Roanoke Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

With its mountain roads and views from the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway, it’s no wonder that motorcycle riding is popular in Roanoke. Unfortunately, when motorcycle riders are involved in crashes, they are more vulnerable to harm than those in other vehicles. They can face severe, long-lasting, and potentially life-threatening injuries.

If you suffered injury in a Roanoke motorcycle collision, understanding your rights and the steps to take when seeking compensation is vital. At Marks & Harrison, we can walk you through the steps involved in a motorcycle accident lawsuit and explain the compensation you may recover. To learn more, contact us today and receive a free consultation about your case.

What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Roanoke?

Many of the common causes of motorcycle accidents in Roanoke are related to the actions of other motorists. Many car and truck drivers don’t give motorcycle riders the respect they deserve on the road, which can lead to severe or deadly consequences. For instance, motorcycle crashes occur when drivers:

• Follow riders too closely
• Fail to check their mirrors for riders before changing lanes
• Do not yield to riders when turning left at intersections
• Attempt to pass riders within their lane.

Mechanical failures, poor weather, and poor road conditions can also lead to motorcycle accidents in Roanoke.

What Sort of Injuries Happen from a Roanoke Motorcycle Accident?

Motorcycle accident injuries are often serious because motorcycle riders lack structural protection, and even a minor accident can throw a rider from their motorcycle onto the pavement. The most common injuries are:

• Fractured bones caused by colliding with vehicles, fixed objects, and the pavement
• Road rash caused by sliding across the pavement after an accident
• Soft tissue injuries, including strains, sprains, and tears to muscles, tendons, and ligaments
• Burn injuries caused by contact with hot motorcycle parts, such as the engine and exhaust pipe
• Internal organ damage caused by blunt force trauma
• Traumatic brain injuries caused by blows to the head during the crash
• Spinal cord injuries caused by the impact of a collision or the rider striking the ground.

What Steps Should I Take If I’m Involved in a Motorcycle Wreck?

If you were involved in a motorcycle accident in Roanoke, you can take the following steps to strengthen your case and improve your chances of recovering the full compensation you need:

• Follow up on all medical treatment until you have fully recovered — Keep track of all medical bills related to the accident.
• Write down everything you remember about the accident — Keep a pain journal that tracks your daily pain levels and how your injuries impact your ability to perform routine tasks.
• Avoid providing a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance company — The insurance company will try to get you to say something it can use to deny your motorcycle accident claim.
• Consult a motorcycle accident lawyer — Let them handle your case from start to finish so you don’t have to worry about it.

How Do You Prove the Other Driver Was to Blame for the Accident?

Proving liability in a motorcycle accident case involves gathering various types of evidence. This evidence may include accident scene photographs, traffic, surveillance, helmet, or dashboard camera footage, eyewitness statements, expert testimony, and your medical records. A motorcycle accident lawyer can gather this evidence while you recover from your injuries. However, it’s essential to begin working with a lawyer as soon as possible so they can start collecting this evidence before it disappears.

Can I Seek Compensation for My Motorcycle Accident Injuries?

You can seek compensation for Roanoke motorcycle accident injuries from the at-fault driver’s liability coverage policy. All drivers in Virginia must have auto insurance, and the minimum amounts of liability coverage for policies purchased on or after January 1, 2025, are:

• $50,000 per person for bodily injury or death
• $100,000 per accident for bodily injury or death
• $25,000 per accident for property damage.

If your losses exceed the at-fault driver’s insurance policy limits, your lawyer can advise you about other options for seeking additional compensation, including suing the liable party directly or identifying other at-fault parties.

What Happens If I Am Partly to Blame for the Accident?

If you are partly to blame for the accident that injured you, you may be unable to recover compensation for your injuries. Virginia has a pure contributory negligence rule. In states that use a pure contributory negligence rule, a plaintiff cannot recover compensation if they contributed to their injuries.

However, just because you think you contributed to the accident, or the other driver or their insurance company claims you did, does not mean the evidence supports it. It’s essential to consult a motorcycle accident attorney who will investigate the incident and gather evidence that establishes who was at fault.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Virginia?

Virginia’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases, including motorcycle accidents, gives victims two years from the date of injury to file lawsuits against those responsible for their injuries. Failure to file your case on time will result in losing the right to pursue the compensation you need. An experienced personal injury lawyer can handle your case and file your lawsuit within this time limit.

Contact a Roanoke Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Marks & Harrison’s personal injury attorneys have been serving clients since 1911. We are proud to have secured more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients in Roanoke and throughout Virginia, including some of the most significant case results in state history.

Our highly skilled team of 32 personal injury attorneys and over 130 support personnel includes research attorneys, in-house investigators, and lawyers who previously worked for insurance companies. To learn more about what it’s like working with our team, check out our testimonials.

If you suffered motorcycle accident injuries in Roanoke, VA, contact us for a free consultation with an experienced and knowledgeable member of our legal team. We’ll review your case and walk you through the steps involved in seeking the compensation you need.