Manassas, VA Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Attorneys for Motorcycle Riders Injured by Negligence in Manassas, Virginia

Motorcycle riding offers a sense of freedom and connection to the road. However, it also carries risks that are different from the issues that may affect people in passenger vehicles. When a collision occurs, a motorcycle rider can suffer severe harm, and their injuries could result in permanent disabilities or even wrongful death. Victims in these cases will need to understand their legal options and the steps they can take to obtain financial compensation.

Motorcycle accidents may take place on highways, residential streets, intersections, or other locations where inattentive or negligent drivers engage in dangerous behavior. When another driver's negligence causes a crash, the team at Locklin & Coleman, PLLC can help an injured rider take the right steps to recover full compensation for the serious harm they have suffered.

Why Motorcycle Riders Face Greater Risks of Injuries

In a passenger vehicle, drivers and passengers are protected by a structure that is designed to absorb energy in a crash. Multiple safety systems can provide additional protection, including seat belts, airbags, and crumple zones in the vehicle. A motorcycle offers none of these protections. When a collision occurs, the rider's body will absorb the impact directly, and they may be thrown from the bike entirely. Contact with other vehicles, the road surface, barriers, or fixed objects can lead to catastrophic injuries.

The size of a motorcycle can also be a factor that may make riders more vulnerable to harm. Motorcycles are smaller and lighter than other vehicles, and they can be pushed, spun, or knocked down by the impact forces in a collision. A rider who is thrown from their bike will be unable to protect themselves from sliding across pavement, hitting a guardrail, or being struck by other vehicles.

Protective gear like helmets, riding jackets, gloves, and boots can help absorb some of the impact of a collision, but only to a very limited extent. This equipment will not be enough to protect against the impact of a collision with a much larger and heavier vehicle.

Serious Injuries Affecting Motorcycle Riders in Collisions

The injuries that can occur in motorcycle accidents may require extensive medical treatment, and they can have permanent effects on a victim's health and well-being. They may include:

Road Rash

When a rider is thrown from their motorcycle and lands on the pavement, they may experience serious abrasions that are commonly known as road rash. At higher speeds, these injuries will be much worse than simple scrapes. They may remove entire layers of skin and cause damage to muscles or other tissues. Skin grafts or other surgical treatments may be needed, and a person will be at risk of serious infections. Many road rash injuries result in permanent scarring and disfigurement.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Even with a helmet, a motorcyclist may suffer a traumatic brain injury in a crash. They may strike their head on the ground, another vehicle, or a fixed object, which can cause damage to the brain. Brain injuries may lead to multiple types of ongoing effects, including prolonged cognitive difficulties, loss of memory, personality changes, seizures, neurological disorders, and more.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The violent nature of a motorcycle can place extreme stress on the back, neck, and spine. Fractures or dislocations in the spine can damage the nerves in the spinal cord, resulting in paralysis. These injuries may affect every aspect of a person's daily life, and lifelong medical care may be needed.

Bone Fractures

Broken bones often occur in motorcycle accidents. A rider may extend their arms to break a fall, which can result in fractures in the wrists, forearms, and collarbones. Leg and hip fractures can occur when a motorcycle falls on a rider or when a rider strikes another vehicle or the ground. Rib fractures are also common. Some serious fractures may require surgical repair, and extended rehabilitation may be needed.

Internal Injuries

The force of a motorcycle crash can cause internal bleeding and organ damage. Injuries to the spleen, liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, or other bodily systems can put a person's life at risk.

Forms of Driver Negligence That Can Cause Motorcycle Accidents

The majority of motorcycle accidents are caused by the negligence of people driving other vehicles. This negligence may include:

Failure to See Motorcycles

In many cases, a driver may not notice a motorcycle that is traveling near their vehicle. Because of their small size, motorcycles may be obscured by other vehicles or objects, or they may be in one of a vehicle's blind spots. A driver who fails to check for the presence of a motorcycle before changing lanes, pulling out of a side street, or making a turn may cause an accident.

Left-Turn Accidents

When a vehicle makes a left turn across the path of a motorcycle, the motorcyclist may have no way to avoid a collision. These accidents can occur when a driver turns left at an intersection and does not see an approaching motorcycle or underestimates how quickly it is approaching. This can lead to a direct frontal impact for a motorcycle, which can be very dangerous for the rider.

Unsafe Lane Changes

Drivers who change lanes when motorcycles are traveling in adjacent lanes can cause serious harm to motorcycle riders. This may cause a sideswipe accident, or a motorcyclist may be forced to brake suddenly, swerve, or leave the road entirely. When a driver makes an unsafe lane change at a high speed on a highway, a motorcycle rider may have almost no time to react, and they may suffer serious injuries in an accident.

Distracted Driving

A driver whose attention is on their phone or who is attempting to engage in other activities while driving will be more likely to fail to notice a motorcycle. A distracted driver may sideswipe a motorcycle when changing lanes, hit a motorcycle at an intersection, or make other errors that can lead to a dangerous motorcycle accident.

Impaired Driving

Alcohol and drug impairment can make it difficult or impossible for drivers to notice and respond to motorcycles. An intoxicated driver will be more likely to engage in unsafe behaviors or fail to see a motorcycle, and if they do not slow down before a collision, they may inflict severe injuries.

Speeding and Aggressive Driving

Drivers who violate speed limits, tailgate behind motorcycles, or take other aggressive actions can cause dangerous motorcycle accidents. A speeding driver who rear-ends a motorcycle or an aggressive driver who cuts off a motorcycle while changing lanes can cause a crash may cause a motorcycle rider to suffer serious harm.

Contact Our Manassas Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

At Locklin & Coleman, PLLC, our attorneys stand beside motorcycle accident victims, helping them hold negligent drivers accountable and fighting for the compensation they deserve. Contact our Manassas, VA motorcycle accident injury lawyers by calling 703-392-6686 and scheduling a free consultation today.