready to go to court if that is what it takes to deliver the results you need. We prepare every case as though it will go to trial. That not only strengthens our hand during settlement talks, but also means we are ready to go if the other side digs in.
• Our no-fee guarantee – We know that money is tight after a serious accident. Many injured people worry about the cost of hiring an experienced and effective legal team. That is why we work on a contingency-fee basis, which means you pay us a fee only if and when we win your case. That way, you are not paying out of pocket to access the legal help you deserve as you assert your right to fair compensation.

We back up our reputation with the meaningful results we have recovered for injured motorcyclists, including:

• $7,000,000 at trial in Greensville County for a motorcyclist who suffered severe injuries because of a collision with a drunk driver
• $1,986,884 at trial in Stafford County for a motorcyclist who was hit by a tractor-trailer
• $1,220,000 at trial in Albemarle County for a man injured in a motorcycle wreck
• $1,050,000 through a settlement for a retired Army colonel and his wife who were hit while riding their motorcycle

Behind these numbers are actual people whose lives we have changed for the better. Here is what one of our satisfied former clients had to say about their experience with our firm:

“From the day I contacted the firm, I felt that they had my best interests in mind and we were moving forward. There were injuries involved and medical claims to be handled. Throughout the whole process, I knew they were working for me and my family members that were involved. I highly recommend this firm!” – Karen N.

How Can Our Richmond Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Help You?

Your main focus right now should be on resting, treating your injuries, and getting life back to normal. While you do that, Marks & Harrison will be hard at work on your case. Here is what you can expect throughout the process:

• We will start with a free, no-pressure consultation and get to know you and understand your concerns. That way, we can better advocate for your unique needs and goals.
• Our support staff can help you get proper medical care for your injuries. We can recommend specialists and help coordinate care. Our goal is to support every aspect of your recovery, not just the financial component that some firms make their sole focus.
• We will fully and independently investigate the motorcycle accident, determining how it occurred and everyone who was at fault. Our attorneys will identify all available sources of compensation with the goal of maximizing your financial recovery.
• We will work with experts as needed to understand the full scope of the financial and personal harm you have suffered so we can calculate the fair value of your case. That could include economic losses like medical expenses and lost wages, as well as subjective ones like pain and suffering.
• Our attorneys will communicate with the at-fault parties’ insurance providers so you do not have to. That way, you are not exposed to the pressure tactics that adjusters use to minimize payouts.
• We will negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement while also preparing your case for trial in case the other side will not make a reasonable offer. We are tough litigators who are not afraid to take a case to court if that is the best way to pursue the results you need.
• You can expect us to be by your side from start to finish. We will provide regular updates on how your case is progressing and empower you to make critical decisions as needed. We will be available to take your calls and answer your questions.

The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can begin working on your case. Reach out today so we can start pursuing the recovery you deserve.

What are Common Injuries After a Motorcycle Accident in Richmond?

As motorcycles provide virtually no protection, accidents involving motorcycles can result in serious injuries or even death for their riders. Most motorcycle collisions result in injuries for the rider.

Common motorcycle injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Amputations of limbs
• Spinal cord injuries, often resulting in paralysis
• Broken bones, particularly in the feet and legs
• Facial fractures and disfigurement
• Severe skin abrasions (known as road rash)
• Burns

Head injuries are among the leading causes of motorcycle accident fatalities, despite the fact that Virginia law requires all motorcycle operators and passengers to wear helmets. Virginia also requires all motorcycle operators to wear a face shield and safety glasses or goggles, unless the bike is equipped with safety glasses or a windshield. Contact our Richmond motorcycle accident lawyer today.

What are the Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Richmond?

Research has revealed that the majority of crashes are not the fault of the motorcyclist, but of other motorists. The 2007 edition of Virginia Traffic Crash Facts states that in 40% of the accidents involving motorcycles, there was no violation on the part of the motorcyclist. Inclement weather is also not a major factor. In 97% of the reported motorcycle accidents, the weather was clear or cloudy.

Common factors in motorcycle accidents include the following:

• Drivers simply fail to see motorcycles. Drivers are looking for larger passenger vehicles and often fail to see much smaller motorcycles in traffic. Many accidents occur when drivers make left-hand turns into oncoming motorcycles, or when they pull out of driveways, parking lots, or side streets directly into the paths of motorcycles.
• Drivers fail to do head checks for blind spots. Being smaller than passenger vehicles, motorcycles can easily disappear in a driver’s blind spot. A driver who fails to perform a head check can cut a motorcycle off in the process of switching lanes.
• Drivers misjudge the speed of motorcycles. As motorcycles are smaller than cars, SUVs or pickup trucks, it is a common driving error to misjudge their speed, change lanes into them, or pull out in front of them.
• Drivers follow motorcycles too closely. Motorcycles are able to stop more quickly than passenger vehicles, and drivers often follow too closely, increasing the chances of a rear-end collision.
• Drunk driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, alcohol impairment was a factor in 1,296 fatal motorcycle crashes in 2013.
• Distracted driving. Drivers who are distracted from the important task of operating a motor vehicle by anything are a hazard to others on the road, including motorcyclists. Text messaging while driving is extremely dangerous because it requires cognitive, manual, and visual attention from the driver.
• Hazardous roads. Potholes, cracks, loose gravel, and other road defects cause accidents for motorcycles more easily than for other types of motor vehicles.
• Mechanical or equipment problems. Flawed design or defective parts can make the motorcycle itself a danger to the rider.

What Damages Can I Get After a Motorcycle Accident in Richmond, VA?

In a majority of accidents involving motorcycles, the driver of the other motor vehicle simply did not see the motorcycle. Nevertheless, negligent drivers should be held accountable for the damage they cause, and injured riders are entitled to full and fair compensation.

If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident caused by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to compensation for:

Legal Help for Virginia Motorcycle Accident Victims

The Richmond motorcycle accident attorneys at the law firm of Marks & Harrison have represented dozens of motorcycle wreck victims. In one unusual case, we were able to obtain $120,000 for our client in compensation for a fractured knee after her motorcycle instructor startled her during a training class. The motorcycle crash lawyers of Marks & Harrison have been representing injured people and their families in Richmond and throughout Virginia for almost 100 years.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident or lost a loved one in an accident, contact us for a free, no-obligation, and confidential consultation. Our knowledgeable Richmond motorcycle accident attorney will analyze your case and advise you as to whether you are entitled to compensation.

If we don’t think you need an attorney, we will tell you immediately. Contact us today by calling toll-free at 1-888-807-3136. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also get help online by filling out our free case evaluation form. Our nearby Richmond personal injury lawyer can help.

Sources:

• NHTSA: 2013 Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview