Do I Need a Lawyer for a Motorcycle Accident in Virginia?

If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident in Virginia, you may be asking yourself whether you should have a lawyer represent you. Whether you need a lawyer depends on the circumstances of the motorcycle accident, who was at fault, and the severity of your injuries.

Injured motorcyclists who try to handle an injury claim on their own may find the process of dealing with an insurance company to be challenging and stacked against them. If your injuries are serious, you need serious legal assistance. It won’t cost you anything to have a qualified personal injury lawyer review your accident and offer a perspective about whether you have a valid injury claim. That is a good start.

With nearly 100 years of combined experience inside and outside the courtroom, the Virginia motorcycle accident attorneys of Lichtenstein Law Group, PLC have the skills and resources you’ll want on your side if you’ve been injured by another motorist in a motorcycle crash.

Contact us today for a free consultation with a Roanoke motorcycle accident lawyer. Our award-winning legal team is committed to helping you seek the positive outcome you need to move forward.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Virginia

The common causes of motorcycle accidents in Virginia include:

• Speeding
• Reckless driving
• Running stop signs or red lights
• Unsafe lane changes, including failing to check mirrors or signal before moving
• Unsafe turns, including failing to yield to an oncoming motorcycle
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Fatigued driving
• Distracted driving behaviors, such as texting while driving
• Drivers passing a motorcycle in the same lane of traffic
• Inexperienced drivers who may not look out for motorcycles
• Adverse weather
• Poor road conditions, such as broken pavement or potholes, gravel on the roadway, uneven shoulders

What You Should Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Virginia

If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident, you can take steps to protect your rights and support your claim for compensation by:

• Taking photos of the crash scene, including damage to the vehicles involved, traffic controls, skid marks, and any visible injuries you might have sustained in the accident.
• Making sure to get insurance and contact information for every driver involved.
• Seeing your primary doctor or going to an emergency center or urgent care clinic to get checked out for any injuries you suffered.
• Following treatment instructions and keeping follow-up appointments with specialists or physical therapists.
• Retaining copies of any bills or invoices along with copies of pay stubs or income statements if you miss time from work after the accident.
• Avoid discussing the accident on social media.

Contact a Virginia motorcycle accident attorney to go over the steps you can take to pursue financial compensation for your expenses and losses.

How Do I Pick a Lawyer for a Motorcycle Crash That Is Right for Me?

When you have a motorcycle accident claim, you may have many lawyers to choose from to represent you in your case. Most motorcycle accident attorneys offer free, no-obligation consultations. During the consultation, you will review the basic details of your accident so the attorney can advise you regarding your legal rights and options.

The consultation also presents an opportunity for you to ask questions of the attorney to determine whether the attorney may be right for you. You should speak to at least a few attorneys before deciding on one to handle your case.

Examples of questions that can help you determine if a motorcycle crash attorney is right for you include:

• How long have you practiced law? How long have you been working in personal injury law? What percentage of your cases involve motorcycle accidents? About how many motorcycle accident cases have you handled? – These questions are designed to ensure that you are picking an attorney who has experience with motorcycle accident claims. Motorcycle accident cases can become complex, so you don’t want an attorney that handles these types of claims infrequently.
• What percentage of the motorcycle accident cases that you handle are settled? How often do you win the cases you take to trial? – The right attorney for you will have the experience and willingness to pursue your case all the way to trial if necessary. Some attorneys take on many cases that they try to settle as quickly as possible, often for less than maximum compensation. You will want to feel confident that if your attorney advises accepting a settlement offer, that the settlement amount represents fair and full compensation based on the facts of your case. In addition, you will want to make sure that the attorney you select has a reputation of success in and out of the courtroom.
• How many cases do you or your firm handle at once? – The right attorney for you will have the time, energy, and resources to thoroughly pursue your claim, without letting it slip through the cracks because they have too many cases on their plate at once.
• Will you be handling my case, or will another attorney handle it? How often should I expect to hear updates from you? Will I be able to contact you directly? If I call or email, how quickly should I expect a response? Will I be expected to handle any tasks related to my case (such as requesting copies of medical records)? – Finally, you will want to ask questions to get a sense of what kind of working relationship you might have with the attorney. You will be best served by finding a  law firm whose style of representation meshes with your needs and expectations.

Our Motorcycle Accident Law Firm Is Ready to Help

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Virginia through no fault of your own, turn to the experienced motorcycle accident lawyers of Lichtenstein Law Group, PLC. Call or contact us online today for a free case review.

John E. Lichtenstein

John E. Lichtenstein is a founding member of Lichtenstein Law Group, PLC, with more than three decades of experience as a trial lawyer. A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, John has successfully resolved hundreds of cases on behalf of his clients, including some of the largest jury verdicts and settlements in Virginia history. He has also served his profession, including serving as President of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association in 2015-2016 and as Chair of the Virginia State Bar Criminal Law Section in 2007-2008.