There’s no experience like riding a motorcycle along the Norfolk coast. You’re rarely alone on the road, though. If you’re not careful, there’s a chance that you may find yourself involved in a motorcycle accident.
While other drivers owe motorcyclists a duty of care, they can neglect or deliberately violate that duty. As a result, you can find yourself contending with medical bills, property damage, and long-term emotional distress.
If you want to pursue financial compensation after a motorcycle accident, Norfolk personal injury lawyers at Christina Pendleton & Associates help. A motorcycle accident attorney in Norfolk, VA, can represent your best interests in and out of court.
Breaking Down Motorcycle Accident Liability
The question of liability after a motorcycle accident ties in neatly with Virginia’s roadway duty of care. “Duty of care” refers to other drivers’ responsibilities on the road. Drivers and motorcyclists alike are meant to take to the road with one another’s best interest at heart. As such, everyone is expected to obey roadway laws and to protect one another within reasonable means.
Unfortunately, some motorists forgo or neglect that duty of care on the road. The good news is that should those behaviors result in an accident, you can hold those negligent parties accountable for your losses.
That said, the question of fault isn’t always straightforward. While other motorists may be responsible for your losses, you may also bring a claim against:
- Auto mechanics
- Government employees
- Construction crews
- Trucking companies
- Automobile manufacturers.
For more information on potential liability claims, you can schedule a consultation with one of our motorcycle accident attorneys in Norfolk.
The Question of Fault in Virginia
Virginia is an at-fault state. After an accident, you can work with an insurer to determine which party involved in your accident bears the most responsibility for your losses. If the responsibility falls to the other party, that individual’s insurance should compensate you for your damages.
Because Virginia operates on an at-fault policy, you do not have to wait for an insurance claim to go through before filing a civil complaint. However, having a statement dictating responsibility can help you bring your concerns before a Norfolk judge.
The Complications of Contributory Negligence
While Virginia may operate on an at-fault standard, it also invokes contributory negligence. Virginia bears one of the strictest contributory negligence stances in the United States. This stance notes that if you contributed to any percentage of your accident’s fault, you may not pursue compensation for your losses.
Note that contributory negligence only applies to incidents that might go to civil court. You can still file an insurance claim with another party’s provider after a motorcycle accident. If you’re not sure how to address the question of fault, though, you’ll want to schedule a consultation with a personal injury attorney.
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Fighting for Your Financial Support After a Norfolk Motorcycle Crash
The question of motorcycle accident compensation doesn’t have to be complicated. Instead, you can work with a legal team to break down your losses. Once you know the extent of your financial needs, you can list them in your complaint and fight for financial support.
Most motorcycle accidents result in both economic and non-economic losses. For example, if you need to replace your motorcycle or repair some of its damaged parts, you can list those as economic losses. Comparatively, loss of companionship constitutes a non-economic loss. Other examples of motorcycle accident losses worth compensation can include:
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Rental expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
- Loss of opportunity for work
If you’re having trouble estimating what these losses look like, a personal injury attorney in Norfolk who specializes in motorcycle accident claims can give you an estimate once they’ve reviewed your case.
Contingency and Your Post-Accident Finances
You don’t have to let concerns about legal fees keep you from pursuing the motorcycle compensation you deserve. When you work with Christina Pendleton & Associates, you can rest easy. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Norfolk work on contingency. This means that our firm earns a portion of the settlement or verdict when we win your case, and if we don’t win – you don’t pay us at all.
You can discuss our firm’s contingency rates prior to accepting our services. For more information about what your civil case might look like, you can schedule an appointment with one of our representatives.
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Virginia’s Motorcycle Accident Statute of Limitations
If you want to pursue compensation for your motorcycle accident, you’ll have to work quickly. The state of Virginia limits the amount of time in which you can gather information about your losses.
Code of Virginia §8.01-243 gives you two years to act on the losses you faced in a motorcycle accident. So long as you submit a complaint within this time period, though, you can fight for comprehensive compensation. For help starting the filing process, you can reach out to a Norfolk motorcycle accident lawyer with our firm.
Avoiding the Courtroom
Not every civil case needs to go to trial. Instead, you have the option to come to a settlement agreement during the mediation process. You can count on our attorneys to represent your best interests even if you don’t go before a judge.
Our attorneys will ensure that you express your damages and right to compensation in such a way that you can support all your losses. We can even manage your communications with other parties, ensuring that all your interactions are as stress-free as possible.
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Call on Christina Pendleton & Associates Today
You do not have to tackle the aftermath of a motorcycle accident alone. Instead, you can turn to a Norfolk, VA, motorcycle accident lawyer. The team with Christina Pendleton & Associates has served over 80,000 clients in the past, and we’re ready to put that experience to use for you.
If you want to schedule a case consultation, let one of our representatives help you along. You can reach our office by phone or via our online contact form.
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