Motorcycle collisions often leave victims with severe injuries due to the lack of protection given to a motorcyclist. To recover well from these injuries, significant financial compensation is often required. Injured motorcyclists usually find that their efforts to obtain compensation for their injuries are thwarted by insurance companies that use every excuse to avoid doing the right thing, though.
A Richmond, Virginia motorcycle accident attorney can help you obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries after a crash that was not your fault. The award-winning attorneys at Portner & Shure, P.A. can work with you to build a winning case. We have spent more than 30 years obtaining favorable results on behalf of our English-, Spanish-, Chinese- (Mandarin and Cantonese), Vietnamese-, and Korean-speaking clients and communities.
Today is a good day to learn more about your rights as an injured motorcyclist. Call or contact us online.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries & Compensation
Some of the most severe injuries often reported in motorcycle crash reports are:
- Paralysis
- Brain injuries
- Lacerations
- Skull and facial injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal injuries
- Road rash or friction burns
Most motorcycle accident victims need to seek emergency medical treatment and follow up care in order to fully recover. The cost of this medical care can result in bankruptcy if their health insurance hits its annual cap, which it probably will with such intense treatment methods. Many motorcycle accident victims are often unable to work because of their injuries, which further worsens the financial hardships they face after a wreck.
Motorcycle accident victims in Virginia can be compensated for the cost of their past and future medical care, lost wages, and the pain and suffering caused by their injuries. This is because Virginia lets injury claimants cite both economic and noneconomic damages in a claim.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Virginia law requires all drivers to operate their vehicles with a reasonable level of care. Most motorcycle collisions occur due to an automobile driver’s negligence, though, and not due to the rider’s mistakes.
The most frequent causes of motorcycle collisions include:
- Distracted driving
- Failing to yield
- Improper lane changes
- Speeding
- Improper passing
How Will the Defense Act?
Insurance companies often deny motorcycle accident claims based on the legal defense strategy called contributory negligence. Under the defense of contributory negligence, if a civil defendant produces evidence that shows a personal injury victim acted negligently, and that their negligence contributed to the accident, they are then precluded from recovering anything.
Insurance companies also utilize the defense of assumption of risk. If a civil defendant produces evidence showing that a personal injury victim knew about a risk, appreciated the risk, and despite knowing of the risk undertook an action that caused the injury, the victim is precluded from recovering anything. Assumption of risk defenses are quite weak in motorcycle accident claims, though, because it would imply that anyone who goes on a public road has accepted a high risk of being hit by a negligent driver. This strategy is effectively victim-blaming, and we will not stand for it.
How a Richmond, Virginia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help You
If you were recently injured in a motorcycle accident, a Richmond motorcycle accident attorney from our firm can help you obtain compensation for your injuries. When insurance companies come forth with fierce defenses, we match and surpass their tenacity. We can help you rebuild your life through aggressive representation in and out of court.
