Alexandria Law Firm Experienced in Representing the Seriously Injured in Motorcycle Accidents

Although motorcycle accidents are less common than car crashes in Virginia, when they do occur, they often result in very serious injuries or death for riders. Per mile traveled, there are approximately 35 times more deaths from motorcycle accidents than car crashes. The high rate of fatalities is attributable mainly to the fact that motorcycles do not offer the mass and protection to a driver that a typical automobile provides.

In representing an injured motorcyclist, or the family of motorcyclists killed in a crash, the attorney must prove that the injury or death was due to the negligence of another motorist. Other less frequent causes of motorcycle crashes giving rise a legal claim, may involve dangerous road conditions or a product defect due to the negligence of an entity such as a road contractor or the motorcycle manufacturer.

As to claims against other motorists, the most common cause of motorcycle crashes involving motor vehicles is the failure of the motorist to see the motorcyclist. Failing to see a motorcyclist leads to the following types of common crashes involving motorcycles and motor vehicles:

• Head-on collisions: These account for the majority of motorcycle accident deaths (56 percent). In most of these cases, a car strikes a motorcycle from the front. These types of accidents are often fatal for motorcycle riders and can give rise to a wrongful death claim.
• Cars making left-hand turns: These are the second-most common type of motorcycle accident. Often, these occur when a vehicle is making a left-hand turn, and a motorcycle is going straight through an intersection.
• Road hazards: Motorcycles are vulnerable to many hazards that rarely cause auto accidents, such as potholes, uneven pavement, and slippery surfaces.
• Product defects: Motorcycles are comprised of numerous parts, some of which can fail, leading to crashes. Any such failure can be due to the poor design (i.e., design defect claim) or to a manufacturing defect, (i.e., the product was not manufactured as designed or intended). In such cases, the manufacturer of the motorcycle or component part is potentially liable for the injury or death. Other possible product liability claims involving brain injuries to a motorcyclist include helmet defect claims based upon the failure of the helmet to perform as required by applicable safety standards such as those of the American National Standards Institute concerning impact resistant.

Sample motorcycle accident cases we have handled include:

• Wrongful death case arising from a motorcyclist cutting a left turn sharp and striking the motorcyclist causing fatal injuries
• Motorist pulling out of parking lot failing to yield the right of way to the motorcyclist traveling on the roadway, hitting motorcyclist and causing a broken ankle requiring surgery to repair
• The motorist failed to yield the right-of-way to a motorcyclist when turning onto the main road from a side street, striking the motorcyclist and causing multiple injuries including broken ribs, punctured lung, and a concussion.

If you or a loved one have been hurt in a motorcycle accident, the experienced attorneys here at Curcio Law can help you get the financial compensation to which you are legally entitled. Consultations are free, and you pay no attorney fees until you recover through settlement or verdict. To schedule an appointment, call us at 703-836-3366 or contact our Alexandria office online.