Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Roanoke

The freedom that motorcycle riders feel from being out of a “cage” can be quickly taken away by careless or negligent drivers who fail to responsibly share the road. Motorcycle crashes often result in serious and life-threatening injuries, leaving riders with crushing medical bills and a frightening prognosis for the future. We have some of the best motorcycle accident lawyers in Roanoke.

One of the Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Roanoke

If you or a family member has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Roanoke caused by someone else’s negligence, you need to know about your right to compensation. An experienced Roanoke motorcycle accident lawyer may be able to help you recover money for your medical bills, lost income, bike repair or replacement expenses, as well as payment for the physical and emotional pain and suffering your injuries, have caused.

Our dedicated Roanoke personal injury lawyers at Lichtenstein Law Group PLC have almost a century of combined legal experience fighting for the rights of motorcycle accident victims and their families. We know how devastating these accidents can be, and we work hard to take the pressure off our clients so they can focus on their recovery rather than fighting with demanding insurance companies.

Schedule a free consultation today to talk about your crash and how we can help. Our Roanoke motorcycle accident attorneys will answer any questions you may have, explain your rights, and walk you through what to expect as we pursue a claim for you.

Roanoke Motorcycle Accident Law Firm

After a serious crash, it can take all your energy just to keep up with the day-to-day struggles of medical treatment, loss of your main mode of transportation, and the lack of paychecks coming in. No one wants to waste time arguing with an insurance company that does not care about them or what they are going through. That’s where our attorneys can help.

The motorcycle accident lawyers at Lichtenstein Law Group PLC, our motorcycle accident attorney to work quickly to investigate your claim and take over all communication with the liable party(s).

You can count on our dedicated motorcycle accident lawyers to:

• Collect all the evidence necessary to prove what happened in your crash, including police accident reports, statements from witnesses, video footage from traffic or security cameras, photos of the scene, accident reconstruction analysis, etc.
• Thoroughly document your injuries through medical records, photos, and expert evaluation, with a focus on determining how you will be affected in the long run
• Uncover all possible sources of compensation for you
• Alert creditors that your claim is pending to keep them from harassing you
• Manage communication with the insurance companies to protect you from saying something or signing something that could hurt your right to full and fair compensation

You cannot count on an insurance adjuster to offer you a fair motorcycle accident settlement right off the bat. The insurance company’s goal is to pay you as little as possible. They do not base their settlement offers on what your case is truly worth. Instead, they base them on what statistics show you are likely to accept.

Do not settle for less than you deserve. Talk to our knowledgeable Roanoke motorcycle accident lawyer today about your right to compensation. As experienced negotiators and respected litigators, we provide aggressive representation to injured accident victims and their families.

What Compensation is Available After a Roanoke Motorcycle Accident?

There is no way to tell how much your case is worth right from the start. And anyone who gives you an estimate is not being honest. In order to get a full understanding of the damages you have suffered, you will need time to see how your recovery goes and how you will be affected down the line.

Depending on the circumstances of your case, our legal team may demand compensation after your motorcycle accident for:

• Medical expenses, both now and in the future. This includes payment for emergency treatment, surgeries, rehabilitative therapy, medication, assistive medical devices, long-term care needs, etc.
• Lost income and reduced earning capacity. Some accident victims are not able to go back to the work they once did and are forced to take lesser-paying jobs. Others may never be able to work again. This needs to be factored into any compensation demands.
• Damage to your bike. In addition to compensation to repair or replace your motorcycle, we will seek payment for any other personal property that was damaged in the crash.
• Pain and suffering. These damages should take into account the physical, emotional, and psychological toll your injury has had (and will continue to have) on your life.

In extreme cases, our Roanoke motorcycle accident attorney may also pursue punitive damages, which can be awarded as a means to punish the at-fault party for behavior that was intentionally dangerous or extreme. In addition, if you lost a loved one in a motorcycle crash, our team will demand compensation for funeral and burial expenses as part of a wrongful death claim.

What Should I Do After a Roanoke Motorcycle Accident?

In the chaos that can follow a serious accident, it can be difficult to think through what you should be doing to protect your rights. However, there are some steps you can take both immediately and in the days and weeks that follow to assist in your claim for compensation.

Steps to take after a motorcycle accident:

• Seek medical attention immediately. Getting the treatment you need right away is not only crucial for your health, it will begin the process of documenting your injuries.
• Call the police. Law enforcement officers will file an accident report that includes important details that your attorney can follow up on later.
• Get the name and contact information of the other driver. Be careful what you say to the driver, though. Do not apologize or discuss fault.
• Take photos of the damage to vehicles, your injuries, and the scene. If you cannot take pictures, ask a witness or someone else at the scene to take them and send them to you.
• Get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Your motorcycle accident lawyer will want to interview anyone who saw the crash.
• Write down the sequence of events that led to the crash. Try to do this while everything is fresh in your mind. It may also help to draw a simple diagram of the crash scene to show how it happened.
• Keep all paperwork. This includes medical bills, motorcycle repair bills, letters from the insurance company, etc.
• Let your motorcycle accident attorney handle all communication. Insurance adjusters may seem nice, but they are not on your side. They want to get information that will lower your claim’s value.

Understanding Virginia’s Contributory Negligence Law

Virginia’s contributory negligence law is one of the strictest in the United States and can significantly impact personal injury claims, including those involving motorcycle accidents. Here’s what you need to know:

What is Contributory Negligence?

Contributory negligence is a legal doctrine that can bar a plaintiff from recovering any damages if they are found to be even minimally at fault for the accident. This means that if you are determined to be even 1% responsible for the accident, you may be prevented from receiving any compensation from the other party involved​ (MartinWren, P.C.)​​ (The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt)​.

Implications for Motorcycle Accident Claims

1. Burden of Proof:
   • The plaintiff must prove that the other party was entirely at fault. Even a small degree of fault attributed to the plaintiff can result in a complete denial of compensation.
2. Insurance Tactics:
   • Insurance companies often exploit this rule by attempting to shift some degree of blame onto the injured motorcyclist to avoid paying out claims. It’s crucial to have a strong legal strategy to counter these tactics.
3. Legal Representation:
   • Given the severity of this law, having an experienced attorney is vital. They can gather and present evidence to clearly demonstrate the other party’s full responsibility and protect your right to compensation.
4. Common Challenges:
   • Accidents involving unclear fault lines, such as those at intersections or involving multiple vehicles, can be particularly challenging under this doctrine. It’s essential to meticulously document the scene, witness statements, and other critical evidence immediately after the accident.

Virginia’s contributory negligence law makes it exceptionally challenging for plaintiffs to win compensation if they are found even slightly at fault. This makes it imperative to seek expert legal advice from a motorcycle accident lawyer and meticulously document all aspects of the accident. A skilled attorney can navigate these complexities, gather the necessary evidence, and build a compelling case to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Our Roanoke Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Is Ready to Fight for You

Contact the motorcycle accident lawyers in Roanoke at Lichtenstein Law Group PLC today to schedule a free consultation with our dedicated team of motorcycle accident attorneys. We can meet with you in our office, at your home, or in the hospital. And we will travel anywhere in Virginia to discuss your case, including Roanoke, Charlottesville, Richmond, Norfolk, and the surrounding communities.