Casey is a founding partner at River Run Law Group. Casey has tried numerous cases across the Commonwealth in both General District Court and Circuit Court. He has earned millions of dollars for his clients through trials, mediations, and settlements.
A motorcycle crash can leave you with injuries that require immediate treatment, put your bike out of service, and keep you out of work for days or weeks while bills pile up.
In Virginia, motorcycle riders face high risks when sharing the road with larger vehicles. Even a cautious rider can end up in a collision that changes everything.
How do many motorcycle crashes happen? These are the top five causes in Virginia.
1. Left-Turn Collisions
What is the primary cause of motorcycle crashes? Collisions caused by vehicles turning left across traffic rank at the top. They happen when a driver fails to see an oncoming motorcycle or misjudges its speed and distance.
Under Virginia law, drivers making left turns must yield to oncoming traffic. When they violate this rule and hit a motorcycle, they are liable for the rider’s injuries and other damages. The force of impact from a larger vehicle can cause catastrophic injuries, including head trauma, spinal damage, and multiple fractures. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 26% of fatal two-vehicle motorcycle crashes involve a vehicle making a left turn in front of the motorcycle.
2. Rear-End Collisions
Motorcycles are at high risk in rear-end crashes because even a low-speed impact can cause the rider to lose control. These collisions often happen when drivers:
- Follow too closely,
- Fail to notice slowing or stopped traffic ahead,
- Encounter reduced visibility due to weather or traffic, or
- Are distracted while driving.
State law requires drivers to leave enough space to stop safely. When that space is gone, a bump that might only dent a car can throw a motorcyclist off balance or the bike entirely, leading to serious injuries.
3. Lane-Change Accidents
Drivers changing lanes without checking blind spots properly create serious dangers for motorcycles. Large vehicles have blind spots that can completely hide a bike from the driver’s view.
These accidents occur frequently on multi-lane highways around Richmond, Norfolk, and Northern Virginia during peak traffic periods when drivers make frequent lane changes.
Even when motorcycles avoid direct contact, sudden evasive actions to escape a merging vehicle can cause riders to lose control and crash.
4. Intersection Accidents
Intersections present multiple risks for motorcycles, especially when cars:
- Run red lights,
- Fail to stop at stop signs, and
- Turn without checking for approaching motorcycles from other directions.
Virginia intersections in busy urban areas experience higher accident rates due to traffic volume and complexity. Tourist areas create additional risks during peak riding seasons. In smaller towns and rural areas, limited sight lines, missing traffic signals, or faded road markings can also contribute to these collisions, making it harder for drivers to judge a rider’s position and speed.
These crashes often involve high-speed impacts that throw riders significant distances and cause multiple serious injuries.
5. Impaired and Distracted Driving
Alcohol-impaired drivers have difficulty judging motorcycle speeds and distances accurately. They may see motorcycles too late or fail to notice them entirely.
Distracted drivers using cell phones while driving create similar risks. Drivers focused on texting or phone calls often miss motorcycles until impact becomes unavoidable.
Impaired and distracted driving accidents frequently involve high speeds because these drivers fail to brake before striking motorcycles.
Why the Cause of Your Crash Matters
Understanding the causes of motorcycle accidents in Virginia becomes crucial when facing medical bills, lost wages, and questions about fault. How the accident cause gets recorded in crash reports directly affects how insurance companies handle your claim and what they’re willing to pay.
Insurance companies often look for ways to blame motorcyclists for accidents. They may claim you:
- Were riding aggressively for the traffic conditions;
- Weren’t visible enough to other drivers, even if they turned directly into you; and
- Did not take enough action to avoid the crash, regardless of a short reaction time.
Virginia’s contributory negligence rule makes these arguments particularly dangerous for injured riders. Virginia is one of only five jurisdictions that still follow pure contributory negligence, which denies you compensation if they find you even 1% at fault. Proving what caused your accident is critical to counter these unfair assumptions and protect your claim.
A Virginia motorcycle accident lawyer can challenge motorcycle rider bias and keep the focus on the driver’s actions that caused the crash. Getting legal help soon after your accident allows you to build the strongest possible defense against these insurance company tactics.
Hurt in a Motorcycle Accident? River Run Law Can Help
If you suffered injuries in a motorcycle crash, River Run Law can explain how most motorcycle accidents happen and use that knowledge to build a strong case on your behalf. The 15th edition of Best Law Firms® ranks us in the top 4% of U.S. law firms, a recognition based on our results for clients facing injuries, medical debt, and lost income after serious crashes.
The motorcycle accident lawyers at River Run Law understand that coming into our office might not be possible right now. You may be hospitalized or at home during treatment, or prefer a remote meeting. We offer video conferences, phone consultations, email communication, and in-person visits when needed.
Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn how we can protect your rights while you focus on your health and future.
Resources:
- Left turn traffic to yield right-of-way, VA. Code Ann. § 46.2-825 (2025), link.
